Queen Latifah named host of the live American Music Awards on May 25

Queen Latifah is set to host the 52nd American Music Awards when the show airs live on Monday, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced the booking in April, saying the ceremony will air at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+. The May 25 telecast returns the AMAs to Las Vegas for a second straight year and puts Latifah back on the show three decades after her first turn as a host. The official AMAs site said she previously co-hosted the ceremony in 1995, while Paramount+ described this year’s appearance as a “homecoming.” ### Why is Queen Latifah hosting this year’s show? (theamas.com) April 6 was the date CBS and Dick Clark Productions named Queen Latifah as host of the 2026 ceremony. In the announcement, Latifah said she was “so excited” to return to the AMAs stage and said “there is no better place to celebrate than in Vegas.” Jay Penske, chief executive of Dick Clark Productions, said in the same release that Latifah was “the perfect choice” to lead the show. (theamas.com) The AMAs announcement also noted her long history with the ceremony, including performances after her 1995 co-hosting role. ### When and where does the broadcast start? Monday, May 25, is the broadcast date for the 52nd American Music Awards, with the ceremony taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (theamas.com) Paramount+ and the AMAs site both list the start time as 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. CBS is carrying the show live coast to coast, and Paramount+ said subscribers to its Premium plan can watch the ceremony live as it airs. (theamas.com) The streaming service said the program will also be available on demand the day after the broadcast on any Paramount+ plan. ### Who is scheduled to perform or appear? Billy Idol, Karol G, Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, The Pussycat Dolls with Busta Rhymes, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims, Teyana Taylor and Twenty One Pilots are among the announced performers, according to Paramount+ and Billboard’s performers-and-presenters list. (theamas.com) Paramount+ also said BTS will make a special appearance. (paramountplus.com) May 7 was the date CBS and Dick Clark Productions announced an initial group of performers that included Hootie & the Blowfish, KATSEYE, Keith Urban, Maluma, Riley Green, SOMBR, Teddy Swims and Twenty One Pilots. That release also said Taylor Swift led nominations with eight, followed by Morgan Wallen, Olivia Dean, Sabrina Carpenter and SOMBR with seven each. (paramountplus.com) ### What else is notable about the lineup? Billboard said Karol G is set to receive the international artist award of excellence and Billy Idol is set to receive a lifetime achievement award. The same report said the show would include a mix of current acts and heritage artists, a format Billboard said has long been an AMAs trademark. Billboard also reported that presenters include Paula Abdul, Megan Stalter, Paul W. (theamas.com) Downs, Nikki Glaser and EJAE. The outlet said BTS would make a “special appearance,” adding another high-profile name to a show already stacked with music acts and crossover guests. ### How can viewers follow the night beyond the main telecast? Paramount+ said viewers can stream the main show live through the Premium tier or watch it on demand the next day through any plan. (billboard.com) The service said the broadcast will be available across mobile devices, smart TVs, game consoles and web browsers. Monday, May 25, is also the date for the show’s red-carpet coverage, which outside reports say will stream on BillboardTV through Samsung TV Plus. (billboard.com) The main ceremony begins later that night from Las Vegas with Queen Latifah as host and voting in some categories remaining open into the first 30 minutes of the broadcast, according to the AMAs site. (theamas.com) (paramountplus.com)