NEW YORK -- The second annual SOUL TRAIN AWARDS gears up for a highly anticipated show on Wednesday, November 10 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in metropolitan Atlanta, GA. Hosted by Oscar-nominated actors Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson, the 2010 SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will premiere on both CENTRIC and BET on Sunday, November 28 at 9:00 PM*. Grammy-award winning R&B superstar R. Kelly will open the show with a dynamite performance, followed by today's hottest artists Ne-Yo, Cee-lo, Keyshia Cole, Rick Ross, Erykah Badu, Eric Benet, Chrisette Michele, Lalah Hathaway, Faith Evans, Janelle Monae, Gyptian, Freddie Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, Tamia, and Tank who will light up the stage with performances and never-before seen collaborations to honor the best in Soul Train and this year's Legend Award recipients Anita Baker and Ron Isley. The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS is produced by Sunseeker Media and directed by Jonathan X, in collaboration with BET Event Productions. Paxton Baker, CENTRIC Executive Vice President and General Manager, Tami Willis-Arasli, CENTRIC Vice President of Specials and Music Programming; Bart Phillips, Sunseeker Media; and Soul Train Holdings' Kenard Gibbs, and Anthony Maddox will all be the executive producers of the network telecast.
SOUL TRAIN AWARDS '10 NOMINEES AND CATEGORIES BEST NEW ARTIST BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE Fantasia Mary J. Blige SONG OF THE YEAR BEST HIP HOP SONG OF THE YEAR "Everything To Me" - Monica "Love The Way You Lie" - Eminem feat. Rihanna "There Goes My Baby" - Usher "B.M.F. (Blowin Money Fast)" - Rick Ross feat. Styles P "Un-Thinkable(I'm Ready)" – Alicia Keys "Your Love" – Nicki Minaj "Soldier Of Love" - Sade "Find Your Love" - Drake "Nothing On You" – B.o.B. feat. Bruno Mars "Shutterbugg" – Big Boi feat. Cutty "I Got Your Back" – T.I. feat. Keri Hilson BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE ALBUM OF THE YEAR Alicia Keys – The Element Of Freedom Usher – Raymond vs. Raymond Sade – Soldier of Love Drake – Thank Me Later Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two-Return of the Ankh BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD CENTRIC AWARD Jesse Boykins III Dwele Dondria Corrine Bailey Rae Janelle Monae LEGENDS AWARDS BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE Anita Baker Rihanna, "Rude Boy" Ron Isley Ne-Yo, "Beautiful Monster" Usher, "OMG" Janelle Monae f/ Big Boi, "Tightrope" Ciara, "Ride" BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP RECORD OF THE YEAR Fantasia – "Bittersweet" (Charles Harmon, Claude Kelly, Michael Mentore) El Debarge - "Second Chance" (songwriters: El Debarge & Mischke) Drake –"Find Your Love" (songwriters: Bhasker, J; Graham, A; Reynolds, P; West, Kanye) R.Kelly – "When A Women Loves" (songwriter R. Kelly) Alicia Keys – "Un-Thinkable(I'm Ready)" (songwriters: Keys, Aubrey Graham, Brothers, Noah "40" Shebib)
The SOUL TRAIN AWARDS will recognize the achievements of today's best entertainers in 12 categories. Entertainment heavyweights Alicia Keys and Usher are leading the pack with 4 individual nominations across multiple categories. Alicia Keys' nominations include Best R&B/Soul Artist Female, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Record of the Year. Usher gets nominations in Best R&B/Soul Artist Male, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Dance Performance. Drakeis closely behind with 3 nominations (Best Hip Hop Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Record of the Year) and is followed by 2 nominations for artists Monica, Ne-Yo, B.O.B., Nicki Minaj, Dondria, Erykah Badu, Fantasia, Janelle Monae, andSade.