Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph took home the gold trophy at the 2022 Emmy Awards in a look that she described as “anything but basic.” She snagged the award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role as the respected kindergarten teacher on the ABC hit series, marking Ralph’s first nomination and win.
The actress took a moment to pause in her seat before accepting the award, when she bursting out into song on stage, delivering an impromptu tune to Dianne Reeves’ 1993 song “Endangered Species.”
“I am a woman, I am an artist, and I know where my voice belongs,” she poignantly sang. Palpably emotional, Ralph said, “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 this is what believing looks like.”
The 65-year-old continued, “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 got friends like everybody who voted for me, cheered for me, loved me — thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Ralph is the second Black woman to win in the category, after Jackée Harry, who won in 1987 for the NBC sitcom 227.
The star chose a memorable look for her Emmys debut, wearing a form-fitting, strapless black velvet gown with orange lining by New York-based label Brandon Blackwood — which was the very first gown the label created. “Black is anything but basic. It is classic. It is chic. It is timeless,” the actress said on the carpet of her look.
“We made our first gown ever for an absolute ICON! Thank you @thesherylleeralph for allowing my team and I to create this dress for you! A BB gown and bag on the Emmy Carpet #Major,” the designer wrote on Instagram.
The ensemble was styled by Roberto Johnson, and accessorized with a diamond necklace and two diamond tennis bracelets. She amped-up the glamor with shimmering crystals scattered throughout her waist-length braid, by hairstylist Moira “Fingaz” Frazier.
