Sheryl Lee Ralph Breaks Down Viral Bridesmaids’ Photo From Her 2005 Wedding
Now and then, Sheryl Lee Ralph’s wedding photo from her second marriage will hit the internet and remind us of how star-studded her bridal party was. On July 30, 2005, Sheryl married Pennsylvania Senator Vincent Hughes at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. But it was her bridal party that had everyone talking.
The Abbott Elementary star had 10 bridesmaids, which included Patti LaBelle, Loretta Devine, Niecy Nash, Divorce Court’s Judge Mablean Ephriam, AJ Johnson, Jenifer Lewis, and Victoria Rowell. During her interview with Jemele Hill on her podcast Jemele Hill is Unbothered, the original Dreamgirl shared what it was like sharing her special day with the fellow divas.
“Patti LaBelle, who was actually upset that I did not ask her to sing. And for me, I really wanted the bonds of friendship and sisterhood,” she said. “I did not want her to think that I was asking her to be in my bridal party because I wanted her to sing. No, I wanted your sisterhood, I wanted your friendship.”
She mentioned that black-ish actress Jenifer was also upset over not being asked to sing, and while she was a bridesmaid, she told the Moesha star that she planned on using that moment walking down the aisle as the bride. “Now, you have to imagine this, this is true. The doors are about to open for the bridal party to come down the aisle. Jenifer Lewis pulls me aside. I’m the bride, and says,” mimicking Jenifer’s voice, "Now Ralph, I know this is your wedding and it is you, the bride,’ she said. ‘But I may never have one of these and so when those doors open, it is all about me.’ We have it all on film. When the doors opened and she walked down the aisle, oh, Jenifer Lewis was the bride.”
Another bridesmaid, who was in medical school at the time, fainted while standing at the altar due to pulling an all-nighter the night before Sheryl’s wedding.
Sheryl shared the story about Jenifer before on Instagram in 2019 to celebrate her and her husband’s 14th anniversary.
Sheryl captioned the video, “It’s a wedding story for you! And it involves @jeniferlewisforreal LAWD!!!”
The actress responded, “ALL Lies. I would never do such a thing. I remember being very shy and sweet and supportive. OK I’m llying it’s all true. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️.”
What an iconic wedding!
Check out the full video below:
Sheryl Lee Ralph Says She Sold Her Rights to “Dreamgirls” for a Dollar | Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Featured image via Sheryl Lee Ralph/Instagram
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Tracey Edmonds Dropped Her 'Anti-Aging' Self-Care Routine & We're Taking Notes
Aging is a beautiful process.
While society tends to pressure women to spend hundreds on nips, tucks, and miracle creams in search of the fountain of youth, adopting simple habits into our everyday lives can be the hidden key to aging gracefully.
From exercise, regular sleep, and a consistent skincare routine, these pillars of a healthy lifestyle can help us ease into every stage of life that lies ahead. And when we see women like Emmy award-winning producer, Tracey Edmonds glowing and growing through her phases of life, we can’t help but to take notes. That’s why we’re breaking down the 57-year-old’s top anti-aging tips on how to live a vibrant and healthy life.
Tracey Edmonds: 'My Anti-Aging Self-Care Routine'
Stay Hydrated with Lemon and Coconut Water:
“Water not only keeps you energized, but it also cleanses you out — so you need to be drinking at least eight cups of water a day,” Tracey says in her video. “The other thing that you can add to water, which is actually amazing for you, is adding a squeeze of lemon or even a bit more to your water every single day.
“Lemon water is great for removing toxins, and it also tastes really good. It's very refreshing, and it gives you that extra little burst of energy… it'll kind of almost wake you up a little bit,” she shares. “Coconut water has all the benefits of regular water and additional ones. It helps with high blood pressure, and it's great for digestion.”
Exercise 3-5 Times a Week:
“We have to get our exercise in at least three to five times a week,” she advises. “Cardio is so important and it's great for heart health. When you get your body going and your energy flowing, you work better, you think better, you're more focused. So getting cardio is super important.”
Get Your Stretch On:
“I do a lot of stretching at least three times a week,” she says. “It's great for slowing down the aging process and keeping your body really agile with movement. And again, stretching is good for energy flow as well; it clears your chakra so that everything flows better in your body.”
Regular Cardio:
“Anything that actually gets your heart going is great for you. My cardio routine is running or walking on a treadmill at least three times a week. I run a mile each time I'm on the treadmill, so if you can do a mile each time you're on the treadmill, you are looking good, and your energy’s flowing, and keeping your body super healthy.”
Getting a Full Night’s Rest:
“I get at least eight hours of sleep. And yeah, it's hard sometimes, especially when you're working, and you have things on your mind, or you're going through things with your personal life,” she says. “Sometimes when I have problems sleeping, I turn on my sound machine and listen to the sound of a river going by or something that helps relax my mind and removes all the other noise going on in my mind — like all the worries and anxieties and the work issues.”
Self-Care for Your Soul
“I do a lot of meditating and praying,” Tracey shares. “I meditate before I go into prayer and what that is for me is my time to spend with myself and with God. During my meditation/prayer sessions, I block out everything else. I find a really quiet spot, I close my eyes, and I just get in tune with God and where I need to go with my life. I solve problems a lot of times while I'm meditating and praying on them, and come out of meditation and prayer feeling clearer and more focused.”
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Featured image by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images