If you remember Queen Latifah co-hosting the American Music Awards back in 1995 (alongside Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan, no less), you will love this news. She is coming back.
CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced on April 7 that Queen Latifah, 56, will host the 52nd annual American Music Awards. The show airs live on May 25, 2026, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. You can watch it on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.
The singer and actress (born Dana Owens) had plenty to say about the announcement.
“I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year. It’s been an incredible year for music, and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”
Jay Penske, CEO of Dick Clark Productions, warmly welcomed her back. He called her “a true powerhouse and trailblazer” with “a dynamic presence and deep connection to both fans and fellow artists.”
This will be her second time in the host’s chair. She also appeared on the AMAs stage in 2008, when she performed “Superwoman” alongside Alicia Keys and Kathleen Battle.
Nominations for this year’s show will be announced on April 14. Fan voting opens that same day and runs through May 8. More details about performers, presenters, and special honorees are coming in the weeks ahead.
Away from the awards circuit, Latifah is also working on a biopic produced by her company Flavor Unit Entertainment, along with Will Smith’s Westbrook Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment. She is also set to return as Ellie in Ice Age: Boiling Point, due out in 2027.
It has been more than 30 years since she first took that hosting stage. Some things just get better with time.