Awards
Academy Awards7 nominated
- Nominated1986Best Original Song · Miss Celie's Blues
- Nominated1986Best Picture · The Color Purple
- Nominated1986Best Original Score · The Color Purple
- Nominated1979Best Original Song Score · The Wiz
- Nominated1969Best Original Song · For Love of Ivy
- Nominated1968Best Original Song · The Eyes of Love
- Nominated1968Best Original Score · In Cold Blood
Primetime Emmy Awards1 won
- Won1977Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) · Roots
Other awards22 won · 2 nominated
- Won2025Academy Honorary Award: Academy Honorary Award
- Won2021Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame: Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame
- Won2016Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical: Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical
- Won2014Spingarn Medal: Spingarn Medal
- Won2013Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Won2012Global Citizen Awards: Global Citizen Awards
- Won2010National Medal of Arts: National Medal of Arts
- Won2008California Hall of Fame: California Hall of Fame
- Won2008NEA Jazz Masters: NEA Jazz Masters
- Won2002Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards: Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
- Won2001Marian Anderson Award: Marian Anderson Award
- Won2000National Humanities Medal: National Humanities Medal
- Won1999honorary doctor of the University of Miami: honorary doctor of the University of Miami
- Won1996MusiCares Person of the Year: MusiCares Person of the Year
- Won1995Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Won1991Grammy Legend Award: Grammy Legend Award
- Won1989Grammy Trustees Award: Grammy Trustees Award
- Won1986Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance: Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance · We Are the World
- Won1986Grammy Award for Record of the Year: Grammy Award for Record of the Year · We Are the World
- Won1986Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award: Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award
- Nominated1985Grammy Award for Best R&B Song: Grammy Award for Best R&B Song · Yah Mo B There
- Won1984Grammy Award for Record of the Year: Grammy Award for Record of the Year · Beat It
- Won1979Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella: Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella · The Wiz
- Nominated1968Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media · In the Heat of the Night
Awards from Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.