Tony Award nominee, SAG, and Grammy Award-winning actress Danielle Brooks (Orange is The New Black) will portray gospel music icon and civil rights activist Mahalia Jackson in a new Lifetime biopic.

The film will follow Jackson’s life and career as she began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the best-known gospel singers in U.S. history.

According to Hollywood Reporter, the movie is a part of a four-film deal Lifetime has signed with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts and her Rock’n Robin Productions. Roberts previously worked with Lifetime as an executive producer on Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story, a drama starring Niecy Nash.

Tony winner Kenny Leon (Broadway’s A Raisin in the Sun, Fences, American Son) is set to direct the biopic. This is a reunion between Leon and Brooks as they previously worked on the stage production of Much Ado About Nothing. 

The news of The Mahalia Jackson Story comes following the success of Lifetime’s The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (2020) which became the cabler’s highest-rated original movie since 2016 with 2.7 million viewers.

This year, a record number of Black talent scored Emmy nods. On Tuesday morning, the Television Academy announced 102 acting nominees across lead, supporting and guest categories for drama, comedy and limited series/TV movie, and according to Variety, 34.3% of them are Black, a notable increase from the previous years.

Among the nominees this year are: Kerry Washington, Zendaya, Billy Porter, Sterling K. Brown, Regina King, Anthony Anderson, Don Cheadle, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jeremy Pope, and Octavia Spencer to name a few.

Here is the list of nominations/nominees:

Comedy Series

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” (HBO)
“Dead to Me” (Netflix)
“The Good Place” (NBC)
“Insecure” (HBO)
“The Kominsky Method” (Netflix)
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon Prime Video)
“Schitt’s Creek” (Pop TV)
“What We Do in the Shadows” (FX)

Limited Series

“Little Fires Everywhere” (Hulu)
“Mrs. America” (Hulu)
“Unbelievable” (Netflix)
“Unorthodox” (Netflix)
“Watchmen” (HBO)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)
Sterling K. Brown (“This Is Us”)
Steve Carell (“The Morning Show”)
Brian Cox (“Succession”)
Billy Porter (“Pose”)
Jeremy Strong (“Succession”)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Jennifer Aniston (“The Morning Show”)
Olivia Colman (“The Crown”)
Jodie Comer (“Killing Eve”)
Laura Linney (“Ozark”)
Sandra Oh (“Killing Eve”)
Zendaya (“Euphoria”)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson (“Black-ish”)
Don Cheadle (“Black Monday”)
Ted Danson (“The Good Place”)
Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”)
Eugene Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Christina Applegate (“Dead to Me”)
Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Linda Cardellini (“Dead to Me”)
Catherine O’Hara (“Schitt’s Creek”)
Issa Rae (“Insecure”)
Tracee Ellis Ross (“Black-ish”)

Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Jeremy Irons (“Watchmen”)
Hugh Jackman (“Bad Education”)
Paul Mescal (“Normal People”)
Jeremy Pope (“Hollywood”)
Mark Ruffalo (“I Know This Much Is True”)

Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Cate Blanchett (“Mrs. America”)
Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”)
Regina King (“Watchmen”)
Octavia Spencer (“Self Made”)
Kerry Washington (“Little Fires Everywhere”)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul”)
Bradley Whitford (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Billy Crudup (“The Morning Show”)
Mark Duplass (“The Morning Show”)
Nicholas Braun (“Succession”)
Kieran Culkin (“Succession”)
Matthew Macfadyen (“Succession”)
Jeffrey Wright (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Laura Dern (“Big Little Lies”)
Meryl Streep (“Big Little Lies”)
Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”)
Samira Wiley (“The Handmaid’s Tale”)
Fiona Shaw (“Killing Eve”)
Julia Garner (“Ozark”)
Sarah Snook (“Succession”)
Thandie Newton (“Westworld”)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”)
William Jackson Harper (“The Good Place”)
Alan Arkin (“The Kominsky Method”)
Sterling K. Brown (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Tony Shalhoub (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Mahershala Ali (“Ramy”)
Kenan Thompson (“Saturday Night Live”)
Dan Levy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Betty Gilpin (“GLOW”)
D’Arcy Carden (“The Good Place”)
Yvonne Orji (“Insecure”)
Alex Borstein (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Marin Hinkle (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”)
Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”)
Cecily Strong (“Saturday Night Live”)
Annie Murphy (“Schitt’s Creek”)

Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie

Dylan McDermott (“Hollywood”)
Jim Parsons (“Hollywood”)
Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend”)
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”)
Jovan Adepo (“Watchmen”)
Louis Gossett Jr. (“Watchmen”)

Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie

Holland Taylor (“Hollywood”)
Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”)
Margo Martindale (“Mrs. America”)
Tracey Ullman (“Mrs. America”)
Toni Collette (“Unbelievable”)
Jean Smart (“Watchmen”)

Reality Competition

“The Masked Singer” (FOX)
“Nailed It” (Netflix)
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” (VH1)
“Top Chef” (Bravo)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Variety Sketch Series

“A Black Lady Sketch Show” (HBO)
“Drunk History” (Comedy Central)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)

Variety Talk Series

“Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“Full Frontal with Samantha Bee” (TBS)
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
“Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” (HBO)
“Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS)

Animated Program

Big Mouth • Disclosure The Movie: The Musical! • Netflix

Bob’s Burgers • Pig Trouble In Little Tina • Fox
20th Century Fox Television

BoJack Horseman • The View From Halfway Down • Netflix •
Tornante Productions, LLC

Rick And Morty • The Vat Of Acid Episode • Adult Swim
Rick and Morty, LLC

The Simpsons • Thanksgiving Of Horror • Fox
Gracie Films in association with 20th Century Fox Television

Short Form Animated Program

Forky Asks A Question: What Is Love? • Disney+
Pixar Animation Studios

Robot Chicken • Santa’s Dead (Spoiler Alert) Holiday Murder Thing Special • Adult Swim
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

Steven Universe Future • Fragments • Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network Studios

Choreography For Variety Or Reality Programming

The Oscars • Routine: Come Alive (Opening Sequence) • ABC
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Jemel McWilliams, Choreographer

Savage X Fenty Show • Routines: Statues, Benches, Window • Prime Video
Amazon Studios
Parris Goebel, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: I’ll Be Seeing You, Mambo Italiano, The Girl From Ipanema • FOX
dick clark productions, LLC and 19 Entertainment
Al Blackstone, Choreographer

So You Think You Can Dance • Routines: Enough Is Enough, Sign Of The Times • FOX
dick clark productions, LLC and 19 Entertainment
Travis Wall, Choreographer

World Of Dance • Routines: Dos Jueyes, El Ray Timbal • NBC
Universal Television Alternative Studio in association with Nuyorican Productions and World of Dance
Jefferson Benjumea, Choreographer
Adrianita Avila, Choreographer

Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series

Bob Hearts Abishola • Ice Cream For Breakfast • CBS
Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television
Patti Lee, ASC, Director of Photography

Family Reunion • Remember Black Elvis? • Netflix
John Simmons, ASC, Director of Photography

The Ranch • It Ain’t My Falt • Netflix
Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography

Will & Grace • Accidentally On Porpoise • NBC
Universal Television in association with KoMut Entertainment and Three Princesses and a P
Gary Baum, ASC, Director of Photography

Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (Half-Hour)

The End Of The F***ing World • Episode 2 • Netflix
Clerkenwell Films / Dominic Buchanan Productions
Benedict Spence, Director of Photography

Homecoming • Giant • Prime Video • Universal Cable Productions, LLC, Amazon Studios
Jas Shelton, ASC, Director of Photography

Insecure • Lowkey Happy • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Issa Rae Productions, Penny for Your Thoughts Entertainment and 3 Arts Entertainment
Kira Kelly, Director of Photography

Insecure • Lowkey Lost • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Issa Rae Productions, Penny for Your Thoughts Entertainment and 3 Arts Entertainment
Ava Berkofsky, Director of Photography

The Mandalorian • Chapter 7: The Reckoning • Disney+
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Greig Fraser, ASC, ACS, Director of Photography
Baz Idoine, Director of Photography

Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series (One Hour)

The Crown • Aberfan • Netflix
Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Adriano Goldman, ASC, BSC, ABC, Director of Photography

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • It’s Comedy Or Cabbage • Prime Video
Amazon Studios M. David Mullen, ASC, Director of Photography

Mindhunter • Episode 6 • Netflix
Erik Messerschmidt, Director of Photography

Ozark • Boss Fight • Netflix
Media Rights Capital
Armando Salas, ASC, Director of Photography

Ozark • Civil Union • Netflix
Media Rights Capital
Ben Kutchins, Director of Photography

Tales From The Loop • Loop • Prime Video
Fox21 Television Studios and Amazon Studios
Jeff Cronenweth, ASC, Director of Photography

Westworld • Parce Domine • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Kilter Films, Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television
Paul Cameron, ASC, Director of Photography

Cinematography For A Limited Series Or Movie

Defending Jacob • After • Apple TV+
Anonymous Content / Paramount Television Studios
Jonathan Freeman, Director of Photography

Devs • Episode 7 • FX Networks
FX Productions
Rob Hardy, BSC, Director of Photography

The Plot Against America • Part 1 • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Blown Deadline Productions, Annapurna Television, RK Films Martin Ahlgren, Director of Photography

Watchmen • Little Fear Of Lightning • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Xavier Grobet, ASC, AMC, Director of Photography

Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Gregory Middleton, ASC, CSC, Director of Photography

Cinematography For A Nonfiction Program

American Factory • Netflix
Higher Ground Productions and Participant Media
Erick Stoll, Cinematography by
Aubrey Keith, Cinematography by

Apollo 11 • CNN
CNN Films, Statement Pictures, NEON
Buzz Aldrin, Cinematography by
Michael Collins, Cinematography by

Becoming • Netflix
Higher Ground Productions
Nadia Hallgren, Cinematography by

The Cave • National Geographic
A Danish Documentary Production in co-production with Ma.Ja.De Hecat Studio Paris Madam Films Muhammed Khair Al Shami, Cinematography by
Ammar Suleiman, Cinematography by
Mohammed Eyad, Cinematography by

Sea Of Shadows • National Geographic
Terra Mater Factual Studios in association with Appian Way, Malaika Pictures and The Wild Lens Collective
Richard Ladkani, Director of Photography

Serengeti • Rebirth • Discovery Channel
XIX Entertainment and John Downer Productions
Richard Jones, Director of Photography
Michael W. Richards, Director of Photography
Warren Samuels, Director of Photography
Matthew Goodman, Director of Photography

Cinematography For A Reality Program

Cheer • Hit Zero • Netflix
One Potato Productions, Boardwalk Pictures and Caviar
Melissa Langer, Director of Photography
Erynn Patrick, Director of Photography

Life Below Zero • The New World • National Geographic
BBC Studios
Michael Cheeseman, Director of Photography
Danny Day, Director of Photography
Dwayne Fowler, Director of Photography

Queer Eye • We’re In Japan!: Japanese Holiday • Netflix
Scout Productions, Inc. and ITV Entertainment, LLC
Garrett Rose, Director of Photography

RuPaul’s Drag Race • VH1
World of Wonder Productions Michael Jacob Kerber, Director of Photography
Jon Schneider, Camera Operator
Jay Mack Arnette II, Camera Operator
Mario Panagiotopoulos, Camera Operator
Gregory Montes, Camera Operator
Brett Smith, Camera Operator
David McCoul, Camera Operator
Justin Umphenour, Camera Operator

Survivor • CBS
MGM Television
Peter Wery, Director of Photography
Scott Duncan, Director of Photography
Russ Fill, Director of Photography
Tim Barker, Camera
Marc Bennett, Camera
James Boon, Camera
Paulo Castillo, Camera
Rodney Chauvin, Camera
Luke Cormack, Camera
Lee Doig, Camera
Ben Gamble, Camera
Kevin B. Garrison, Camera
Nixon George, Camera
Rick Higgs, Camera
Derek Hoffmann, Camera
Matthias Hoffmann, Camera
Toby Hogan, Camera
Derek Holt, Camera
Efrain “Mofi” Laguna, Camera
Ian Miller, Camera
Nico Nyoni, Camera
Ryan O’Donnell, Camera
Jeff Phillips, Camera
Louis Powell, Camera
Thomas Pretorius, Camera
Erick Sarmiento, Camera
Dirk Steyn, Camera
John Tattersall, Camera
Paulo Velozo, Camera
David Alan Arnold, Director of Ariel Photography
Christopher Barker, Ariel Camera Operator
Granger Scholtz, Ariel Camera Operator
Nicholas Van Der Westhuizen, Ariel Camera Operator

Directing For A Comedy Series

The Great • The Great (Pilot) • Hulu
Civic Center Media / MRC Television
Matt Shakman, Directed by

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • It’s Comedy Or Cabbage • Prime Video
Amazon Studios
Amy Sherman-Palladino, Directed by

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Marvelous Radio • Prime Video
Amazon Studios
Daniel Palladino, Directed by

Modern Family • Finale Part 2 • ABC
Picador Productions and Steven Levitan Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Gail Mancuso, Directed by

Ramy • Miakhalifa.mov • Hulu
A24 Television
Ramy Youssef, Directed by

Schitt’s Creek • Happy Ending • Pop TV
Not A Real Company Productions, Inc.
Andrew Cividino, Directed by
Daniel Levy, Directed by

Will & Grace • We Love Lucy • NBC
Universal Television in association with KoMut Entertainment and Three Princesses and a P
James Burrows, Directed by

Directing For A Drama Series

The Crown • Aberfan • Netflix
Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Benjamin Caron, Directed by

The Crown • Cri de Coeur • Netflix
Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Jessica Hobbs, Directed by

Homeland • Prisoners Of War • Showtime
Fox21 Television Studios, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet
Lesli Linka Glatter, Directed by

The Morning Show • The Interview
Apple TV+ • Media Res
Mimi Leder, Directed by

Ozark • Fire Pink • Netflix
Media Rights Capital
Alik Sakharov, Directed by

Ozark • Su Casa Es Mi Casa • Netflix
Media Rights Capital
Ben Semanoff, Directed by

Succession • Hunting • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Andrij Parekh, Directed by

Succession • This Is Not For Tears • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and
Gary Sanchez Productions
Mark Mylod, Directed by

Directing For A Limited Series, Movie Or Dramatic Special

Little Fires Everywhere • Find A Way • Hulu
ABC Signature Studios / Hello Sunshine
Lynn Shelton, Directed by

Normal People • Episode 5 • Hulu
Hulu Originals in association with BBC
Lenny Abrahamson, Directed by

Unorthodox • Netflix
Studio Airlift and RealFilm
Maria Schrader, Directed by

Watchmen • It’s Summer And We’re Running Out Of Ice • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Nicole Kassell, Directed by

Watchmen • Little Fear Of Lightning • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Steph Green, Directed by

Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Stephen Williams, Directed by

Directing For A Variety Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show • Born At Night, But Not Last Night • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with JAX Media, 3 Arts Entertainment, Issa Rae Productions and For Better or Words Inc.
Dime Davis, Directed by

The Daily Show With Trevor Noah • Dr. Fauci Answers Trevor’s Questions About Coronavirus • Comedy Central
Central Productions, LLC
David Paul Meyer, Directed by

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • Episode 629 • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Sixteen String Jack
Productions and Avalon Television
Paul Pennolino, Directed by
Christopher Werner, Directed by

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert • Live Show; Chris Christie; Nathaniel Rateliff • CBS
CBS Television Studios
Jim Hoskinson, Directed by

Saturday Night Live • Host: Eddie Murphy • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Don Roy King, Directed by

Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready • Flame Monroe • Netflix
Push It Productions
Linda Mendoza, Directed by

Directing For A Variety Special

Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones • Netflix
Lathan TV | Pilot Boy
Stan Lathan, Directed by

62nd Grammy Awards • CBS
AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC
Louis J. Horvitz, Directed by

Live In Front Of A Studio Audience: “All In The Family” And “Good Times” • ABC
Sony Pictures Television, Act III Productions, Kimmelot, D’Arconville, Gary Sanchez Productions, Simpson Street
Pamela Fryman, Directed by
Andy Fisher, Directed by

Super Bowl LIV Halftime Show Starring Jennifer Lopez And Shakira • FOX
NFL Network
Hamish Hamilton, Directed by

73rd Annual Tony Awards • CBS
White Cherry Entertainment
Glenn Weiss, Directed by

Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program

American Factory • Netflix
Higher Ground Productions and Participant Media
Steven Bognar, Directed by
Julia Reichert, Directed by

Apollo 11 • CNN
CNN Films, Statement Pictures, NEON
Todd Douglas Miller, Directed by

Becoming • Netflix
Higher Ground Productions
Nadia Hallgren, Directed by

The Cave • National Geographic
A Danish Documentary Production in co-production with Ma.Ja.De Hecat Studio Paris Madam Films
Feras Fayyad, Directed by

The Last Dance • Episode 7 • ESPN
A Mandalay Sports Media Production in association with NBA Entertainment, ESPN
Films, Netflix
Jason Hehir, Directed by

Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem And Madness • Cult Of Personality • Netflix
A Goode Films Production in association with Library Films and Article 19 Films
Eric Goode, Directed by
Rebecca Chaiklin, Directed by

The complete list of nominees can be found here.

Directing For A Reality Program

Cheer • Daytona • Netflix
One Potato Productions, Boardwalk Pictures and Caviar
Greg Whiteley, Directed by

LEGO Masters • Mega City Block • FOX
Endemol Shine North America, Tuesday’s Child, Plan B
Rich Kim, Directed by

Queer Eye • Disabled But Not Really • Netflix
Scout Productions, Inc. and ITV Entertainment, LLC
Hisham Abed, Directed by

RuPaul’s Drag Race • I’m That Bitch • VH1
World of Wonder Productions
Nick Murray, Directed by

Top Chef • The Jonathan Gold Standard • Bravo
Magical Elves
Ariel Boles, Directed by

Music Composition For A Series (Original Dramatic Score)

The Crown • Aberfan • Netflix
Left Bank Pictures in association with Sony Pictures Television
Martin Phipps, Composer

Euphoria • Bonnie And Clyde • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Reasonable Bunch, A24, Little Lamb, Dreamcrew, ADD Content Agency | HOT | TCDY Productions
Labrinth, Composer

The Mandalorian • Chapter 8: Redemption • Disney+
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Ludwig Göransson, Composer

Ozark • All In • Netflix
Media Rights Capital
Danny Bensi, Composer
Saunder Jurriaans, Composer

Succession • This Is Not For Tears • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Nicholas Britell, Music by

Music Composition For A Limited Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score)

Hollywood • Hooray For Hollywood: Part 2 • Netflix
Nathan Barr, Composer

Little Fires Everywhere • The Spider Web • Hulu
ABC Signature Studios / Hello Sunshine Mark Isham, Composer
Isabella Summers, Composer

Mrs. America • Reagan • FX Networks
FX Productions
Kris Bowers, Score by

Unorthodox • Part 1 • Netflix
Studio Airlift and RealFilm
Antonio Gambale, Composer

Watchmen • It’s Summer And We’re Running Out Of Ice • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Trent Reznor, Music by
Atticus Ross, Music by

Original Music And Lyrics

The Black Godfather • Song Title: Letter To My Godfather • Netflix
Boardwalk Pictures and Hudlin Entertainment
Pharrell Williams, Music & Lyrics
Chad Hugo, Music & Lyrics

Euphoria • And Salt The Earth Behind You / Song Title: All For Us • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Reasonable Bunch, A24, Little Lamb, Dreamcrew, ADD Content Agency | HOT | TCDY Productions
Labrinth, Music & Lyrics

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver • Episode 629 / Song Title: Eat Sh!t, Bob • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Sixteen String Jack Productions and Avalon Television
David Dabbon, Music by
Joanna Rothkopf, Lyrics by
Jill Twiss, Lyrics by
Seena Vali, Lyrics by

Little Fires Everywhere • Find A Way / Song Title: Build It Up • Hulu
ABC Signature Studios / Hello Sunshine
Ingrid Michaelson, Music & Lyrics

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • Strike Up The Band / Song Title: One Less Angel • Prime Video Amazon Studios
Thomas Mizer, Music & Lyrics
Curtis Moore, Music & Lyrics

This Is Us • Strangers / Song Title: Memorized • NBC
20th Century Fox Television
Siddhartha Khosla, Music & Lyrics
Taylor Goldsmith, Music & Lyrics

Watchmen • This Extraordinary Being / Song Title: The Way It Used To Be • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with White Rabbit, Paramount Television, Warner Bros. Television & DC Comics
Trent Reznor, Music & Lyrics
Atticus Ross, Music & Lyrics

Original Main Title Theme Music

Carnival Row • Prime Video
Legendary Pictures TV and Amazon Studios
Nathan Barr, Theme Music by

Defending Jacob • Apple TV+
Anonymous Content / Paramount Television Studios Ólafur Arnalds, Theme Music by

Hollywood • Netflix
Nathan Barr, Theme Music by

Unorthodox • Netflix
Studio Airlift and RealFilm
Antonio Gambale, Theme Music by

Why We Hate • Discovery Channel
South Cove Productions
Laura Karpman, Theme Music by

Wu-Tang: An American Saga • Hulu
Imagine Television Studios
The Rza, Theme Music by

Guest Actor In A Comedy Series

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • It’s Comedy Or Cabbage • Prime Video
Amazon Studios
Luke Kirby as Lenny Bruce

Modern Family • Legacy • ABC
Picador Productions and Steven Levitan Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television
Fred Willard as Frank Dunphy

Modern Love • When Cupid Is A Prying Journalist • Prime Video
Amazon Studios
Dev Patel as Joshua

Saturday Night Live • Host: Adam Driver • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Adam Driver as Host

Saturday Night Live • Host: Eddie Murphy • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Eddie Murphy as Host

Saturday Night Live • SNL At Home #2 • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Brad Pitt as Dr. Anthony Fauci

Guest Actor In A Drama Series

Black Mirror • Smithereens • Netflix
House of Tomorrow
Andrew Scott as Chris Gillhaney

The Mandalorian • Chapter 8: Redemption • Disney+
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon

The Morning Show • Chaos Is The New Cocaine • Apple TV+
Media Res Martin Short as Dick Lundy

The Outsider • Fish In A Barrel • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with MRC, Civic Center Media, Pieface, Temple Hill, Aggregate Films
Jason Bateman as Terry Maitland

Succession • Dundee • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
James Cromwell as Ewan Roy

This Is Us • After The Fire • NBC
20th Century Fox Television
Ron Cephas Jones as William Hill

Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series

A Black Lady Sketch Show • Angela Bassett Is The Baddest B***h • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with JAX Media, 3 Arts Entertainment, Issa Rae Productions and For Better or Words Inc.
Angela Bassett as Mo

The Good Place • You’ve Changed, Man • NBC
Universal Television in association with Fremulon and 3 Arts Entertainment
Maya Rudolph as The Judge

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel • A Jewish Girl Walks Into The Apollo… • Prime Video
Amazon Studios Wanda Sykes as Moms Mabley

The Politician • Vienna • Netflix
A Fox21 Television Studios Production
Bette Midler as Hadassah Gold

Saturday Night Live • Host: Eddie Murphy • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Maya Rudolph as Senator Kamala Harris

Saturday Night Live • Host: Phoebe Waller-Bridge • NBC
SNL Studios in association with Universal Television and Broadway Video
Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Host

Guest Actress In A Drama Series

The Handmaid’s Tale • God Bless The Child • Hulu
MGM, Daniel Wilson Productions, The Littlefield Company, White Oak Pictures
Alexis Bledel as Emily

How To Get Away With Murder • Stay • ABC
ABC Studios
Cicely Tyson as Ophelia Harkness

Orange Is The New Black • God Bless America • Netflix
Lionsgate Television
Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset
Succession • Return • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary Sanchez Productions
Harriet Walter as Lady Caroline Collingwood

Succession • Tern Haven • HBO
HBO Entertainment in association with Project Zeus, Hyperobject Industries and Gary
Sanchez Productions
Cherry Jones as Nan Pierce

This Is Us • Flip A Coin • NBC
20th Century Fox Television
Phylicia Rashad as Carol Clarke

Actor In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series

#FreeRayshawn • Quibi
Fuqua Films / Sony Pictures Television
Laurence Fishburne as Lt. Steven Poincy

#FreeRayshawn • Quibi
Fuqua Films / Sony Pictures Television
Stephan James as Rayshawn

Most Dangerous Game • Quibi
Black Jack Films/Mayhew Pictures/Silver Reel/CBS Television Studios
Christoph Waltz as Miles Sellers

Oh Jerome, No (Cake) • FX Networks
FX Productions Mamoudou Athie as Jerome
Survive • Quibi • EMH/Gunpowder & Sky
Corey Hawkins as Paul

Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series

Dummy • Quibi
Wiip/Heller Highwater Pictures/Let’s Go Again Inc
Anna Kendrick as Cody

Flipped • Quibi
Funny or Die
Kaitlin Olson as Cricket Melfi

#FreeRayshawn • Quibi
Fuqua Films / Sony Pictures Television
Jasmine Cephas Jones as Tyisha

Razor Tongue • YouTube
Now > Ever Productions
Rain Valdez as Belle Jonas

Reno 911! • Quibi
High Sierra Carpeting / Central Productions, LLC
Kerri Kenney-Silver as Deputy Trudy Wiegel

Narrator

Black Patriots: Heroes Of The Revolution • HISTORY
Six West MediaTM Group
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Narrator

The Elephant Queen • Apple TV+
Mister Smith / Deeble & Stone
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Narrator

The Imagineering Story • The Happiest Place On Earth
Disney+ • Iwerks & Co.
Angela Bassett, Narrator

Serengeti • Destiny • Discovery Channel
XIX Entertainment and John Downer Productions
Lupita Nyong’o, Narrator

Seven Worlds, One Planet • Antarctica • BBC America
A BBC Studios Natural History Unit production co-produced with BBC America, Tencent Penguin Pictures, ZDF, France Télévisions and China Media Group CCTV9
David Attenborough, Narrator

Host For A Reality Or Competition Program

Making It • NBC
Universal Television Alternative Studio, 3 Arts Entertainment, Paper Kite Productions
Amy Poehler, Co-Host
Nick Offerman, Co-Host

Nailed It! • Netflix
Magical Elves Productions
Nicole Byer, Host

Queer Eye • Netflix
Scout Productions, Inc. and ITV Entertainment, LLC
Bobby Berk, Host
Karamo Brown, Host
Tan France, Host
Antoni Porowski, Host
Jonathan Van Ness, Host

RuPaul’s Drag Race • VH1
World of Wonder Productions
RuPaul, Host

Shark Tank • ABC
MGM Television in association with Sony Pictures Television
Barbara Corcoran, Host
Mark Cuban, Host
Lori Greiner, Host
Daymond John, Host
Robert Herjavec, Host
Kevin O’Leary, Host

Top Chef • Bravo
Magical Elves
Padma Lakshmi, Co-Host
Tom Colicchio, Co-Host

Television Movie

“American Son” • Netflix
Simpson Street

“Bad Education” • HBO
HBO Films in association with Automatik, Sight Unseen and Slater Hall Productions

“Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings: These Old Bones” • Netflix
A Warner Bros. Television Production

“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” • Netflix
Sony Pictures Television / High Bridge Productions / Gran Via Productions

“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend” • Netflix
Universal Television in association with 3 Arts
Entertainment, Little Stranger, Inc. and Bevel Gears

“Pose: Identity, Family, Community” • FX Networks
More Media Inc.
Stephanie Gibbons, Executive Producer
Sally Daws, Executive Producer
Kenna McCabe, Executive Producer
Maureen Timpa, Executive Producer
Ryan Murphy, Producer
Tanase Popa, Producer

“RuPaul’s Drag Race Out Of The Closet” • VH1
Ray Hunt, Executive Producer
Brittany Travis, Executive Producer
Joseph Gerbino, Senior Producer
Robert Dominico, Producer
Nalissa Cuthbert, Producer

A complete list of nominees can be found here.

written by Kimberly Jones

Memphis native Katori Hall is no stranger to success in the entertainment industry. Hall is an award-winning playwright best known for her hit Broadway play The Mountaintop about Martin Luther King Jr’s last night before his assassination. The Mountaintop had a successful run on Broadway and starred Hollywood heavyweights Samuel L Jackson and Angela Bassett. But Hall has switched gears and has a new title – showrunner. P-Valley, written and produced by Hall, is a drama about the highs and lows strippers face in the Mississippi Delta. The setting for the drama alone is unique, P-Valley is in a fictional town of Chucalissa Mississippi, a small dying town with abandoned buildings, houses, and storefronts. It seems like an odd place for a strip club to be located but there is so much culture in the characters. The story blends well and is an accurate representation of southern culture. From the dialogue to the music, P-Valley sheds light on parts of the South that are often overlooked. The debut episode features the song Nobody by Playa Fly, which is a Memphis anthem, and pays homage to Memphis rappers who have had a large influence the on hip-hop sound that we have today.

At the beginning of the series, Autumn (played by UK actress Elarica Johnson) is washed ashore in Houston and seems to be trying to escape her past life all while concealing her identity. She arrives in the small town looking for work, and gets a job at the Pynk strip club after an amateur night. Autumn is a rookie in need of money, so she dives in but always keeps her distance from the other girls. In flashbacks she somewhat reflects on her past life with a child and her partner. Her real story, however, is yet to be revealed. Autumn has tried to remain lowkey but cannot avoid butting heads with Mercedes, the veteran of the group, played by another Memphis native Brandee Evans (The Bobby Brown Story).

Mercedes’ bad girl attitude, amazing skills on the pole and confidence sets her apart from the other ladies at Pynk. Evans, who is a professional dancer/choreographer, does an amazing job of making Mercedes both memorable and relatable. Although Mercedes is planning to hang up her stripper boots and leave Pynk soon the rivalry with Autumn is fueled by jealousy, insecurities, and colorism. In both episodes, Autumn’s skin tone is referenced because she has fairer skin than the other ladies. Some of the clients that come into the club prefer Autumn over Mercedes and, although Autumn is inexperienced, she is making more money than her counterparts. Hall does a good job of subtly addressing colorism and how it has an effect on black women every day.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of P-Valley is Pynk’s owner Uncle Clifford (Nicco Annan Claws) a non-binary queer who identifies as she, provides comic relief and steals every single scene. Uncle Clifford’s slick mouth, loud clothes and boss attitude is just what TV has been missing and with her quick punch lines there is never a dull moment. As much as Uncle Clifford is trying to keep it a secret, she is in jeopardy of losing Pynk and is having some serious financial struggles. Her hustling skills include everything from car washes to selling hot wings seasoned with weed. There is no doubt she will figure something out.

P-Valley is in a lane of its own. The story and struggles of these women are both eccentric and intriguing. The freshman drama is a breath of fresh air for television. In a time when a lot of dramas have familiar story lines, this change is good for viewers. Hall’s vision and talented cast is a perfect combination for this newest STARZ hit.

P-Valley airs Sundays nights on STARZ.