Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Abbott Elementary' Star Sheryl Lee Ralph's Reaction To Scoring Her First Emmy Nod Is Everything

Abbott Elementary' Star Sheryl Lee Ralph's Reaction To Scoring Her First Emmy Nod Is Everything
@walkgoodetienne/Twitter

With a 50-year career on Broadway, in film and on television, you might assume that legendary actor Sheryl Lee Ralph has been nominated for an Emmy before.

But you'd be wrong.


The actor nabbed her very first nomination today for her performance in the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary—and her reaction is absolutely the most contagiously joyful thing you'll see this week.

Ralph has been nominated in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as the elder stateswoman among the teachers at the fictional Philadelphia school at the center of the runaway hit comedy series.

And the video of her reaction to the news, posted to Twitter by her son Etienne, has the internet cheering and applauding.

See Ralph's big moment below.

Ralph's son tweeted:

"with over 50 years of being in this thing we call showbusiness, today my mother became an Emmy nominated actress."
"i’m so proud of @thesherylralph. I’m so glad I could be here in Jamaica with you for this moment."

Seeing Ralph reduced to speechlessness is certainly a contrast to her character Barbara Howard on Abbott Elementary, a wise, been-there-done-that veteran teacher who's seen it all and always knows the right thing to say.

Her mystification isn't what you'd expect if you've followed her career either. Though she began in films in the 1970s, Ralph is best known for her barnstorming performance as Deena Jones in the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls in 1981.

But she's been a mainstay on stage, television and movie screens ever since, appearing in TV shows like Showtime's Ray Donovan, beloved films like Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit and Broadway hits like Wicked.

Her role on Abbott Elementary has introduced her to an entire new generation and they are absolutely in love with her and her castmates.

The show, which features an ensemble cast of mostly Black performers, was an immediate sleeper hit since practically the moment it premiered and has become a critical and ratings success—a rare trifecta in today's TV landscape and a boundary-breaking one for network television, a historically White-led medium.

Speaking with People magazine after learning of her nomination, Ralph somehow found the words that eluded her in the video of her getting the call about the honor.

She told the magazine:

"I am so deeply honored and completely overwhelmed with an abundance of gratitude that comes with this recognition."
"Thank you to the Television Academy for the delicious honor of being nominated in the Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series category, alongside the most talented and hilarious actors of today."

On Twitter, Ralph's awestruck joy and her son's contagious glee left people smiling ear to ear.







Ralph isn't the only Abbott Elementary cast member who might find her name engraved on a statue in September. She joins costars Tyler James Williams and breakout sensation Janelle James in the Supporting Actor and Actress categories.

And series creator Quinta Brunson has made Emmys history with her nominations—with acting and writing nods and an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination for the show itself.

Brunson is the first Black woman to be nominated for three Emmy awards in the comedy category in the same year.

More from Entertainment/celebrities

Kid Rock
Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Kid Rock Dragged After Donning A Truly Over-The-Top Outfit For His White House Visit

Singer Kid Rock was slammed for wearing a loud patriotic costume inside the Oval Office as Republican President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday against ticket scalping.

The rocker's outfit consisted of a red, white, and blue jacket emblazoned with two eagles facing each other above the American flag with the number 250, a nod to America's upcoming 250th anniversary, and white stars on his sleeves.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Bill Cassidy
CNBC

MAGA Senator Just Said The Quiet Part Out Loud With Epic Freudian Slip About Medicare

Louisiana Republican Senator Bill Cassidy was widely mocked following his inconvenient slip of the tongue during a CNBC interview as he mused about finding ways to "cut" Medicare before quickly correcting himself.

The exchange occurred after host Rebecca Quick pressed Louisiana Republican and former physician Bill Cassidy on how his party intended to fund the “trillion-dollar tax cuts” sought by President Donald Trump.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Tim Sheehy
CNN

GOP Senator Gets Blunt Reality Check After Comparing Trump Tariff 'Pain' To Home Renovation

Montana Republican Senator Tim Sheehy was criticized after he tried to compare the "short-term pain" of President Donald Trump's tariffs to home renovation, a claim so ridiculous that CNN's Kaitlan Collins quickly pushed back on the analogy.

Trump has repeatedly referred to April 2 as “Liberation Day,” pledging to impose tariffs—taxes on imports—to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign goods. He has framed these tariffs as “reciprocal,” aiming to match the duties other nations place on American exports.

Keep ReadingShow less
Susan Crawford; Elon Musk
Scott Olson/Getty Images (left and right)

Liberal Wisconsin Judge Calls Out Elon Musk In Victory Speech—And It's Everything

Liberal judge Susan Crawford called out billionaire Elon Musk in her victory speech after winning a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, basking in successfully beating her Republican opponent Brad Schimel and ensuring that the nonpartisan court’s narrow 4-3 liberal majority remains intact despite Musk's efforts to sway the race.

Musk fueled the high-stakes race, having poured more than $20 million into supporting Schimel, according to state campaign records. That includes $3 million to the state Republican Party—$2 million of which was donated just last week. Due to state election laws, large contributions must be funneled through political parties before reaching candidates.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Worst 'Bonus' They've Ever Gotten At Work

Most of us have worked at one problematic workplace, with reasons ranging from toxic coworkers to terrible bosses to unlivable pay. Sometimes, it feels like a joke that the employees are even being paid at all!

But the biggest joke of all might be the end-of-year bonus, or lack thereof. They're at times so laughable, they take the cake for horrible work conditions, or are quite literally, a slice of cake.

Keep ReadingShow less