Sherri Shepherd has a personality that is infectious and a laugh that can only be described as contagious. Her warm demeanor and welcoming voice is sure to uplift your spirits, regardless of how you are feeling when you encounter the lovely TV talent. Her quick wit and charisma make her the perfect choice to host the 42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards live from the FOX Theater in Atlanta.
“I love Christian music, so to be able to get out there and honor the artists is a great privilege,” says Shepherd.
The former legal secretary-turned-television superstar sometimes has a hard time believing that her life isn’t a figment of her imagination. “It’s like I’m living a dream,” admits the Chicago native. “When I was a legal secretary, me and the other secretaries would daydream about what it would be like to do something like this … I would literally zone out all the time and to know that I’m living this dream, I feel like if I pinch myself I’m going to wake up at any moment.”
Before becoming a household name, she would do standup while working as a legal secretary, “I started with Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, Mo’Nique, and we were all in the grind together.”
This year, Shepherd will add “award show host” to her long list of accomplishments that include talk show co-host of “The View,” actress, game show host of “The Newlywed Game,” author of Permission Slips: Every Woman’s Guide to Giving Yourself a Break and, her most important role, mother to her 6-year-old son, Jeffery.
Although she is no stranger to the stage, she admits to being nervous about hosting. “I’m terrified. I’ve never hosted anything by myself,” Shepherd said. However, she feels better after receiving good advice from her fellow “The View” co-host, Whoopi Goldberg, who told her that the award show wasn’t about her but rather the nominees, and she was there to simply keep the show moving.
This year’s performance lineup includes gospel greats like Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Deitrick Haddon, Smokie Norful and Marvin Sapp. Norful, Sapp and black family sensations Forever Jones are among the list of award nominees.
Since her humble beginnings, Shepherd has been on a roller coaster ride of hits and misses but continues to have God as her anchor. Her key to success is to “run toward the fear” and not away from it. She has chosen to give herself a permission slip to live out her dreams. The Dove Awards will air on Easter Sunday, April 24, on the GMC Channel at 7 p.m. EST.
–amyr heard
