Sherri Shepherd: The Sunshine Queen of Daytime TV

By Bianca Charade | Lifestyle Editor, Monarch Magazine

Few entertainers embody resilience, faith, and pure joy quite like Sherri Shepherd. The Emmy Award-winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and now children’s book author has built a life and career grounded in faith and authenticity. From humble beginnings on Chicago’s South Side to hosting her hit daytime talk show Sherri, she’s turned struggle into laughter and setbacks into testimony.

Now with her upcoming children’s book The Sunshine Queens and her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Shepherd reflects with Monarch Magazine on her unshakeable faith, her “ministry of laughter,” and the sisterhood that continues to keep her shining.

MONARCH: Should I call you Sherri or Ms. Shepherd?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: (laughs) Girl, Sherri! Only kids ten and under get to call me Ms. Shepherd.

MONARCH: You’re a proud Midwest girl, born and raised in Chicago. Tell us about your beginnings before the spotlight.
SHERRI SHEPHERD: My mom got pregnant with me at 18, got put out of the house, and life was hard. My parents were young and my grandmother practically raised me. We were in a strict, religious — church from morning to night. I was shy and quiet, taught not to talk back or use my voice.

It’s funny because now, all I do is talk for a living! (laughs) But back then, I was this little girl who thought her voice didn’t matter. That’s why I wrote my book — because girls need to know early that their voices do matter.

MONARCH: Coming from a faith-based family, what led you to pursue entertainment?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Oh, my grandma wanted me to get a “real job” — teacher, post office, government worker — something stable. But everything changed when I saw Stephanie Mills in The Wiz. She looked like me. Then came Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Those three Black women planted the seed. They showed me that I could exist in that space too. Representation matters — it saved me.

MONARCH: Congratulations on receiving your star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! What went through your mind when you heard?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: I screamed, then I cried. Because, I remember walking down Sunset Boulevard late at night homeless with nowhere to go.  Staring at the stars on the Walk of Fame. wondering if my name could ever be one. God remembered that little girl and said yes. Even when I didn’t have a home, he was planting hope. Every eviction, every heartbreak, every “no” — it all made me stronger. “Yes.” It’s overwhelming. I’ll be crying the whole ceremony, lashes and all!

MONARCH: That’s so beautiful, God’s amazing.

MONARCH: Hosting your own show has made you America’s favorite girl next door. What’s your secret to bringing such warmth to daytime TV?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: I’m just Sherri. I don’t pretend. My mama used to say, “Stop telling all our business,” but that’s how I connect with people. I talk about my food addiction, my flaws, my life — because it’s real.

Some folks might say, “Girl, you didn’t have to share that,” but I know someone watching needed to hear it. Maybe it helps them feel seen. And before every show, I pray: “Lord, let them see the side of You that loves to laugh.”

MONARCH: You’ve called what you do “ministry.” What do you mean by that?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Oh, it is! People think ministry only happens in a pulpit. But when I make someone laugh — that’s God working too. I pray before every show that someone watching feels better, smiles again, or sees God’s joy in me.

I’ve had people tell me, “I’m going through chemo, but watching your show makes me laugh.” Or, “My mom has Alzheimer’s, and this is the only time she smiles.” That’s ministry. God’s using me exactly where He wants me.

MONARCH: You talk about your girlfriends with such emotion — they clearly mean a lot to you.
SHERRI SHEPHERD: My girlfriends are my lifeline. When I was going through my divorce, Niecy Nash held me while I cried on the floor. That’s love.

And I’ve done the same for her. We’ve cried, prayed, laughed, held each other up. You can’t do life alone. Women need each other — we’re mirrors, healers, and accountability partners all in one.

MONARCH: Your new children’s book, The Sunshine Queens, celebrates friendship. What message do you hope young readers take away?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: I want girls to know that they are enough — that friendship is powerful. I wrote this book because my girlfriends give me strength. I thought, if they do that for me, imagine what it could mean for little girls to have that support early on.

It’s about teaching them to use their voice, to lift each other up, and to shine together. Because life’s hard, but it’s sweeter when you’ve got your queens beside you.

MONARCH: Do you believe The Sunshine Queens can help shape a more empathetic generation?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: I hope so. It’s not heavy-handed, but I want it to plant a seed — like The Wiz did for me. Maybe it reminds a little girl that friendship, kindness, and laughter matter. Maybe it makes her believe she can be anything. That’s how empathy grows — through stories that reflect love.

MONARCH: With Sherri, your comedy tour, podcast, and now this book — what does legacy look like for you?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Legacy is everything. My son has special needs, so I think about how I can create a world that’s kinder, more inclusive.

I also think about the next generation — especially young women in media. I tell them: There’s room at the top. You can do this too. I’ve hired interns, created jobs, mentored girls. That’s the blessing of being in this position — using it to lift others.

MONARCH: You’ve said before that some blessings are delayed for a reason. Can you share more about that?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Oh yes! I once had a talk show deal pulled after I filled in for Wendy Williams. I was devastated. But my friend told me, “Sherri, God couldn’t give it to you then — because of who you had around you.”

And he was right. I was dating a man who had just gotten out of prison and would’ve been my show’s musical director! (laughs) That show wouldn’t have lasted a week. God said, “No, not yet.” When the timing was right — He gave it to me.

MONARCH: What advice would you give to anyone afraid to chase their dream?
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Run toward what scares you. On the other side of fear is everything you’ve prayed for. Faith is a chess game — you move in faith, and God moves in blessings.

Don’t wait until you feel ready — you’ll never feel ready. Just move, and trust that God already has the next step waiting.

MONARCH: Sherri, thank you for your light, laughter, and vulnerability. You truly are a Sunshine Queen.
SHERRI SHEPHERD: Thank you so much. And please, when you buy The Sunshine Queens, support your local independent bookstores. They’re the heart of our communities — where kids still sit, dream, and fall in love with reading.