The multifarious and multitalented Dana Owens, aka Queen Latifah, will be hosting this year's Grammys, telecast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles (assuming it doesn't wash away) on CBS, February 13.
"Queen Latifah is an extraordinary Renaissance artist with unparalleled style and substance, and her passion, talent and personality make her an excellent choice as host for our show," said Neil Portnow, President of The Recording Academy. "We are delighted to have Queen Latifah as the host of the 47th Annual GRAMMY Awards."
The Queen, who will also perform on the show, is a nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album Grammy for her extraordinary The Dana Owens Album, of which I wrote:
Queen Latifah's latest album is an excursion into classic covers (and the cover above isn't so bad either).
Having conquered hip-hop, television, and film, the Queen is now taking on herself, so to speak, with The Dana Owens Album (produced by Arif Mardin and Ron Fair), wherein she recorded twelve of her favorite soul, blues and pop songs ranging from the '20s to the '70s.
The Queen was inspired to cut loose on 20th century standards by the success of her Oscar-nominated performance as Mama Morton in Chicago, where she proved herself a singer to be reckoned with, delivering the goods on “When You’re Good to Mama” and other songs.
Among the tunes on the album are gems from the Al Green (who joins in for a duet on his "Simply Beautiful"), Peggy Lee, Cannonball Adderly, Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, José Feliciano and Barbara Lewis repertoires.
Exclusively to we groover-devils here at Blogcritics are a number of full-length, sneak preview numbers from the album. First, check out an extended video preview of recording studio snippets and Dana Owens herself discussing thoughts on the record here (Real) (Windows Media).
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - megan
does anybody know how to get ahold of queen latifah this is very important!
i need her to give me some info.
my name is megan larue,i am a 12 year old african american that is a huge fan of queen latifah's.
i have a wonderful singing voice,high cheek bones,and long flowing curles.
i need to get ahold of queen latifa because i reeeeaaaaally want to make it big. so once again if anybody can get ahold of queen
2 - Dolly-ellen
We just came back from a vacation in Switzerland, where we met Queen Latifah on the street in St. Moritz. She could not have been more charming or down to earth, and my husband and I want to wish her well. My kids were thrilled when we told them we met her, they are all fans What a treat it was. Can you forward this to her?
3 - Eric Olsen
Dolly-ellen, sounds like a great experience. I have no idea if she will ever see this or not, you might try her record label or production company.
4 - TARA
i need queen latifah to email me back im need her help. im a black lesbian woman an me and my wife need to ask her for help we are getting married this year an i need a favor from her as well as i want her to sing at my wedding
5 - Anthony
Dear Queen,
Compliments of the season.
I am writting this letter to u as someone who can help me to assist here in Lagos state of Nigeria.
My name is Mr Anthony Temitope Ladejobi,a citizen of nigeria from Ogun state born into a very poor family.My name is Temitope .A.O.Ladejobi, and still single. I am 26
years old, and I am someone who is physically
challenged. I use a wheelchair for my movement. It
has been very difficulty for me to get employment, and
whereever I got it, it has been a problem to move from
home to work, due to transport problems as most of our
conventional buses are not wheelchair friendly. As I
am getting old I am becoming less and less inactive,
due to deterioration of my disability condition.
I am in need of a computer, a pentium 4 of any speed,
with a printer; a laser jet or just a laser printer, a
scanner, a CD writer, a Computer WebCAM, a modem, and
a video capture card. It is my earnest wish to start
a self help job and become less of a burdan to my
aging parents who in all honest I should be the one
looking after.
Nature of Job:
As you know, there is not much in terms of Computer
facilities in Africa for individuals, most people use
computers either at school,work, or in an internet
cafe, and I being someone who trained in computer use,
I can design webpages, do typesetting for printing
companies, burn CDs for individuals, and do video
editing.
There is an increase in musical groups especially the
youth getting mad with modern music, most of their
videos are just straight from the camera to the TV
screen, I intend to do video editing for them also,
but my primary wish was to start small and grow big.
It may be difficult to amass all the computer
equipment I need, but if there is possibility, to
incorporate video editing also at this stage, I will
be more than happy.
I will be very happy and grateful, should this dream
materialse as it is my only hope to be self sufficent
and lead a normal independent married life. I hope
that you will be able to come to my rescue in order
for me to be a master of my own social, and economic
destiny.
I hope my demands are not untainable, if they are I
hope you will still assist me whereever you can.I am only in need of $2,500.00
to start the businees and getting the computers and other syetems both the rentage of the shop for the business for this month.
Madam,any assistance u can do me will be highly appricated.
Thanking u in advance,may God Almighty always provide and guide u,ur family to the right path.
As soon as my message get's to u,i"ll be looking forward for ur wonderful reply.
Urs,
Sincerly,
Master.Tope.A.O.Ladejobi
6 - ibrahim fazazi
Assalam alaykum,
Dear Sister Latifah
am very glad to write this message to you,
dear sister i need your urgent heilp am student in islamic university in uganda,i have problem of finance,
i want to go back to nigeria but i dont have money for ticket,
please kindly assist mah Allah assist u also in this life and life after,
at least i need $2000,oo two thousand dollars.
Allah bless you,
please reply me back
yours;
ibrahim fazazi
7 - Eric Olsen
what's up with the Africans hitting up the Queen?
8 - Angela Chen Shui
Thanks, Eric. Dana Owens/Latifah is a wonderfully multi-talented lady. Thanks for the links... she's so easy on the eyes, ears and spirit.
9 - Dana Owens
Wassup ya'll..its me Queen Latifah. Hows everybody doin? As you all know my most recent cd "The Dana Owens Album" was a smash hit..and I hope you all went out and bought it!! It's March 18..MY BiRTHDAY!!! yepp, your very own Queen is growin' old. I'm thirty-five today..and im actually a little ashamed to say it..but besides that i am very thrilled to have all of you as my fans..All of us together equals UNITY.. i thought you guys should know where to find me if you need me so you could just reach me at Strathmore Lanes in Matawan New Jersey. I enjoy it there so much that I decided to get a part time job there, where I can bowl all i want for free!! I can also vist a few of my best friends that live near there, like Jillian, Kristen, Danielle, Danielle, Josh, and alot of others.. but as you all know, im very busy right now with my new movie "Beauty Shop", which comes on March 31..and working in the studio..and travelin from place to place. you know im a very busy woman. But i am so proud of you girls for caring about me..Believe in yourself and never give up..you are all SiMPLY BEAUTiFUL!..and stick together..........
U * N * I * T * Y <-- yepp. oh did i mention that I am also the new spokes person for Pizza Hut..you can listen to my lovely voice for all of the new pizza hut commercial..juss playin wit ya'll..but you should really check them out..one more thing before i let ya'll go, check out that napoleon dynamite flick...its crazy hot..peace - Dana
10 - Eric Olsen
dubious
11 - florice
i love you dana aka queen latifah i want to be just like you i am just starting to act. dana for years everyone has been telling me you look like queen latifah some of my teachers call me that but i never paid it no mind not to say that you are ugly because your not but i started to noticed when i started to wear make up. i hope you had fun on your birhtday because i did yea we have the same birthday 3/18 the pisces got to stick together well i just wanted to email you just to tell you that you are my idol and i look up to you i hope to be a great actress just like you. love your # 1 fan florice
12 - NoNonsense717
OMG-How in the hell can someone be a poser sounding like they are QL! That don't even sound like her, boasting and re-advertising and re-promoting on a website -- Get the F*&^ outta here. Everything that person put in the comment can be found out by watching a gossip channel. I mean, Pizza Hut voice, that is ludicrous! Jeezsh, let that girl Anonymity live...I am truly offended that you would leave a comment as Queen. And if was her, why would she bother to mention her endorsements? And why in the Hell would she be ashamed to mention her age of 35? Plus, if my schedule is too busy to barely be surfing while I;m supposed to be doing an on-line class, then how can she actually have time for this nonsense!!
13 - florice
hey all queen latifah fans. i hope queen latifah read these messages. i just have to say one thing i hope to hear from queen latifah sees this i want to be a actress just like her i am already acting so if you read this can you please give me some tips.
14 - Danyelle
Qween Latifah I love your movies!
Your awsome!!!!!Your so pretty too I wish I was that pretty!
15 - Danyelle
Qween Latifah I love your movies!
Your awsome!!!!!Your so pretty too.You give a big shout out to most the girls like me( i hope ) atleast to me U ROCK GIRL!!!
16 - Christopher
yo oueen i know where you live and i just wanted to say i love your house.i was just wandering if you can write back only because i live right down the street form you! i love you
17 - Carlie
I love Queen Latifah!!
She is da bomb!!!!
I love all you movies they choice as!
Your a great actress ( a funny one at that too) , A Lovely , Beautiful person and a great singer!!!!!
U GO GURL!!!!
LuV yA!
xooOoox
=D
18 - monica lovelace
Wuts up Queen,
Listen we all know you are a very busy woman, I'm not asking for your money, just a few moments of your time. My name is Monica and I am a 37 yr old black female. I come to you today as I am trying to write a book about my life just to give you a brief description, I was 7 yrs old the first time my moms boyfriend raped me he masterbated on me the first time on a Sat. morning I was watching cartoons, and from that day on he raped me until I was 12, my mom knew but didn't want him to leave so let it continue to happen. finally I went to my school councelor , and guess what I got locked up in a mental hospital, go figure. Any way alot of stuff in between happened, then when I was 21 I started selling drugs, then doing drugs, then selling my body , ending up in prison, mother of two boys, and now a lesbian. Can you help me write my story, or recommend someone to help me write my story there is so, so, so much more to tell and I have all the details. Please help.
Your fan
Monica
19 - Robin Morgan
Dear Queen latifah i wanted you to know how i feel about you and i care about you alot so i wanted to know do you wanted to go out with me like on a real date if you want to so i love your music and movies you are awsome and i love your voice is so beautiful like you i mean that i think you are so cool to me and i love you more then you think so i wanted to be with you in my life as you are the one i wanted to be with in my heart you are so kind and sexy person i love i am looking for a girlfriend i am invadable i am single i just wanted you to know that you are special women i care about you the whole time i believe in you and i believe you are innocent i support you no matter what i need you the whole time you are my biggest fan and my sweetheart you are my favorite i mean that you are to me i notice your Beautiful eyes with a beautiful smile and hair you are incredable person to know that i just know you are the one i want so i think you are great actress and rapper you are the best of all times.
20 - Rebekah
wow its been a long time sence I've been on here!!! You guys acually got 2 talk 2 her ahhh I hate you all naw jst messin guys! well my mom will kill me if she see's me on the internet.... thinks I'm doin sumtin I'm not supposed 2 or sumtin like that grr I guess its a mom thin, but if that "mom thing" gets mad I'm grounded 4 halloween and I'm all 4 the candy!!! lol tell Queen Latifah I siad "hey" and that shes an inspireation 2 me -k- luv all yall byebye!
21 - LA
Hey Dana
Wassup!! Girl Latifah Your Awesome, Your movies Rock.. got them ALL!! thats right even living Single :P thats what i'm talking about... Can't wait for your new ones to come out in 2007, Well hope to talk to ya soon Girl Laterz.. KEEP IT REAL ~!is there another way to contact you (e-mail..)!~
~L.A.~ *Fo'sure*
22 - anonymous
Dear Queen Latifah,
I have to say this has got to be the craziest thing i've ever done...but my mom is pushing me to do this letter. My mom is a pastor and the most spiritual person i know....the other day she said she heard the voice, saying that she's gonna look like you and she saw a finger write the number "37"....the following morning she told me this and of course I looked it up...and found that's how old you really are...I swear on my grandmother's grave ( i dont even like swearing), that I did not know how old you were till that day...I was really in shock. Anyways my mother had a dream that I had to write this letter to you, really wanted to write an e-mail, however i was unable to find one...but i will come back and see what you have to say, cuz I feel God is speaking through her and you at the same time. In the meantime, God bless
23 - julia
dear queen latifa,
sorry i didnt know how to spell your name. but oh well. can u please give me your email. i am a big fan i would like to email u.
24 - Robin Morgan
Queen latifah i need your help because i want you and i need you i want my life to be with you do you want to go out with me like a real date and do you want to make out with me i love you that much please dont leave me i really want you dont leave me i want you.
Robin Morgan
25 - maddie
hi i think ur a magnificent actor and hav courage with all u do keep it goin girl!!!!girl power sista!!!!!!