June 24th 2023.
This year's Kennedy Center honorees have made history. Queen Latifah will be the first female emcee to be honored for lifetime artistic achievement by the program during its 2023 show on Dec. 3. The event takes place at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and has been spotlighting artists whose craft and contributions have made a significant impact on American culture since 1978.
Latifah's induction into the Honorees list was praised by Deborah F. Rutter, President of the Kennedy Center, who said, “Hip-Hop has been an important, thriving art form here at the Center for a number of years; what a privilege it is to bestow an Honors to the First Lady of Hip-Hop who has inspired us along the way.”
The New York Times reported that Latifah was “in shock” when she found out about her selection while in her dressing room for the CBS show. Her fellow honorees include famed comedian Billy Crystal, five-time Grammy winner Renee Fleming, singer and producer Barry Gibb, and vocalist and host Dionne Warwick. Latifah is the sole performer with a background in rap and Hip-Hop among the honorees, and is only the second rapper in the show’s history to be chosen, as LL Cool J was the first in 2017.
The Kennedy Center will also be honoring Hip-Hop's 50th anniversary, as detailed by CBS News. According to Rutter, “This year we pay special tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a uniquely American culture whose constant evolution is one of enduring relevance and impact, reflecting our society as it has grown into an international phenomenon.”
Gloria Estefan, a past honoree, will be hosting the show, and it is set to premiere to the public in late December following the live ceremony. This is sure to be an amazing event to recognize Queen Latifah and the many African-American artists who have pioneered and created this expansive genre.
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