This article lists the winners and nominees for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album. This award has been given since the 1988 ceremony and since its conception, Beyoncé holds the record for most wins in this category with five, including winning for the soundtracks to Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture. Whitney Houston holds the record for most consecutive wins with three, winning for the soundtracks to The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale and The Preacher's Wife back to back to back.
Winners and nominees Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
1980s Year Artist Album Ref 1988 Michael Jackson Bad Pebbles Pebbles Kool Moe Dee How Ya Like Me Now Keith Sweat Make It Last Forever Stevie Wonder Characters 1989 Anita Baker Giving You the Best That I Got Gerald Albright Bermuda Nights Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly Silky Soul Soul II Soul Keep On Movin' Various Artists Do the Right Thing
1990s Year Artist Album Ref 1990 Quincy Jones Back on the Block 1991 colspan="3" 1992 Luther Vandross Power of Love Boyz II Men Cooleyhighharmony Stevie Wonder Jungle Fever Natalie Cole Unforgettable... with Love Various Artists New Jack City 1993 Various Artists Boomerang 1994 Whitney Houston The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album 1995 colspan="3" 1996 Whitney Houston Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album Brandy Brandy TLC CrazySexyCool Boyz II Men II Quincy Jones Q's Jook Joint 1997 Whitney Houston The Preacher's Wife: Original Soundtrack Album Prince Emancipation Maxwell Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite Curtis Mayfield New World Order Fugees The Score 1998 Various Artists Soul Food 1999 Lauryn Hill The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Mariah Carey #1's Whitney Houston My Love is Your Love Brandy Never Say Never Kirk Franklin The Nu Nation Project
2000s Year Artist Album Ref 2000 Various Artists The Best Man Eric Benét A Day in the Life Mary J. Blige Mary Quincy Jones From Q with Love TLC FanMail 2001 Stevie Wonder At the Close of a Century Toni Braxton The Heat Natalie Cole Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 Joe My Name is Joe Jill Scott Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 2002 Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor Aaliyah Aaliyah India Arie Acoustic Soul Michael Jackson Invincible Jill Scott Experience: Jill Scott 826+ 2003 Kirk Franklin The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin India Arie Voyage to India Nelly Nellyville Musiq Soulchild Juslisen Various Artists Brown Sugar 2004 Luther Vandross Dance with My Father Mary J. Blige Love & Life R. Kelly Chocolate Factory Alicia Keys The Diary of Alicia Keys OutKast Speakerboxxx/The Love Below 2005 Prince Musicology Destiny's Child Destiny Fulfilled Queen Latifah The Dana Owens Album Usher Confessions 2006 Mariah Carey The Emancipation of Mimi Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough Alicia Keys Unplugged Various Artists So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Kanye West Late Registration 2007 Various Artists Dreamgirls: Music from the Motion Picture Beyoncé B'Day Mary J. Blige Reflections: A Retrospective John Legend Once Again Corinne Bailey Rae Corinne Bailey Rae 2008 Alicia Keys As I Am Mary J. Blige Growing Pains Chris Brown Exclusive Seal System Kanye West Graduation 2009 Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Hudson Beyoncé I Am... Sasha Fierce Ne-Yo Year of the Gentleman Seal Soul Kanye West 808 & Heartbreak
2010s Year Artist Album Ref 2010 Mary J. Blige Stronger with Each Tear Mariah Carey Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Jay Z The Blueprint 3 Alicia Keys The Element of Freedom Maxwell BLACKsummers'night 2011 John Legend and The Roots Wake Up! Smokey Robinson Now and Then Sade Soldier of Love Usher Raymond vs. Raymond Kanye West My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy 2012 Jennifer Hudson I Remember Me Beyoncé 4 Chris Brown F.A.M.E. Lupe Fiasco Lasers Jill Scott The Light of the Sun 2013 Whitney Houston I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston Chuck D, Herbie Hancock, will.i.am and Nikki Yanofsky On the Shoulders of Giants Michael Jackson Bad 25 Alicia Keys Girl on Fire Elle Varner Perfectly Imperfect 2014 Charlie Wilson Love, Charlie John Legend Love in the Future Janelle Monáe The Electric Lady Robin Thicke Blurred Lines Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience 2015 Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics Beyoncé Beyoncé: Platinum Edition Toni Braxton and Babyface Love, Marriage & Divorce Jennifer Hudson JHUD Pharrell Williams GIRL 2016 Jill Scott Woman Empire Cast Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1 Janet Jackson Unbreakable The Weeknd Beauty Behind the Madness Charlie Wilson Forever Charlie 2017 Beyoncé Lemonade Chance the Rapper Coloring Book Anthony Hamilton What I'm Feelin' Kendrick Lamar Untitled Unmastered Solange A Seat at the Table 2018 Kendrick Lamar Damn Mary J. Blige Strength of a Woman JAY-Z 4:44 Brian McKnight Genesis Charlie Wilson In It to Win It 2019 Ella Mai Ella Mai Janelle Monáe Dirty Computer MAJOR. Even More The Carters Everything Is Love H.E.R. I Used to Know Her: The Prelude
2020s Year Artist Album Ref 2020 Beyoncé Homecoming: The Live Album Lizzo Cuz I Love You H.E.R. I Used to Know Her Fantasia Sketchbook India Arie Worthy 2021 Jhené Aiko Chilombo Alicia Keys Alicia Brandy B7 John Legend Bigger Love Ledisi The Wild Card 2022 Jazmine Sullivan Heaux Tales Silk Sonic An Evening with Silk Sonic H.E.R. Back of My Mind Drake Certified Lover Boy Giveon When It's All Said and Done... Take Time 2023 Beyoncé Renaissance Ari Lennox Age/Sex/Location Chris Brown Breezy (Deluxe) Kendrick Lamar Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers PJ Morton Watch the Sun 2024 Victoria Monét Jaguar II Summer Walker Clear 2: Soft Life EP Drake For All the Dogs Burna Boy I Told Them... Janelle Monáe The Age of Pleasure 2025 Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Doechii Alligator Bites Never Heal PJ Morton Cape Town to Cairo Usher Coming Home GloRilla Glorious 2026 Cardi B Am I the Drama? Giveon Beloved Clipse, Pusha T, Malice Let God Sort Em Out Leon Thomas Mutt Deluxe: Heel SZA SOS Deluxe: Lana
Multiple wins and nominations Wins
5 wins Beyoncé (Includes Dreamgirls Soundtrack winning in 2007) 4 wins Whitney Houston
2 wins Jennifer Hudson Alicia Keys
Nominations
8 nominations Beyoncé
7 nominations Alicia Keys
6 nominations Mary J. Blige
5 nominations Whitney Houston
4 nominations John Legend Jill Scott Kanye West
3 nominations Brandy Chris Brown H.E.R. Jennifer Hudson India Arie Michael Jackson Kendrick Lamar Janelle Monáe Usher
2 nominations Toni Braxton Mariah Carey Drake Giveon PJ Morton Seal Luther Vandross Charlie Wilson
References