Usher received the President’s Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards presentation on Saturday in Los Angeles. The President’s Award is bestowed upon celebrities and other noteworthy individuals “in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service.”
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, awarded Usher for his community achievements through his New Look Foundation. The 45-year-old acknowledged his thankfulness, stating, “I’m so grateful to my entire family; without them, I wouldn’t be able to do this.”
“They say that behind, behind, or with every strong man is a stronger woman, and I am grateful to my mother and my lovely wife Jennifer for holding me down. According to People, he expressed his heartfelt love for his children.
He joins previous winners of the President’s Award, such as Rihanna, Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry.
Before the ceremony, NAACP President and CEO Johnson, who presented the award to Usher, explained why he chose the artist.
He said, “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.”
Beyond his vocal skills and stage presence, Usher has empowered thousands of underprivileged youngsters to follow their aspirations through college readiness programs, financial literacy, and career planning.” His drive to generating positive change in the world has impacted countless people, pushing the bounds of creativity and compassion.”
BET president and CEO Scott Mills said of the recipient in a statement: “Usher stands as a distinguished multihyphenate performer, consistently setting new standards for Black Excellence.” With a career spanning three decades, Usher has established himself as one of today’s most prominent performers and a beacon of social change in our community. It is a great honor to commemorate his outstanding contribution and enduring legacy.
Prior to the ceremony, Usher received two Image Awards: Outstanding Male Artist and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song for his song “Good Good,” featuring Summer Walker and 21 Savage.
The OMG singer won the Entertainer of the Year title, beating out Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, and Keke Palmer.