2011 NAACP Image Awards Nominees in Music

 Nominees of the 42nd Annual NAACP Image Awards were announced at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, January 12. Coming to the press conference to help read those vying for the awards were 50 Cent, Smokey Robinson, Columbus Short, Kimberly Elise and Sanaa Lathan.

In music, Sade leads the pack with four nods, including Outstanding Female

Artist along with Chrisette Michele, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna. Her three nominations are for Outstanding Music Video, Outstanding Song and Outstanding Album.

Following Sade's domination are Herbie Hancock with three nods. He is up for Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, Outstanding Jazz Album and Outstanding World Music Album, thanks to his "Imagine Project" which teams him up with Pink, Seal, India.Arie and more.

The other artists who get more than one nod include Kanye West, Usher, Rihanna, Cee-Lo Green, John Legend & The Roots, Maxwell and Alicia Keys. Rising star Willow Smith is also among them. In one of the categories, she is competing against B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo and Nicki Minaj for Outstanding New Artist.

NAACP Image Awards also honors outstanding works in TV, Movie and other fields like Literature. The winners will be handed the statuettes at a ceremony to air on March 4 at 8 P.M. on FOX.

Outstanding New Artist:

• B.o.B
• Bruno Mars
• Jason Derulo
• Nicki Minaj
• Willow Smith

Outstanding Male Artist:

• Cee-Lo Green
• Jay-Z
• Kanye West
• Ne-Yo
• Usher

Outstanding Female Artist:

• Chrisette Michele
• Corinne Bailey Rae
• Mary J. Blige
• Rihanna
• Sade

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration:

• Diddy-Dirty Money
• Eminem and Rihanna
• Herbie Hancock ft. India.Arie, Chaka Khan and others
• John Legend and The Roots
• Black Eyed Peas

Outstanding Jazz Album:

• "Dee Dee Bridgewater Eleanora Fagan (1915-1959): To Billie With Love From Dee Dee" - Dee Dee Bridgewater
• "From Billie Holiday to Edith Piaf - Live in Marciac" - The Wynton Marsalis Quintet and Richard Galliano
• "Geri Allen & Timeline Live" - Geri Allen & Timeline Live
• "The Imagine Project" - Herbie Hancock
• "VOCAbuLarieS" - Bobby McFerrin

Outstanding Gospel Album (Traditional or Contemporary):

• "Gospel According to Jazz, Chapter III" - Kirk Whalum
• "Here I Am" - Marvin Sapp
• "Just Love Deluxe" - Brian Courtney Wilson
• "Master Plan" - Tamela Mann
• "You Are Not Alone" - Mavis Staples

Outstanding World Music Album:

• "Hymns for the Rebel Soul" - Rocky Dawuni
• "Oyo" - Angelique Kidjo
• "The Imagine Project" - Herbie Hancock
• "The Sound of Sunshine" - Michael Franti
• "VOCAbuLarieS" - Bobby McFerrin

Outstanding Music Video:

• "Fistful of Tears" - Maxwell
• "Soldier of Love" - Sade
• "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" - Alicia Keys
• "Whip My Hair" - Willow Smith
• "Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyonce Knowles

Outstanding Song:

• "Bittersweet" - Fantasia Barrino
• "Fistful of Tears" - Maxwell
• "Forget You" - Cee-Lo Green
• "Soldier of Love" - Sade
• "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" - Alicia Keys

Outstanding Album:

• "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" - Kanye West
• "Now and Then" - Smokey Robinson
• "Raymond vs. Raymond" - Usher
• "Soldier of Love" - Sade
• "Wake Up!" - John Legend and The Roots