Queen Latifah will host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, the host herself revealed on CBS Mornings.
The 52-year-old rapper and actress, who was spotted with her son Rebel at a Harlem Globetrotters basketball game in Brooklyn on Sunday, will host the event which will air live on BET at 8 p.m. on Saturday, February 25 from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.
The ceremony will also be simulcast on Paramount Global Networks, including BET Her, CBS, CMT, Comedy Central, Logo, MTV, MTV2, Paramount Network, Pop TV, Smithsonian, TV Land and VH1.
BET and NAACP also announced a host of hosts, including stars like Zendaya, Janelle Monae, Kerry Washington, and Jonathan Majors.
Other presenters include Brian White, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Damson Idris, Taye Diggs, Harold Perrineau, Issa Rae, Janelle James, Letitia Wright, Morris Chestnut, Ms. Pat, the NAACP President, Derrick Johnson, the President of the NAACP, Leon W. Russell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Terrence Howard, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Host: Queen Latifah will host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, the host revealed on CBS Mornings
Host: BET and the NAACP also announced a host of hosts, including stars like Zendaya, Janelle Monae, Kerry Washington, and Jonathan Majors.
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“It is an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year that we celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop,” Latifah said in a statement.
‘This is a night to celebrate Black excellence and the Black contribution to our industry and beyond. Celebrating each other, cheering each other on and you know we’ll have fun doing it!’ she added.
‘Queen Latifah is one of the most influential and iconic voices of our generation. We are excited to collaborate with the innovative megastar as host of the 54th NAACP Image Awards,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.
“As always, we look forward to partnering with the NAACP to celebrate Black creativity and ingenuity in an unforgettable night of Black excellence that will inspire, entertain and empower viewers around the world,” added Orlando.
“This year’s NAACP Image Awards will be an incredible celebration, highlighting the top accomplishments of political leaders, artists, activists and other changemakers,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.
“It will also be a night that shows how our community can come together and impact each other and the world in a positive way,” he added.
The NAACP Awards kicked off its first set of awards Monday, with Beyonce taking home awards for Outstanding Album for Renaissance, Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song (Cuff It).
Rihanna won Best Music Video/Visual Album for Lift Me Up from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, which also won Best Soundtrack/Compilation Album.
Hip-hop: “It is an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year that we celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop,” Latifah said in a statement.
Excellence: ‘This is a night to celebrate Black excellence and Black contribution to our industry and beyond. Celebrating each other, cheering each other on and you know we’ll have fun doing it!’ she added
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Other first night winners included Quavo and Takoff’s Hotel Lobby winning Best Hip-Hop/Rap Song, Chris Brown winning Best Male Artist for Breezy, while Chris Brown feat. Wizkid won Best Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for Call Me Every Day.
Also taking home awards on the first night were Tems taking home Best International Song for No Woman No Cry, while Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge won Best Jazz Album – Instrumental for JID014 (Jazz is Dead).
Erica Campbell won Best Gospel/Christian Song for Positive, Maverick City Music and Kirk Franklin won Best Gospel/Christian Album for Kingdom Book One and Silk Sonic won Best Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) for Love’s Train.
There will also be a virtual ceremony on Tuesday and Wednesday, plus an in-person ‘reception and fashion show’ on Thursday and an in-person dinner on Friday.
The Activist of the Year Award will go to Dr. Derrick Lee Foward, President of the NAACP Dayton Unit and Vice President of the Ohio NAACP, who has been a strong advocate for civil and human rights for nearly two decades through of his work with the NAACP.
The Youth Activist of the Year award will go to Bloomington-Normal NAACP Youth Council President Bradley Ross Jackson, who helped organize a 1,000-person peaceful protest to demand justice for the murder of George Floyd, one of the largest demonstrations held in Bloomington. , Indiana.
Other honorees include U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) who will be honored with the prestigious President’s Award, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump will receive the Social Justice Impact Award, and Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade will receive the President’s Award Award.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever leads all nominees in the motion picture categories with 12 nominations, with Abbott Elementary leading the way on the television side with nine nominations.
Winner: Other first night winners included Quavo and Takoff’s Hotel Lobby winning Best Hip-Hop/Rap Song, Chris Brown winning Best Male Artist for Breezy, while Chris Brown feat. Wizkid won Best Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) for Call Me Every Day