Queen Latifah will return to host the 2024 NAACP Image Awards, which are set to air live on Saturday (March 16) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Latifah also hosted last year’s show. This year’s event will be held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, where the show took place from 2006-13.
Latifah, 53, won a Grammy for best rap solo performance in 1995 for “U.N.I.T.Y.” and a Primetime Emmy in 2015 for outstanding television movie as an executive producer of the HBO movie Bessie, in which she portrayed blues legend Bessie Smith. She received an Oscar nomination in 2003 for best supporting actress for playing the fictional Matron “Mama” Morton in Chicago. Last year, she became one of the youngest recipients to date of the Kennedy Center Honors. She is the star and executive producer of The Equalizer, which is in its fourth season on CBS.
Poet, writer and activist Amanda Gorman, 25, best known for her poem “The Hill We Climb,” which she delivered at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration, will be honored with the Chairman’s Award during the live broadcast. The Chairman’s Award is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their platforms to create change. Past honorees from outside the realm of politics include Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Dee, Danny Glover, Rev. James Lawson and Tyler Perry.
Creative director and costume designer June Ambrose, 52, will receive the Vanguard Award at the NAACP Image Awards Fashion Show on Friday (March 15). Ambrose’s many accomplishments include costume designing for Hype Williams’ film Belly and styling such hip-hop icons as Missy Elliott and Jay-Z.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with groundbreaking megastar Queen Latifah and are elated to welcome her again as this year’s host!,” Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming and music strategy at BET, said in a statement. “We also look forward to honoring changemaker and poet Amanda Gorman and fashion icon June Ambrose for their tremendous impact on culture.”
The 55th NAACP Image Awards will premiere live on March 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. NAACP will also recognize winners in non–televised Image Awards categories from March 11-13 on www.naacpimageawards.net, during the awards dinner on March 14 and aforementioned Fashion Show on March 15.
