Queen Latifah to Be Honored at 46th Kennedy Center Ceremony

How fitting that during the celebration of 50 years of Hip-Hop, Queen Latifah will be the first female rapper to be honored by the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. I personally can not think of anyone more fitting.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, but raised in East Orange, Dana Elaine Owens released her debut album at the tender age of 19. Under Tommy Boy Records, Queen Latifah released “All Hail The Queen,” which was an ode to empowering Black women — a common subject for Latifah. Over the years, Queen Latifah’s impact has been unmatched. She starred on the hit television series ‘Living Single’ and has several box office films under her belt, deeming her one of the Queens of Rom-Com.

Queen Latifah branched out of Hip-Hop in 2004 with the release of her jazz /soul album, The Dana Owens Album — further displaying the tremendous talent she possessed.

Over her storied career, Latifah has won one Grammy Award from six total nominations, a Golden Globe Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, two NAACP Image Awards and the BET Lifetime Achievement Award. She was the first female Hip-Hop artist to be nominated for an Academy Award.

The 46th Kennedy Center Honors will take place at the Washington D.C. establishment’s Opera House venue. The ceremony will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ December 3rd.