Sheryl Lee Ralph Just Won Her First Emmy and Her Speech Was Absolutely! Glorious!!

Sheryl Lee Ralph just won her first ever Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Barbara Howard in Abbott Elementary, and her speech will no doubt go down in history as one of the best of all time.

Not only did Sheryl begin her speech by breaking out into Dianne Reeves’s song “Endangered Species” (and she CARRIED those notes!!!!), she then gave an empowering message about believing in your dreams and relying on your support system.

The crowd stood in an uproar, giving Sheryl a much-deserved standing ovation.

Sheryl joins just one other Black woman who’s ever won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actresses in a Comedy Series, and that’s Jackée Harry, who is most known (to our generation, anyway) for her role as Lisa Landry in Sister, Sister. Jackée won her Emmy for her work as Sandra in the mid-80s’ NBC sitcom 227.

Sheryl’s ensemble was also a historic moment. The actress wore a black velvet gown designed by native New Yorker Brandon Blackwood, marking the accessories designer’s first-ever gown made for his eponymous line. Sheryl also sported one of Brandon’s ever-popular Kendrick trunks to finish off the look.

For all the Moesha stans, we met Sheryl back in the late ’90s when she played Dee Mitchell, Moesha’s (aka Brandy) stepmom. So, needless to say, Sheryl has been in the TV game for d-e-c-a-d-e-s, and she’s finally getting the flowers she so deserves.

Now excuse me while I make a tattoo appointment to get Sheryl’s speech inked on my back!

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