Niecy Nash, who has starred in various New Orleans productions such as "Claws" on TNT and "Scream Queens," won her first #NAACPImageAward last year for her outstanding performance in "When They See Us." Photo via NAACP Instagram.

NAACP Image Awards honor New Orleans talent and feature local performers

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The 52nd annual NAACP Image Awards which honor Black excellence will take place virtually Saturday, March 27 with New Orleans nominees and performers. Local nominees across multiple categories include Ledisi, Sean Keys, Branford Marsalis, Jon Batiste, and more. Stacey Abrams and Eddie Murphy are set to be honored for the contributions to the NAACP.

Ledisi has released eight studio albums and earned thirteen Grammy Award nominations to date, winning her first recently for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything For You.” Among her NAACP nominations, she is nominated for Outstanding Album (The Wild Card), Outstanding Female Artist, Best Music Video, and Outstanding Collaboration for her duet with PJ Morton on “Anything for You.”

Local gospel producer Sean Keys is nominated for Outstanding Producer while the Disney Pixar Soul soundtrack from Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross is up for Best Original Soundtrack and Outstanding Instrumental Jazz Album. Branford Marsalis is also nominated for his work on the soundtrack of the Netflix film Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

PJ Morton is nominated for Best Gospel Album and Song for Gospel According to PJ and “All in His Plan” respectively.

New Orleans native and NOCCA graduate Anthony Mackie is nominated for the NAACP Outstanding Male Actor in a Motion Picture for his work on Apple TV’s The Banker.

Once you log in for access (see below), you will be greeted by a 3D video game like experience that is similar to Delores Galore’s Virtua Mall game. There is a virtual stage, selfie station, and more. Performances on the virtual exclusive stage include recent Best of the Beat presenter and star of NBC’s The Voice, Casmè who sings while BMike paints in the background.

Registration is required for the NAACP Virtual Experience. To register, click here.  Winners of the LIVE televised award categories will be revealed during the 52nd NAACP Image Awards telecast on Saturday, March 27th, 2021 at 8/7c. Non-televised award categories will be announced virtually between March 22-26. The 52nd NAACP Image Awards will be simulcast across ViacomCBS Networks which will include BET, CBS, MTV, VH1, MTV2, BET HER and LOGO.