She’s carving her own lane!
This weekend, Keke Palmer made history at the Primetime Emmys, taking home the Emmy for Outstanding Host for a Game Show for NBC’s Password, Deadline reports. Palmer became the first Black woman to be nominated or win in the category, and the first woman to win the award since 2009 when Meredith Vieira took home the award for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? This is also the first time in five decades that a Password game show host has been nominated or won in the category, and the first time the category has been a part of the Primetime Emmy’s lineup, previously included in the Daytime awards.
Password is a game show that first aired in the 60s and has been revived several times over the last six decades. A hit with generational audiences, the latest show is executive produced by Jimmy Fallon, who spoke highly of Palmer at the helm of his popular game show.
“Sharp, charming, and quick-witted, all while looking like a superstar. There’s no one like Keke Palmer,” Fallon told reporters.
Palmer beat out Jeopardy!’s hosts Ken Jennings and Mayim Bialik, Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak, and Family Feud’s Steve Harvey to take home the game show host Emmy. Harvey won the category last year, with Alex Trebek winning the prior three years. Palmer thanked veteran actress Carol Burnett, who was in the audience, for paving the way and said she was so excited to win.
“Wow. That is so exciting. Thank you so much. I’m really just so thankful. I’m almost speechless. I want to thank the people who allowed this to happen, thank you to Jimmy Fallon, thank[s] to NBC,” said Palmer.
NBCUniversal EVP, Corie Henson, said the network was proud of Palmer and couldn’t be more ecstatic to break history with the starlet.
“In a historic year for game shows at the Emmy Awards, we couldn’t be prouder of Keke Palmer’s outstanding host win. She and Jimmy Fallon are a winning duo and have made the latest iteration of Password an undeniable hit,” said Henson.
This is Palmer’s second Emmy. She previously won the award in 2021 for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her role in the Facebook Watch Series Turnt Up With The Taylors. No word yet on what’s next for the rising star, but we can’t wait to cheer her on.
Password is currently gearing up for Season 2 on NBC. Season 1 is currently streaming on the Peacock app.
Cover photo: Keke Palmer Makes History as First Black Woman to Win an Emmy for Best Game Show Host/Photo by Television Academy/Keke Palmer/Instagram