*Deon Cole has already won 10 NAACP Image Awards. He’s walked the stage. He’s held the trophy. He knows what that moment feels like.
Now he’s returning — not as a nominee — but as host of the 57th NAACP Image Awards, airing live tonight (02-28-26) from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS.
And if you’re expecting ego, polish and hierarchy? Think again.
“I want us to know that we are all the same,” Cole says. “Nobody’s greater than anybody else. The seat filler is just as important as the million-dollar movie star.”
That line says everything about how he views the night.
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The Image Awards have always been about recognition — but for Cole, they’re also about energy. Community. Creative cross-pollination. A rare moment when Black actors, musicians, directors, executives and activists are all in the same room at the same time.
“What comes out of that room is creativity,” he says. “Everybody gets together and creates something.”
This year’s Entertainer of the Year nominees — Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan and Teyana Taylor — represent different lanes of excellence. The ceremony will also honor Colman Domingo, Viola Davis, Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant, A$AP Rocky, and Salt-N-Pepa for impact that stretches beyond entertainment.
But Cole’s focus isn’t just on who’s being honored. It’s on who’s watching.
“I want her to see this night and let it spark her brain,” he says of bringing a young creative to the ceremony. “It’s more than just awards. It’s sparking the mind of the next Barack or the next Ryan Coogler.”
In other words, the Image Awards aren’t just about legacy. They’re about ignition.
Cole’s grounded approach traces back to his Chicago roots.
“At the end of the day, I have to look myself in the mirror,” he says. “You’re either going to say, ‘We did it today’ or ‘We tricked them.’ I’d rather say, ‘We did it today.’”
And yes, he’ll still bring the laughs.
“Somebody’s auntie is still going to critique our outfit,” he jokes. “I love us to stay on this level playing field.”
Hosting a night built on prestige without losing humility is a balancing act. But if Cole has his way, the 57th NAACP Image Awards won’t feel like a hierarchy.
It’ll feel like a family reunion — just with better lighting.
From the column: Black in the Green Room By Keith L. Underwood – Follow: @mrkeithlunderwood (IG), @blackinthegreenroom (IG), YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook
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