2012 Soul Train Music Awards
The 2012 Soul Train Music Awards were held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25, 2012. The show was hosted by actor/comedian Cedric the Entertainer. Performers included New Edition, Miguel, Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, Tyrese, Elle Varner, John Legend, 2 Chainz, Stevie Wonder, Eddie Levert, Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Anthony Hamilton, and Marcus Canty. The evening also featured a tribute to the late Soul Train creator Don Cornelius.
Special awards
Lifetime Achievement Award
- '''New Edition'''
Winners and nominees
Winners are in bold text.Album of the Year
Frank Ocean – Channel Orange- * Eric Benét – The One
- * R. Kelly – Write Me Back
- * Nas – Life is Good
- * Usher – ''Looking 4 Myself''
Song of the Year
Tyrese – "Stay"- * Estelle – "Thank You"
- * John Legend – "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
- * Trey Songz – "Heart Attack"
- * Usher – "Climax"
- * Wale – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award
John Legend – "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"- * Written by: Allen Arthur, Christopher Bridges, Keith Justice, Miguel Pimentel, Clayton Reilly and John Stephens
- Estelle – "Thank You"
- * Written by: Arden Altino, Akene Dunkley, Jerry Duplessis, Doug F. Edwards, Thomas D. Richardson and Aliaune Thiam
- R. Kelly – "Share My Love"
- * Written by: Robert Kelly
- Nas – "Daughters"
- * Written by: Nasir Jones, Ernest D. Wilson, Patrick Adams, Gary DeCarlo, Dale Frashuer and Paul Leka
- Usher – "Climax"
- * Written by: Usher Raymond IV, Sean Fenton, Thomas Pentz and Ariel Rechtshaid
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
MiguelBest R&B/Soul Female Artist
BeyoncéBest New Artist
Elle VarnerCentric Award
Leah LaBelleBest Hip-Hop Song of the Year
Kanye West – "Mercy"- * 2 Chainz – "No Lie"
- * Nas – "Daughters"
- * Wale – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
- * Young Jeezy – "Leave You Alone"
Best Dance Performance
Beyoncé – "Love on Top"- * Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
- * Nicki Minaj – "Starships"
- * Rihanna – "Where Have You Been"
- * Usher – "Scream"
CENTRICTV.com Awards
Best Caribbean Performance
Sean Paul – Tomahawk Technique- * Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
- * Cover Drive – Bajan Style
- * Damian Marley – SuperHeavy
- * Matisyahu – Spark Seeker
- *Rihanna - ''Where Have You Been''
Best International Performance
Estelle – "Thank You"- * Daley – "Alone Together"
- * Rebecca Ferguson – "Nothing's Real but Love"
- * Gotye – "Somebody That I Used to Know"
- * Emeli Sandé – "Next to Me"
- * Amy Winehouse – "Our Day Will Come"
- *Rihanna - ''Where Have You Been''
Best Traditional Jazz Artist/Group
Tony Bennett – Isn't It Romantic? Robert Glasper – Black Radio- * Chris Botti – Impressions
- * Melody Gardot – The Absence
- * Kenny Garrett – ''Seeds from the Underground''
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist/Group
Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society- * Brian Culbertson – Dreams
- * Ben Tankard – Full Tank
- * Peter White – Here We Go
- * Cassandra Wilson – ''Another Country''
Performers
- New Edition
- Miguel
- Keyshia Cole
- John Legend
- Tyrese
- Ne-Yo
- 2 Chainz
- Stevie Wonder
- Elle Varner
- Eddie Levert
- Charlie Wilson
- Fantasia
- Marcus Canty
- Anthony Hamilton