Industry

Queen Latifah on Hosting AMAs, New Music, and Being a Taylor Swift Fan

Queen Latifah returns to host the American Music Awards on Monday night for the first time since 1995. She also discusses releasing new music this year and her appreciation for Taylor Swift's "great, catchy songs."

Variety Music·May 25, 2026·via Variety Music

Queen Latifah on Hosting AMAs, New Music, and Being a Taylor Swift Fan

- Home - Music - Awards

May 25, 2026 10:00am PT

Queen Latifah on Hosting the American Music Awards, Releasing New Music This Year and Being a Taylor Swift Fan: ‘She Makes Really Great, Catchy Songs That We Love’

By Marc Malkin

Plus Icon

Marc Malkin

Senior Editor, Culture and Events

marcmalkin

Latest

- Zendaya Says Filming ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ With Tom Holland Was Like a ‘Family Affair’: ‘I Get to Go to Work Every Day With My Best Friend, the Person That I Love’ 4 days ago

- Billy Eichner on Wanting His ‘Real Voice’ to Be Heard in ‘Extremely Personal’ Audio-Only Memoir and ‘People Begging’ Him to Bring Back ‘Billy on the Street’ 4 days ago

- NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff Exits After Seven Years, Search Underway for Replacement (EXCLUSIVE) 5 days ago

See All

- - - - - -

- - - - - - -

Queen Latifah is getting ready to host the American Music Awards on Monday night. The last and only time she hosted was back in 1995 as part of trio that included Tom Jones and country singer Lorrie Morgan.

“It’s been a long time, but it was exciting then and It’s exciting now,” Latifah tells me. “I’m just a little bit different person, but you know, we still gotta make get it popping like we did then.”