Danielle Brooks Takes Her Voice To The 2026 Oscars

While there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding Danielle Brooks lately, there’s a small mix-up in the headlines: Danielle Brooks was not nominated for an Oscar in 2026. Instead, she had the prestigious honor of announcing the nominations!

On January 22, 2026, Brooks joined actor Lewis Pullman to reveal the contenders for the 98th Academy Awards. While she isn't in the running this year, her presence at the podium reminds us all of her incredible 2024 nomination for The Color Purple.

Here is an article summarizing her big morning and what’s next for the star.

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Danielle Brooks Takes the Stage: From Oscar Nominee to Nominations Host

Entertainment Desk – Just two years after her own powerhouse performance in The Color Purple earned her an Academy Award nomination, Danielle Brooks returned to the Samuel Goldwyn Theater this week—not as a contender, but as the voice of the Academy.

Alongside Lessons in Chemistry star Lewis Pullman, Brooks delivered the high-stakes news of the 2026 Oscar nominations, further cementing her status as a staple of the Hollywood awards circuit.

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A Full Circle Moment

For fans of Brooks, seeing her announce the 2026 slate was a "full circle" moment. Since her breakout as Taystee in Orange Is the New Black, Brooks has moved seamlessly between Broadway, television, and film.

Her 2024 Oscar nod for Supporting Actress proved she was a force to be reckoned with, and her role as host for the 98th nominations announcement shows the Academy’s continued respect for her craft.

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The 2026 Landscape

While Brooks isn’t on the ballot this year, the field she announced is historically competitive. Key highlights from the morning included:

• Sinners Reigns Supreme: Ryan Coogler’s Sinners led the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

• Heavy Hitters: Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein also saw massive hauls.

• The Best Actress Race: A tight competition between Jessie Buckley (Hamnet), Emma Stone (Bugonia), and Kate Hudson (Song Sung Blue).

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What’s Next for Danielle Brooks?

Though she’s busy at the podium, Brooks isn't slowing down on screen. She continues to be a fan favorite in the DC universe as Leota Adebayo in Peacemaker and is set to star in the highly anticipated A Minecraft Movie later this year.

Furthermore, her new drama If I Go Will They Miss Me is currently making waves at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, suggesting that while she’s the one reading the names this year, she might very well be back on the nominee list in 2027.

"It's an honor to be on this side of the mic," Brooks noted during the livestream. "I know exactly how those artists are feeling right now—their lives just changed."