This year’s Soul Train Awards is going to be one for the books. Productive throughout 2020 and 2021, H.E.R. secured eight nominations for her long-awaited debut album Back of My Mind and the home run success of its focus single “Damage.”
Chris Brown added seven nods to his Soul Train scorecard while Jazmine Sullivan put six on hers. Beyond that, Maxwell and Ashanti were named honorees for the annual ceremony.
The 2021 Soul Train Awards will air Sunday, Nov. 28, at 8 p.m. EST with Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold. Before the train departs, check out these 15 facts about this year’s nominees.
H.E.R.
H.E.R. is the top nominee this year with eight considerations. She scored the exact total of nods in 2020 while simultaneously being the most nominated act, a title she’s held now three times. She led the pack in 2018 with seven placements.
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Givēon and Lucky Daye are looking to become this year’s Best R&B/Soul Male Artist. Both are the only first-time R&B-centric nominees in this category alongside seasoned vets Usher, Tank and Chris Brown.
Tone Stith
Tone Stith has his work cut out. He is the only R&B act in the Best New Artist this year. He released his EP FWM in June and its sequel Still FWM in October.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuX3K0FJ8qQ
Certified Soul Award
Jam & Lewis are seeking to win their first Soul Train Award as artists. This Certified Soul Award nod is for their debut work, Jam & Lewis, Vol. 1, which arrived in July. The prolific production duo received the Legend Award in 2019.
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
H.E.R. is hoping to win Best R&B/Soul Female Artist for the third year in a row. She would be the first artist to win three consecutive years. She is currently the only woman in the history of this category to win back-to-back awards: 2019 and 2020.
The Ashford And Simpson Songwriter’s Award
Of the six songs nominated in this category, five topped the R&B radio and Billboard charts this year.
- Tank, “Can’t Let It Show”
- H.E.R., “Damage”
- Jazmine Sullivan, “Pick Up Your Feelings”
- Wizkid featuring Tems, “Essence”
- Silk Sonic, “Leave The Door Open”
Kelly Price
Kelly Price’s spring EP Grace lands the veteran a Best Gospel/Inspirational Award nom. It marks her first one here.
Best Collaboration
H.E.R. and Chris Brown have one thing in common in the Best Collaboration race. They are double nominees, sharing a nod for “Come Through,” lifted from H.E.R.’s Back of My Mind.
Brown’s other nom is for a remix of “Go Crazy” with Young Thug, Future, Latto and Lil Durk. On the other hand, H.E.R. gets credit for contributing to Jazmine Sullivan’s “Girl Like Me.”
Jazmine Sullivan
Jazmine Sullivan’s return single “Pick Up Your Feelings” pits her against a competitive crowd of big tracks in the Song of the Year category for the first time.
Album of the Year
H.E.R. has another shot at winning Album of the Year as Back of My Mind is nominated. It is the talented singer-songwriter’s first proper full-length album vying for this award. She won in 2018 for the mashup of her previously released projects and received a nom in 2020 for I Used to Know Her, a compilation of earlier EPs.
Normani
Normani is trying her hand again at winning Best Dance Performance. This time for “Wild Side,” her gold-selling, urban radio chart-topper. She received a nomination in 2019 for “Motivation.”
Video of the Year
Bruno Mars’ is a Video of the Year favorite. He won three separate occasions: 2015, 2017, and 2018. In fact, he’s the most nominated male artist in the history of this category. He could extend his record if he and Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic win for “Leave The Door Open.”
Ashanti
Ashanti is set to take home the Lady of Soul Award. She is also vying for the Certified Soul Award. She is the third Lady of Soul Award recipient to be nominated for this award, followed by Brandy and Monica. Like the latter diva, she is competing for the prize at the same ceremony she gets honored.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown is a close second to H.E.R. for the second year. He previously scored seven nods while H.E.R. had eight in 2020. It is the same result this year.