Tenoch Huerta Earns NAACP Image Award for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Performance

Tenoch Huerta is an Image Award winner…

This year’s NAACP Image Awards winners have been announced, with the 42-year-old Mexican actor picking up a prize.

Tenoch HuertaHuerta, who recently earned two Critics Choice Super Awards nominations, was named Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which took the award for Outstanding Motion Picture.

Ivan Herrera’s drama Bantú Mama, acquired for distribution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand by Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing, picked up an award.

The 45-year-old Dominican filmmaker’s drama was named Outstanding International Motion Picture.

Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, picked up the Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special award alongside Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams for Entergalactic.

Bruno Mars picked up the Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) award for his Silk Sonic track “Love’s Train.”

The weeklong event honors the achievements and performances of people of color in more than 80 categories.

Here’s a look at this year’s NAACP Image Awards winners:

Entertainer of the Year Angela Bassett
Outstanding Motion Picture Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Viola Davis – The Woman King
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Will Smith – Emancipation
Outstanding Comedy Series Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nicco Annan – P-Valley
Jackie Robinson Sports Award Serena Williams
Chairman’s Award Congressman Bennie G. Thompson
Social Justice Impact Award Benjamin Crump
President’s Award Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Loretta Devine – P-Valley
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Niecy Nash-Betts  – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Outstanding Talk Series Sherri
Outstanding New Artist Coco Jones – ICU
Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal Legacy – Adam Blackstone
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture The Inspection
Outstanding International Motion Picture Bantú Mama
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Jalyn Hall – TILL
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Wendell & Wild
Outstanding Documentary (Film) CIVIL
Outstanding Documentary (Television) Everything’s Gonna be All White
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole  – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Woman King
Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast Two Funny Mamas
Outstanding Social Media Personality Kevon Stage
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information Beyond the Scenes, The Daily Show
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture LeVar Burton Reads
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle / Self-Help Therapy for Black Girls
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Brittani Nichols, Abbott Elementary – “Student Transfer”
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Marissa Jo Cerar, Women of the Movement – Episode 101
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special, Scott Mescudi (Story By), Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams, Entergalactic
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Angela Barnes, Atlanta – “The Homeliest Little Horse”
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul – Season 6, Episode 6: “Axe and Grind”
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special Anton Cropper, Fantasy Football
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary Reginald Hudlin, Sidney
Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) Camille Friend, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) Debi Young, Sandra Linn, Ngozi Olandu Young, Gina Bateman, We Own This City
Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) Ruth Carter, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama “Between The Scenes,” The Daily Show
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction Daring Simone Biles
Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action) Dear Mama…
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated) More Than I Want To Remember
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture Keke Palmer,
Lightyear
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) Kyla Pratt, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–series) Ja’Siah Young, Raising Dion
Outstanding Children’s Program Tab Time
Outstanding Animated Series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Guest Performance Glynn Turman, Queen Sugar
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Ericka Nicole Malone, Remember Me The Mahalia Jackson Story
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Nia Long, The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Keith David, From Scratch
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction, Take My Hand, Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction Finding Me, Viola Davis
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen, George McCalman
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography Scenes from My Life, Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration, Tracey Lewis-Giggetts
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness, Robin Coste Lewis
Outstanding Literary Work – Children Stacey’s Remarkable Books, Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens Cookies & Milk, Shawn Amos
Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special) The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble Tabitha Brown, Tab Time
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts
Outstanding International Song “No Woman No Cry” – Tems
Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental “JID014 (Jazz is Dead)” – Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song “Positive” – Erica Campbell
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album “Kingdom Book One” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) Silk Sonic – “Love’s Train”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) Chris Brown feat. Wizkid – “Call Me Every Day”
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album “Lift Me Up” – Rihanna
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Dave Jordan
Outstanding Male Artist Chris Brown – “BREEZY” (Deluxe)
Outstanding Female Artist Beyoncé – “Renaissance”
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song Cuff It – “Beyoncé”
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song “Hotel Lobby” – Quavo, Takeoff
Outstanding Album “Renaissance” – Beyoncé

Bruno Mars’ Silk Sonic Single “After Last Night” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Bruno Mars has saved the best for last (night)…

Silk Sonic, the musical superduo composed of the part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer and Anderson .Paak, has reached the summit of Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart as “After Last Night,” with Thundercat and funk legend Bootsy Collins, ascends to No. 1 on the list dated November 19.

Bruno Mars, Silk Sonic“After Last Night” rises from No. 3 after a 12% gain in weekly plays that made the single the most-played song on U.S. monitored adult R&B radio stations in the week ending November 13, according to Luminate.

The track evicts Tank’s “Slow,” featuring J. Valentine, after its two weeks on top.

The new champ is the fourth No. 1 for Silk Sonic out of five singles since the duo’s first release in early 2021.

The pair first reigned on Adult R&B Airplay with debut effort “Leave the Door Open” for 13 weeks in April – June 2021, returned to the summit with third single “Smokin out the Window” for one week in January 2022, and ran up another 13-week stay on top for fourth release “Love’s Train” in April – July of this year. Of their first five singles, the only one to miss the top slot was the second, “Skate,” which peaked at No. 4 in October 2021.

Four of the five tracks, sans “Love’s Train,” all originally appeared on Silk Sonic’s An Evening With Silk Sonic album upon its release in November 2021 (“Love’s Train,” released in February 2022, was added to the album’s digital and streaming versions.)

An Evening With Silk Sonic debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Top R&B Albums charts, leading the former for one week and the latter for two terms.

With all four No. 1s now on the album, An Evening With Silk Sonic is only the second album to generate four Adult R&B Airplay No. 1s. Toni Braxton’s self-titled 1993 LP was the first, thanks to the chart-topping runs of “Another Sad Love Song,” “Breathe Again,” “Seven Whole Days” and “You Mean the World to Me” between September 1993 and March 1994.

As Silk Sonic also contributes to Mars and Anderson .Paak’s individual chart accounts, “After Last Night” gives Mars his eighth career No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay, while.Paak notches his fourth. Thundercat claims his first champ on the list with his first entry, while Collins earns his first leader with his second appearance on the 29-year-old list, after “Don’t Take My Funk” featuring Catfish Collins and Bobby Womack, stopped at No. 32 in 2011.

Elsewhere, “After Last Night” rides its adult R&B momentum to push 19-16 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which measures songs by audience listenership from both adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop stations. There, the song improves 6% to 7.5 million in audience in the week ending November 13. The rebound brings the song within two places of its No. 14 peak thus far, achieved four weeks ago.

Bruno Mars’ Silk Sonic-Single “Love’s Train” Reaches No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay Chart

Bruno Mars has choo-choo’ed his to the top of the R&B charts…

The 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer/songwriter and Anderson .Paak’s duo Silk Sonic has earned another No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart with their single “Love’s Train” on the chart dated April 23.

Bruno Mars, Silk Sonic, Anderson .Paak

The track advances after a strong 31% gain in plays to become the most-played song on U.S. monitored adult R&B stations in the week ending April 17, according to Luminate, formerly MRC Data.

The new champ, released earlier this year on Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14), is a cover of a 1983 tune by Con Funk Shun, who racked up 26 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart from 1977-97. Eight of them reached the top 10, with “Ffun” topping the list for two weeks in 1978.

“Love’s Train” gives Silk Sonic its third No. 1 among four career appearances.

The duo’s first offering, “Leave the Door Open,” topped the list for 13 weeks in 2021, while third single “Smokin’ out the Window” ruled for one week in January.

Between the champs, second release “Skate” peaked at No. 4.

All four tracks are on the duo’s An Evening With Silk Sonic album; “Love’s Train” was added to the digital and streaming editions of the set in February.

As Silk Sonic achievements also contribute to the individual ledgers for Mars and .Paak, “Love’s Train” yields a third Adult R&B Airplay for .Paak – all from Silk Sonic hits. Outside the group, his best result was a No. 2 peak for “Make It Better,” featuring Smokey Robinson, in 2019.

Mars, meanwhile, collects his seventh No. 1 and moves to within one more chart-topper for the most among male artists in Adult R&B Airplay chart history. Kem, Maxwell and Charlie Wilson each own eight No. 1s, with Mars and R. Kelly – both with seven – just below.

Elsewhere, “Love’s Train” keeps rolling on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which measures songs’ audience reach among U.S. monitored adult R&B and mainstream R&B/hip-hop radio stations. There, “Love’s Train” speeds 15-9 after it gained 54% in weekly audience to 10.6 million in the week ending April 17. The improvement of 3.7 million gives the song Greatest Gainer honors for the biggest increase among the chart’s 50 titles.

The “Love’s Train” gains just add to Silk Sonic’s recent spell of good fortune.

Earlier this month, the duo, as .Paak informed viewers, completed “a clean sweep” at the Grammy Awards by winning all four of its nominations – record of the year, song of the year, best R&B song, and – in a tie – best R&B performance, all for “Leave the Door Open.”

The pair also opened the ceremony with a performance of “777.”

Bruno Mars’ Silk Sonic Releases Cover of Con Funk Shun‘s Classic “Love’s Train”

Bruno Mars is startin’ a love train

To commemorate Valentine’s Day, the 36-year-old part-Puerto Rican Grammy-winning singer and his Silk Sonic group mate Anderson .Paak have released their all-new cover of funk and R&B group Con Funk Shun‘s 1982 classic “Love’s Train.”

Bruno Mars, Silk Sonic, Anderson .Paak“This is one of Silk Sonic’s favorite songs originally recorded by the group Con Funk Shun,” announced Mars. “Every time @anderson._paak and I get behind instruments we play this. We love this song so much we wanted to sing it for y’all.”

He wrapped up his Instagram caption writing, “#HappyValentinesDay Beautiful people. #LovesTrain available everywhere.”

And .Paak wrote in an Instagram post of his own, “We wanna dedicate this to that special someone!”

The new “Love’s Train” cover comes months after Silk Sonic released their highly anticipated debut studio album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, on November 12.

The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.

The album’s lead single, “Leave the Door Open,” spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.