Sherri Shepherd, Oprah Winfrey.Photo: Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment/Getty
Sherri Shepherdwill always have love forOprah Winfrey.
Last week, Winfrey, 69, told the talk show host, 56, she is “passing the baton to her” while appearing as a guest onThe Sherri Shepherd Show.
Now, while speaking with PEOPLE at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday, Shepherd admitted, “I bawled my eyeballs out. They were swollen all night the day she came."
“It’s surreal because to be on her show at 23 years old and dream about, ‘Could I do what she does?’ She got me through a lot of stuff," she continued.
“… So her saying, ‘I’m passing it to you.’ What an honor," Shepherd added. “A lot of pressure, but what an honor.”
Shepherd at the 50th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in L.A. on Saturday.Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
Shepherd — who received four Emmy nominations forThe Sherri Shepherd Showon Saturday — said interviewing Winfrey was a “full circle” moment for her, after she turned the iconic talk show host down for chats for so many years amid struggles with personal issues.
“I was in a physically abusive relationship. My mom was dying from diabetic complications, I had a family member on drugs I was taking care of. I hung on to Oprah for dear life,” Shepherd recalled. “And when I was on that show, I just said, ‘What if?’ … I hope that I am for someone the way she was for me. So it was absolutely amazing.”
“She’s been with me through this entire journey,” she told PEOPLE. “Oprah will text me my ratings. She will text me, ‘You’re number two with women 25 to 54.’ Long texts. And she’s paying attention … That’s how generous Oprah is. And she gives me advice and guides me.”
Speaking on the success of her show, which premiered in September 2022, Shepherd said, “I just feel like you can’t compare yourself to anybody else. I’m funny and that’s what I decided to swim in, the lane of humor and laughter. And since Ellen left, there was nobody to fill that void. So I was like, ‘it’s open, I’m going to take it.’ ”
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Sherri Shepherd.Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
And while the talk show host missed out on winning a Daytime Emmy this year, she told PEOPLE she is determined to take home a trophy next time.
“I didn’t get it yesterday. Kelly Clarkson did. But I’m a new show. But Kelly, I’m coming for you next year!” Shepherd said.
source: people.com
