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New York, NY (October 16, 2025) – The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, today announced that Jeff Hiller, Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and author, will host the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Corinne Bailey Rae, GRAMMY Award-winning singer, songwriter, and author, will perform live at the in-person Awards Ceremony to be held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, and livestreamed for readers everywhere at nationalbook.org/awards. The exclusive announcement was made with People Magazine.
“We are honored to welcome our host Jeff Hiller and musical guest Corinne Bailey Rae—both brilliant writers, creatives, and artists—to celebrate our shared commitment to storytelling,” said David Steinberger, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Book Foundation. “Alongside Jeff, Corinne, and readers around the world, we will recognize the transformative power of literature, and celebrate the authors, translators and publishing teams that make books possible at the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner.”
“Books have been a constant companion in my life, allowing me to understand other people by hearing their stories,” said Jeff Hiller. “I am thrilled to celebrate the literary world’s biggest night by hosting the National Book Awards—where I will meet these authors in person and embarrass myself by weeping from the excitement.”
Jeff Hiller is an Emmy Award-winning actor for his performance in Somebody Somewhere and the author of the memoir Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success. His performances include Greta, Morning Glory, Nightcap, American Horror Story: NYC, American Horror Stories, and more. As a comedian, he performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in New York City and Los Angeles, as well as at Joe’s Pub in The Public Theater.
“I’m thrilled to be performing at the National Book Awards, and I love that it shines a light on contemporary literature in all its diverse styles,” said Corinne Bailey Rae. “I’m an avid reader, and my first picture book, Put Your Records On, will come out next year. I loved writing this book and sharing my passion for music and my deep belief in the importance of self-expression with children (and adults)!”
Corinne Bailey Rae is a two-time GRAMMY Award winning singer, songwriter, and musician. She has released four critically acclaimed studio albums: Corinne Bailey Rae, The Sea, The Heart Speaks in Whispers, and most recently, Black Rainbows. Her self-titled debut album will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026. Early next year, Bailey Rae will publish her debut children’s picture book, Put Your Records On, inspired by her award-winning song.
“At the National Book Foundation, we believe deeply that everyone everywhere is a reader, and that people of all ages deserve access to extraordinary experiences with books,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “We are delighted to have Jeff Hiller’s brilliant comedic charm and Corinne Bailey Rae’s radiant musical talent joining us on stage. At a time when books are under attack more than ever before, we are honored to champion stories, at the National Book Awards and every day of the year.”
The Winners of the 2025 National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature will be announced live on Wednesday, November 19 at the invitation-only 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, which is livestreamed for free for readers around the world. Register to tune in online at the Foundation’s website at nationalbook.org/awards.
The five Finalists in each category were selected by a distinguished panel of judges and were announced earlier this month by the New York Times. The honored titles were advanced from the Longlists announced in September with The New Yorker.
Two lifetime achievement awards will be presented as part of the evening’s ceremony: George Saunders, writer and professor, will be recognized with the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (DCAL), presented by Deborah Treisman, Fiction Editor at The New Yorker; and Roxane Gay, author and cultural critic, will receive the Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, presented by National Book Award Winner Jacqueline Woodson.
In addition to announcing the National Book Award Winners, the Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner drives funding for the Foundation’s year-round educational and public programming to connect readers of all ages, in every corner of the country, with books and authors. For more information about the 76th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit the nationalbook.org/awards2025/support.
Jeff Hiller. (Photo credit: Greg Kramer)Jeff Hiller is an actor, comedian, and writer. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. His comedic memoir Actress of a Certain Age was released this summer. Jeff regularly performs improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and solo performance work at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theatre.
Corinne Bailey Rae. (Photo credit: Koto Bolofo)English singer, songwriter, and musician Corinne Bailey Rae rose to stardom with her self-titled #1 UK debut album in 2006, featuring the global hits “Put Your Records On” and “Like A Star.” Over the course of her career, she has released four critically acclaimed studio albums and earned two GRAMMY Awards, two MOBO Awards, two Mercury Prizes, and a BET Award for Best International Act. Bailey Rae has sold over ten million albums worldwide, and “Put Your Records On” has garnered over one billion streams, achieving four-time platinum status. In 2026, Bailey Rae will publish an aptly-titled children’s book, Put Your Records On.
