Queen Latifah is celebrating her 54th birthday today, but the festivities already started at the weekend when she received a special surprise at the NAACP Image Awards.
The rapper, actress and singer was left emotional as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to her with Sheryl Lee Ralph leading the song at the awards. They even brought out a big cake with blue icing and a picture of an award on it.
Sheryl got everyone dancing and then Queen Latifah had to go back to hosting the show. She was really surprised and said: “Oh and you want me to talk after that, after you blindside me? Okay, thank you so much, everybody. I really appreciate that.”
Queen Latifah on stage during the 55th NAACP Image Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles on March 16 (
Getty Images for BET)
She received an early birthday surprise during the award event (
Earl Gibson III/REX/Shutterstock)
Queen Latifah – whose real name is Dana Elaine Owens – has worked with some of the most successful TV personalities in the US including Jada Pinkett Smith and Jimmy Fallon. And when she is not working, Queen Latifah is often spotted with her longtime partner, Eboni Nichols.
Nichols is a successful professional choreographer who has worked alongside some of the biggest names in music including Rihanna, Beyonce and Usher. She also choreographed “all five seasons” of the hit show ‘Jane the Virgin’ and worked on the ABC comedy ‘Fresh Off the Boat’.
Queen Latifah and Eboni Nichols attend the launch of the new Aston Martin DB12 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France, on May 24, 2023
The couple met in 2009 while on the set of hit show Dancing with the Stars. They made their relationship official in 2013 but have always tried to remain as private as possible. In 2008, Queen Latifah told The New York Times: “I don’t have a problem discussing the topic of somebody being gay, but I do have a problem discussing my personal life.
“You don’t get that part of me. Sorry. We’re not discussing it in our meetings, I don’t feel like I need to share my personal life, and I don’t care if people think I’m gay or not. Assume whatever you want. You do it anyway.”
