Shepherd’s Path

When Sherri Shepherd had nothing, faith and friendship lit her way forward. She will bring her talent to a Las Vegas stage next spring — and with it, a story that is a triumphant testament to resilience.

Sherri Shepherd is a force whose talent, tenacity, and joy light up every stage she touches. A daytime Emmy Award–winning talk show host, comedian, actress, and bestselling author, she commands America’s attention as the host of the syndicated talk show “Sherri” where her warmth and humor power conversations filled with topical headlines, celebrity interviews, comedy, and uplifting stories. 

Fresh off her standout role in Tyler Perry’s acclaimed film “Straw” and gearing up to release her first children’s book, “The Sunshine Queens,” Shepherd continues to expand an already remarkable three-decade career that spans television, film, Broadway, and stand-up comedy. The multiple NAACP Image Award winner also delights fans with her hit podcast “Two Funny Mamas,” co-hosted with Kym Whitley. 

On May 2, 2026, Shepherd will bring her electric stage presence to the Venetian Resort for a live stand-up performance — an experience her fans know is not to be missed. 

And recently, Shepherd reached another milestone: receiving her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Her acceptance speech, filled with heartfelt gratitude and a testament to faith, endurance and never giving up, was a powerful reminder of the resilience that defines her journey. 

Hey family! Thank you to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for giving me such an honor and I need to thank Jesus. Everybody who knows me knows I don’t thump you over your head with my beliefs. But I’m a very spiritual person. I know I wouldn’t be here without my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Like Tyler [Perry] and Niecy [Nash] said, “We don’t see what goes on behind the smile, but God does.” Those deep desires you never talked to anybody about, those dreams that you have — God knows those dreams. I just have to say thank you Jesus for everything you have done for me and those tears you wiped up. 

Father God, I thank you. You have never left me or forsaken me. Father God has always said, “Do you trust me?” I must be honest, sometimes I said, “Hell, no I don’t.” But you never gave up on me and never stopped loving me. I bless you Father that you let people see a side of you that loves to laugh. The side that is joy. I thank you and a special shout out to You. Amen. 

You know Hollywood means something very special to me. I used to live on the corner of Franklin and Argyle Streets in a studio apartment. My rent was $350 a month. I used to look out the window — there were roaches all over. I couldn’t afford to live anywhere else because my mother put me out of the house because I was too much for her. But I would look out the window every day and I would dream. I would see the cast members of “Beverly Hills 90210” when I would go inside clubs and see everyone doing their thing. I would look out and dream about maybe one day I could be a part of this Hollywood community. I got evicted from my studio apartment and I moved over to 1200 June Street which was off Santa Monica and La Brea. I used to dream and found out landlords don’t live on dreams. They need money; and I got evicted again from that apartment. I would walk everywhere because they repossessed my car. I would walk all the way to The Comedy Store every night where I would do stand-up comedy because that was the only thing that kept me going. 

When I didn’t have a place to stay because I got evicted so much. I would stay on people’s couches. I remember they didn’t have cell phones then. We only had pay phones and when I didn’t have a quarter to make a call, I would call collect to a friend. When the phone operator would come on the line, I would say, ‘this is a collect call.’ When the operator would ask if the person would receive my collect call I would scream before the operator hung up, “Girl I have to stay at your house tonight!” (laughs). I would wander around and sit in McDonald’s until my friend would come home so I could sleep on their couch. I would also walk down Hollywood Boulevard and see Janet Jackson’s and other celebrities’ stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And I would cry and think, “Maybe one day that could be me?” This is when I had nothing. And the fact that I am here right now receiving my own star some 30 years later — God must have said, “Yes, it’s you!”