The cast of "Precious" at the NAACP Image Awards. (from left) Director Lee Daniels, Mo'Nique, Gabourey Sidibe and Paula Patton. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

The NAACP Image awards aired live on the Fox network Friday (Feb. 26). Highlights from the show are posted below in the Associated Press article.  Click here to view the photo gallery. Click here for a complete list of winners.

ASSOCIATED PRESS via NewsOK.

It was a winning night for “Precious” at the 41st NAACP Image Awards.

The heart-wrenching tale of an illiterate and abused teen who finds hope in a Harlem classroom was named outstanding motion picture and outstanding independent film at Friday’s ceremony. Stars Mo’Nique and Gabourey Sidibe, screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher and director Lee Daniels also won.

Daniels excitedly accepted the best-picture prize, surrounded by his cast and fellow producers.

“No one in Hollywood told me they wanted to see a movie about a 350-pound black woman with HIV,” he said.

Sidibe objected, and Daniels corrected himself: “She’s not 350 pounds. This was before you were hired.”

Former "Cosby Show" actress Keshia Knight Pulliam won the award for best supporting actress in a comedy. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

The director twice told the orchestra to stop playing him off, but Daniels was ultimately cut off as gospel duo Mary Mary took the stage and the show came to a close.

Presented by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Image Awards honor diversity in the arts and outstanding achievements in film, television, music and literature.

Sidibe cried as she accepted the award for outstanding actress in a motion picture for her starring turn as Precious, the overweight, twice-pregnant teen who discovers her self-worth through reading and writing.

“It’s so awesome to win! I love winning,” said the Oscar nominee, who made her acting debut with this film. “I want to thank my God for ordering my steps, for everything that my life was and everything that it is now.”

Fellow Oscar nominee Mo’Nique, who has swept the supporting actress prize throughout Hollywood’s awards season for her moving turn as abusive mother Mary Jones, added another trophy to her collection with the Image Award for her role in “Precious.”

“For all the Mary Joneses, I love you unconditionally, baby,” she said. “For all the Preciouses, I love you unconditionally. Let’s start loving each other again.”

Other winners Friday included Keri Hilson, Maxwell, “Brothers” star Daryl “Chill” Mitchell and Chris Rock.

Hilson was named outstanding new artist, Maxwell won for male artist, Mitchell took the award for actor in a comedy series and Rock accepted the documentary award for his film “Good Hair.”

Mitchell was moved to tears as he accepted his trophy.

“As long as you all got legs, I’m going to always walk,” the wheelchair-bound actor said.

Rock said he wasn’t prepared for his documentary win.

“I made this movie just for black people,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of documentaries, and I said I want the blackest movie of all time.”

Tyler Perry was honored with the Chairman’s Award for his philanthropy and career achievements. Wyclef Jean received the Vanguard Award for raising funds and cultural awareness after the earthquake in Haiti. Human-rights activist Van Jones received the President’s Award.

Music mogul Clarence Avant was inducted into the Image Awards Hall of Fame at the ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium, which was hosted by Anika Noni Rose and Hill Harper and broadcast live on Fox.

(AP Photo by Peter Kramer and Andy Kropa)

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will host the 82nd Academy Awards next year. 

This will be Martin’s third time to host the show, and Baldwin’s first time.  I’m not surprised that Martin was selected.  Although I’m not fond of his brand of comedy, at least some people think he’s funny. 

I find it odd that Baldwin was chosen though.  I had no idea anyone thought he was funny.

The show will air March 7 on the ABC network.

Tim McGraw said his daughters learned a lesson from Kanye West. 

In an interview with CMT, Tim McGraw said Kanye “shows himself to be an idiot every time he does stuff like that.  My girls were upset. But what he did do is provide a great example of how not to be, and my girls learned a big lesson.”

McGraw also said “when they weren’t looking I said,”He needs an a** whoopin.”

I agree Kanye does need a whoopin of some sort, and he was extremely rude and disrespectful toward Taylor Swift. 

But I think it’s time to move on.  He apologized to Taylor, and Taylor said he was gracious, she accepted his apology, and it’s in the past.

If Taylor has moved on, maybe we all should move on and let it go. Myself included.

The controversy involving Kanye West’s and Taylor Swift’s incident at the MTV Video Music Awards has penetrated the walls of the White House.

During an interview with CNBC, President Barack Obama called Kanye a “jackass” when asked about his thoughts on the ingredient. 

He said “I thought that was really inappropriate.  He’s a jackass.”

Although I agree Kanye was a “jackass” for rudely interrupting Taylor Swift’s speech, I was surprised the president of the United States weighed in on this issue. 

Since he’s juggling health care, fixing our terrible economy and managing a war overseas, who knew he had time to fit the Taylor Swift and Kanye West discussion into his busy schedule.

In Obama’s defense, he made the comment BEFORE the interview actually began, and he was unaware that it was going to be recorded.  He assumed it was off-the-record. 

TMZ obtained a leaked version of the audiotape, and the off-the-record transcript is posted below.

Interviewer: Were your girls as hacked off as mine were that Kanye gave Taylor Swift the Joe Wilson treatment?

Obama: “I thought that was really inappropriate. You know it was like she’s getting an award. Why are you butting in? I hear you. I agree with you.”

Interviewer: So does that count as the first question?

Obama: “The young lady seems like a perfectly nice person. She’s getting her award. What’s he doing up there? He’s a jackass. No, now this… all this stuff, I’m assuming all this stuff. Where’s the pool? Come on guys. Cut the president some slack. I got a lot of other stuff on my plate. Yeah. Cause I remember last time it was the fly thing.”

Interviewer: No that worked out well for you. You were a ninja.

Obama: Except PETA.

Leno asked Kanye about the MTV Video Music Awards incident where he snatched the microphone and interrupted country singer Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.

Jay Leno also asked about what Kanye’s deceased mother would have thought about the incident.  The clip is posted below.

The move will be theaters Nov. 20.  The full-length preview clip is posted below.

In a statement posted on his blog, Kanye said “I’m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom,” he wrote. “I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would’ve said. She is very talented! I like the lyrics about being a cheerleader and she’s in the bleachers! I’m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment!”

“”Beyoncé’s video was the best of this decade!!!! I’m sorry to my fans if I let you guys down!!!! I’m sorry to my friends at MTV. I will apologize to Taylor 2mrw. Welcome to the real world!!!! Everybody wanna booooo me but I’m a fan of real pop culture!!! No disrespect but we watchin’ the show at the crib right now cause … well you know!!!! I’m still happy for Taylor!!!! Boooyaaawwww!!!! You are very very talented!!! I gave my awards to Outkast when they deserved it over me … That’s what it is!!!!!!! I’m not crazy y’all, i’m just real. Sorry for that!!! I really feel bad for Taylor and I’m sincerely sorry!!! Much respect!!!!!”

The video clip of Kanye interruping Taylor is posted below.

However, toward the end of the show when Beyonce won an award, Beyonce let Taylor come on stage to speak and finish giving her acceptance speech. 

The video clip is posted below.

The clip of the video tribute is posted below.

The movie will feature behind-the-scenes footage of Michael preparing for his 50-concert engagement that was scheduled to take place in London. 

Of course, he died before the tour began.  But the footage will be featured in the movie.  The preview of the film aired for the first time during the MTV Video Music Awards. 

The preview clip is posted below.

While Taylor was giving an acceptance speech, Kanye West walked on stage, grabbed her microphone, and said Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time.  Kanye was disappointed because Taylor won. 

It was highly disrespectful of Kanye to interrupt Taylor’s acceptance speech.  It was Taylor’s moment to shine, and Kanye ruined it. 

Beyonce has plenty of MTV awards sitting at home in her trophy case.  It’s okay if Taylor wins one trophy.  The video clip of the incident is posted below.