Queen Latifah Dazzles Fans

July 15, 2005 — -- Queen Latifah dazzled "Good Morning America" audience members with her Summer Concert Series performance from Bryant Park this morning, proving she really can do it all.

Singer, actress, comedienne and entrepreneur, Latifah's career continues to flourish. She showed off her R&B talents today with a song from "The Dana Owens Album."

Later in the show, Latifah was joined by Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, with whom she is currently performing in the Sugar Water Festival, in a special tribute to Luther Vandross.

Colorful Career

Latifah has often been referred to as the first female rap star. Many say the Newark, N.J., native paved the way for female rap and hip hop artists in the late 1980s and early 1990s. With a strong emphasis on social issues, Latifah's music also reflects a powerful feminist message that resonates today with her Sugar Water Festival.

"It's wonderful," Latifah told ABC News' "Good Morning America." "We showcase strong female voices who see their art as a way to inspire social change."

Re-emergence

After establishing herself as a force in the rap music world, Latifah experienced some personal hardships and stepped out of the limelight. But in 1993, she bounced back with the release of her album "Black Reign," which went gold -- a first for a female rap artist.

Soon after, Latifah branched out into acting, appearing on TV shows "Living Single" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" and in movies, including "Chicago," which earned her both a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. In 1999, Latifah also launched a talk show, which ran in syndication until 2001.

In September 2004, Latifah released "The Dana Owens Album" featuring an assortment of cover songs that span music genres, including hits by legendary artists Dinah Washington and Al Green.

Latifah has also earned four Grammy nominations and is scheduled to appear next in the romantic comedy "The Last Holiday," co-starring Gerard Depardieu.