Marking 30 Years Since Her AMAs Hosting Debut, the Legendary Artist, Actor, Producer, and Entrepreneur Will Welcome Audiences to the World’s Largest Fan-Voted Awards Show

The Star-Studded Annual Special Airs Live on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT on CBS and Paramount+

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW ON AXS

[EDITOR’S NOTE]: For assets, click HERE | For past performance clips, click HERE

Los Angeles, CA – April 6, 2026 – Today, CBS and Dick Clark Productions (DCP), the world’s largest owner and producer of televised live event entertainment programming, announced that Grammy® award-winning musician, critically acclaimed Emmy and Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actress and producer Queen Latifah will host the 52nd American Music Awards (AMAs). Queen Latifah has a longstanding history with the AMAs, previously serving as a co-host in 1995, and delivering memorable performances in the years since.

As one of music’s most anticipated nights of the year, the 52nd American Music Awards returns to CBS and Paramount+ on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25 from the world-renowned MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the largest venue in the show’s history, to honor the most influential artists and songs of today alongside unforgettable performances and special moments in a multi-genre, cross-generational celebration of music.

Tickets for the star-studded must-see show are now available on AXS. 

“I am so excited to return to the American Music Awards stage to host this year,” said Latifah. “It’s been an incredible year for music and there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.”

“We’re thrilled to welcome Queen Latifah back as host of the American Music Awards,” said Jay Penske, CEO, Dick Clark Productions. “A true powerhouse and trailblazer, she brings a dynamic presence and deep connection to both fans and fellow artists, making her the perfect choice to lead a night celebrating the biggest names and most defining moments in music.”

Queen Latifah is a Grammy-winning artist and Oscar-nominated actress whose career spans music, film, television, and production. She earned an Academy Award nomination, along with Golden Globe and SAG nominations, for her role as “Mama Morton” in Chicago, and won both a Golden Globe and SAG Award for Life Support. A trailblazer in entertainment, she became the first hip-hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 and has received seven Grammy nominations, winning Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994. Her cultural impact was further recognized with the National Medal of the Arts in 2024 and honors at the 2023 Kennedy Center Honors. Beyond acting, she has built a successful production career through Flavor Unit Entertainment, producing films and television projects including Bessie and The Perfect Holiday.

Making her big screen debut in Spike Lee’s 1991 film, Jungle Fever, Latifah then starred in Set It Off and co-starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed Living Out Loud. From 1993-1998, Latifah starred in the network comedy “Living Single.” Following Chicago, she starred in and executive-produced the box office hit Bringing Down the House. Her additional film credits include The Secret Life of Bees, alongside Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning; Neil Meron and Craig Zadan’s Hairspray; Mad Money opposite Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes; Just Wright; Joyful Noise; The Last Holiday; Beauty Shop; Girls Trip alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish; and Hustle opposite Adam Sandler. She took to the stage and small screen performing as the title character in the television musical The Wiz Live! and as “Ursula” in ABC’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

In recent years, Latifah headlined and executive produced CBS’ “The Equalizer,” which became the #1 new series in the 2020-2021 season. Looking ahead, she is set to reprise her role as “Ellie” in Ice Age: Boiling Point, continuing her long-running involvement in the popular animated franchise.

Nominations for the 52nd American Music Awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Fan voting opens the same day, April 14, and will remain open until May 8, 2026.

Additional details, including performers, presenters, and special honorees for the 52nd AMAs, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Named one of 2025’s most-watched television specials, last year’s top-rated 51st American Music Awards reached over 10 million unique viewers across its CBS and Paramount+ premiere on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, and encores on MTV, CMT, and BET. The CBS broadcast marked the show’s largest audience since 2019 with a +38% increase over its last live airing in 2022 on ABC.

Airing for the first time on Memorial Day, the 2025 AMAs kicked off summer with host Jennifer Lopez, who returned to host a decade after her AMAs hosting debut in 2015. She opened the 51st American Music Awards in spectacular fashion, delivering a non-stop, breathtaking medley of 23 of the year’s biggest hits. Performances included ICON Award recipient Janet Jackson; Alex Warren, Becky G and Manuel Turizo, Benson Boone, Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Reneé Rapp, and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Rod Stewart.

About the American Music Awards:

Celebrating the year’s most iconic music, the American Music Awards is the world’s largest fan-voted award show, honoring today’s most influential artists and their passionate fanbases.
Created by legendary producer and visionary Dick Clark and first awarded in 1974, the American Music Awards is known for delivering half a century worth of iconic performances and enduring moments that have defined and shaped pop culture, as well as a history of introducing audiences to breakthrough artists.
The American Music Awards is produced by Dick Clark Productions.

For the latest news, exclusive content, and updates, follow the AMAs:

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Threads: @AMAs

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Hashtag: #AMAs

About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation
Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY) is a leading, next‐generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct‐to‐Consumer, and TV Media. The Company’s portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS – America’s most‐watched broadcast network, CBS News, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Skydance’s Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Sports divisions. For more information please visit www.paramount.com.

About Dick Clark Productions
Dick Clark Productions (DCP) is the world’s largest owner and producer of televised live event entertainment programming including “The Golden Globes,” the largest awards show in the world to celebrate the best of film, television and podcasting, “American Music Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” the No. 1 entertainment special in America, “Golden Eve,” “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Rising Stars of Country Music,” Emmy®-winning series “So You Think You Can Dance,” and “American Bandstand,” the iconic and groundbreaking cultural phenomenon that defined a generation. Dick Clark Productions also possesses one of the world’s most extensive and unique entertainment archive libraries with more than 60 years of award-winning shows, historic specials, performances, and legendary programming. Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corporation. For more information, please visit DickClark.com

About MGM Grand Garden Arena
The MGM Grand Garden Arena is home to concerts, championship boxing and premier sporting and special events. The Arena offers comfortable seating for as many as 16,800 with excellent sightlines and state-of-the-art acoustics, lighting and sound. Prominent events to date have included world championship fights between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez as well as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao; and concerts by The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Bette Midler, George Strait, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, U2, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Jimmy Buffett and the Barbra Streisand Millennium Concert. The MGM Grand Garden Arena also has been home to annual events including the Academy of Country Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the Latin GRAMMY Awards, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Championship and Frozen Fury NHL pre-season games hosted by the Los Angeles Kings.

*Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

MEDIA APPLICATION
For more about press opportunities leading up to the show and on-site in Las Vegas, please fill out the Press Credential Application at your earliest convenience.

Media Contacts

Dick Clark Productions
Gina Sorial
gsorial@dickclark.com

CBS
Mallory Mason
Mallory.Mason@cbs.com

Victoria Saavedra
Victoria.Saavedra@paramount.com

APEX Public Relations
Andy Gelb / Elyse Weissman
AMAs@theapex-pr.com

MGM Resorts International
Scott Ghertner
sghertner@mgmresorts.com

Allyson Wadman
awadman@mgmresorts.com

QUEEN LATIFAH
Queen Latifah is a Grammy award-winning musician, critically acclaimed television and Oscar-nominated film actress, producer, label president, author and entrepreneur. Latifah has had amazing success since her career began in Hollywood and became the first hip-hop artist to be crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for her portrayal of “Mama Morton” in the feature musical CHICAGO. She also received an Emmy Award nomination, a Golden Globe win, and a SAG Award win for her role in the cable film LIFE SUPPORT. She received a National Medal of the Arts from the United States Government in 2024 and was a 2023 honoree at The 46th Kennedy Center Honors.

Making her big screen debut in Spike Lee’s 1991 film, JUNGLE FEVER, Latifah then starred in SET IT OFF and co-starred with Holly Hunter and Danny DeVito in the critically acclaimed LIVING OUT LOUD. From 1993-1998, Latifah starred in the network comedy “Living Single.” Following CHICAGO, she starred in and executive-produced the box office hit BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE. Her additional film credits include THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, alongside Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Dakota Fanning; Neil Meron and Craig Zadan’s HAIRSPRAY, MAD MONEY opposite Diane Keaton and Katie Holmes; JUST WRIGHT; JOYFUL NOISE; THE LAST HOLIDAY; and BEAUTY SHOP. She also starred in and executive-produced the cable movie adaptation of STEEL MAGNOLIAS. From 2013-2014, she was the host of “The Queen Latifah Show,” which she produced with partner Shakim Compere and Overbrook Entertainment’s Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and James Lassiter.

In May 2015, Latifah made her way back to the small screen, earning an Emmy Award nomination, Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries for her role in the cable film BESSIE, which she also produced.

In 2017, Latifah starred in the hit comedy GIRLS TRIP, alongside Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall and Tiffany Haddish. She also starred in the 2016 faith-based movie MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN, opposite Jennifer Garner, and reprised her role in ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE. Latifah also starred in the FOX hit series “Star,” which had its series finale May 2019. Additionally, she took to the stage and small screen performing as the title character in the television musical THE WIZ LIVE!, alongside Uzo Aduba, Mary J. Blige, Ne-Yo, Common and David Alan Grier.

Latifah has earned seven Grammy Award nominations, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994. In 2004, she was nominated for Best Female Rap Solo Performance for “Go Head.” In 2005, she was nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album for “The Dana Owens Album,” and in 2008, she was nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for “Trav’lin Light.”

Flavor Unit Entertainment, the production company owned and operated by Latifah and her partner Shakim Compere, was behind the hit feature comedies BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, BEAUTY SHOP, and THE PERFECT HOLIDAY. Flavor Unit also produced the films THE COOKOUT, JUST WRIGHT, and END OF THE ROAD, as well as cable films BESSIE, and LIFE SUPPORT. Together, Latifah and Compere produced THE REAL MVP: THE WANDA PRATT STORY, “The Best Place to Be,” “Curvy Style with Timothy Snell,” “The Perfect Match” and “The Rap Game.” Additionally, Flavor Unit produced the one-hour special event “Dear Mama,” which premiered on Mother’s Day, and has been renewed as an annual special.

In November of 2019, Latifah was seen as Ursula in ABC’s live-action remake of THE LITTLE MERMAID. In April 2020, she starred in the Quibi drama, WHEN THE STREET LIGHTS GO ON, and executive produced Lifetime’s THE CLARK SISTERS: FIRST LADIES OF GOSPEL which became the highest-rated original movie for Lifetime since 2016. She also headlined the Netflix sports drama HUSTLE opposite Adam Sandler along with starring and producing Ray Giarratana’s THE TIGER RISING.

Latifah most recently starred in and executive produced the CBS series reboot of “The Equalizer,” which quickly became TV’s #1 scripted series when it premiered in 2021 and ran five seasons through 2025. Next, Latifah will return as the voice of wooly mammoth “Ellie” in ICE AGE: BOILING POINT, the franchise’s 6th installment releasing on February 5th, 2027.