The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced that Emmy nominee and former 30 Rock star Jack McBrayer (ex-Kenneth), and Emmy nominee and music and social media sensation JoJo Siwa, will host the first annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
McBrayer will preside over the Children’s & Family main ceremony on Sunday, December 11 and Siwa will lead the Children’s & Family Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Saturday, December 10. Both events will take place at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Photo: NATAS
In addition, XOMG POP!, the all-girl pop group created by Jess and JoJo Siwa, will perform at during Creative Arts ceremony. Dancing with the Stars fans will also recall that JoJo Siwa along with pro dance partner, Jenna Johnson took 2nd place during season 30 of the ballroom dance competition series, becoming the first all-female team to compete.
Siwa is also a bestselling author, singer and film star with over over 60.5 million followers on social media and 3.6 billion views on YouTube. Her first-ever tour, D.R.E.A.M. The Tour, sold out 100+ arenas as she became the youngest artist ever to headline and sell out the O2 Arena in London. She was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2020.
McBrayer is nominated this year for a Children’s & Family Emmy for Outstanding Host for his work on Hello, Jack! The Kindness Show. Siwa has two nominations – one for Outstanding Choreography for her Peacock show Siwas Dance Pop Revolution, and one for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for a Live Action Program.
In a statement, the actor shared: “I am thrilled to be hosting the first Emmys ceremony specifically created to recognize the important and influential Children’s & Family genre. It is truly an honor to be celebrating all of the individuals whose wonderful contributions remind us that great television can entertain, educate and bring together people of all ages.”
Siwa added, “I am honored to be hosting the very first Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, and to be a nominee in both outstanding choreography and outstanding music direction and composition for a live action program. It’s sure to be a fun-filled evening with my girl group, XOMG POP! kicking off the night with what will be a great performance!”
Adam Sharp, President and CEO, NATAS shared on the host announcements: “We’re thrilled to recognize the fastest-growing genre in television by launching the Children’s & Family Emmys with such cultural powerhouses as Jack McBrayer and JoJo Siwa. Their undeniable energy and enthusiasm perfectly capture the tone which will set this ceremony and competition apart for years to come.”
The Children’s & Family awards are the first standalone expansion of the Emmy Award competition since 1979 and marks the successful culmination of the first full year of the realignment between NATAS and the Television Academy. With nearly 3,000 submissions, the competition is now the largest that NATAS oversees.
You can view the nominations here.
So, what do you think of NATAS’ picks of JoJo Siwa and Jack McBrayer to host the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmy Awards? Comment below.