Just after the finale of Saturday Night Live’s 42nd season – and less than a year after she was tapped to cover the summer Olympics — it’s been announced that stand-up / actor Leslie Jones will host this year’s BET Awards.
Jones told People, who reported the story: “BET was the first place I ever did comedy on TV, so it’s a full-circle moment of coming home where I started. I went out in the world and did what I needed to do and now I can come home to my people and say, ‘Yo! Look what I did!’”
And while other awards shows (especially the Oscars) couldn’t resist every opportunity to get political, Jones insists this ceremony will be much more light-hearted.
“[M]y goal for this show is to have a big ‘ol nice barbecue, family reunion feel. I just want everyone cracking up. I want everyone leaving that event going, ‘Wait, did they even give awards out? I was too busy laughing.’”
The full list of nominees — in categories including film, music, sports, and international acts – is out now.
The BET Awards will air live from Los Angeles on June 25th.
