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Anika Noni Rose and Hill Harper host 41ST NAACP Image Awards

By April MacIntyre Feb 23, 2010, 16:10 GMT

Anika Noni Rose -- New York City, NY, USA © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Jamie Foxx, Lenny Kravitz, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson, Myrlie Evers Williams, Adam Rodriguez, Sherri Shepherd, Mo’Nique, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, Gabourey Sidibe, Alfre Woodard, Mariah Carey, Mekhi Phifer and Tatyana Ali will join Hill Harper and Anika Noni Rose for the 41st NAACP Image Awards.

NAACP Image Award nominee and Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose and bestselling author and actor Hill Harper will host the awards, broadcast live from Los Angeles’ historic Shrine Auditorium, Friday, Feb. 26 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

Previously announced honorees include Tyler Perry, who will receive the Chairman’s Award, and Wyclef Jean, who will receive the Vanguard Award.

“Anika Noni Rose and Hill Harper are a part of a new generation of Hollywood that embodies the spirit of the Image Awards,” said NAACP Hollywood Bureau Executive Director Vicangelo Bulluck, who serves as executive producer of the awards telecast. “Their talent and success is inspiring and adds a sophisticated glamour to the evening.”

Anika Noni Rose was most recently heard as the voice of “Princess Tiana” in the Oscar-nominated “The Princess and the Frog.” She also appeared as “Grace Makutsi” in “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” and as “Lorrell” in the movie “Dreamgirls.”

Additionally, Rose has sung all over the world, including on the 79th Annual Academy Awards and at the Vatican.

Hill Harper currently stars on “CSI: NY” as “Dr. Sheldon Hawkes,” a forensic pathologist and crime-scene investigator. His television credits also include “The Handler,” “Lackawanna Blues,” “One Red Rose,” “Soul Food” and “The Sopranos.” He has appeared in more than 30 feature films, including “The Skulls,” “In Too Deep,” “Beloved,” “He Got Game” and “Get on the Bus.”