Today, the NAACP announced that eight-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer and songwriter USHER will receive the prestigious President's Award during the “55th NAACP Image Awards.” The ceremony will broadcast LIVE on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET, CBS Television Network, BET Her, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop, Smithsonian Channel™, TV Land, and streaming live on the CBS network feed available on Paramount+.*

The President's Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, with previous recipients including Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, Lauryn Hill and Soledad O'Brien, among others.

“We are honored to present this year’s President’s Award to USHER for his unparalleled talent and remarkable contributions as an artist and advocate for our community,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “Beyond his vocal talent and stage presence, USHER has empowered thousands of under-resourced youth to pursue their dreams through college readiness programs, financial literacy, and career planning. His dedication to creating positive change in the world has touched countless lives, redefining the boundaries of creativity and compassion.”

"USHER stands as a distinguished multihyphenate performer, consistently setting new standards for Black Excellence,” said BET President and CEO Scott Mills. "With a career spanning over three decades, USHER has earned his place as one of the foremost performers of our era and a beacon for social change in our community. It is a profound honor to recognize his extraordinary impact and lasting legacy."

As one of the best-selling artists in music history, with an illustrious three-decade career and over 80 million records sold worldwide, USHER’s impact on the industry is undeniable. His groundbreaking albums, including "My Way" and "Confessions," have shattered records and earned him numerous accolades, including eight GRAMMY® Awards. In 2024, USHER’s trailblazing journey continued with his headlining performance at Apple Music's halftime show for Super Bowl LVIII and the release of his highly anticipated ninth album, "Coming Home," which marked his debut as an independent artist.

USHER’s impact extends far beyond the realm of music. As the founding chairman of USHER’s New Look, the organization has served over 55,000 youth around the world through education and mentorship. His commitment to philanthropy and social activism has earned him widespread recognition, including the NAACP's 2010 Ford Freedom Award Scholar and Morehouse College's prestigious 2014 Candle Award.

Hosted by GRAMMY® award-winning recording artist, critically acclaimed Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor and producer Queen Latifah (series star/executive producer of The Equalizer, CBS) , “55th NAACP Image Awards” will feature a performance by Andra Day and roster of A-List presenters, including Delroy Lindo, Deon Cole, Diarra Kilpatrick, Donnie Wahlberg, Erika Alexander, Idris Elba, Jeffrey Wright, Keke Palmer, Kenya Barris, Kerry Washington, Leslie Jones, Lil Rel Howery, Morris Chestnut, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Sabrina Elba, Sterling K. Brown and Taraji P. Henson.

The night kicks off LIVE at 7pm ET on BET, BET Her and VH1, with the “55th NAACP Image Awards” Red Carpet Live! hosted by Terrence J, Naturi Naughton, and Novi Brown.

Previously announced “55TH NAACP Image Awards” honorees include poet laureate Amanda Gorman who will be honored with the prestigious Chairman’s Award, and R&B supergroup New Edition will receive the Hall of Fame Award.

For the first time in BET history, BET and the NAACP will broaden access to this year’s “55th NAACP Image Awards” by providing audio descriptions for the live telecast. This addition ensures that blind and visually impaired viewers will be able to take in all the action occurring on the screen and provides a much richer experience of the event. Industry leaders VITAC and Audio Eyes will provide the audio description on the Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) channel.

The “55th NAACP Image Awards” is supported by the following sponsors, Wells Fargo (presenting sponsor), Google, Bank of America, Gushers, FedEx, Airbnb, Amazon, Proctor & Gamble, Diageo, Denny’s, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines. Our partners include: Bacardi, CVS Health, Entergy, Hyatt, Intuit, L’Oréal, Lyft, Planned Parenthood, SheaMoisture, Uncle Nearest, Spill and Variety Magazine.

Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural award shows, the “55th NAACP Image Awards” will continue its tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to these values.

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years' attendees and winners include Angela Bassett, Zendaya, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Beyoncé, Nicco Annan, Ruth E. Carter, Glynn Turman, Quinta Brunson, Nia Long, Keith David, Jennifer Hudson, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown, Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union, Tems, Erica Campbell, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Anderson Paak, Silk Sonic, Rihanna, Quavo, Takeoff, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Zendaya, Yara Shahidi, Issa Rae, Janelle Monáe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Serena Williams, Kerry Washington, Method Man, Dominique Thorne, Austin Scott, Tyler James Williams, Kyla Pratt, Jabari Banks, and many more.

Instagram: @naacpimageawards @BET |X: @naacpimageaward @BET 
Facebook: /naacpimageaward  /BET    | Tik Tok: @BET        
#NAACPImageAwards