2011 Soul Train Music Awards
The 2011 Soul Train Music Awards was aired on November 27, 2011 on BET and Centric. The award ceremony was hosted by comedian and actor Cedric the Entertainer. The ceremony included special tributes to Gladys Knight and Earth Wind & Fire, both honorees received the Soul Train Legend Award. A special tribute performance was dedicated in memory of hip hop artist Heavy D, which include Doug E. Fresh, Kurtis Blow, and Whodini, Common and Naughty by Nature.
Special awards
Legend Award – Female
- '''Gladys Knight'''
Legend Award – Male
- '''Earth Wind & Fire'''
Winners and nominees
Winners are in bold text.Album of the Year
Chris Brown – F.A.M.E.- * Adele – 21
- * Beyoncé – 4
- * Jay Z and Kanye West – Watch the Throne
- * Jill Scott – The Light of the Sun
- * Trey Songz – ''Passion, Pain & Pleasure''
Song of the Year
Kelly Rowland – "Motivation"- * Adele – "Rolling in the Deep"
- * Chris Brown – "She Ain't You"
- * Miguel – "Sure Thing"
- * Jill Scott – "So in Love"
- * Kanye West – "All of the Lights"
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award
Marsha Ambrosius – "Far Away"- * Written by: Marsha Ambrosius and Sterling Simms
- Adele – "Rolling in the Deep"
- * Written by: Adele and Paul Epworth
- Beyoncé – "Best Thing I Never Had"
- * Written by: Antonio Dixon, Kenneth Edmonds, Larry Griffin, Jr., Beyoncé Knowles, Caleb McCampbell, Patrick "J. Que" Smith and Shea Taylor
- Michael Jackson – "Hold My Hand"
- * Written by: Aliaune Thiam, Giorgio Tuinfort and Claude Kelly
- Raphael Saadiq – "Good Man"
- * Written by: Raphael Saadiq and Taura Stinson
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
CeeLo GreenBest R&B/Soul Female Artist
Jill ScottBest New Artist
MiguelCentric Award
Raphael SaadiqBest Hip-Hop Song of the Year
Nicki Minaj – "Moment 4 Life"- * Chris Brown – "Look at Me Now"
- * Lupe Fiasco – "Out of My Head
- * Jay Z and Kanye West – "Otis"
- * Kanye West – "All of the Lights"
Best Gospel Performance
Mary Mary – "Walking"- * James Fortune – "I Believe"
- * Kirk Franklin – "I Smile"
- * Trin-i-tee 5:7 – "Heaven Hear My Heart"
- * CeCe Winans – "More"
Best Dance Performance
Beyoncé – "Run the World (Girls)"- * Chris Brown – "She Ain't You"
- * Keri Hilson – "Pretty Girl Rock"
- * Mary Mary – "Walking"
- * Rihanna – "What's My Name?"
- * Kelly Rowland – "Motivation"
CENTRICTV.com Awards
Best Soul Site
- '''Necole Bitchie'''
Best Caribbean Performance
Rihanna – "Man Down"- * Vybz Kartel – "Summertime"
- * Kes – "Wotless"
- * Mavado – "Dililah"
- * Machel Montano – "Bend Over"
Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Cassandra Wilson – Silver Pony- * Terri Lyne Carrington – The Mosaic Project
- * Kevin Eubanks – Zen Food
- * The Marsalis Family – Music Redeems
- * Lizz Wright – ''Fellowship''
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group
Dave Koz – Hello Tomorrow- * Boney James – Contact
- * Foreplay – Let's Touch the Sky
- * Michael Franks – Time Together
- * Paul Hardcastle – ''Hardcastle IV''
Performers
- The Original 7ven
- Melanie Fiona
- Miguel
- Mindless Behavior
- Lloyd
- Gladys Knight
- Keith Sweat
- Earth, Wind & Fire
- Anthony Hamilton
- BeBe Winans
Tribute performers
; Heavy D Tribute; Earth Wind & Fire Tribute
- Zap Mama
- Miguel
- Musiq Soulchild
- Lalah Hathaway
- Boney James
- Eric Benét
- Joe
- Robin Thicke
- CeeLo Green
- Stokley Williams
- Tamar Braxton
- Dave Hollister
- Kenny Lattimore
- Freddie Jackson
- Chrisette Michelle
- Marsha Ambrosius
- Mary Mary
- Natalie Cole