Entertainer and entrepreneur Queen Latifah will soon become a member of the Carnival family.

The Grammy award-winning singer and acclaimed actress will take part in the naming of Carnival Cruise Line's newest ship, Carnival Horizon, as its godmother.

Latifah will then compete in Carnival's "Lip Sync Battle: Horizon" show, which will be similar to the contest seen in the Paramount Network series on US television.

The event will be held during an invitation-only overnight gala on-board the Carnival Horizon in New York on 23 May.

During the evening, Carnival partner St Jude Children’s Research Hospital will be presented with a cheque from the proceeds of the line's fundraising activities.

Carnival will also unveil artwork by more than 30 St Jude patients that will appear on the Carnival Horizon’s “Dreamscape”, a three-deck-high LED sculpture in the centre of its atrium.

"Carnival is an iconic American brand and it’s an honour to be named godmother of Carnival Horizon and take part in the event honouring the special children of St Jude — a cause that is very near and dear to my heart,” Latifah said.

After the event, the ship will begin its summer schedule from New York that runs until September, followed by the launch of year-round Caribbean cruises from Miami later in the month.

The Carnival Horizon, being built by Italy's Fincantieri, will make its first voyage on 2 April with a 13-day Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona. This will be the first of four round-trip voyages to the port.

As the line’s newest ship, Carnival Horizon will introduce a number of innovations, including celebrity chef Guy Fieri's Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que Smokehouse/Brewhouse and a Dr Seuss-themed water park.

Latifah is currently starring in the Fox television series Star and has earned numerous entertainment accolades including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Oscar nomination.

She is also the first hip-hop artist to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has earned six Grammy nominations and a Grammy Award for best solo rap performance.

“Knowing that she is a long-time supporter of St Jude and has performed and won ‘Lip Sync Battle’ made her the ideal candidate to serve as godmother to our newest ship,” said Carnival Cruise Lines president Christine Duffy.