Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph has stunned the audience by breaking into song after her Emmy win.
Sheryl, who took out the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series category, was clearly surprised by her win taking a moment to get to the stage.
Once there she burst into Diana Reeves’ ‘Endangered Species’ while the network displayed her speech underneath her.
It was an incredibly moving moment that shook the entire audience who stood for a standing ovation.
“To anyone who has ever, ever had a dream and thought your dream wasn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t come true, I am here to tell you that this is what believing looks like,” Sheryl said after her performance.
“This is what striving looks like, and don’t you ever, ever give up on you, because if you get a Quinta Brunson in your corner, if you get a husband like mine in your corner, if you get children like mine in your corner and if you’ve friends like everybody who voted for me, cheered for me, loved me, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
Sheryl’s song choice was no accident. Diana’s song is a letter to women around the world, particularly to women whose artistry has been ignored for too long.
Sheryl is a veteran of TV and movies after getting her big break in 1977, she blew up in 1981 for her Tony nominated Broadway debut in Dreamgirls. However, this is her first Emmy win.
Not only that but Sheryl is the first Black actress to win the outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series category since 1987.
Despite her long career Sheryl has faced an uphill battle to secure her place in Hollywood. Speaking to NPR earlier this year she discussed how casting directors dismissed her due to her race.
“‘Everybody knows you’re a beautiful, talented Black girl, but what do I do with a beautiful, talented Black girl? Do I put you in a movie with Tom Cruise? Does he kiss you? Who goes to see that movie?'”, she recalled.
Before her Emmy’s she said she already felt like a winner thanks to the love and support from her fans.
“Whether I get that trophy in my hand or not, I already feel like a winner,” she said. “
“The love that has been shown to me, showered on me, the flowers that have been given to me, literally and figuratively. I feel like a winner. And forever after this, I will always be Tony-nominated, Emmy-nominated Sheryl Lee Ralph.”
Those same fans were, of course, overwhelmingly supportive of her win.
“The joy in her face. This is years overdue. Mrs. Sheryl Lee Ralph deserves her flowers and more!!” tweeted one fan.
“Incredible,” another simply said.
Keep up with all the Emmy winners here.
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