Beyonce scores nine NAACP Image Awards nominations

Singer Beyonce is set for a big night at the NAACP Image Awards next year (17) after landing nine nominations.

The Drunk in Love singer is a favorite to pick up the coveted Entertainer of the Year - a category in which she'll compete with actresses Viola Davis, Regina King, action man Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Chance the Rapper. She has also received a nod in the Outstanding Female Artist category, alongside her sister Solange, Alicia Keys, Fantasia, and K. Michelle.

Beyonce and Solange will also battle it out for Outstanding Album - the 35-year-old is nominated for Lemonade and Solange has picked up a mention for A Seat At The Table. Chance the Rapper's Coloring Book, Kendrick Lamar's untitled unmastered, and Anthony Hamilton's What I'm Feeling are also included in the category.

Beyonce is also up for Outstanding Song - Contemporary, with two nods for Formation and Freedom, alongside Bruno Mars (24K Magic), Common and Bilal (Letter to the Free), and Sounds of Blackness (Royalty), while Anthony Hamilton, Bruno Mars, Chance the Rapper, Kendrick Lamar, and Maxwell are all up for Outstanding Male Artist.

Meanwhile, Fences, Hidden Figures, Loving, Moonlight, and The Birth of a Nation will compete in the Outstanding Motion Picture category, and Fences' Denzel Washington will face off against Miles Ahead's Don Cheadle, The Birth of a Nation's Nate Parker, Race's Stephan James, and Collateral Beauty's Will Smith for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

London has Fallen's Angela Bassett, Queen of Katwe's Madina Nalwanga, Loving's Ruth Negga, Hidden Figures' Taraji P. Henson, and Southside with You's Tika Sumpter will battle it out for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture.

The Image Awards will take place on 11 February (17) and will be hosted by actor Anthony Anderson.