Post by dawyked on Jan 12, 2006 2:22:20 GMT 1
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Queen Latifah was to host a premiere of her latest movie Wednesday night in her native city.
"Last Holiday" opens nationwide Friday, but the star was to give a sneak peak to hundreds of guests invited to a city movie theater.
She was expected to bring her co-star, LL Cool J (
), along with celebrities Ashanti, Wyclef Jean, Joe Piscopo and Terrance Howard.
Mayor Sharpe James gushed about the Newark premiere, saying he was excited to walk down a planned red carpet.
"She's our queen," he said. "This young lady is so multi-talented. She's still the girl next door. She still comes home to Newark."
Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah, 35, was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Chicago, and also started in Taxi, Beauty Shop and Bringing Down the House.
In her latest film, which also stars Timothy Hutton and Gerard Depardieu, she plays a shy cookware saleswoman for a department store. Her character embarks on a dream European vacation when she is misdiagnosed with a fatal illness.
Earlier this month, Queen Latifah - who has homes in New Jersey and Los Angeles - became the first hip-hop artist crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She made her musical debut in 1989 with the seminal hip-hop album, "All Hail the Queen." Her third album, "Black Reign," earned her a Grammy Award in 1994. Her leap to television in 1993 with the sitcom "Living Single" widened her appeal.
Published: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Updated: Wednesday, January 11, 2006
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - Queen Latifah was to host a premiere of her latest movie Wednesday night in her native city.
"Last Holiday" opens nationwide Friday, but the star was to give a sneak peak to hundreds of guests invited to a city movie theater.
She was expected to bring her co-star, LL Cool J (
), along with celebrities Ashanti, Wyclef Jean, Joe Piscopo and Terrance Howard.Mayor Sharpe James gushed about the Newark premiere, saying he was excited to walk down a planned red carpet.
"She's our queen," he said. "This young lady is so multi-talented. She's still the girl next door. She still comes home to Newark."
Born Dana Owens, Queen Latifah, 35, was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in Chicago, and also started in Taxi, Beauty Shop and Bringing Down the House.
In her latest film, which also stars Timothy Hutton and Gerard Depardieu, she plays a shy cookware saleswoman for a department store. Her character embarks on a dream European vacation when she is misdiagnosed with a fatal illness.
Earlier this month, Queen Latifah - who has homes in New Jersey and Los Angeles - became the first hip-hop artist crowned with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
She made her musical debut in 1989 with the seminal hip-hop album, "All Hail the Queen." Her third album, "Black Reign," earned her a Grammy Award in 1994. Her leap to television in 1993 with the sitcom "Living Single" widened her appeal.