OWN To Premiere Essence Black Women In Hollywood Awards

The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will air the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards ceremony, featuring esteemed nominees such as Danielle Brooks and Halle Bailey.

Mark your calendars! The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will premiere the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Awards on March 15.

The 17th annual event, which occurred March 7, will highlight the accomplishments of its Black women honorees, according to Winfrey. This year’s ceremony, hosted by multifaceted entertainer Method Man, celebrates and champion the Black women who have become trailblazers in Hollywood.

Held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the ceremony features four honorees who have contributed to the elevation of Black women in entertainment. Oscar-nominated and Grammy-winning actress Danielle Brooks will be honored alongside six-time Grammy nominee and Little Mermaid actress Halle Bailey. Both women were dominant forces in front of the camera last year, as part of the star-studded cast of 2023’s The Color Purple.

As for the women on the business and writing side, acclaimed showrunner and screenwriter Nkechi Okoro Carroll, known for her work on All-American: Homecoming and Found, and Kathryn Busby, president of original programming for STARZ, will take the stage.

Upon the announcement, the honorees were featured in a campaign for Essence to commemorate the occasion. They spoke with the publication about their triumphant rise, and what it means to be celebrated for their hard work.

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“It’s really healed something within myself as a young Black woman to be able to play an iconic character [who] didn’t necessarily look like me,” shared Bailey, who also welcomed her first child last year.

“It is so exciting to see the breadth of what we can deliver, to share the beautiful Black experience with the world,” expressed Busby, who has been a powerhouse in entertainment for over three decades.

The 90-minute feature, including red carpet arrivals, will premiere on OWN and will be available to stream on MAX.