The 2021 Soul Train Awards are just weeks away, and on Tuesday (Nov. 2) BET unveiled the official nominations list and two special honors that are set to take place when the show airs on Sunday, November 28.
The annual soiree will celebrate 50 years of Soul Train’s legacy and will air for the first time from the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem.
GRAMMY® award-winning singer-songwriter and producer Maxwell will receive the ‘Legend’ award while Award-winning and multiplatinum singer/songwriter, Ashanti will be bestowed the coveted the ‘Lady of Soul’ honor.
Maxwell shared his gratitude for the honor.
“It’s an honor to be presented with the Legend award by a community that’s been growing with me throughout my career…I’m so grateful to be sharing this moment with everyone and returning to the Apollo for an evening of excellence.”
Ashanti took to IG shortly after the announcement to also share her excitement over the honor.
Wow… I’m honored to be recognized as this year’s ‘Lady of Soul’ honoree. This is a full circle moment for me because I received the ‘Aretha Franklin Entertainer of the Year’ Award at the Lady of Soul Awards in 2002. As we commemorate 50 years of Soul Train, I’m proud to be a part of this legacy and to return to the Apollo to celebrate! I’m Super humbled. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️❤️😆
As far as the other nominations, some of our faves have made the list and will be taking home some gold that night.
H.E.R. leads the list of nominations with an impressive eight nods for ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award (x2),’ ‘Best Collaboration (x2),’ and ‘Video of the Year’.
Fellow R&B crooners, Jazmine Sullivan and Chris Brown garnered the second most nods with six nominations each. Jazmine’s nods include ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ and ‘Video of the Year’.
Chris’ nods include ‘Best R&B/Soul Male Artist,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ ‘Best Dance Performance,’ ‘Best Collaboration (x2),’ and ‘Video of the Year’.
Wiz Kid and TEMS are the third-highest with five nods each, followed by Blxst with four nods. Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, Doja Cat, and Yung Bleu each have three nods.
Check out the full list below!
BEST NEW ARTIST
BLXST
CAPELLA GREY
MORRAY
TEMS
TONE STITH
YUNG BLEU
CERTIFIED SOUL AWARD
ANTHONY HAMILTON
ASHANTI
CHARLIE WILSON
THE ISLEY BROTHERS
JAM & LEWIS
T-PAIN
BEST R&B/SOUL FEMALE ARTIST
ALICIA KEYS
DOJA CAT
H.E.R.
JAZMINE SULLIVAN
JHENÉ AIKO
SZA
BEST R&B/SOUL MALE ARTIST
BLXST
CHRIS BROWN
GIVEON
LUCKY DAYE
TANK
USHER
BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
BRIAN COURTNEY WILSON
JAMES FORTUNE
KELLY PRICE
KIRK FRANKLIN
MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
TASHA COBBS LEONARD
SONG OF THE YEAR
BLXST FEAT. TY DOLLA $IGN & TYGA – CHOSEN
BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
H.E.R. – DAMAGE
JAZMINE SULLIVAN – PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS
WIZ KID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE
YUNG BLEU FEAT. DRAKE – YOU’RE MINES STILL
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
BLXST – NO LOVE LOST
DOJA CAT – PLANET HER
GIVEON – WHEN IT’S ALL SAID AND DONE… TAKE TIME
H.E.R. – BACK OF MY MIND
JAZMINE SULLIVAN – HEAUX TALES
WIZKID – MADE IN LAGOS
THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD
CAN’T LET IT SHOW – WRITTEN BY: KATE BUSH, DURRELL BABBS (TANK)
COME THROUGH – WRITTEN BY: CARL MCCORMICK, CHRIS BROWN, H.E.R., KELVIN WOOTEN, MICHAEL L. WILLIAMS II, TIARA THOMAS (H.E.R. FEAT. CHRIS BROWN)
DAMAGE – WRITTEN BY: ANTHONY CLEMONS JR., CARL MCCORMICK, H.E.R., JAMES HARRIS, JEFF GITELMAN, TERRY LEWIS, TIARA THOMAS (H.E.R.)
ESSENCE – WRITTEN BY: AYODEJI IBRAHIM BALOGUN, ONIKO EDDIE UZEZI, ONIKO EVAWERO, RICHARD ISONG, TEMILADE OPENIYI (WIZKID FEAT. TEMS)
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN – WRITTEN BY: BRUNO MARS, BRANDON ANDERSON, DERNST EMILE II, CHRISTOPHER BRODY BROWN (BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC)
PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS – WRITTEN BY: BLUE JUNE, CHI, AUDRA MAE BUTTS, JAZMINE SULLIVAN, KYLE COLEMAN, MICHAEL HOLMES (JAZMINE SULLIVAN)
BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
CHLOE X HALLE – UNGODLY HOUR
CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG – CITY GIRLS
LIZZO FEAT. CARDI B – RUMORS
NORMANI FEAT. CARDI B- WILD SIDE
USHER – BAD HABITS
BEST COLLABORATION
CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG FEAT. FUTURE, LIL DURK, LATTO – GO CRAZY (REMIX)
DOJA CAT FEAT. SZA – KISS ME MORE
H.E.R. FEAT. CHRIS BROWN – COME THROUGH
JAZMINE SULLIVAN FEAT. H.E.R. – GIRL LIKE ME
WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE
YUNG BLEU FEAT. DRAKE – YOU’RE MINES STILL
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BRUNO MARS, ANDERSON .PAAK, SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
CHRIS BROWN, YOUNG THUG FEAT. FUTURE, LIL DURK, LATTO – GO CRAZY (REMIX)
H.E.R. – DAMAGE
JAZMINE SULLIVAN – PICK UP YOUR FEELINGS
NORMANI FEAT. CARDI B – WILD SIDE
WIZKID FEAT. TEMS – ESSENCE
Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold will return as the show’s resident co-hosts when it premieres Sunday, November 28 at 8 PM ET/PT on BET and BET Her.
