Ll Cool J - Ll Cool J 'Thrilled' To Host Grammys

Ll Cool J 'Thrilled' To Host Grammys

LL Cool J is "thrilled" to be hosting the Grammy Awards.

The rapper-turned-actor will be the first person to front the annual US awards show since 2005, and calls the opportunity a "dream come true"

He said: "I'm thrilled to be part of music's biggest night. I will always have fond memories of my first Grammys Awards and to now be hosting the Grammy show, in the company of so many other incredible artists, is a dream come true."

'NCIS: Los Angeles' actor LL has hosted sister show 'The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! - Countdown To Music's Biggest Night' since it was introduced in 2008.

Confirmed to perform at the awards on February 12 are Nicki Minaj, Foo Fighters,Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Aldean and Bruno Mars.

Nominations in the Grammy awards are led by Adele, who has six, including three in the major categories: Album of the Year; Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Upon hearing of her nominations last year, she posted on her blog: "Thank you so much to the academy for nominating this record for 6 Grammys!!! This has been the best year as it is but to end 2011 with this incredible achievement and honour is beyond anything I can express (sic)."

The 2005 Grammy Awards were hosted by Queen Latifah, and other previous presenters have included Jon Stewart, Billy Crystal, Ellen Degeneres and ROSIE O'DONNELL.