Queen Latifah is returning to host the American Music Awards nearly three decades after her first appearance as host, while also teasing the release of new music and sharing her admiration for Taylor Swift.

Speaking ahead of Monday night’s ceremony, Latifah reflected on hosting the show again after first taking the stage in 1995 alongside Tom Jones and Lorrie Morgan.

“It’s been a long time, but it was exciting then, and it’s exciting now,” Latifah said. “I’m just a little bit different person, but you know, we still gotta make it popping as we did then.”

The actress and rapper also opened up about her admiration for Swift, saying, “I don’t know if I call myself a Swiftie, but I’m a fan of Taylor Swift, for sure. I always have been. I think she makes great songs. She makes really great, catchy songs that we love.”

Latifah credited Swift’s connection with listeners as a key reason for her global success. “When she got her records played, there were a bunch of girls who looked like her who connected to those songs,” she explained.

Beyond hosting duties, Latifah revealed that fans may finally hear new music from her this year. Her last album, Persona, was released in 2009.

“I am going to try to drop something this year,” she said, adding that the project will be “a mixture” of sounds.

The AMAs will air live on CBS and stream on Paramount+ on May 25.