Sherri Shepherd Set to Take Over for Wendy Williams Due to Ongoing Health Issues
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Former The Masked Singer contestant Wendy Williams has been facing health issues that have kept her from hosting her talk show. According to new reports, Sherri Shepherd is set to become a “permanent guest host,” and the show’s name could change soon.
Sherri Shepherd Taking Over for Wendy Williams
The Wendy Williams Show has featured a number of guest hosts this season as Williams takes a break due to health concerns. Hosts have included Leah Remini, Whitney Cummings, and Sherri Shepherd, who is reportedly the choice to replace Williams permanently.
TMZ reports that Williams has an “open door” to return as host, with producers monitoring her health progress over the next several months. If Williams is unable to return, the name of the show could be changed as early as September.
Shepherd certainly has plenty of hosting experience aside from her time on The Wendy Williams Show. She co-hosted The View between 2007 and 2014, and won a Daytime Emmy for the job in 2009. Shepherd is also no stranger to talent shows, having competed on Dancing With the Stars Season 14.
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What Health Issues Has Williams Faced?
Williams’ last appearance on her talk show was in July 2021. In September of last year, Williams tested positive for COVID-19. Even after testing negative, the show’s premiere was pushed back due to Williams’ “ongoing medical issues.”
Then in October, Williams stepped away as host of the show due to “serious complications” from Graves disease and her thyroid condition. Rumors have swirled about the severity of Williams’ health issues, but her rep told Page Six these stories are “inaccurate.”
“Wendy is a valued and stalwart member of the Debmar-Mercury family and has been so for 12 years,” the show said in a statement when Williams stepped away. “We want her health to be her top priority. As soon as she’s ready, she will be back in her treasured purple chair.”
Williams’s son Kevin Hunter Jr. posted a photo of Williams on his Instagram stories last month, showing her sitting in bed eating a salad and drinking a smoothie.
