Wanda Sykes Tears Up While Renovating Her ‘Chosen’ Niece’s Home: She ‘Took Care of Me’ (Exclusive)
"Amber means so much to me. Not just Amber, but her whole family pretty much took care of me," says Sykes in PEOPLE's exclusive preview of 'Celebrity IOU'
Wanda Sykes is ready to put in the work for someone who means the world to her.
The comedian, 60, is the latest celebrity to join Drew and Jonathan Scott on Celebrity IOU, on a mission to remodel a home for someone who helped shape their life and career.
In PEOPLE's exclusive preview of the upcoming Monday, Aug. 19 episode of the hit HGTV series, Sykes works on fixing up her "chosen" niece Amber's home.
"Amber means so much to me. Not just Amber, but her whole family pretty much took care of me. Especially times when I needed a family," Sykes explains in the episode after arriving at the home with the Scott brothers.
Courtesy HGTV
Wanda Sykes, alongside Drew and Jonathan Scott, as they demo the main bedroom for Wanda's honorary niece Amber, as seen on "Celebrity IOU"As the actress gets emotional, Amber expresses a similar sentiment, telling the Property Brothers stars, "Wanda feels like family that I was gifted from God."
"So when she had her special, I'ma Be Me, it meant a lot to me. I was going through the same thing. Little later, she marries her wife. My grandmother comes. I knew my mom was cool with everything but my grandma was a little religious and just, I don't know how it fit in her life. I wasn't sure," she adds.
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Courtesy HGTV
Wanda Sykes works on remodeling her honorary niece's home on "Celebrity IOU""But when she showed up at Wanda's wedding and was emotionally involved, she cried. And that touched me. I was like 'Ok. So I get to be me.' I can marry my wife and have my kids. It wouldn't happen without this example," continues Amber.
Sykes then explains that she met Amber's mother, Alyson, in the late 1990s, and they quickly hit it off.
"I met her parents. I met her daughter, Amber, and it's really cool how our relationship has grown because now she's a mom, you know, married, two girls. And I'm just so proud of her," she adds.
Amber's home previously belonged to her grandmother, Mable, which made fixing up the roof and various parts of the interior that much more meaningful.
Courtesy HGTV
Wanda Sykes, alongside Drew and Jonathan Scott, reveal the renovations done to Amber's home on "Celebrity IOU"Before this season of Celebrity IOU's premiere, Drew shared that the "celebs are always willing to get in there and do things they’ve never done before."
"They also come up with solutions we wouldn’t necessarily think of because they know the recipient and what that person needs so well. They really mean business," he said.
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Wanda Sykes' appearance on Celebrity IOU airs Monday, August 19, at 9 p.m. ET/PT
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