The 2012 Soul Train Music Awards were held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 25, 2012.^[1] 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.

• New Edition

Winners are in bold text.^[1]

• Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
  • Eric Benét – The One
  • R. Kelly – Write Me Back
  • Nas – Life is Good
  • Usher – Looking 4 Myself

• Tyrese – "Stay"
  • Estelle – "Thank You"
  • John Legend (featuring Ludacris) – "Tonight (Best You Ever Had)"
  • Trey Songz – "Heart Attack"
  • Usher – "Climax"
  • Wale (featuring Miguel) – "Lotus Flower Bomb"

• John Legend (featuring Ludacris) – "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

• Miguel
  • Trey Songz
  • Robin Thicke
  • Tyrese
  • Usher

• Beyoncé
  • Mary J. Blige
  • Keyshia Cole
  • Estelle
  • Fantasia
  • Rihanna
  • Elle Varner

• Elle Varner
  • Robert Glasper
  • J. Cole
  • Luke James
  • Emeli Sandé

• Leah LaBelle
  • Gary Clark, Jr.
  • Daley
  • Santigold
  • Esperanza Spalding
  • Rihanna

• Kanye West (featuring Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz) – "Mercy"
  • 2 Chainz (featuring Drake) – "No Lie"
  • Nas – "Daughters"
  • Wale (featuring Miguel) – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
  • Young Jeezy (featuring Ne-Yo) – "Leave You Alone"

• Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
  • Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
  • Nicki Minaj – "Starships"
  • Rihanna – "Where Have You Been"
  • Usher – "Scream"

• Sean Paul – Tomahawk Technique
  • Jimmy Cliff – Rebirth
  • Cover Drive – Bajan Style
  • Damian Marley – SuperHeavy
  • Matisyahu – Spark Seeker
  • Rihanna - Where Have You Been

• Estelle – "Thank You"
  • Daley (featuring Marsha Ambrosius) – "Alone Together"
  • Rebecca Ferguson – "Nothing's Real but Love"
  • Gotye (featuring Kimbra) – "Somebody That I Used to Know"
  • Emeli Sandé – "Next to Me"
  • Amy Winehouse – "Our Day Will Come"
  • Rihanna - Where Have You Been

• 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

• Esperanza Spalding – Radio Music Society
  • Brian Culbertson – Dreams
  • Ben Tankard – Full Tank
  • Peter White – Here We Go
  • Cassandra Wilson – Another Country

• 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

The Soul Train Awards were taped on November 8 and aired on BET and Centric on November 25, 2012.

• BET Official website