alicia keys makes history as grammys host

In the era of #OscarsTooWhite, the public faces of award shows are slowly evolving to become more diverse and representative of Hollywood and America at large.

Following the inclusion of Sandra Oh as a Golden Globes co-host comes a surprising and refreshing announcement that Alicia Keys will host this year’s Grammy Awards. Like Oh, Keys is making history as the first Black woman to host the prestigious ceremony.

Not only that but she’s also one of the only Black women to host any of the EGOT ceremonies, joining the ranks of Whoopi Goldberg, who has hosted the Academy Awards four times (the first woman to do so solo) and Diana Ross (who co-hosted the Academy Awards in 1974 with John Huston, Burt Reynolds and David Niven). The Emmys, on the other hand, has never invited a Black woman to host their ceremony. A few Black men like Bill Cosby, Sammy Davis Jr., and Michael Che have hosted.

Unlike the other award shows, the Tonys have been fairly inclusive over the years, whose hosts have includes Diahann Carroll, Lena Horne, Whoopi (everyone loves Whoopi), Leslie Uggams and Cicely Tyson.

Hopefully, this moment is a sign of other award shows following suit.