Queen Latifah will be returning to host this year’s NAACP Image Awards, where Amanda Gorman and June Ambrose will also be honored during the broadcast.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with groundbreaking megastar Queen Latifah and are elated to welcome her again as this year’s host,” said Connie Orlando, evp of specials, music programming & music strategy at BET 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.”
Latifah previously hosted the ceremony in 2023, when Angela Bassett won Entertainer of the Year. This year, Gorman will be receiving the Chairman’s Award for her exemplary public service and her use of her platform to create positive change. Past recipients of this award include notable figures such as U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Samuel L. Jackson, and the late U.S. Congressman John Lewis.
“Amanda Gorman stands as one of the brightest young voices in our nation and has emerged as a formidable force inspiring a new generation of leaders towards transformative change through her advocacy efforts and poetic brilliance,” said Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors.
June Ambrose will be honored with the Vanguard Award for her contributions to fashion and design, particularly in her role as the creative director of Puma.
“The Color Purple” leads this year’s NAACP Image Award nominations with 16 nods, followed by “A Thousand and One” and “Creed III” with seven each, and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” with six.
“The NAACP Image Awards is an important celebration for our community and industry every year,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “We get the opportunity to highlight the major accomplishments of artists, writers, entertainers, activists, and other change-makers that push Black excellence forward in a powerful way.”
The 55th NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast live on Saturday, March 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT on BET and CBS. Winners in non-televised categories will be recognized during an Awards Dinner on March 14th and a Fashion Show on March 15th.
