Hudson, Knowles, Dawson & Diggs Among Winners at NAACP Awards

The "Dreamgirls" were big hits at tonight's NAACP Awards ceremony. The AP reports that Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson both waltzed away with trophies Thursday and wowed the audience with individual performances during the 40th annual NAACP Image Awards.

Knowles won the female artist category while Husdon picked up the new artist award. They co-starred in the 2006 film Dreamgirls.

"This is where we come from," Hudson said, accepting the trophy. "So it's always an honor to come home and feel welcome and to feel the love. I really cherish this and appreciate it."

Along with Beyonce and Hudson, will.i.am and Seal performed on stage at the Shrine Auditorium ceremony, which was hosted by actress Halle Berry and actor-screenwriter Tyler Perry. The show coincides with the 100th anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and kicks off a year-long centennial celebration.

The Secret Life of Bees won for motion picture. Grey's Anatomy won for TV drama. ABC's A Raisin in the Sun, which starred Sean Combs, Saana Lathan, Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, and Sean Patrick Thomae nabbed the prize for Outstanding Television Movie, Miniseries or Special,

Several of the winners were awarded before the live ceremony, including Chandra Wilson from Grey's Anatomy for actress in a drama series, Columbus Short from Cadillac Records for supporting actor in a motion picture and singer-actor Jamie Foxx for male artist.

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.