BET Networks has unveiled the nominees for the 2023 Soul Train Awards. The ceremony will air Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 p.m. ET on BET and BET Her.
Usher, SZA, and Summer Walker lead the pack with nine nominations each. Usher’s nods include Best R&B/Soul Male Artist and the Certified Soul Award.
Two of his tracks, “Boyfriend” and “Good Good” featuring Walker and 21 Savage, have been nominated for various awards, including Best Dance Performance and Video of the Year.
Walker and SZA are both up for Best R&B/Soul Female Artist, Album of the Year, The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award and Best Collaboration for their respective releases.
Coco Jones and Victoria Monét are both up for six apiece, including Song of the Year and Video of the Year for “ICU” (Jones) and “On My Mama” (Monét).
Interestingly, Jones and rapper/singer Doechii are nominated for Best New Artist for a second consecutive year. Last year’s Best New Artist award went to Tems.
Ciara is up for three nominations, including two in the Best Dance Performance category.
Chris Brown also has multiple nods in that category, as well as Best R&B/Soul Male Artist. They both share a nomination for “How We Roll,” the lead single from Ciara’s CiCi EP.
Other Soul Train Awards 2023 nominees include Beyoncé, Janelle Monáe, October London, Babyface, The Isley Brothers, Ari Lennox, Phony Ppl and more.
Regarding this year’s nominees, Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, shares, “Soul, R&B, and Hip Hop continue to top the charts and drive culture forward. This year, we are taking inspiration from these genres to innovate and disrupt the award show format while celebrating the legacy of Soul Train.”
Orlando continues, “We are proud of this year’s list of esteemed nominees and look to deliver an unforgettable night of Soul with our new location, performances, and show moments.”
Winners will be announced during the annual ceremony, which will be held at a new, undisclosed location in Los Angeles. As noted above, the taped ceremony will air Sunday, Nov. 26, at 8 PM ET on BET and BET Her.
See the full list of nominees below.
2023 Soul Train Awards Nominees
Best New Artist
- Ambré
- Ayra Starr
- Coco Jones
- Doechii
- FLO
- Fridayy
- Tyla
- WanMor
Certified Soul Award
- Anthony Hamilton
- Ashanti
- Ciara
- Eric Bellinger
- Monica
- PJ Morton
- Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
- T-Pain
- Usher
Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- Shirley Caesar – “All Of The Glory”
- Kirk Franklin – “All Things”
- Fridayy Feat. Maverick City Music & My Mom – “Came Too Far”
- Koryn Hawthorne – “Cry”
- Erica Campbell – “Feel Alright (Blessed)”
- Maverick City Music, Chandler Moore, Naomi Raine – “God Problems”
- H.E.R. – “The Journey”
- Kirk Franklin – “Try Love”
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Beyoncé
- Coco Jones
- H.E.R.
- Janelle Monáe
- Summer Walker
- SZA
- Victoria Monét
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
- 6LACK
- Babyface
- Brent Faiyaz
- Burna Boy
- Chris Brown
- Eric Bellinger
- October London
- Usher
Best Group
- dvsn
- FLO
- Jagged Edge
- Kool & The Gang
- Maverick City Music
- Phony Ppl
- Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers
- Tank And The Bangas
- WanMor
Album of the Year
- Janelle Monáe, The Age Of Pleasure
- Ari Lennox, age/sex/location
- Summer Walker, CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE EP
- Babyface, Girls Night Out (Extended)
- Burna Boy, I Told Them…
- Victoria Monét, JAGUAR II
- SZA, SOS
- Coco Jones, What I Didn’t Tell You (Deluxe)
Song of the Year
- October London – “Back To Your Place
- Toosii – “Favorite Song”
- Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Coco Jones – “ICU”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Janelle Monáe – “Lipstick Lover”
- Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
- SZA – “Snooze”
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award
- October London – “Back To Your Place
- Toosii – “Favorite Song”
- Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Coco Jones – “ICU”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Janelle Monáe – “Lipstick Lover”
- Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage – Sittin’ On Top Of The World”
- SZA – “Snooze”
Best Dance Performance
- Ciara Feat. Summer Walker – “Better Thangs”
- Usher – “Boyfriend”
- Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Ciara & Chris Brown – “How We Roll”
- Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
- SZA – “Snooze”
- Chris Brown – “Summer Too Hot”
- Chris Brown – “Under The Influence”
Video of the Year
- October London – “Back To Your Place
- PinkPantheress & Ice Spice – “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2”
- Usher – “Boyfriend”
- Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Coco Jones – “ICU”
- SZA – “Kill Bill”
- Janelle Monáe – “Lipstick Lover”
- Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”
- Lizzo – “Special”
Best Collaboration
- Beyoncé Feat. Kendrick Lamar – “America Has A Problem (Remix)”
- PinkPantheress & Ice Spice – “Boy’s A Liar, Pt. 2”
- Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, Diddy Feat. 21 Savage – “Creepin’ (Remix)”
- FLO Feat. Missy Elliott – “Fly Girl”
- Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good”
- Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage – “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”
- Lizzo feat. SZA – “Special (Remix)”
- Summer Walker, J. Cole – To Summer, From Cole (Audio Hug)”
