Sheryl Underwood
Sheryl Underwood is a savvy businesswoman, philanthropist and a multi-faceted, multi-media entrepreneur who is recognized as one of the most articulate, well-informed women of our time. Signed to her 12th season, Underwood is co-host of the Emmy award winning CBS television show THE TALK, watched by an average of 3+ million viewers each day. She has served as co-host of the Daytime Emmy Awards show for multiple years, including solo hosting duties for the 2021 Daytime Emmy Awards. She is a much sought-after entertainer and public speaker who is described as one of the world’s brightest contemporary humorists. Underwood is Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Pack Rat Productions, Inc., founder of Pack Rat Foundation For Education, Inc., 23rd International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (the only full-time entertainer to ever hold the sorority’s highest post) and former Chair of the National Executive Board of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Underwood holds an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Benedict College in Columbia, SC, South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, the University of Illinois-Chicago and Voorhees College in Denmark, SC; has a multi-year relationship with Proctor and Gamble’s METAMUCIL brand to serve as a national spokesperson; was national spokesperson for Kimberly-Clark’s DEPEND brand Underwareness Campaign; is creator and host of Sheryl Underwood Radio with 585 affiliates and the host of the Sheryl Underwood Radio Podcast. Sheryl Underwood Radio is Sheryl Underwood, Kyle Erby, James Kelley, Courtney Black and Executive Producer Vic Frost. Industry veteran Tyrone Dubose is a contributor to the show. Talented mixologist Damon “Doc” Johnson is the in-house DJ on all Sheryl Underwood Radio produced content. Sheryl Underwood Radio (SUR) is a five day a week Adult Contemporary format, and under the Sheryl Underwood Radio banner, SUR produces additional programming: Late Night Cupcaking (Slow Jams and Dedications); Spiritual Nourishment – The Best Bible Study on Radio (Gospel), Auntie Sheryl’s House Party (Hip Hop, R&B & Funk), and The World According To Sheryl, the podcast of all Sheryl Underwood Radio produced content. Sheryl Underwood Radio launched the community engagement campaign #AloneTogether to support the national COVID-19 stay-at-home mandate and SUR was a strategic advertising partner with the highly successful Biden-Harris presidential campaign.
Committed to using her visibility and influence in positive ways, Sheryl Underwood is Founder & Chief Executive Officer of the Pack Rat Foundation for Education (PRFFE). She was host of the HBCU Panel at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference with Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. – known as the “God-mother of HBCUs”.
Underwood’s life story was the subject of the TVOne bio-documentary UNSUNG Hollywood: Sheryl Underwood; she is a Membership Ambassador for the NAACP, Co-Chair of Taste of Soul in Los Angeles; she was the host of Freeform television’s holiday gift-wrapping competition series “Wrap Battle”; she is the founder of Black Radio Solidarity, a collective of influential media properties and talent, as well as the visionary behind Black Radio Solidarity: Driving Souls To The Polls Town Halls, an initiative that harnesses the power, energy and influence of radio to encourage individuals and organizations to get involved in civic activity. Town halls have been held in West Palm Beach (FL), Tempe (AZ), Tacoma (WA), Chicago (IL) and Atlanta (GA), each town hall encourages citizens to Vote in all November elections and to Be Counted by participating in Census 2020.
Underwood, born in Little Rock, Arkansas, joined the television show THE TALK on CBS television for the start of season two. She sits alongside hosts Amanda Kloots, Jerry O’Connell and Akbar Gbajabiamila. With Underwood at the table, THE TALK, received its first Daytime Emmy for Best Talk Show and another Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment and multiple Emmy nominations. As a result of the success of the show Underwood received a Daytime Emmy Award as host of THE TALK and a multi-year contract renewal. THE TALK has received a record eight (8) Daytime Emmy Nominations, tying with TV host Ellen Degeneres. Underwood, who has received numerous awards and accolades, was named one of the 10 most influential talk show hosts on Twitter and currently has over 1 million social media followers. As part of THE TALK hosting team, Underwood has received a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Daytime TV Hosting Team” and an NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Talk Series.” Underwood is a KJLH (Los Angeles) Proven Achiever honoree and Multi-year Ambassador for the Bayou Classic. She is also the subject of an exclusive multi-page feature article in PEOPLE Magazine.
Underwood has been featured in Ebony, ESSENCE, Entertainment Weekly and in other major media outlets and has been a guest on numerous television programs including multiple episodes of the Emmy winning CBS daytime drama The Young and the Restless. She made her first of several scheduled appearances as the character “Diane” on the CBS comedy The Odd Couple and as “Emmy” on The Bold and The Beautiful; and she brings her signature personality and energy to Funny You Should Ask and Celebrity Name Game for multiple episodes. She has been a celebrity guest on Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump and she, and The Underwood Family, are winners of Celebrity Family Feud, donating their winnings to the Zeta National Educational Foundation.
Her self-syndicated Sheryl Underwood Radio is heard on over 585 radio affiliates nationwide and internationally. She offers civic, government, non-profit and Greek organizations access to this vast network through Sheryl Underwood Radio PSAs. In 2016, because of her commitment to civic engagement, she created and organized the Black Radio Day of Solidarity to drive Souls to The Polls and Black Radio Day of Solidarity Day to Drive Souls to the Theaters in Support of Hidden Figures. Participating radio personalities included: TOM JOYNER, STEVE HARVEY, SHERYL UNDERWOOD, J. ANTHONY BROWN, RUSS PARR, SWAY, BIG BOY, ROLAND MARTIN, MICHAEL COLYAR, JEFF “UZI D” ANDERSON, KENNY SMOOV, ANJALI MCGUIRE, DEDE IN THE MORNING, SAM SYLK, CAFÉ MOCHA, KJ “MIDDAY” BLAND, CARL NELSON AND FREDDIE BELL. In 2017, she launched the Black Radio Solidarity Day Radiothon to Drive Souls to Give to HBCUs and in 2020, BlackRadioSolidarity.com supported the get out the vote campaign and the 2020 Census signup effort along with providing support and awareness to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, BlackRadioSolidarity.com is committed to Driving Souls to Commerce to support Black-owned small businesses.
Underwood was honored with the UNCF Masked Award at the UNCF’s Annual Mayor’s Masked Ball in Los Angeles, California. She, along with NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson, were recognized for their support and donations that provided hope and opportunity to young people attending UNCF affiliated colleges and universities. She is an NAACP Membership Ambassador, the recipient of the Arch of Triumph Award presented by Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina and a member of the BUILD Community Development Corporation. She previously served on the Board of Trustees for Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina and the Board of Directors of the George Lopez Foundation.
Through her service, philanthropy and excellence in business, Sheryl P. Underwood is a source of inspiration and wisdom for women, across the country and the world. She is a supreme model of what happens when you blend the Zeta principles of scholarship, service, sisterly love and finer womanhood in an effort to enhance her beloved sisterhood Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and the world.
