Jennifer Hudson, Will Smith & Beyonce Dazzle at Image Awards

Will won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (‘Seven Pounds’), Jennifer won Best New Musical Artist, and Beyonce captured the Best Female Musical Artist trophy. (Jamie Foxx was named Best Male Musical Artist). In one of the evening’s highlights, Jennifer delivered a soaring musical tribute to boxing icon Muhammad Ali, who took the stage to watch the performance.

Other movie victors included Rosario Dawson for Best Actress in a Motion Picture (‘Seven Pounds’), and ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ won Best Motion Picture.

On the TV side, Hill Harper won the award for Best Actor in a Drama Series (“CSI: New York”), LaVan Davis claimed Best Actor in Comedy Series (“Tyler Perry's House of Payne”), Tracee Ellis Ross took home the award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series (“Girlfriends”) and Sean “Diddy” Combs won Best actor in a TV movie, mini-series or dramatic special (“Raisin in the Sun”). “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” was declared the Best TV Comedy Series, and “Grey’s Anatomy” won for Best TV Drama Series.

Other highlights of the night included musical performances Beyonce, will.i.am, Seal and Stevie Wonder.

The event, hosted by Halle Berry and Tyler Perry, celebrated the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts, and coincided with the NAACP’s 100th anniversary.

Published 2/12/09 by