'Glee,' Nicki Minaj, Justin Timberlake Score NAACP Image Nominations

Nicki Minaj's sexy-yet-quirky image has made her one of the most recognizable faces in hip-hop — a fact that was not overlooked by the organizers of the 42nd NAACP Image Awards. The "Roman's Revenge" rapper is among a diverse array of stars who received nominations Wednesday morning (January 12) for the awards show. The event, which is backed by the NAACP civil-rights organization, hands out trophies for achievements by people of color and lauds work that encourages social change.

Minaj is vying for Outstanding New Artist alongside Bruno Mars, Jason Derülo, B.o.B and Willow Smith. Cee Lo, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Ne-Yo and Usher make up the Outstanding Male Artist nominees, while Chrisette Michele, Corinne Bailey Rae, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna and Sade are up for Outstanding Female Artist.

John Legend and the Roots' joint project of soul covers, Wake Up!, is vying for Outstanding Album alongside Yeezy's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Smokey Robinson's Now and Then, Usher's Raymond v. Raymond and Sade's Soldier of Love.

Newbie pop star Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" clip will face off against a slew of visuals from R&B heavyweights in the Outstanding Music Video category, which includes Sade's "Soldier of Love," Alicia Keys' "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)," Beyoncé's "Why Don't You Love Me" and Maxwell's "Fistful of Tears."

On the television side, Fox's smash jam-fest "Glee" scored a nod for Outstanding Comedy Series, facing off against NBC's "30 Rock," ABC's "Modern Family" and TBS' "Are We There Yet?" and "Tyler Perry's House of Payne." "Glee" star Amber Riley nabbed an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination alongside Anna Deavere Smith from "Nurse Jackie," Keshia Knight Pulliam from "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," Sofia Vergara from "Modern Family" and Viola Davis from Showtime's "United States of Tara." Fox's other musical juggernaut, "American Idol," is nominated for Outstanding Reality Series, facing competition from the CW's "America's Next Top Model," ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and BET's "Sunday Best." The joint BET, CMT and MTV presentation "A Conversation With President Obama" also scored a nod for Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) alongside "Anderson Cooper 360" on CNN, the syndicated "Judge Mathis Show" and the TV One programs "Unsung" and "Washington Watch With Roland Martin."

2010 offerings from multifaceted filmmaker Tyler Perry dominated the film nominees. The ensemble drama "For Colored Girls" and the romantic dramedy "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" are both vying for Outstanding Motion Picture. The Queen Latifah vehicle "Just Wright," the postapocalyptic action flick "The Book of Eli" and the progressive family drama "The Kids Are All Right" round out the category. All the stars nominated for Outstanding Support Actress in a Motion Picture appeared in Perry-helmed projects, which includes Anika Noni Rose, Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad and Whoopi Goldberg for "Colored Girls" and Jill Scott for "Why Did I Get Married Too?"

Other notable nominations include Justin Timberlake's Outstanding Support Actor nod in a Motion Picture for his turn in "The Social Network" and an Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture look for the Smith family's other superstar spawn, Jaden, for "The Karate Kid."

A complete list of nominations can be found on the NAACP Image Awards website; the event airs March 4 on Fox.