Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson bag top music honours at 40th NAACP Image Awards

Washington, Feb 13 (ANI): Singers Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson have both bagged prizes at the 40th National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Image Awards in Los Angeles.

Beyonce, who opened the show with her song Halo, picked up the award for outstanding female artist and Oscar-winner Hudson won the outstanding new artist award, reports Contactmusic.

While accepting the award, the 'Spotlight' singer, who also walked away with the Best Album nod, said, "This is where we come from. So it's always an honour to come home and feel welcome and to feel the love. I really cherish this and appreciate it."

In the movie categories, Will Smith and Rosario Dawson were named Outstanding Actor and Actress, respectively, for their turns in 'Seven Pounds'.

The event was hosted by actress Halle Berry and actor-screenwriter Tyler Perry.

The main list of winners is as follows:

Outstanding Female Artist - Beyonce Knowles

Outstanding Male Artist - Jamie Foxx

Outstanding New Artist - Jennifer Hudson

Best Album - Jennifer Hudson (Jennifer Hudson)

Outstanding Actor - Will Smith (Seven Pounds)

Outstanding Actress - Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds)

Supporting Actor - Columbus Short (Cadillac Records)

Supporting Actress - Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button)

Best Film - The Secret Life Of Bees

Independent Motion Picture - Slumdog Millionaire

Outstanding Director - Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Secret Life Of Bees)

Writing In A Motion Picture - Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)

Outstanding Drama Series - Grey's Anatomy

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series - Hill Harper (CSI: New York)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series - Chandra Wilson (Grey's Anatomy)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series - Taye Diggs (Private Practice)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - Angela Bassett (ER)

Writer in a Drama Series - Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy)

Best Comedy TV Series - Tyler Perry's House of Payne

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series - LeVan Davis (Tyler Perry's House of Payne)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series - Tracee Ellis Ross (Girlfriends)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series - Lance Gross (Tyler Perry's House of Payne)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series - Keshia Knight Pulliam (Tyler Perry's House of Payne)

Reality Series - American Idol

Talk Series - The View

2009's President's Award - Muhammad Ali

Vanguard Award - Russell Simmons (ANI)