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Queen Latifah kicked her away 2026 american music awards Put on an unforgettable monologue performance fit for royalty.
The 56-year-old rapper and actor opened the awards show, which took place on Monday, May 25, at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“I have to say, it feels great to be back here after 31 years doing the AMAs,” Latifah said as she addressed the crowd. “Do you believe it? Some of the people in BTS weren’t even born yet, it’s crazy. Black people don’t crack baby! If you told me 31 years ago that I would be back on that stage with a bunch of awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a career that transitioned me from music to movies, I probably would have looked at you and said, ‘Who do you call a trailblazer?'”
She also shared a message honoring the country’s veterans as the ceremony took place on Memorial Day.
This is not the first time Latifah has hosted an AMA. She has previously been with tom jones and Lori Morgan During the January 1995 awards ceremony.
Celebrities hit the 2026 American Music Awards red carpet in stunning looks for one of the hottest events of the year. A-list stars took to the bright lights of Las Vegas to give us some serious fashion inspiration in honor of the star-studded awards show at MGM Garden Arena on Monday, May 25(…)
“I am thrilled to be returning to the American Music Awards stage to host this year’s ceremony,” she said in a press release in April. “It’s been an incredible year for music, and there’s no better place to celebrate than in Las Vegas.”
CEO of Dick Clark Productions Jay Penske She is equally excited about Latifah’s return to hosting duties after 31 years.
“We are delighted to welcome Queen Latifah once again as host of the American Music Awards,” Penske said at the time. “She is a true powerhouse and trailblazer who brings a dynamic presence and deep connection to fans and other artists, making her the perfect choice for a night celebrating music’s biggest names and most defining moments.”
While Latifah has focused more on her acting career in recent years, she is also known for her influential hip-hop career. Nearly two decades after her latest studio album was released in 2009 personashe told exclusively US Weekly In May 2025, she “found my pen again.”
“We’ll see what happens,” she teased Possibility of returning to music. “I’m very open. I’d love to deal with rap artists. And rock artists.”
Although Latifah admits that “a lot of music is different now than when she started in the 1980s,” she is willing to experiment with her sound.
“I wanted to do some house music. I’ve been making house music since the first album,” she explains. “I definitely want to get into that area and have more fun. I could do reggae. I mean, I feel like I could get into a lot of stuff — and more jazz, of course.”
As for possible collaborations, Latifah listed several pop artists she hopes to work with at some point in the future.
“i love Dojiyi. I would do anything with Doechii,” she told us. “She’s cool. She sounds like someone from my era. Of course, she draws on all the great rappers of my era, and her stuff is stellar. She can do no wrong in my eyes.”
After joining Megan Thee Stallion At Coachella 2025, Latifah noted, “We didn’t make a record together, so that’s always fun.”
Latifah is also eager to work with studios Missy Elliott Again following their 2009 single “Fast Car”.
“I would love to work with Missy again,” she shared. “[Missy and I]have a couple of records that haven’t been released in years. I have a lot of music that I haven’t released that I need to release. I’ve done about half of the collaborations that I wanted to do.”