Cheddar hitting the ground this black history month
and putting the people front and center.
Well today we're gonna hear from daytime talk show host,
actress and comedienne Sherri shepherd
cheddar news is Shannon Lanier sat down with her to discuss how she became a
Trailblazer in her industry and what her legacy
means for generations to come take a listen
Sherry.
I know we're celebrating black history month,
but you are a television Trailblazer to more than just the black community.
What does that title mean to you?
I follow in the footsteps of trailblazers and I,
I try to do my best and I'm excited that I get to live the dream that trailblazers um,
you know, paved for me and I try to inspire young women to want to do what I do,
but by no means would I ever take on that?
I am a Trailblazer.
What is the importance of representation on television and small screen,
big screen, especially for people that just want to see someone who looks like them.
You know,
it's so important because it's so funny because now we're seeing more and more
uh folks that look like us and two younger kids, it's becoming the norm,
which is what, you know,
dr martin Luther king would have wanted that
this is the norm rather than the exception.
I came up in a time of this was the exception.
You know, when you saw a talk show or anything was only one black person.
Now you see talk shows and you see more than one person of color.
You know,
the fact that at any time you could turn the channel to
see three different women of color leading their own talk show.
I don't think the young kids realize how historic that is.
You know, so I think that this is so important because I remember
I didn't see very many women that looked like me.
So you know, Stephanie Mills watching her on the stage,
thinking when I think of home, when she did the whiz.
That was one of the things where I wanted to
become an actress and I've been watching tv you know,
all my life.
But it was Stephanie Mills watching her.
It was Whoopi Goldberg because I said they look like me
speaking of exceeding your expectations,
you were just renewed for not one but two additional seasons.
Can you believe it? What a huge! That doesn't always happen.
Usually it's like, okay, one here, one here, but to
how does that
make you feel?
Uh it was surreal.
It really was because I was like to really we were just
trying to get the one we were hoping for the one,
but I was like to I think I could actually sign a
lease for a good amount of time because I was like,
I don't know how I'm gonna be here.
You know, I was like,
leave a role open for me on Shoni C so I you have to be here for for two seasons is,
I don't even know what I'm gonna do.
Well, what do you attribute your success to?
I think being clear in my vision,
being clear in the vision that I've always had for
this show and really sticking to who are you?
Sherry.
Don't try to be someone that you are not and really staying true to, you know,
I say things, I came out in my Invisalign and took them out on tv,
that kind of thing works for you.
Don't stop, don't let anybody tell you that you
are not enough and really sticking to me being enough,
what advice would you give to younger you?
I would tell Young Sherry to take more risks,
I would tell her to don't let fear stop you?
I will tell Young Sherri, don't let no stop you.
I would tell Young Sherry always, it will get better.
We heard Oprah Winfrey just called recently to congratulate you
on the renewal of the show and she also said,
okay, what's next?
That was quite intimidating.
That was really, because then Oprah follows up with another text going, you know,
you gotta think and I was like, okay, it's too much pressure.
Like I just called to say, hey, what you doing.
So um it's, it was great and it, but it got me to thinking, what's next,
what do I have to do?
How do I, how do I elevate it?
How do I bring those aspects of fun, but even take it up a notch.
Alright, Big thanks to Shannon Lanier and Sherri Shepherd.
Cheddar celebrates Black History Month,
recognizing the trailblazers who paved the way,
and the next generation of innovators join us as
we celebrate the excellence of the leaders across tech,
business media and more all month long on cheddar news.