BET has announced the nominees, premiere date and location for the highly anticipated Soul Train Awards 2023, presented by BET.
Nigeria’s global superstar, Burna Boy, stands out with four impressive nominations across four categories.
These are Best R&B/Soul Male Artist, Album of The Year, Best Collaboration, and The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award.
Additionally, Ayra Starr and fast-rising musician, Tyla, make their debut entry into this year’s Best New Artist category.
The official Soul Train Awards 2023 nominees were selected by a voting academy of esteemed music industry insiders, performers, and presenters.
Taping from a new location in Los Angeles, CA, this year’s show will reimagine the traditional award show ceremony into an unforgettable Soulful Party in Hollywood, celebrating the best in soul music and the iconic legacy brand.
Soul Train Awards 2023 premieres on November 27 at 2am WAT on BET Africa, DStv Channel 129, repeating at 7pm WAT.
Speaking on the African nominees for this year, Monde Twala, Senior Vice President, General Manager and Lead of BET International, said: “Burna Boy, Ayra Starr and Tyla have been exceptional this year, and their presence on this global stage underlines the transformative impact of African talent on the world of soul music. We are proud to have their craft being recognized on this remarkable platform.”
“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,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. “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.”
Summer Walker, SZA, and Usher lead Soul Train Awards 2023 nominations with nine outstanding nods, marking a historic three-way tie.
Summer Walker for ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘Video of The Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ and twice for ‘Best Dance Performance,’ and ‘Best Collaboration.’ SZA for ‘Best R&B/Soul Female Artist,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ ‘Best Dance Performance,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ and twice for ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ and ‘Song of the Year.’ Usher for ‘Certified Soul Award,’ ‘Best R&B/Soul Male Artist,’ ‘Song of the Year,’ ‘The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ and twice for ‘Best Dance Performance,’ and ‘Video of the Year.’ 21 Savage garnered the second most nods with eight nominations. Coco Jones and Victoria Monét are tied at six nods each, followed by Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Janelle Monáe, and October London with four nominations each.
The “Soul Train Awards” 2023, presented by BET, will feature an exciting lineup of electrifying performances, special moments, and appearances by some of the brightest stars in Black culture and entertainment.
The annual event is committed to showcasing the impact of Soul Train on music and dance, from the ‘70s to today.
Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming and Music Strategy will oversee the annual show and Executive Produce for BET with Jamal Noisette, VP, Specials and Music Programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of Soul Train Awards 2023 along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.
The complete list of nominees for Soul Train Awards 2023:
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
ALL OF THE GLORY SHIRLEY CAESAR
ALL THINGS KIRK FRANKLIN
CAME TOO FAR FRIDAYY FEAT. MAVERICK CITY MUSIC & MY MOM
CRY KORYN HAWTHORNE
FEEL ALRIGHT (BLESSED) ERICA CAMPBELL
GOD PROBLEMS MAVERICK CITY MUSIC, CHANDLER MOORE, NAOMI RAINE
THE JOURNEY H.E.R.
TRY LOVE KIRK FRANKLIN
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
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
THE AGE OF PLEASURE JANELLE MONÁE
AGE/SEX/LOCATION ARI LENNOX
CLEAR 2: SOFT LIFE EP SUMMER WALKER
GIRLS NIGHT OUT (EXTENDED) BABYFACE
I TOLD THEM… BURNA BOY
JAGUAR II VICTORIA MONÉT
SOS SZA
WHAT I DIDN’T TELL YOU (DELUXE) COCO JONES
SONG OF THE YEAR
BACK TO YOUR PLACE OCTOBER LONDON
FAVORITE SONG TOOSII
GOOD GOOD USHER, SUMMER WALKER, 21 SAVAGE
ICU COCO JONES
KILL BILL SZA
LIPSTICK LOVER JANELLE MONÁE
ON MY MAMA VICTORIA MONÉT
SNOOZE SZA
THE ASHFORD AND SIMPSON SONGWRITER’S AWARD
BACK TO YOUR PLACE OCTOBER LONDON
FAVORITE SONG TOOSII
GOOD GOOD USHER, SUMMER WALKER, 21 SAVAGE
ICU COCO JONES
KILL BILL SZA
ON MY MAMA VICTORIA MONÉT
SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD BURNA BOY FEAT. 21 SAVAGE
SNOOZE SZA
BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
BETTER THANGS CIARA FEAT. SUMMER WALKER
BOYFRIEND USHER
GOOD GOOD USHER, SUMMER WALKER, 21 SAVAGE
HOW WE ROLL CIARA & CHRIS BROWN
ON MY MAMA VICTORIA MONÉT
SNOOZE SZA
SUMMER TOO HOT CHRIS BROWN
UNDER THE INFLUENCE CHRIS BROWN
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
BACK TO YOUR PLACE OCTOBER LONDON
BOY’S A LIAR PT. 2 PINKPANTHERESS & ICE SPICE
BOYFRIEND USHER
GOOD GOOD USHER, SUMMER WALKER, 21 SAVAGE
ICU COCO JONES
KILL BILL SZA
LIPSTICK LOVER JANELLE MONÁE
ON MY MAMA VICTORIA MONÉT
SPECIAL LIZZO
BEST GROUP
DVSN
FLO
JAGGED EDGE
KOOL & THE GANG
MAVERICK CITY MUSIC
PHONY PPL
RONALD ISLEY & THE ISLEY BROTHERS
TANK AND THE BANGAS
WANMOR
BEST COLLABORATION
AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM (REMIX) BEYONCÉ FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR
BOY’S A LIAR, PT. 2 PINKPANTHERESS & ICE SPICE
CREEPIN’ (REMIX) METRO BOOMIN, THE WEEKND, DIDDY FEAT. 21 SAVAGE
FLY GIRL FLO FEAT. MISSY ELLIOTT
GOOD GOOD USHER, SUMMER WALKER, 21 SAVAGE
SITTIN’ ON TOP OF THE WORLD BURNA BOY FEAT. 21 SAVAGE
SPECIAL LIZZO FEAT. SZA
TO SUMMER, FROM COLE (AUDIO HUG) SUMMER WALKER, J. COLE.
