Tasha Cobbs Leonard Wins First-Ever NAACP Image Award for Critically Acclaimed Album ‘TASHA’

Tasha Cobbs Leonard has earned the Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album accolade for her critically acclaimed studio debut TASHA at the 57th NAACP Image Awards during night two of the virtual pre-show – marking the powerhouse vocalist's first-ever win at the prestigious ceremony. This monumental achievement follows a breathtaking recent performance at the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony (watch here) and a historic, barrier-breaking late-night appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! alongside EGOT-winner John Legend (watch here). Billboard’s Gospel Artist of the Decade has had an unrivaled year, adding this milestone NAACP Image Award to a season that included two 2026 GRAMMY nominations and multiple #1 chart placements.

TASHA represents a turning point in Cobbs Leonard’s illustrious career. Her first-ever studio album—following over a decade of #1 live projects—weaves gospel, hip-hop, pop, bluegrass, and R&B into a deeply personal, genre-blending body of work. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Top Gospel Albums, while its breakout centerpiece, the soul-stirring duet “Church” featuring John Legend, hit #1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart. The project has drawn widespread critical acclaim, landing Cobbs Leonard on the cover of The New York Times Arts section, which praised the album as a "bold expansion of sound," alongside accolades from Good Morning America, PEOPLE, Billboard, Essence, and more.

With over 5 billion career streams and now her first NAACP Image Award for this career-defining project, Tasha Cobbs Leonard continues to break boundaries and cement her status as one of the most powerful, versatile, and essential voices in music.