Queen Latifah Talks Hosting the 2026 AMAs: ‘All Roads Lead Back to Music for Me’
Categoria: Musica
The charismatic performer has fronted five major awards ceremonies. She's a natural.
Por Billboard | 20/05/2026
When Queen Latifah takes the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host the American Music Awards on Monday (May 25), she’ll become the first person ever to have solo-hosted both the Grammys and the AMAs. She hosted the Grammys in 2005. If you add in performers who solo-hosted the Grammys and co-hosted the AMAs, you pick up two more names – Kenny Rogers and LL Cool J . Related Here’s the Full List of Performers Announced So Far for the 2026 American Music Awards Taylor Swift Leads 2026 American Music Awards Noms, With Olivia Dean, sombr & More Nipping at Her Heels Karol G to Receive the International Artist Award of Excellence, Perform at 2026 American Music Awards The personable Queen Latifah has solo-hosted several other shows: the BET Awards in 2010, the NAACP Image Awards in 2023-24 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2024. Latifah is also set to be a coach on The Voice this fall, alongside Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson and Riley Green. “All roads lead back to music for me,” she told Billboard on Tuesday (May 19). “Everything I’ve done in my career, it all started with music.” The 52nd American Music Awards are set to air live coast-to-coast on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+. Taylor Swift is this year’s most nominated artist with eight nods, followed by Morgan Wallen , Olivia Dean , Sabrina Carpenter and sombr with seven each. Billy Idol will receive this year’s lifetime achievement award and deliver his first-ever AMAs performance. Karol G will perform and receive the international artist award of excellence. Other performers include Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, New Kids on the Block, Riley Green, sombr, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor, The Pussycat Dolls + Busta Rhymes and Twenty One Pilots. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. The American Music Awards are produced by Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Eldridge Industries and Billboard parent company Penske Media. What makes a good host? I’ve seen big singers, big names, who just don’t have it. It’s a particular skill. What does it take? I think you just have to be able to relate to an audience. I know a lot of really huge stars who are pretty camera-shy. They can be still quite shy when it comes to relating to people, and definitely a room full of people. I think you have to be able to allow for a certain amount of spontaneity, because it’s live and you don’t know what might happen. So you sort of have to feel comfortable at the helm. Rehearsal — you gotta be able to read and rehearse. To me, I feel much more comfortable when I know everything that’s gonna happen, and I feel like I’ve changed the words that don’t sound like things that would come out of my mouth and made it my own. I think it’s important for anybody who’s hosting the show to