The 2023 NAACP Image Awards will be led by royalty: Queen Latifah has signed on to host this year’s show, which is set to air live February 25 on BET. Deadline confirmed the news.
“It’s an honor to host the 54th NAACP Image Awards, especially in the year we are celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop,” said Queen Latifah. “This is a night to celebrate Black excellence and Black contribution to our industry and beyond. Celebrating one another, lifting each other up and you know we’ll have fun doing it!”
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET added, “Queen Latifah is one of our generation’s most influential and iconic voices. We are excited to collaborate with the groundbreaking megastar as she hosts the 54th NAACP Image Awards. As always, we look forward to partnering with NAACP to celebrate Black creativity and ingenuity for an unforgettable night of Black excellence that will inspire, entertain, and empower viewers worldwide.”
Currently starring on CBS’ “The Equalizer,” Queen Latifah received an Oscar nom in 2003 for “Chicago.”
“The Woman King” and “Abbott Elementary” are among this year’s nominees .”Euphoria’s” Zendaya, “The Woman King’s” Viola Davis, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s” Angela Bassett, Oscar-nominated actress and singer Mary J. Blige, and “Abbott Elementary’s” Quinta Brunson are in for the running for the Entertainer of the Year award.
Presenters include Zendaya, “Insecure” alumna Issa Rae, and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery actress Janelle Monáe.
