Elle Varner, Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys Among NAACP Image Award Nominees

Chart-topping superstars Elle Varner, Bruno Mars and Alicia Keys nabbed three nominations apiece in various music categories for the 2013 NAACP Image Awards. The annual event honors diversity and excellence in the fields of music, television, literature and film.

Varner's nominations include Outstanding New Artist and Outstanding Album for 'Perfectly Imperfect.' Meanwhile, Keys is up for Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding Music Video ('Girl on Fire') and Outstanding Album ('Girl on Fire'). Along with a nod for Outstanding Male Artist, Mars receives two mentions for his song 'Locked Out of Heaven' in both the Outstanding Video and Song categories.

The late Whitney Houston also garnered two posthumous mentions -- one for her song 'I Look to You' (Featuring R. Kelly) and the other for her greatest hits album 'I Will Always Love You: The Best of Whitney Houston.'

Other nominees include Kem, Estelle, Lupe Fiasco, Usher, Miguel and Trey Songz.

NBC will air the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards live from Los Angeles on Feb. 1 at 8 p.m. ET. Check out the rest of nominees in the music categories below!

Outstanding New Artist
Elle Varner
Gary Clark, Jr.
Lianne La Havas
Melanie Amaro
The OMG Girlz

Outstanding Male Artist
Bruno Mars
Lupe Fiasco
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher

Outstanding Female Artist
Alicia Keys
Elle Varner
Estelle
Missy Elliott
Tamela Mann

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration
Chuck D, Johnny Juice, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock
fun. feat. Janelle Monae
Lupe Fiasco feat. Guy Sebastian
Mary Mary
Ne-Yo, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Rzeznik, Delta Rae, Natasha Bedingfield

Outstanding Music Video
'Adorn,' Miguel
'Girl On Fire,' Alicia Keys
'Locked Out Of Heaven,' Bruno Mars
'This Christmas,' Cee Lo Green
'You're On My Mind,' KEM

Outstanding Song
'Be Mine for Christmas,' KEM
'Glorify the King,' KEM
'I Look To You,' Whitney Houston and R. Kelly
'Locked Out Of Heaven,' Bruno Mars
'You're On My Mind,' KEM

Outstanding Album
'Bad - 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition,' Michael Jackson
'Girl On Fire,' Alicia Keys
'I Will Always Love You: The Best Of Whitney Houston,' Whitney Houston
'On the Shoulders of Giants - The Soundtrack,' Chuck D, Will.i.am, Herbie Hancock, Nikki Yannofsky
'Perfectly Imperfect,' Elle Varner