NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED; 'GIRFRIENDS' SNAG 7 NODS; KANYE RECEIVES 3.

Actor Richard T. Jones, Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier and Girlfriends creator Mara Brock Akil were on hand in Beverly Hills Tuesday to announce nominations for the 39th annual NAACP Image Awards, to be held next month. Awards will be handed out in 44 categories during a ceremony to be held Thursday, February, 14 and broadcast live on FOX from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. The NAACP Image Awards honors projects and individuals that promote diversity in the arts in television, recording, literature and motion pictures. The theme of this year’s show is “Stand Up and Be Counted.” During this crucial election year, the NAACP encourages everyone to be socially conscious and take a stand on critical human and civil rights issues. The NAACP also announced Tuesday that legendary musician Stevie Wonder will receive the group's prestigious Hall of Fame Award, which recognizes an individual who is a pioneer in his or her respective field and whose influence will shape the profession for generations to come.

The cast of The CW's Girlfriends earned an astounding 7 nominations in the television category this year: Reggie Hayes for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, Tracee Ellis Ross and Golden Brooks both received a nomination in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series category while Keesha Sharp earned a nomination in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category. Akil's husband, Salim Akil earned a nod in the Directing in a Comedy Series category and writer Karen Gist picked up a nomination in the Writing in a Comedy Series category. And the entire cast pulled a nod in the Outstanding Comedy Series category.

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Actresses Tia Mowry and Wendy Raquel Robinson from Girlfriends spin-off show, The Game were also nominated in the Outstanding Actress (Mowry) and Outstanding Supporting Actress (Robinson) in a Comedy Series categories.

TO READ THE COMPLETE LIST OF NOMINEES, CLICK HERE