LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� The 56th kicked off Saturday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, with host Deon Cole honoring Altadena residents who were affected by a recent Los Angeles-area wildfire.
Cole then shifted tone and brightened the mood with a comedic prayer for Kanye West's wife to find more clothes after her barely-there Grammys look and for Shannon Sharpe to finally size up his T-shirts.
The opening act was a lead-up to the evening's first award: Queen Latifah as best actress in a drama series, for her role in 鈥淭he Equalizer.鈥�
The ceremony took place in Pasadena, just south of the Altadena area, and video of last month's fire devastation played before actor Morris Chestnut took the stage.
鈥淗omes were lost, stores destroyed, countless lives shattered and over two dozens souls gone forever,鈥� said Chestnut, a Los Angeles native who referenced impacted areas such as Altadena, the Pacific Palisades and Malibu. He said 22 Altadena residents attended the show, panning towards them as many in the audience stood up and applauded.
鈥淏ut what was not lost is the spirit of our community,鈥� Chestnut said.
Former Vice President was to be honored during the ceremony, receiving the prestigious Chairman鈥檚 Award, and the was to be inducted into the NAACP Awards Hall of Fame.
Here is what you need to know about the awards show, including how to watch or stream live, entertainer of the year nominees and more details on featured honorees.
Why is Kamala Harris being honored?
Harris, defeated by in last year鈥檚 presidential election, was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as vice president. She had previously been a U.S. senator from California and the state鈥檚 attorney general.
In a statement, Harris was called a 鈥渇orce of change鈥� by Leon W. Russell, chair of the NAACP鈥檚 national board of directors. He said the show would celebrate her 鈥渞elentless dedication to justice, equality, and the betterment of our society.鈥�
Other winners of the Chairman鈥檚 prize have included former President , the late Rep. and the late actor .
Who will be inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame?
The Wayans family 鈥� Keenen Ivory Wayans, Sr., Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Kim Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. 鈥� whose impact on film, TV, sketch and stand-up comedy has shaped Hollywood on and off screen, were each being recognized.
Some of the their credits include the sketch comedy series 鈥淚n Living Color,鈥� created by Keenan Ivory Wayans in 1990, and Damon Wayans' starring role in the 1995 comedy 鈥淢ajor Payne.鈥�
Keenan Ivory Wayans also directed the 2000 slasher spoof 鈥淪cary Movie,鈥� written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who also wrote and starred in 鈥淲hite Chicks鈥� in 2004. Father-son duo Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. currently co-star in the CBS sitcom 鈥淧oppa鈥檚 House.鈥�
Damon Wayans Jr. has acted in two of the most critically acclaimed comedies in recent years: 鈥淗appy Endings鈥� and 鈥淣ew Girl.鈥� Kim Wayans, a comedian, actor and director, also received praise for her work in the 2011 drama 鈥淧ariah.鈥�
鈥淧oppa鈥檚 House鈥� was nominated for an NAACP Award, as were Damon Wayons and Damon Wayons Jr. for their acting on the show. Marlon Wayans鈥� guest appearance on Peacock鈥檚 鈥淏el-Air鈥� was also up for an award.
Who was up for entertainer of the year?
The top nominees for the coveted honor included Kendrick Lamar, Cynthia Erivo, Keke Palmer, Kevin Hart and Shannon Sharpe.
Lamar won over the masses for his rap battle with Drake, leading to chart-topping dis tracks including 鈥淣ot Like Us,鈥� which won him five Grammys. earlier this month.
Erivo, who made her presence felt in her Oscar-nominated performance in 鈥淲icked,鈥� will be the .
Sharpe, an NFL Hall of Famer, became an influential voice in media with his podcast 鈥淐lub Shay Shay鈥� and 鈥淣ightcap,鈥� with Chad Ochocinco Johnson.
Hart showed off his comedic talents during 鈥淭he Roast of Tom Brady鈥� and starred in 鈥淟ift and Borderlands.鈥�
Palmer starred in the buddy comedy 鈥淥ne of Them Days," which debuted No. 1 at the box office last month. She won an Emmy for her hosting efforts on N小蓝视频's 鈥淧assword.鈥�
What else can you expect?
Dave Chappelle was to be honored with the president's award for his 鈥渢hought-provoking humor,鈥� according to Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO.
Chappelle will be the first comedian to receive the honor. Past recipients include Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Usher, Rihanna and John Legend.
DJ D-Nice was to honor music legend the late Quincy Jones, and Grammy winner Ledisi was set to perform alongside the Adam Blackstone Band.
Jonathan Landrum Jr., The Associated Press
