Sherri Shepherd is a Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host, actress, comedian, podcaster and best-selling author. As the host of her own nationally syndicated talk show, SHERRI, she brings warmth, humor, and authenticity to daytime TV, earning her the title “TV’s New Feel-Good Queen.” Each episode showcases her comedic take on entertainment news, trending topics, and inspiring everyday stories.

Shepherd recently co-starred in Tyler Perry’s critically acclaimed drama STRAW and is set to release her first children’s book, Sunshine Queens—a vibrant celebration of friendship and self-love. With a career spanning over three decades, she has become a household name thanks to her standout roles in 30 Rock, Mr. Iglesias, The Sex Lives of College Girls, and Harlem, as well as films like Precious, Think Like a Man, Top 5, and Brian Banks.

“I’m still a regular girl. And as long as you keep that realness, you can keep moving forward. When you make a genuine heart connection, people rally around you—because you’ve touched something real.”

A multiple NAACP Image Award winner, Shepherd has been honored for both her groundbreaking talk show and her hit podcast Two Funny Mamas, co-hosted with comedian Kym Whitley. SHERRI has earned several Daytime Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Talk Show Host and Talk Series.

Shepherd also made history as the first Black woman to host The Newlywed Game and the first Black actress to play the Evil Stepmother on Broadway in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. A dynamic stand-up comic, she’s toured nationally, opened for Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias at Dodger Stadium, and headlined the Ladies Night Out Comedy Tour alongside Loni Love, Kym Whitley, and Adele Givens.

Through her production company, Faith Walker Productions, Shepherd continues to create content that amplifies diverse voices. A New York Times best-selling author and passionate advocate, she uses her platform to champion inclusivity, representation, and support for women and children with special needs.

With her signature mix of humor, heart, and resilience, Sherri Shepherd continues to inspire and entertain—redefining what it means to be a powerhouse in the world of media and beyond.

Your talk show SHERRI keeps racking up love and awards. What’s your secret sauce for vibing so well with daytime viewers?

I think it’s all about transparency. The reason daytime talk shows don’t last is because you have to make a heart connection. If you don’t connect with people on that level, they won’t stay. Viewers need to feel like they want to hang out with you—because they’re taking time out of their day to watch—but they also need to feel like you want to hang out with them. Audiences can sense inauthenticity instantly, and I think that’s the key. Everything I used to get in trouble for—talking too much, sharing all the family business, being the class clown, having ADHD—it’s actually working for me now. It didn’t when I was younger, but it does today.
People relate to that. They know I’m a celebrity, but I’m still a regular girl. And as long as you keep that realness, you can keep moving forward. When you make a genuine heart connection, people rally around you—because you’ve touched something real.

You shook things up with your role in Tyler Perry’s STRAW—giving a strong nuance to your character. How was stepping into that dramatic space different from your usual comedic groove?

That one was really exciting because it’s been very difficult for me to break into the dramatic lane. I’ve done dramas — I played the lead in Abducted: The Carlina White Story, where Keke Palmer played my daughter. That aired on Lifetime TV. I also did The Brian Banks Story. But usually, it’s been someone believing in me and giving me a chance. This is my first major lead role in a film for Netflix, and I’m eternally grateful to Tyler Perry for writing it and believing in me. I’m hoping it opens doors for me in the dramatic space. I haven’t seen those doors open yet, but I’m still hopeful. Tyler gave me the opportunity to show people that I’m not a one-note actor — and I think most people deserve that. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to champion you, and that’s exactly what Tyler did for me. The role he gave me had a real heart connection. My character, Nicole, is someone everyone can relate to — someone striving to reunite with her family, to be seen, to be understood. And the friendship that developed between her and Janiyah’s character was beautiful to explore. I think audiences could feel that journey. When you make a heart connection, there are so many directions you can go.

Let’s talk about The Sunshine Queens! Your first children’s book due Oct. 7th via HarperCollins -what lit the spark for that story?

You know what’s so funny is I wanted to write something for teenagers. But because this is my first time working with everybody, they said let’s start with younger kids. So what I decided to do, because I’m all about girl power, is take the stories that I have that I would use on stage about my girlfriends and make them for a younger child. I wanted little girls to know that if you can connect with your girls that bring you sunshine, there’s nothing you can’t do. We’re not meant to be alone in this journey, and so you can have girlfriends there that will get you through things. From helping you find your lost puppy, to being present for you at your first recital. Even when you’re not ready on time, you still need those ladies. I am a big proponent of women. I’m very excited about the book.

Four Daytime Emmy noms, a stack of NAACP Image Awards… How do those moments hit you now in this season of your career?

SHERRI: It’s always nice to be acknowledged by your peers. I know they say with Emmy Awards that it doesn’t matter. It does. When you get the nominations, it matters. When you don’t get the nominations, it matters. It matters because it’s your peers judging you. So it was extremely exciting that in our first season we got nominated for four Emmys. But you also have to remember it doesn’t take away from the work you have to do. Those NAACP Image Awards mean a lot because those are your people telling you how they feel about you. I have two for Sherri and I have three for the Two Funny Mamas podcast. Subsequently, every year we win for our podcast. It really shows me that Kim Whitley and I have connected in some kind of way in the chaos of what we’ve put out with this podcast. It has connected with somebody. And that really means a lot, because that NAACP website to nominate and get somebody to win—that’s a hard website to crack. When I tell you, that website is not for the faint of heart. And our followers, they get on there and vote like there’s no tomorrow. And they also did it for Sherri. It was really exciting. Oh my gosh, we’re getting so much love from our own.

From 30 Rock to Harlem to Mr. Iglesias—you’re doing it all! What makes you say “yes” to a project these days?

It’s got to be important enough for me to leave Jeffrey. He’s gotten older now, so he’s a bit more independent. Kim takes her son with her — but Jeffrey doesn’t want to hang out with me! So for me, it has to be a role I can really sink my teeth into — a character I can do something meaningful with. At this phase of my life, it’s about legacy. What am I leaving behind? What am I leaving you with? Because in this season, I don’t have the same energy I had in my twerking twenties. So I’ve got to be careful. How is this going to edify people? Lift them up? The young ones are watching us, so what are we putting out there for them? Is it going to inspire? That’s what I look at now when considering a project. I don’t want to do something just to be doing it. Somebody once called me about a Christmas movie — they wanted me to play the woman with the dogs. I said, “No, I don’t want to do that.” I did that kind of thing when I was coming up. If I’m going to be away from my family for two weeks, it has to mean something. These days, I’m asking for more — where’s the producer credit? The executive producer credit? Where’s the meaty material? It’s about confidence now. I know my worth. I know what I’m bringing to a project — so I ask accordingly.

“Two Funny Mamas” with Kym Whitley — pure comedy gold! What makes your duo click so perfectly?

We’ve known each other for over 27 years and been through all the ups and downs of friendship. The chemistry is just there. As far as I know, we’re the only two women who can get on stage and improv for an hour and a half — I don’t think anybody can touch us when we get going. We bring that same energy to the podcast. It’s a yin-yang thing — she’s like a sister to me. We’re truly great friends, and like any friends, sometimes we need a break. There have been plenty of times I’ve threatened to quit or fire Kim. After all, I’m 51% of the company since I started it! Now she’s talking about revising the contract. But at the heart of it, there’s a real connection. People relate to Kim’s craziness and to me — and to the way we are together — because you can feel that we genuinely love each other. We started the podcast right when COVID hit, just wanting to make people feel better, and we’ve done that. We truly root for each other. Having someone in your corner like that is priceless. I think people connect to our friendship, our sisterhood — we’re funny, but we’re also serious. They connect to the motherhood part too — two single moms trying to make it work. Kim might have a tennis court and a big house, but she’s still going through it. People relate to the imperfections, because we’re all just trying to make it through.

“no is a very powerful word. Know who you are, and learn how to be confident. It’s easier to turn a no into a yes than it is to turn a yes into a no. That’s powerful for our young women to understand“

You’ve become a fierce voice for representation, women, and kids with special needs. What fuels that fire in you?

My son Jeffrey — even though he’s forbidden me to talk about him or show his picture — has been my greatest teacher. I want parents to know they’re not alone. It’s been a hard journey because Jeffrey was misdiagnosed until he was almost seventeen. Learning how he operates and coming to full acceptance of who he is has taken time. He has a mom who’s outgoing and always sees the bright side, while he’s the opposite — excited on the inside, but you’d never know it from his face. It’s been rough at times. I want parents to understand that feeling inadequate is normal. There’s so much learning, so much acceptance — and a lot of letting go of guilt for not seeing things sooner.

Kids on the autism spectrum often live in big fantasy worlds because they want what feels like a “normal” life. But I’m a practical person. So when Jeffrey says, “I want to do this and that,” I immediately ask, “What’s the plan?” — and it doesn’t always compute. I’ve had to remind myself: Sherri, accept who your child is.

He doesn’t want me to talk about him being on the spectrum — that drives him crazy — but as a mom, my instinct is to protect him. It’s been a lot to navigate, especially while being in the public eye. My secret sauce has always been transparency, but it’s hard when the person you love most says, “Don’t talk about me,” and the world wants you to be a voice for others. You feel caught in the middle. Still, it’s been a journey I don’t take for granted. And to every parent out there — you’re not crazy, and you’re not alone. (laughs)

Your looks on SHERRI are always serving joy, color, and confidence. How would you describe your style vibe—and where do you pull your fashion inspo from?

When I tell you I love Harlem — the vibe, the pulse, the heartbeat — there’s nothing like it. The fashion, the style, the energy. I love being a Black woman. I was just working on a cruise ship, and we were doing Black girl math — figuring out how many size eighteens can fit into a size five! My style is all about that Harlem spirit: vibrant, colorful, expressive. It’s about walking those streets, loving who you are, and not worrying about what anyone thinks. Just yesterday, I went to Boulevard Bistro — hair down to my ankles — and walked three miles home. People were like, “Hey Sherri, I’m not gonna bother you,” but let me get this selfie. It was such a beautiful feeling. That’s what I love about Harlem: I’m loved, accepted, protected. They see you, they celebrate you — and then they let you be.

You’ve crushed so many lanes—from Film & TV to books to Broadway. What’s next on the vision board for Sherri Shepherd?

I’d love to do more dramas — roles I can really dig into and dissect, where I can bring something meaningful to the character. I’m about to start a comedy tour in September, but my goal is to go global. I want to perform in Africa and see if people who look like me laugh at my humor. I want to go to London, too. Of course, I want my talk show to keep going — fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth season! And I want to give others the same opportunities I’ve been given. I want young women to look up and say, “Yeah, I want to be like Auntie.”

What advice would you give to the young black girls out there looking  to be in this business.  

Two things I would tell them: First, learn how to say no — because no is a very powerful word. Know who you are, and learn how to be confident. It’s easier to turn a no into a yes than it is to turn a yes into a no. That’s powerful for our young women to understand. Second, if you can get past the fear, all the blessings are on the other side. You have to be willing to walk past it, around it, or through it — but that’s where everything is: the opportunities, the open doors, the growth. It’s all waiting beyond the fear.

-Musa Jackson

Sherri Shepherd’s debut children’s book The Sunshine Queens is due October 7, 2025 via HarperCollins.

92 ISSUE 2025

Talent @sherrishepherd
EIC @iammusajackson
Editorial Graphic @Paulmorejon
Photographer @marcbaptistephotos
Assistant Photographer @thepjguerra
Stylist Connie Johnson
Hair @lurissaingridhair
Makeup @paintedbyjsr
Nail Tech @tipsxtara
Interviewer: @iammusajackson
Videographer: @courtneydouglasphotography
Senior Fashion Assist: Neykiya Booker
Assistant Fashion Stylist: Syn Emile

PICTURE # 1
Camellia Pink Silk Chiffon Poets Blouse by BIBHU MOHAPATRA
Black Princess Tulle Skirt by V Hanley Collections
Earrings by Lorraine West Jewelry
Shoes by Style X Showroom
Black Sheer Silk Stockings by Infinity Classics International
Black Corset and Bra by Infinity Classics International

PICTURE # 2
Paragon Dress by Kenny Kas Clothing
Rings by Mimi So International
Bracelets Sherri’s Own
Earrings by Lorraine West Jewelry
Boots By Style X Showroom

PICTURE # 3
Black Mesh Gown by Norma Kamali
Corset by Infinity Classics
Gold Necklaces by Mimi So International Madison Avenue NYC
Gold Hoop Earrings with Pearl Drop by Mimi So International Madison Avenue NYC
Black Leather Gloves Stylist Own
Shoes by Style X Showroom, Washington D.C.

PICTURE # 4
Orange Faux Fur Coat by ZANG TOI Couture
Leopard Sheer Gown By Showroom Seven
Rings by Mimi So International Madison Avenue NYC
Bracelet by Mimi So International Madison Avenue NYC
Earrings by Lorraine West Jewelry
Shoes by Style X Showroom, Washington D.C.

PICTURE # 5
Black Faux Fur Coat by Larry Alebiosu, Fashion International Earrings, Southfield MI
Black Trinity Deus Suit by Kenny Kas Clothing
White Shirt by Larry Alebiosu, Fashion International, Southfield MI
Black Silk Tie with Silver beads by  Larry Alebiosu, Fashion International, Southfield MI
Earrings by Lorraine West Jewelry
Shoes by Style X Showroom

PICTURE #6
Bronze Palais Suit by Kenny Kas Clothing
Bronze Palais Shirt by Kenny Kas Clothing
Gold Diamond Rings by Mimi So International on Madison Avenue NYC
Gold  Diamond Necklaces by Mimi So International on Madison Avenue NYC
Gold Hoop Earrings with Pearl Drop by Mimi So International on Madison Avenue NYC

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