Anthony Anderson
LOS ANGELES– Emmy-award nominated actor and star of “black-ish,” Anthony Anderson will return as host for the 49th NAACP Image Awards.
The NAACP’s two-hour special will air live on TV One on January 15, 2018, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The telecast will also include a live pre-show from the star-studded red carpet.
In addition, voting is open for the 49th NAACP Image Awards – NAACP “Entertainer of the Year,” the winner will be revealed during the two-hour telecast. The six nominees are: Chadwick Boseman, Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Issa Rae, Chance the Rapper, and Jay-Z. Voting is open to the general public by visiting the NAACP Image Awards website – NAACPImageAwards.net Voting closes on November 17.
In the past, the NAACP Image Awards was attended by top names in the entertainment industry. The list of names include: Denzel Washington, Oprah, John Legend, Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Dwayne Johnson, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gina Rodriguez, Chrissy Teigen, Kerry Washington, Nate Parker, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tika Sumpter, Keegan-Michael Key, and O’Shea Jackson Jr., among other celebrities.
The NAACP “President’s Award” and NAACP “Chairman’s Award” are bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Past honorees of the “President’s Award” include Lonnie G. Bunch, III, John Legend, Van Jones, Former President Bill Clinton, Soledad O’Brien, Muhammad Ali, the Founding Members of the Black Stuntmen’s Association, Kerry Washington, and Spike Lee.
Past honorees of the “Chairman’s Award” include Harvard Law Professor Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Tyler Perry, Ruby Dee, The Neville Brothers, Bono, Danny Glover, Former Vice President Al Gore and Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, Former President of the United States Barack Obama, Former Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, TV One Founder and Chairman Cathy Hughes, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Michele Howard, Brittany “Bree” Newsome, Justice League NYC, University of Missouri Concerned Student 1950 Collective, University of Mississippi NAACP College Chapter, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, and Jussie Smollett
The 49th NAACP Image Awards production team will be returning including Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin, Tony McCuin as Director, Byron Phillips as Producer, and Robin Reinhardt as Talent Producer.
