Knowles and Hudson Shine at NAACP Awards

Superstars Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson have walked away with the top music honours at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (Naacp) Image Awards in Los Angeles.

Knowles kicked off the 40th annual ceremony on Thursday with a rousing performance of her new track, Halo, before picking up the award for Outstanding Female Artist.

Hudson was named Outstanding New Artist at the glitzy event, which came just days after her Grammy Award win at the weekend.

Accepting the statuette, 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."

Jamie Foxx beat off competition from troubled singer Chris Brown to land the nod for Outstanding Male Artist at the event, which was hosted by Halle Berry and Tyler Perry.

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

Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson won Supporting Actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Columbus Short earned the Supporting Actor nod for Cadillac Records.

The Secret of Life of Bees won Outstanding Film of the Year and Danny Boyle's critically acclaimed movie Slumdog Millionaire landed the Independent Motion Picture prize.

In the television categories, Tyler Perry's House of Payne landed four trophies including Outstanding Comedy Series, Best Actor for LeVan Davis, Supporting Actor for Lance Gross and Supporting Actress for Keshia Knight Pulliam.

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.