Recording artist-turned-actor Queen Latifah has signed on as host of the 47th annual Grammy Awards. She will also perform an as-yet-unannounced track from her nominated release, "The Dana Owens Album," during the Feb. 13 show at Los Angeles' Staples Center, which will be broadcast live on CBS.

A set that found her eschewing hip-hop for vocal standards and classics, "The Dana Owens Album" is nominated for the best jazz vocal album Grammy. Released in September, the Vector/Flavor Unit/Interscope disc debuted at No. 11 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 16 on The Billboard 200.

Later this year, Latifah will be seen in MGM's "Beauty Shop," a film that expands upon the character she established in "Barbershop 2." A release date is still to be determined for the feature, which also stars Alicia Silverstone, Keisha Knight Pulliam, Kevin Bacon, Mena Suvari, Andie McDowell, Alfre Woodard, Laura Hayes and Della Reese.

Latifah is currently filming "Last Holiday in Prague," a romantic comedy directed by Wayne Wang.

As previously reported, Kanye West leads the field of Grammy nominees with 10 nods, including one for best new artist. Other multiple nominees include Alicia Keys and Usher, who are tied with eight, the late Ray Charles with seven and Green Day with six.

How is the Green Day cd?
Its gotten great reviews.

thedoorkeeper said:

Its a classic, a must buy!

I really dig her rendition of Barbara Lewis's classic "Hey Stranger"

Arif Mardien def pulled the goods

good for her. i haven't heard her latest album, but i'm definitely curious about it, and if it's any good at all, i wish it would get more attention. maybe this will give her a little push. anyway, she's likeable enough. she should make for a fun host.

Harlepolis said:

That's "Hello Stranger".
So she's the one i've been hearing on the radio.
(I never heard them announce who it was)

They played the arrangement pretty close to the vest including the organ parts.
The bg vocals could have been stronger. Not bad though.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

Overall it's a not bad album. Most of the folks on this board seem to despise it, though (there was a whole thread about it a while back).

I think she'll make a good host.

theAudience said:

Riiiight,,,HELLO STRANGER

Thanx playa!

Harlepolis said:

NP.

She's come a long way from...



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

I hate to be sounding like a bluff mofo,,,but is she REALLY playing that guitar?

Harlepolis said:

Supposedly these pics are from a live performance at 1998's Lilith Faire in Atlanta.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

wow, thats really motivating me to watch it...(not)

VoicesCarry said:

I saw it.

Overall I think she's upped her stock considerably in the entertainment world.
I've even heard her doing voiceovers for a few products I can't remember.
Most importantly the areas she's branched into, to me she hasn't come off as a phony.

tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...rmusic.htm

theAudience said:

Yeah, and if you look closesly, that ain't a guitar. It's a bass. Go Dana!