Sheryl Lee Ralph Admits I’ve Been Ready For This Speech Since I Was 5

On Monday’s episode of The Jennifer Hudson Show, the 65-year-old Abbott Elementary actress recalled her first Emmy win for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy.

Ralph’s acceptance speech, which sang the stanza of jazz singer Diane Reeves’ 1993 song “Endangered Species,” is widely regarded as one of the most memorable moments of her 2022 Emmy win night. was When her name was called, Ralph said she’d been working on it for years.

She told Hudson, 41, “Like many of you, I’ve been planning my speech since I was five,” to enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Before I emerged from the spire and began to turn my wishes into reality, I was rehearsing my acceptance speech.

Nonetheless, Ralph admitted that not everything went according to plan. When they shouted her name, she explained that “everything went blank”. The spotlight is my habitat, so when I finally made it to center stage, “Now is your time!” she explained.

Last Monday, Ralph made history by winning the 2022 Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress for the first time for her portrayal of kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard at Abbott Elementary School.

Written and directed by Quinta Brunson and premiering in December 2021, this mockumentary follows a group of teachers employed at one of Philadelphia’s worst performing schools. You can also catch Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Chris Parfetti on ABC’s show.

With her scene-stealing victory speech, Ralph became the second black woman to win an Emmy in this category, after Jackie Harry, who won in 1987 with 227 categories.