Simu Liu to host the 2024 People’s Choice Awards, ‘Barbie’ leads with 9 nominations

The 2024 People’s Choice Awards is following the lead of this year’s Golden Globes with a host of Asian ethnicity.

Marvel superstar Simu Liu, who also stars in “Barbie,” will commandeer the fan-voted awards recognizing entertainers in film, TV, music and more.

Voting is open now for the 49th annual ceremony, which is set to place Feb. 18 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. The show will air on NBC, Peacock and E! beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

“I’m so grateful to have been asked to step up to the hosting plate for the 2024 ‘People’s Choice Awards,'” Liu said in Thursday’s announcement. “It’s exciting to celebrate this incredible year in pop culture, and to do so with the incredible fans that make what we do possible.”

Following Jo Koy’s trailblazing yet controversial turn at hosting Sunday night’s Golden Globes, Liu — a 34-year-old Harbin, China, native — will represent Asian culture for a program that has largely been helmed by white hosts.

Liu starred in 2021’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” the first interconnecting film in the Marvel franchise to be led by an Asian hero and feature a predominantly Asian cast.

The Canadian-raised actor, who took home the People’s Choice Award for action movie star that same year, also appears in the most nominated film of the 2024 awards. “Barbie” leads the pack with nine nominations, including movie of the year. Stars Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrara and Liu also scored acting nods for the flick.

Its summer blockbuster counterpart, “Oppenheimer,” scored six nominations.

Also up for movie of the year are “Fast X,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.”

Swift’s much-bandied-about beau Travis Kelce even scored a nomination for athlete of the year. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is up against tennis star Coco Gauff, gymnast Simone Biles, soccer phenom Lionel Messi and basketball stars LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Sabrina Ionescu and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Among the other 2024 nominees across various categories include Beyoncé, Chris Pratt, Florence Pugh, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Lawrence, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, Selena Gomez, Sydney Sweeney, Timothée Chalamet and Tom Cruise, among many more.

The number of categories has grown from previous years to 45, with additions including male and female artist of the year in the genres of country and Latin music.

Voting for the People’s Choice Awards is now open to fans worldwide through Jan. 19 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans can vote online at www.votepca.com.

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