What Queen Latifah Really Thought About Her Talk Show Ending
The singer and actress—who stars in Miracles from Heaven, in theaters March 16—on boogieing down and believing in herself.
Photo: Nino Muñoz
Best Childhood Memory
When I was around 7 years old, a street in my hometown of Newark, New Jersey, was named after Muhammad Ali. My father was a police officer, so we got to attend the ceremony. Afterward, there was a meet and greet, and as Ali was leaving, I waved to him—and he waved back. I've never forgotten that.
Best Leap of Faith
I was about to begin the third year of my first talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, when a voice inside me said, I shouldn't be doing this. I knew I wanted to be an actor, though I don't look like your typical A-list star. And since I've never really fit the mold in anything I've pursued, I just created my own lane. I prayed about it, walked away from the show—and a year later, I was nominated for an Oscar for my work in Chicago.
Best Concert
Prince, who is one of my all-time favorites. I saw him play in Las Vegas once, and after the show, I was invited to go backstage for an encore performance. He gave a four-hour private show, playing all the tracks only die-hard fans would flip out over. It was unbelievable! I probably got home at daybreak.
Best Advice
You know what? It ain't that serious. My business partner told me that when I was going through a tough time and dramatizing everything in my life. Hearing it zapped me back to reality and wiped my worries away. Now when things get too intense, I remember that I'm alive, I'm healthy, and life goes on—it ain't that serious.
Best Splurge
Renting a yacht and sailing around the South of France and Italy for a week with my friends. It was an obscene amount of money to spend, but I had to do it at least once in my life.
When I was around 7 years old, a street in my hometown of Newark, New Jersey, was named after Muhammad Ali. My father was a police officer, so we got to attend the ceremony. Afterward, there was a meet and greet, and as Ali was leaving, I waved to him—and he waved back. I've never forgotten that.
Best Leap of Faith
I was about to begin the third year of my first talk show, The Queen Latifah Show, when a voice inside me said, I shouldn't be doing this. I knew I wanted to be an actor, though I don't look like your typical A-list star. And since I've never really fit the mold in anything I've pursued, I just created my own lane. I prayed about it, walked away from the show—and a year later, I was nominated for an Oscar for my work in Chicago.
Best Concert
Prince, who is one of my all-time favorites. I saw him play in Las Vegas once, and after the show, I was invited to go backstage for an encore performance. He gave a four-hour private show, playing all the tracks only die-hard fans would flip out over. It was unbelievable! I probably got home at daybreak.
Best Advice
You know what? It ain't that serious. My business partner told me that when I was going through a tough time and dramatizing everything in my life. Hearing it zapped me back to reality and wiped my worries away. Now when things get too intense, I remember that I'm alive, I'm healthy, and life goes on—it ain't that serious.
Best Splurge
Renting a yacht and sailing around the South of France and Italy for a week with my friends. It was an obscene amount of money to spend, but I had to do it at least once in my life.
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