Queen Latifah

Season 12, Episode 1205

Original Airdate: January 8, 2006

This Grammy Award-winning rap artist and Academy Award nominated actress was born with the name of Dana Owens in Newark, New Jersey. She caught the music world by surprise at age 18 with her innovative sound — combining styles from jazz, reggae and soul in her debut album “All Hail the Queen.”

Her music career blossomed into a television show that she headlined called “Living Single.” The sitcom made Queen Latifah a household name during its successful run from 1993-1998.

Her turn as an actress lead to film opportunities and leading roles in movies such as “Set it Off,” “Barbershop,” “Bringing Down the House,” and her Academy Award nominated role as Matron “Mama” Morton in “Chicago.”