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
Miguel
Trey Songz
Robin Thicke
Tyrese
Usher
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Keyshia Cole
Estelle
Fantasia
Rihanna
Elle Varner
Best New Artist
Elle Varner
Robert Glasper
J. Cole
Luke James
Emeli Sandé
Centric Award
Leah LaBelle
Gary Clark, Jr. Daley Santigold Esperanza Spalding Rihanna
Best 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? (tie) Robert Glasper – Black Radio (tie) 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
Telecast
The Soul Train Awards were taped on November 8 and aired on BET and Centric on November 25, 2012.