Lee Ralph Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Rihanna‘s Super Bowl Halftime performance.The pop sensation performed a career-spanning set in Glendale, Arizona on Sunday (February 12), her first live performance in five years.The singer kicked off with ‘Bitch Better Have My Money’ before she performed a host of hits including ‘Where Have You Been’, ‘We Found Love’, ‘Umbrella’ and ‘Diamonds’.Signing the show was 20-year-old Justina Miles, a deaf American Sign Language performer, who also signed the pre-show performance of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, sung by actress Sheryl Lee Ralph.During the performance, Miles – who is the first female deaf performer to be enlisted for the Super Bowl show – could be seen enthusiastically dancing and signing along to Rihanna’s biggest hits.“Rihanna’s sign language interpreter deserves a raise she was giving it her all,” one Twitter user wrote. Another person said Miles “phenomenally absorbed all of the Rihanna energy.”“The sign language interpreter ate that UPP,” a third said.

Tonight’s the night — finally.

The first group of celebrities set to present awards at the Emmys have been revealed!

The 24th annual Black Reel Awards have set this year’s list of honorees for special recognition.

As the SAG-AFTRA strike clocked its 62nd day, and the WGA’s 135th, the former held a massive solidarity march today from Netflix HQ on Van Ness Blvd to the Melrose gates of Paramount to juice guilds’ spirits with the entertainment industry work stoppage running past Labor Day.

Sheryl Lee Ralph is a proud mama bear celebrating her son Etienne Maurice's recent engagement.While chatting with ET's Rachel Smith about her new back-to-school charity campaign in partnership with MadeGood and public education advocate Tamir Harper, Ralph gushed about Etienne's upcoming nuptials and what it means for her growing family. «I'm so happy, I'm so inspired, I love it! The fact that Stephanie just fits and blends so well into our family, you know, that's all you can ask, that your children are happy in different stages of their life,» the Emmy winner tells ET of Maurice's engagement to longtime girlfriend and journalist at ABC News, Stephanie Wash.

 and  might be on two different networks, but the cast of the CBS sitcom still sees potential for a crossover!As heads into its recently renewed fifth season, co-creator Gina Yashere admitted she's been thinking about all the guest stars she'd «love» to have on the show.«I was at the Black Women's luncheon just before the Oscars, and I met Sheryl Lee Ralph, who is a wonderful actor on. And she was like, 'I want to be on your show.' So I'm gonna try and work out a way to get her on the show as a guest,» Yashere told ET during a recent chat on the set of her hit CBS sitcom.The British comedian expanded on the idea, pitching that  creator Quinta Brunson join in on the fun as well.

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor “I am Black woman; hear me roar!” The hilarity of Black women on television has been sorely missed and ignored by the Television Academy over multiple decades. However, this year’s slate of outstanding lead and supporting comedy actress seem to be the two spots preventing an #EmmysSoWhite moment from occurring. Quinta Brunson is the front-runner to win her first acting Emmy for her charming turn as Janine Teagues, the optimistic 2nd-grade teacher from ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” With a beautiful sophomore season in the books and the added benefit of Jean Smart being out of the competition for “Hacks,” she seems perfectly aligned with the Emmy cosmos to land much-deserved recognition. The possible recognition would be long overdue for Black comedians on television.

Ready for her school picture! Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson brought her A-game to the 2023 Met Gala.

Abbott Elementary season two as a prominent guest star.The Hidden Figures actress will appear in an upcoming episode of the hit US sitcom as schoolteacher Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) estranged mother, Vanetta.The news was announced at a PaleyFest panel event in Los Angeles, California on Saturday (April 1), where Henson appeared via pre-recorded video message alongside permanent cast members Sheryl Lee Ralph, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Anna Walter, and William Stanford Davis, who were there in person.“Now I can’t share too many details with you so you’ll have to tune in to ABC, April 12,” Henson said, “but I can guarantee you that it is going to be a riot… I have been a fan of Abbott Elementary since day one. I’m so proud of Quinta, and I was excited to join her and the amazing cast.”Following the announcement, Abbott Elementary’s official Twitter account confirmed the news with an image of Henson and Brunson on set together.

Finally putting a face to the name. Taraji P. Henson is joining season 2 of Abbott Elementary in the role of Janine’s (Quinta Brunson) estranged mother.

Sheryl Lee Ralph, veteran actress and now “Abbott Elementary” star, says a “famous TV judge” assaulted her.Ralph opened up about the alleged incident on Monday during an appearance on radio personality Angela Yee’s “The Way Up With Angela Yee” podcast. “I’m at a very public place,” Ralph said. “I was suited. I had my suit on.

tweeted Saturday. “As soon as the David character in ‘The Last of Us’ started reading from the Bible I knew that he was going to be a horrific villain.

The stars always stun. The 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards were not broadcast on television this year, but that didn’t stop the A-listers from turning heads with their stylish looks.

Marc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Raven-Symoné will receive the Icon Award at this year’s Better Brothers LA Truth Awards. Broadcasting on Fox Soul, the gala, which is co-presented by Sheryl Lee Ralph and her The DIVA Foundation, will also honor Netflix’s The Upshaws (Cultural Affirmation Award), Judge Greg Mathis, Greg Mathis Jr. and “Mathis Family Matters” (Family Award), Starz #TakeTheLead (Corporate Leadership & Diversity Award), Tabitha Brown (Ally Award), Byron Perkins (Courage Award), Dr. Darnell Hunt (Excellence in Education Award), Dr. David Malebranche (Advocate Award) and the Unique Woman’s Coalition (Advocate Award). Better Brothers Los Angeles (BBLA) is a networking and social organization for members of the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Quinta Brunson stepped onto the 54th NAACP Image Awards red carpet already a winner. The creator and star of ABC's  earned two wins during the pre-awards festivities which precede Saturday's main ceremony, including Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television). «It means the world to me,» the actress told ET on the red carpet when asked how it feels to have the recently renewed show recognized by an awards ceremony honoring Black artists across television, music, literature and film.

After nearly a week of handing out trophies, the televised portion of the NAACP Image Awards begins at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on multiple Paramount Global channels. The show airs delayed at 8 p.m. in the Pacific time zone. Read on about how to watch it.

performances from Rihanna and Sheryl Lee Ralph, country singer Chris Stapleton brought Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni to tears as he performed a soulful rendition of the National Anthem at the Super Bowl LVII on Sunday. The 44-year-old «Starting Over» crooner belted out the «Star Spangled Banner» while playing the guitar for the crowd at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. «Man, it felt great. It really did,» Stapleton told ET's Kevin Frazier after his touching performance.

on February 12, immediately following her Super Bowl halftime performance. She is expecting her second child with rapper A$AP Rocky. RiRi performed hit after hit at her performance, but the second she hit the stage, fans were paying attention to…something else. Everyone on social media seemed to be dying to know: Is Rihanna pregnant again? And we mean everyone: “Pregnant” and “ANOTHER BABY” (all caps) started trending on Twitter during the show and after it ended.

No—which is good news for football fans.The Abbott Elementary star generously lent her talent to the Super Bowl LVII Pregame, bringing down the house with a ravishing rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing." And the date made her performance all the more meaningful: According to Ralph's Instagram reel posted before the game, today marks 123 years since the hymn was first publicly performed. “It is no coincidence that I will be singing the Black National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing at the Super Bowl on the same date it was first publicly performed 123 years ago (February 12, 1900),” Ralph wrote.

Singing in style! Country crooner Chris Stapleton kicked off Super Bowl LVII with a rousing rendition of the national anthem.

EJ Panaligan editor Allen Media Group’s African American-focused news, lifestyle, sports and entertainment platform theGrio has announced the inaugural The Grio Awards. The black-tie event will take place at the Beverly Hilton on Saturday, October 22th with co-hosts comedian Sheryl Underwood and Taye Diggs. The award show’s inaugural honorees are slated to attend in-person, including: The event will also feature special musical performances by Yolanda Adams, Tyrese, Fantasia and LaBelle. Greg Phillinganes will serve as musical director, and DJ Kiss will serve as both DJ and announcer. Additional guests slated to attend include Sheryl Lee Ralph, Judge Christine Perez, Dave Winfield, Judge Lauren Lake, Judge Mabelean Efphram, April Ryan, Natasha Alford, Michael Harriot, Panama Jackson, Nikole Hannah Jones, Ben Chavis and Marla Gibbs.

Woman In Film, Los Angeles said Thursday that that She Said producer Dede Gardner, star Carey Mulligan and New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey will be honored next month at the 2022 WIF Honors. They join a recipient list that already includes the bestowing the group’s Crystal Awards to Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, The Woman King director Gina Prince-Bythewood, and Don’t Worry Darling writer and director Katie Silberman and Olivia Wilde, respectively.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Coming off a lot of Emmys love, ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary” went back in session Wednesday with a Season 2 premiere that kept pace with its freshman finale last spring. According to Nielsen’s Live + Same Day data, Episode 1 of Season 2 averaged a 0.5 rating among adults ages 18-49 and 2.8 million total viewers, tying it with “The Conners” Season premiere for ABC’s highest-rated show during Wednesday primetime. That marks a solid start to the new school year for “Abbott Elementary,” which put up a 0.6 rating and 2.8 million total viewers in the comparable Nielsen metrics for its Season 1 finale in April.

Selome Hailu School is back in session at “Abbott Elementary,” this time with high-profile guest stars such Leslie Odom Jr. and … Gritty, the famous mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers. The fuzzy orange hockey supporter plays himself in the Season 2 premiere, titled “Development Day.” Janine, the second grade teacher played by series creator and recent Emmy winner Quinta Brunson, invites Gritty to Abbott Elementary to surprise the students on their first day of school, though things inevitably go wrong. “Gritty, to me, is such a beautiful representation of Philadelphia,” Brunson says in a behind-the-scenes video Variety can exclusively unveil. “The way he is joyful, the way he looks, the way he feels, the way he is.” Adds Sheryl Lee Ralph, who also just won an Emmy for her “Abbott Elementary” work: “There are a lot of people who might be iconic in Philadelphia. There are a lot of people that might be loved in Philadelphia. None of them come close to the love and admiration that is given to Gritty.”

A royal connection. Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph revealed an interesting link to the late Queen Elizabeth II from her past.

Selome Hailu Sheryl Lee Ralph has made her feelings known on Jimmy Kimmel’s bit during Quinta Brunson’s Emmys acceptance speech. During a virtual panel for ABC’s presentation at the TCA’s summer press tour, “Abbott Elementary” creator and star Brunson was asked Kimmel lying down onstage as she won the award for comedy writing on Monday night. She reiterated her previous comments that she isn’t upset about what happened, mentioning that she’s appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Wednesday. “I’m anticipating that we are going to have a good old fashioned time,” she said. “I have talked with Jimmy since, and I think no matter what, it’s important to just showcase that ‘Abbott Elementary’ is premiering next week. It’s gonna be a good time and you’ll probably just have to tune in and watch.”

with a nomination—much less in a custom, one-of-a-kind gown created by designer . But that's exactly what Sheryl Lee Ralph did tonight.The actor wore a body-hugging strapless gown complete with a daring high slit with orange inner lining. , who's up for best supporting actress in a comedy series, paired the dress with one of Blackwood's signature trunk bags covered in dazzling heat-stamped orange crystals.

Abbott Elementary (which can be streamed with a Hulu subscription) was a critical and ratings hit during its freshman season, leading to six Primetime Emmy nominations. While series creator and star Quinta Brunson hit a major first with her awards nods, this year's awards noms marked a major milestone for Mrs. Howard actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, as this is her first nomination, which is for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy.

Clayton Davis Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.