Queen Latifah held courtroom on the MGM Backyard Enviornment in Las Vegas on Monday evening because the host of the 2026 American Music Awards. Donning a white, feathery ensemble, the “U.N.I.T.Y.” rapper-actress, who will probably be inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame later this yr, kicked off the present by introducing a pre-taped BTS efficiency from the Ok-pop group’s live performance the evening earlier than.
The BTS boys — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — rocked all black leather-based as they did a reside model of “Hooligan” flanked by a flock of ninjas and pyrotechnics.
Moments later, Latifah returned to the stage wearing head-to-toe pink and tapped into her MC expertise with, “The energy is crazy in here! Make some noise!” She went on to spotlight a number of of her profession milestones, together with her star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. She additionally inspired the viewers to donate to a number of navy organizations in help of Memorial Day.
From there, she identified nominees like Riley Inexperienced, sombr and Billy Idol, who is about to obtain the lifetime achievement award later within the night. Later Latifah returned, from the viewers, the place she noticed Goo Goo Dolls’ frontman John Reznick and the 2 briefly duetted to the group’s hit “Iris,” nominated for greatest throwback tune this yr, because the viewers joined in.
Taylor Swift leads with eight nominations, with Morgan Wallen, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Dean and sombr following carefully behind with seven nominations every.
The American Music Awards had been created by Dick Clark Productions. DCP is owned by Penske Media Company, The Hollywood Reporter‘s father or mother firm, in a subsidiary three way partnership between Penske Media and Eldridge.
