Chicago Academy Award-winning actress and Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Jennifer Hudson was named Artist of the Year at the 53rd Annual NAACP Image Awards, which highlighted the works of artists and writers of color.

Not only did she accept the night’s highest honor, but she also won Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for playing Aretha Franklin in The respect. Hudson was outrageously snubbed by the Oscars this year for Best Actress and Best Original Song.

“It’s for Mrs. Franklin’s legacy”, hudson said while accepting the Best Actress award. Hudson was cast as the Queen of Soul after winning her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Dream girls. The respect follows Aretha Franklin from childhood to the 1972 recording of the gospel album Amazing Grace.

The other actresses nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Motion Picture were Andra Day for The United States against Billie Holiday, Halle Berry for Bruised, Tessa Thompson for Who passed, and Zendaya for Malcolm and Marie.

It was the second year in a row that the Outstanding Actress award was given to someone playing an iconic musician. Last year, the prize was awarded to Viola Davis for playing the great blues Ma Rainey in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.

Lil Nas X, Megan Thee Stallion, Regina King, and Tiffany Haddish were also all nominated for Entertainer of the Year. After Hudson accepted the award Saturday night, the talented actress and singer thanked the NAACP for inspiring “little girls like me.”

“I was just standing here thinking ‘It was here – the NAACP Awards – where I watched so many legends and icons that inspired me,’ hudson said. “Now I stand here with an award like this. It’s because I saw the Arethas, the Patti LaBelles, the Halle Berrys, all these legends right here on this booth that inspired me.

Hosted by Anthony Anderson (who won Best Actor in a Comedy Series), the 2022 NAACP Image Awards aired live on BET Saturday night in Los Angeles with some talent appearing in person while others watched virtually. There was no in-person hearing this year.

Other winners of the evening include Netflix’s The more they fall who won best film, Will Smith won Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for King Richard, HBO Unsafe won Best Comedy Series, Issa Rae won Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in Unsafe, Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series went to Sterling K. Brown to play Randall in It’s us, and Angela Bassette won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work on Fox’s 911.

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