Queen Latifah Crowns Taylor Swift the Voice of a Generation Ahead of the 2026 American Music Awards

Queen Latifah opens up about Taylor Swift—and the generation-defining shockwaves her music has unleashed.

The AMAs are back Monday night, and Queen Latifah is running the show. First time she has hosted since 1995. Ahead of the telecast, she talked to Variety about three things everyone cares about right now: Taylor Swift (who leads the nominations), what kind of host she plans to be, and whether she might jump onstage herself. Short version: she is team Taylor, she is there to keep the trains moving, and no, she is not angling for a medley.

Latifah on Taylor Swift: respect, not denial

"I don’t know if I call myself a Swiftie, but I’m a fan of Taylor Swift, for sure. I always have been. I think she makes great songs. She makes really great, catchy songs that we love."

Latifah is not shocked Swift dominates this year’s ballot. Her take is basically: this did not happen overnight. Swift put in years of work, got those early singles hammered on the radio, and clicked with young girls who saw themselves in her. More importantly, Latifah says Swift wrote straight to what those fans were feeling and has consistently come off as someone who lifts people up rather than takes shots at them. That, in Latifah’s view, is why the audience sticks.

Hosting plan: keep the spotlight where it belongs

Do not expect a Queen Latifah performance. Her words, not mine: the night is not about her. She wants the nominees to have the stage and the moments, and she is there to make sure that happens cleanly. That said, she also laughed that if a guitar magically appears, she can roll with it. Consider that a very soft 'maybe' to spontaneity, not a promise of anything.

So, will Swift be there?

Maybe not. Swift is reportedly skipping this year’s AMAs, which means Latifah might end up hyping the top nominee from the stage without actually crossing paths backstage. Strange, but very awards-show 2026.

Context check

The AMAs remain one of the biggest fan-voted shows in music. Latifah last hosted back in 1995, sharing the gig with Lorrie Morgan and Tom Jones. And for those keeping an eye on her own career moves, she also talked with Variety about plans to release new music this year — timing TBD, but yes, she is working.

• AMAs air Monday night; it is a major fan-voted event where the industry shows up and fans pick the winners.
• Queen Latifah is back as host for the first time since 1995, when she co-hosted with Lorrie Morgan and Tom Jones.
• Taylor Swift leads the nominations but is reportedly not attending.
• Latifah praised Swift’s craft and long-game career build, saying her music connected early with young fans and kept that bond by being supportive, not mean-spirited.
• Latifah does not plan to perform, but she joked she is ready if a guitar appears.
• She also discussed plans to release new music this year.