Kevin Hart Is Hosting the 2019 Oscars
Kevin Hart is officially in place to host the 91st Academy Awards!
The actor-comedian confirmed the news personally with a heartfelt post on his Instagram, writing, "I am blown away simply because this has been goal on my list for a long time."
This will be Hart's first time hosting the Oscars, a highly coveted job previously handled by comedian and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for the past two ceremonies. "To be able to join the legendary list of [hosts] that have graced that stage is unbelievable," Hart writes in his caption. "I know my mom is smiling ear to ear right now."
Hart uses the Instagram post to thank his family, friends, and fans, for "supporting me & riding with me all this time," before promising he will "make this year's Oscars a special one."
"I appreciate the @TheAcademy for the opportunity... now it's time to rise to the occasion," Hart concludes, showing he understands the magnitude of the role and the significance it could play in his career.
Before Kimmel in 2017 and 2018, Chris Rock also hosted the Oscars twice, in 2005 and 2016. Other notable Oscars hosts in recent years include Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres, and Seth MacFarlane. The show had actors Ann Hathaway and James Franco famously co-host together in 2011. That was an interesting year.
Whoopi Goldberg has famously hosted the Academy Awards four times, in '94, '96, '99, and 2002. However, it is perhaps Billy Crystal who is the most-famous for hosting the Oscars, emceeing the awards show nine times in 30 years; 1990, '91, '92, '93, again in '97, '98, 2000, and 2004, and most recently in 2012.
Hart does have some experience hosting awards shows. He and Dwayne Johnson co-hosted the MTV Movie Awards in 2016.
We're sure Hart will bring his own unique charm to the Oscars stage, and have us laughing out loud. We can't wait to see how he makes the role his own. You got this, Kevin!
The 91st Academy Awards will air live on Sunday, February 24, on ABC.
In the meantime, do you remember what the Oscars looked like back in 2008? Allow us to remind you: