Sheryl Lee Ralph Delivers a Breathtaking Emmy Speech (in Song)

Sheryl Lee Ralph just made the crowd break into tears at the 2022 Emmys.

The television, film, and stage actress won her first-ever Emmy tonight, taking home Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Barbara Howard on the feel-good ABC hit Abbott Elementary.

To celebrate the legendary moment, the star—who has been acting on television since the late '70s—powered through tears and broke out into song, belting the opening lines of "Endangered Species" by Dianne Reeves as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

"I am an endangered species/But I sing no victim's song/I am a woman, I am an artist/And I know where my voice belongs," she sang.

The multi-hyphenate then gave a passionate speech where she reflected on her decades-long career and the once-in-a-lifetime moment, while thanking Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson.

"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 that this is what believing looks like. This is what striving looks like," she said.

She continued, "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, love me… Thank you!"

Earlier in the night, the Moesha star walked the red carpet in a custom Brandon Blackwood gown—a strapless black number which features a dramatic thigh-high split and an orange inner lining.

Her speech takes on special significance considering Ralph's long-running career, and the fact that she is now the second-ever Black woman to win in the category. Her fellow winner, 227 star Jackée Harry, congratulated the newly-minted Emmy winner on Twitter minutes after Ralph's big win.

"@thesherylralph’s had a remarkable career AND she’s one of the nicest people in Hollywood. Barbara Howard on #AbbottElementary is another fabulous character we’ve been fortunate to watch her breathe life into," Harry wrote, adding "Congrats, Sheryl & welcome to the club!"

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