Michael Jackson posthumous Soul Train Entertainer of 2009

Late King of Pop, Michael Jackson will be honored posthumously at the forthcoming 2009 Soul Train Music Awards.

Slated to be honored for his contributions to music through exemplary showmanship, Jackson will be recognized with a special Entertainer of the Year Award during a November 3 ceremony in Atlanta.

Noted as the first Soul Train Awards ceremony to take place in over two years, Jackson's honor comes right on the heels of a revamped show under the newly launched network Centric. No stranger to the Soul Train stage, Michael Jackson and much of the Jackson family made appearances on Soul Train programming at the start of their careers. Notably performing "I Want You Back" in 1972, the Jackson 5 garnered attention for their showmanship -- even as teenagers (with Michael being 13 years old at the time).

The 2009 Soul Train Awards will also honor the longstanding careers and musical influences of legendary artists Chaka Khan, L.A. Reid, Charlie Wilson and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds through special music tributes.

Beyonce, Jazmine Sullivan, Maxwell, Mary Mary, Robin Thicke, Whitney Houston, Raphael Saadiq are among this year's nominees in categories including Album of the Year and Best Collaboration (see nominees list below)

As previously reported, the 2009 Soul Train Awards will air Sunday, November 29 at 9pm on Centric.

2009 Soul Train Award Nominees

BEST NEW ARTIST
Drake
Jazmine Sullivan
Keri Hilson
Ryan Leslie
Solange

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE
Beyonce
Chrisette Michele
Jennifer Hudson
Ledisi
Whitney Houston

BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE
Charlie Wilson
Maxwell
Musiq Soulchild
Raphael Saadiq
Robin Thicke

SONG OF THE YEAR
"God in Me" - Mary Mary
"Pretty Wings" - Maxwell
"Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)" - Beyonce
"Spotlight" - Jennifer Hudson
"Turnin Me On" - Keri Hilson/ ft Lil Wayne

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Beyonce - I am... Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music
Jamie Foxx - Intuition (Platinum) J Records
Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak (Platinum) Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
Maxwell - Blacksummer's Night (Gold) Sony Music
Ne-Yo - Year of the Gentleman

RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)
Beyonce - "Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)"
Drake - "Best I ever had"
Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain - "Blame it"
Keri Hilson - "Knock You Down"
Maxwell - "Pretty Wings"

BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
Movado
Sean Paul
Serani
Taurus Riley
Ziggy Marley

CENTRIC AWARD - SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND
Corneille
Eric Roberson
Laura Izibor
Maysa
The Knux

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP
BeBe and CeCe Winans - "Close To You"
Fred Hammond f/charlie P Kee - "They That Wait"
Marvin Sapp - "Praise Him in Advance"
Mary Mary - "God In Me"
Smokie Norful - "Justified"

BEST COLLABORATION
Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - "Knock you Down"
Keyshia Cole featuring Monica - "Trust"
Mario featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett - "Break up"
Mary Mary featuring Kierra (KiKi) Sheard - "God In Me"
Trey Songz featuring Drake - "Successful"

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Michael Jackson

MJSTAR... / Thanks Paul mjcool!