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The National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, announced Kate McKinnon, actor, comedian, and bestselling author, will host the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The composer, activist, and creator, Jon Batiste will perform live at the in-person Awards Ceremony to be held at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
“The 2024 National Book Awards Ceremony marks an important milestone as we commemorate 75 years of honoring the best literature published in the United States,” said David Steinberger, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Book Foundation. “Kate McKinnon and Jon Batiste are two singular artists, writers, and performers, who have offered audiences around the world opportunities to listen, to laugh, and to learn. We couldn’t be more proud to join them in celebrating the power of exceptional books at this year’s Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner.”
“I’ve been an invested reader my whole life and am so honored to be part of this event that celebrates the life-changing power of books while recognizing some of today’s most brilliant storytellers,” said Kate McKinnon. “I was lucky to grow up surrounded by books, devouring everything from Pippi Longstocking to a comprehensive manual on proper iguana care, and this access to stories and perspectives helped shape my worldview and understanding of what was possible. The National Book Foundation is working to ensure everyone’s access to books, and I am proud to support that mission.”
Kate McKinnon is an Emmy Award–winning actor, writer, and former Saturday Night Live cast member. Her past performances include Bombshell, Rough Night, Ghostbusters, The Big Gay Sketch Show, and, most recently, Barbie. McKinnon’s debut middle-grade book, The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, was released earlier this month, and was an instant New York Times bestseller.
“Books are sacred sources of refuge, insight and humanity, shaping the world as we know it,” said Jon Batiste. “I am excited to take part in recognizing world class artistry, creativity and the power of prose.”
Jon Batiste is a five-time Grammy Award–winning and Academy Award–winning singer, songwriter, and composer. He scored Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night in addition to composing and performing music for the Disney/Pixar film Soul, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2021. Batiste is featured in Matthew Heineman’s Netflix documentary, American Symphony, an intimate and moving exploration of a year in his life. His latest studio album, Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), is forthcoming.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kate McKinnon—comedian, writer, and lover of stories—as the host of the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony, and to welcome the multi-genre musician Jon Batiste as the first-ever in-person musical guest,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “As book banning continues to sweep the country, we believe that it is vitally important to champion stories, authors, translators, and readers of all ages in every corner. It is our great honor to mark this historic milestone alongside comedic force Kate McKinnon and maestro Jon Batiste, and share in celebrating this year’s Finalists with as many readers as possible through the Awards Ceremony, which will be broadcast live on nationalbook.org/awards.”
The Winners of the 2024 National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature will be announced live on Wednesday, November 20 at the invitation-only 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. 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 also be presented as part of the evening’s ceremony: Barbara Kingsolver, Pulitzer Prize winning author, will be recognized with the National Book Foundation’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (DCAL), presented by Sam Stoloff, President & Principal of the Frances Goldin Literary Agency; and W. Paul Coates, publisher and founder of Black Classic Press, will receive the Foundation’s Literarian Award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary Community, presented by author and 2020 DCAL recipient Walter Mosley.
The National Book Foundation will broadcast the Ceremony for readers everywhere on YouTube, Facebook, and the Foundation’s website at nationalbook.org/awards. The 75th National Book Awards Ceremony will also be broadcast in its entirety on Sunday, December 1 on Book TV on C-SPAN2 at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT, and again at 12:00am ET / 9:00pm PT.
In addition to announcing the National Book Award Winners, the 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 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, including sponsorship opportunities, please visit the National Book Foundation website.
Kate McKinnon. (Photo credit: Alexandra Carillo-Vaccino)Kate McKinnon is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, award-winning performer, and writer, who is celebrated globally for her work in film and television. Young readers will recognize her voice role as Ms. Frizzle in The Magic School Bus Rides Again for Netflix. She recently played Weird Barbie in Warner Brothers’ worldwide blockbuster, Barbie. The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science is her debut novel.
Jon Batiste. (Photo credit: David Needleman)Jon Batiste is a five-time Grammy Award–winning and Academy Award–winning singer, songwriter, and composer. He scored Jason Reitman’s Saturday Night in addition to composing and performing music for the Disney/Pixar film Soul, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score in 2021. Batiste is featured in Matthew Heineman’s Netflix documentary, American Symphony, an intimate and moving exploration of a year in his life. His latest studio album, Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), is forthcoming.
