Usher will receive the President’s Award this weekend at the 55th NAACP Image Awards.
The singer and songwriter is being recognized for “special achievement and distinguished public service,” the NAACP said Friday.
“We are honored to present this year’s President’s Award to Usher for his unparalleled talent and remarkable contributions as an artist and advocate for our community,” Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement.
“Beyond his vocal talent and stage presence, Usher has empowered thousands of under-resourced youth to pursue their dreams through college readiness programs, financial literacy, and career planning. His dedication to creating positive change in the world has touched countless lives, redefining the boundaries of creativity and compassion,” Johnson added.
Related Story: NAACP Image Awards 2024 – ‘The Color Purple’ Dominates the Nominations
Previous recipients of the President’s Award include Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade, Rihanna, LeBron James, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Lauryn Hill, and Soledad O’Brien.
Usher, 45, is an eight time Grammy winner and last month headlined Apple Music’s Super Bowl LVIII halftime show.
During his three decade career, the singer has sold over 80 million records worldwide, and is known for his hit singles including “My Way,” “OMG,” “U Got it Bad,” and “Yeah!”
He is also the founding chairman of Usher’s New Look, an organization that has served over 55,000 youth around the world through education and mentorship.
Queen Latifah will host the 55th NAACP Image Awards from Los Angeles.
The ceremony airs live on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on BET, and other Paramount Global-owned networks including CBS, BET Her, VH1, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop, Smithsonian Channel, TV Land. For those who want to watch online, the show will stream live on Paramount+.
