Alicia Keys, Elle Varner, KEM Lead Nominations for 44th NAACP Image Awards

RCA RecordsNominations for this year's NAACP Image Awards have been announced, and Alicia Keys and Elle Varner are nominated in the most music categories, with three nods each. 

Technically, KEM has the most music nominations, with four nods.  Three of those noms, however, are in the Outstanding Song category.  His songs, "Be Mine for Christmas" and "Glorify the King," from his What Christmas Means album are up for awards, and "You're on My Mind" from his Intimacy album is also nominated.  KEM's "You're on My Mind" visual is also up for Outstanding Music Video.

Alicia's Girl on Fire release and Elle's Perfectly Imperfect debut are up for Outstanding Album.  That category also includes Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston album, Michael Jackson's Bad, 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition and the original soundtrack for On the Shoulders of Giants, featuring Chuck D, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock and Nikki Yannofsky, and more.

Alicia and Elle are also up for Outstanding Female Artist, along with Estelle, Missy Elliott and Tamela Mann.  Alicia's "Girl on Fire" visual is also up for Outstanding Music Video.  Elle is up for Outstanding New Artist, as are Lianne La Havas, Gary Clark Jr., Melanie Amaro and the OMG Girlz.

The Outstanding Male Artist category includes Bruno Mars, Lupe Fiasco, Trey Songz, Usher and Miguel.

The NAACP Image Awards shine a spotlight on the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film.  Winners will be announced during a two-hour event, airing live Friday, February 1 on NBC.

Check out the full list of music nominees below:

Outstanding New Artist
Elle Varner
Gary Clark, Jr.
Lianne La Havas
Melanie Amaro
The OMG Girlz

Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars
Lupe Fiasco
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher

Outstanding Female Artist
Alicia Keys
Elle Varner
Estelle
Missy Elliott
Tamela Mann

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Chuck D, Johnny Juice, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock
fun. feat. Janelle Monae
Lupe Fiasco feat. Guy Sebastian
Mary Mary
Ne-Yo, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Rzeznik, Delta Rae, Natasha Bedingfield

Outstanding Jazz Album
Bone Appetit [Vol. 1 and 2], Jeff Bradshaw
Dreams, Brian Culbertson
Renaissance, Marcus Miller
Seeds from the Underground, Kenny Garrett
The Preservation Hall 50th Anniversary Collection, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Outstanding Gospel Album - (Traditional or Contemporary)
Best Days, Tamela Mann
Go Get It,  Mary Mary
God, Love & Romance, Fred Hammond
I Win, Marvin Sapp
Le'Andria Johnson: The Experience, Le'Andria Johnson

Outstanding World Music Album
Ayah Ye! Moving Train, KG Omulo
Country, God, or the Girl, K'NAAN
Diversionary, Brother B
Wonderful Life, Estelle

Outstanding Music Video
"Adorn," Miguel
"Girl on Fire," Alicia Keys
"Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars
"This Christmas," Cee Lo Green
"You're on My Mind," KEM

Outstanding Song
"Be Mine for Christmas," KEM
"Glorify the King," KEM
"I Look to You," Whitney Houston and R. Kelly
"Locked Out of Heaven," Bruno Mars
"You're On My Mind," KEM

Outstanding Album
Bad - 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition,  Michael Jackson
Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys
I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston
On the Shoulders of Giants, The Soundtrack, Chuck D, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock, Nikki Yannofsky
Perfectly Imperfect, Elle Varner

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