Wendy Williams (radio host)
Encyclopedia
Wendy Williams Hunter is an American media personality and New York Times bestselling
author. She calls herself the "Queen Of All Media" and hosts her own syndicated talk show, The Wendy Williams Show
. Williams has gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities. Williams was a contestant on the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars
. She was eliminated on April 5, 2011.
section of Ocean Township
, New Jersey
. She graduated from Ocean Township High School
. From 1982 to 1986, Williams attended Northeastern University in Boston
, Massachusetts
, where she graduated with a B.A.
in communications and was also a DJ for the college radio station WRBB 104.9 FM.
("Kiss 108") in Boston. She later became a DJ for radio station WVIS
in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and after ten months there, accepted a job at oldies
station "OLD" in Washington D.C..
In 1989, Williams began at "98.7 Kiss FM" in New York City as a fill-in DJ. As rival station WBLS
began hiring away staff from that station, Kiss FM hired her full-time for its morning show and gave her a non-compete clause
contract; at this time she started her trademark of talking about African-American celebrities by giving listeners the dirt on the celebs personal lives. A year later, Ms. Williams landed her own 9-5 p.m. shift, eventually winning the Billboard Award for Best On-Air Radio Personality in 1993. In December 1994, Emmis Broadcasting bought out Kiss FM and switched Williams to the company's Hot 97. KissFm at that time was "Smooth R&B and Classic Soul".
Williams was fired from Hot 97 in 1998 for allegedly getting in a fight with her co-worker Angie Martinez
, while outing her romantic relationship with rapper Q-Tip
. In her New York Times bestselling
autobiography Wendy's Got the Heat, Williams praised Martinez while acknowledging a mostly verbal confrontation. Williams stated that the station used the incident as an excuse to terminate her contract, and suggested that it was really pressure from hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs which led to her dismissal. She alludes to this in her second book The Wendy Williams Experience, as she wrote "He single-handedly tried to ruin me...".
After the Hot 97 incident, Williams was hired by a Philadelphia station WUSL
("Power 99FM"), claiming her New York fans "left her for dead".
In 2001, Williams returned to the New York airwaves when WBLS hired her full-time for her own syndicated 2-6 p.m. Williams' friend, MC Spice of Boston, Massachusetts, offered his voice over services to the show, often adding short rap verses tailored specifically for Williams show. By 2008, she was syndicated in Redondo Beach, California
(on a station which services the Los Angeles
metropolitan area); Shreveport, Louisiana
; Wilmington, Delaware
; Toledo, Ohio
; Columbia, South Carolina
; Emporia, Virginia
; Lake Charles, Louisiana
; Tyler, Texas
; and Alexandria, Louisiana
among other markets.
Williams' interview style is brash, and she refers to herself, à la Howard Stern
, as the "Queen Of All Media". In her television and radio shows, she regularly provides celebrity gossip.
Williams has published several books including the paperback novel Drama is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1 (2006), which is co-authored by Karen Hunter
.
In 2003, Williams interviewed R&B singer Blu Cantrell
, asking questions about her sexual activities and practices, her criticism of other R&B artists, and her drug abuse. This interview was sold as a bonus DVD with Cantrell's Bittersweet album.
Williams has been a speaker for Georges Veselle champagne.
In October 2007, Williams filled in for Jodi Applegate
on WNYW
's morning television show Good Day New York
.
On the July 23, 2009 episode of her television show, Williams announced that she had elected to leave radio in order to focus full-time on her television program, as well as spend more time with her family. Eight days later, Williams ended her eight-year-long venture with WBLS. That same year, she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
on My 9
and FOX 5
in New York, and My 13 and FOX 11
in L.A., and most FOX O&O stations except WTVT
& WOGX
. The show aired in New York City, Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles during summer 2008 for a test run. FOX television stations signed a deal with syndication company Debmar-Mercury at the end of the test to broadcast the show on its station group beginning in July 2009. The "shock jock
ette" remains true to her moniker when in her television trailer, she refers to exercising and crunching for her "belly flatness" and "kegeling
" (strengthening her vaginal muscles). As part of the show Williams also drinks tea from various Wonder Woman
themed coffee mugs.
In addition to FOX Broadcasting Networks (which also owns MyNetworkTV
), BET has also picked up cable rights to The Wendy Williams Show which will premiere simultaneously on TV stations covering more than 95 percent of the United States and BET.
Representatives of the BET Networks have stated "After two solid quarters of growth at BET, we're thrilled that 'The Wendy Williams Show' will be joining our line-up in July to strengthen the network's momentum," said Barbara Zaneri, Executive Vice President Programming Strategy, Scheduling and Acquisitions, who negotiated the deal for BET Networks.
Williams has cried several times on her talk show. Wendy Williams cried on her talkshow when a surprise caller called her show to announce to her and the United States that Wendy Williams was inducted in the radio hall of fame in Chicago Illinois. Another instance occurred while talking about weight issues during an Ask Wendy segment. Another instance occurred while discussing her experience with pregnancy during a Hot Topics segment on August 27, 2009. She cried yet again on September 15, 2009 while stating that she did not feel that Whitney Houston
took ownership of her previous drug abuse problem in a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey
. She compared Houston's drug abuse problem with her own struggles with cocaine. She was clearly moved during an intimate and animated interview with her "big sister" Natalie Cole
on February 4, 2010. Williams also cried when comedian and television host Whoopi Goldberg appeared on her show on February 15, 2010. Williams showed an emotional side again on May 17, 2010 when she was able to meet singer Dolly Parton
, stating that she feels blessed to be able to meet celebrities she loves. Wendy got emotional again on January 27, 2011 when her studio audience gave her an overwhelming welcome. She later explained that she hadn't expected an audience at all after 19" of snow fell in the New York City area, preventing many people from going out that day. On March 2, 2011, Wendy was moved to tears yet again during her interview with Aretha Franklin
, when Ms. Franklin complimented her on the way she spoke out about Whitney Houston
's drug problem in 2009.
Along with interviews, Wendy Williams' TV talk show has sparked a friendly rivalry with Joel McHale
of The Soup
.
On November 19, 2009, the producer announced to the studio audience that the show was confirmed to continue through the 2011-12 season. This information was not announced during the filming of that day's show; only the in-house audience received the news. It was also stated that the show ranked 3rd out of 14 with female hosts who are considered competition. The show is currently performing best in the New York City market.
.
Below is a breakdown of Wendy's scores, dances and music on Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
. Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) ar: Carrie Ann Inaba
, Len Goodman
, Bruno Tonioli
.
Williams has made guest appearances in March and April 2011 on the ABC
soap opera
One Life to Live
. Williams played a talk show host named Phyllis Rose on a television show called Access Llanview, and referenced a segment from The Wendy Williams Show called "Hot Topics". She also said her catch phrase: "How you doin'?"
In 2011, Williams played a fierce judge on the Lifetime
Network hit Drop Dead Diva
.
Williams also hosts a game show for GSN
called Love Triangle
, which premiered on April 10, 2011. The show currently airs at 6:00. Williams and husband Kevin Hunter are serving as executive producers.
On June 19, 2011, Williams guest-starred on the season 3 premiere of Lifetime's hit series "Drop Dead Diva".
in the lead role of Wendy Williams. Filming wrapped up in late August 2009 and is set to be released sometime in 2011. After Wendy's talk show premiered, producers thought the movie needed a different ending, which they filmed August 26 of 2009. Wendy announced this on her radio show and added that she wasn't really sure when it would be released.
Other notable cast members include Angel Lola Luv
, Trey Songz
, Lil' Kim
, Chandra 'Deelishis' Davis
, and Thea Vidale
.
It was reported that she will have a role in the film adaptation
of Steve Harvey
's best-selling book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.
announced that Wendy would be a partner with the virtual web show hosting web site that was schedule to launch in mid-2010 which would feature live streaming web cam sessions with celebrity guests.
, Bizzy Bone
, Will Smith
, Lil' Kim
, 50 Cent
, Mariah Carey
, Rick Ross
, Lil Wayne
, Whitney Houston
, Royce da 5'9", and 2Pac.
, especially in his song "Why U Turn On Me"," And I pray you choke. On the next dick down your throat", because she said he got raped in jail.
. She sings: "'Cause they'd be all up in my business like a Wendy interview, but this is private, between you and I."
for airing private facts about his family's personal life (particularly his wife's illness) which he would rather have remained private. He said that Williams' behavior was "tacky and disrespectful."
reported that Nicole Spence, talent booker for The Wendy Williams Experience
, filed papers with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
suing Williams. Spence, 27, claims that Williams' husband, Kevin Hunter, demanded sex from her on many occasions and created a hostile work environment by threatening and assaulting his wife on company premises. "Mr. Hunter repeatedly sexually propositioned me at work in the most crude and vulgar ways," Spence states. Spence also says that Williams did nothing to stop the alleged abuse, and in fact "offered to take me shopping so I could dress 'like a sexy little bitch,' as Mr. Hunter demanded." Both Williams and Hunter deny the charges.
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
author. She calls herself the "Queen Of All Media" and hosts her own syndicated talk show, The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
. Williams has gained notoriety for her on-air spats with celebrities. Williams was a contestant on the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
Dancing with the Stars returned for its twelfth season on March 21, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as hosts....
. She was eliminated on April 5, 2011.
Early life
Wendy Williams was born to Tomass and Shirley Williamson, as the middle child of three children. She and her siblings were raised in the WaysideWayside, New Jersey
Wayside is an unincorporated community located within Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey.-Notable residents:Notable current and former residents of Wayside include:...
section of Ocean Township
Ocean Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 27,291.Oakhurst and Wanamassa Ocean Township is a township located in east central Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. She graduated from Ocean Township High School
Ocean Township High School
Ocean Township High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Ocean Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Ocean Township School District...
. From 1982 to 1986, Williams attended Northeastern University in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, where she graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in communications and was also a DJ for the college radio station WRBB 104.9 FM.
Radio career
Williams also interned at WXKS-FMWXKS-FM
WXKS-FM, better known as Kiss 108, is a radio station in Boston, Massachusetts, licensed to nearby Medford broadcasting a Top 40 format...
("Kiss 108") in Boston. She later became a DJ for radio station WVIS
WVIS
WVIS is a radio station licensed to serve Vieques, Puerto Rico. The station is owned by V.I. Stereo Communications Corporation...
in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, and after ten months there, accepted a job at oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station "OLD" in Washington D.C..
In 1989, Williams began at "98.7 Kiss FM" in New York City as a fill-in DJ. As rival station WBLS
WBLS
WBLS is an urban adult contemporary FM radio station in New York City, operating on 107.5 MHz. WBLS is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WLIB...
began hiring away staff from that station, Kiss FM hired her full-time for its morning show and gave her a non-compete clause
Non-compete clause
A non-compete clause , or covenant not to compete , is a term used in contract law under which one party agrees not to pursue a similar profession or trade in competition against another party . As a contract provision, a CNC is bound by traditional contract requirements including the...
contract; at this time she started her trademark of talking about African-American celebrities by giving listeners the dirt on the celebs personal lives. A year later, Ms. Williams landed her own 9-5 p.m. shift, eventually winning the Billboard Award for Best On-Air Radio Personality in 1993. In December 1994, Emmis Broadcasting bought out Kiss FM and switched Williams to the company's Hot 97. KissFm at that time was "Smooth R&B and Classic Soul".
Williams was fired from Hot 97 in 1998 for allegedly getting in a fight with her co-worker Angie Martinez
Angie Martinez
Angela "Angie" Martinez is an American radio personality and occasional rapper.-Radio career:Angie Martinez got her first break in radio at the age of 16 answering hot lines at the urban radio station WQHT . There she met popular DJ Funkmaster Flex, and began working as his protégé...
, while outing her romantic relationship with rapper Q-Tip
Q-Tip (rapper)
Kamaal Ibn John Fareed , better known by his stage name Q-Tip, is an American hip hop artist, producer, singer, and actor from St. Albans, Queens, New York, part of the critically acclaimed group A Tribe Called Quest...
. In her New York Times bestselling
New York Times Best Seller list
The New York Times Best Seller list is widely considered the preeminent list of best-selling books in the United States. It is published weekly in The New York Times Book Review magazine, which is published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times and as a stand-alone publication...
autobiography Wendy's Got the Heat, Williams praised Martinez while acknowledging a mostly verbal confrontation. Williams stated that the station used the incident as an excuse to terminate her contract, and suggested that it was really pressure from hip-hop mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs which led to her dismissal. She alludes to this in her second book The Wendy Williams Experience, as she wrote "He single-handedly tried to ruin me...".
After the Hot 97 incident, Williams was hired by a Philadelphia station WUSL
WUSL
WUSL, known as "Power 99 FM", is a mainstream urban radio station, owned by Clear Channel Communications and licensed to Philadelphia...
("Power 99FM"), claiming her New York fans "left her for dead".
In 2001, Williams returned to the New York airwaves when WBLS hired her full-time for her own syndicated 2-6 p.m. Williams' friend, MC Spice of Boston, Massachusetts, offered his voice over services to the show, often adding short rap verses tailored specifically for Williams show. By 2008, she was syndicated in Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
(on a station which services the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
metropolitan area); Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
; Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
; Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
; Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
; Emporia, Virginia
Emporia, Virginia
Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. The population was estimated to be 5,927 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes...
; Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
; Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
; and Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is a city in and the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the principal city of the Alexandria metropolitan area which encompasses all of Rapides and Grant parishes....
among other markets.
Williams' interview style is brash, and she refers to herself, à la Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
, as the "Queen Of All Media". In her television and radio shows, she regularly provides celebrity gossip.
Williams has published several books including the paperback novel Drama is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1 (2006), which is co-authored by Karen Hunter
Karen Hunter
Karen Hunter is an American journalist and publisher, and the coauthor of several books.-Career:Between 1996 and 1998, Hunter taught journalism at New York University....
.
In 2003, Williams interviewed R&B singer Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell
Blu Cantrell is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter.-Biography:Tiffany Cobb was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1976. Her father was a Narragansett Native American and Cape Verdean, and played in the National Basketball Association...
, asking questions about her sexual activities and practices, her criticism of other R&B artists, and her drug abuse. This interview was sold as a bonus DVD with Cantrell's Bittersweet album.
Williams has been a speaker for Georges Veselle champagne.
In October 2007, Williams filled in for Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate
Jodi Applegate is an American news anchor for WPIX New York. She formerly anchored WNYW-TV's Good Day New York and News 12 Long Island.-Life and career:...
on WNYW
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
's morning television show Good Day New York
Good Day New York
Good Day New York is a weekday morning news and entertainment feature show which airs on WNYW, the New York City flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company...
.
On the July 23, 2009 episode of her television show, Williams announced that she had elected to leave radio in order to focus full-time on her television program, as well as spend more time with her family. Eight days later, Williams ended her eight-year-long venture with WBLS. That same year, she was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.
Television show
On July 13, 2008, Williams debuted her daytime talk show The Wendy Williams ShowThe Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
on My 9
WWOR-TV
WWOR-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the flagship station of the MyNetworkTV programming service, licensed to Secaucus, New Jersey and serving the Tri-State metropolitan area. WWOR is owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, and is a sister station to Fox network flagship...
and FOX 5
WNYW
WNYW, virtual channel 5 , is the flagship television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in New York City. The station's transmitter is atop the Empire State Building and its studio facilities are located in the Yorkville section of Manhattan...
in New York, and My 13 and FOX 11
KTTV
KTTV, channel 11, is an owned-and-operated television station of the News Corporation-owned Fox Broadcasting Company, located in Los Angeles, California. Serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan area, KTTV is a sister station to KCOP , Los Angeles' MyNetworkTV station...
in L.A., and most FOX O&O stations except WTVT
WTVT
WTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the News Corporation...
& WOGX
WOGX
WOGX is the Fox owned-and-operated television station for North Central Florida that is licensed to Ocala. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter along CR 316 west of I-75/FL 93 and the Heijahs Town section of Reddick...
. The show aired in New York City, Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles during summer 2008 for a test run. FOX television stations signed a deal with syndication company Debmar-Mercury at the end of the test to broadcast the show on its station group beginning in July 2009. The "shock jock
Shock jock
Shock jock is a slang term used to describe a type of any radio broadcaster who attracts attention using humor that a significant portion of the listening audience may find offensive. The term is usually used pejoratively to describe provocative or irreverent broadcasters whose mannerisms,...
ette" remains true to her moniker when in her television trailer, she refers to exercising and crunching for her "belly flatness" and "kegeling
Kegel exercise
A pelvic floor exercise, more commonly called a Kegel exercise , consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor, which are now sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Kegel muscles". Several tools exist to help with these exercises, though many are ineffective...
" (strengthening her vaginal muscles). As part of the show Williams also drinks tea from various Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
themed coffee mugs.
In addition to FOX Broadcasting Networks (which also owns MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
), BET has also picked up cable rights to The Wendy Williams Show which will premiere simultaneously on TV stations covering more than 95 percent of the United States and BET.
Representatives of the BET Networks have stated "After two solid quarters of growth at BET, we're thrilled that 'The Wendy Williams Show' will be joining our line-up in July to strengthen the network's momentum," said Barbara Zaneri, Executive Vice President Programming Strategy, Scheduling and Acquisitions, who negotiated the deal for BET Networks.
Williams has cried several times on her talk show. Wendy Williams cried on her talkshow when a surprise caller called her show to announce to her and the United States that Wendy Williams was inducted in the radio hall of fame in Chicago Illinois. Another instance occurred while talking about weight issues during an Ask Wendy segment. Another instance occurred while discussing her experience with pregnancy during a Hot Topics segment on August 27, 2009. She cried yet again on September 15, 2009 while stating that she did not feel that Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
took ownership of her previous drug abuse problem in a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
. She compared Houston's drug abuse problem with her own struggles with cocaine. She was clearly moved during an intimate and animated interview with her "big sister" Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
on February 4, 2010. Williams also cried when comedian and television host Whoopi Goldberg appeared on her show on February 15, 2010. Williams showed an emotional side again on May 17, 2010 when she was able to meet singer Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
, stating that she feels blessed to be able to meet celebrities she loves. Wendy got emotional again on January 27, 2011 when her studio audience gave her an overwhelming welcome. She later explained that she hadn't expected an audience at all after 19" of snow fell in the New York City area, preventing many people from going out that day. On March 2, 2011, Wendy was moved to tears yet again during her interview with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, when Ms. Franklin complimented her on the way she spoke out about Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's drug problem in 2009.
Along with interviews, Wendy Williams' TV talk show has sparked a friendly rivalry with Joel McHale
Joel McHale
Joel Edward McHale is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, television producer, television personality, and voice artist. He is best known for hosting The Soup and for his role as Jeff Winger on Community....
of The Soup
The Soup
The Soup is an E! Entertainment Television weekly series; it is a revamped version of Talk Soup that focuses on recaps of various pop culture and television show moments of the week...
.
On November 19, 2009, the producer announced to the studio audience that the show was confirmed to continue through the 2011-12 season. This information was not announced during the filming of that day's show; only the in-house audience received the news. It was also stated that the show ranked 3rd out of 14 with female hosts who are considered competition. The show is currently performing best in the New York City market.
Other Television Appearances
Williams was announced as one of the contestants on the twelfth season of Dancing with the Stars, which began on March 21, 2011. Her professional partner was Tony DovolaniTony Dovolani
Driton "Tony" Dovolani is an Albanian-American professional ballroom dancer, instructor and judge based in New York City. He is known for his involvement in the American version of Dancing with the Stars on ABC. Dovolani also portrayed a Latin bad boy in the hit film Shall We Dance? and spent time...
.
Below is a breakdown of Wendy's scores, dances and music on Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 12)
Dancing with the Stars returned for its twelfth season on March 21, 2011. Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli, and Len Goodman returned to the show as judges, while Tom Bergeron and Brooke Burke returned as hosts....
. Individual judges scores in the chart below (given in parentheses) ar: Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba
Carrie Ann Inaba is an American dancer, choreographer, actress, game show host, and singer.She started her career as a singer in Japan, but became best known for her dancing, first introducing herself to American audiences as one of the original Fly Girls on the sketch comedy series In Living Color...
, Len Goodman
Len Goodman
Leonard Gordon 'Len' Goodman is a British professional ballroom dancer, dance judge, and coach. He is a leading personality on television dance programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars and runs a ballroom dance school in Dartford, Kent.-Early life and career:Goodman was...
, Bruno Tonioli
Bruno Tonioli
Bruno Tonioli is an Italian choreographer and TV personality who appears as a judge on the television dance competition Strictly Come Dancing for BBC TV in the UK, and its American adaptation Dancing with the Stars on ABC TV in the US, Tonioli co-created and appeared on the BBC talent show DanceX...
.
| Week | Score | Style | Music | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 14 (5,4,5) | Cha-Cha-Cha | "I'm Every Woman I'm Every Woman "I'm Every Woman" is a hit song recorded by Chaka Khan in 1978. It was Chaka Khan's first hit outside of her recordings with funk band Rufus; the song was included on her platinum debut solo album Chaka. Produced by Arif Mardin and written by successful songwriting team Nickolas Ashford and Valerie... " — Chaka Khan Chaka Khan Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career... |
Safe |
| 17 (6,5,6) | Quickstep | "Do Your Thing" — Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx Basement Jaxx are a British electronic dance music duo from London, England consisting of Felix Buxton born 1971 and Simon Ratcliffe born 1 December 1969. They first rose to popularity in the late 1990s... |
||
| Week 2 | 15 (5,5,5) | Foxtrot | "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life" — Indeep Indeep Indeep was a 1980s New York-based R&B/New Wave group, best known for its post-disco song "Last Night a D.J. Saved My Life."-Career:The group was led by its songwriter-musician Michael Cleveland, and it was known for employing a strong disco-esque bass line and early hip hop lyrics backed by two... |
Eliminated |
Williams has made guest appearances in March and April 2011 on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
. Williams played a talk show host named Phyllis Rose on a television show called Access Llanview, and referenced a segment from The Wendy Williams Show called "Hot Topics". She also said her catch phrase: "How you doin'?"
In 2011, Williams played a fierce judge on the Lifetime
Lifetime
Lifetime may refer to:*Life expectancy, the length of time a person is expected to remain alive*Mean lifetime, a certain number that characterizes the rate of reduction of a particle of an assembly...
Network hit Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva
Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television...
.
Williams also hosts a game show for GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
called Love Triangle
Love Triangle (game show)
Love Triangle was an American dating themed game show hosted by Wendy Williams. The show premiered on GSN on April 11, 2011. The final episode aired on August 28, 2011.-Williams' view:...
, which premiered on April 10, 2011. The show currently airs at 6:00. Williams and husband Kevin Hunter are serving as executive producers.
On June 19, 2011, Williams guest-starred on the season 3 premiere of Lifetime's hit series "Drop Dead Diva".
Movie
In 2009, Williams announced that she was in the planning stages of making a movie about her life. The Queen of All Media was written by Kimba Henriques, with Robin GivensRobin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
in the lead role of Wendy Williams. Filming wrapped up in late August 2009 and is set to be released sometime in 2011. After Wendy's talk show premiered, producers thought the movie needed a different ending, which they filmed August 26 of 2009. Wendy announced this on her radio show and added that she wasn't really sure when it would be released.
Other notable cast members include Angel Lola Luv
Angel Melaku
LoLa Monroe is a Ethiopian born American rapper, model and actress.-Early life:Monroe was born Fershgenet Melaku . She is of Ethiopian and Trinidadian descent. She was raised in Garfield Terrace, Washington D.C....
, Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, Chandra 'Deelishis' Davis
Chandra Davis
Chandra Davis , aka London Charles and Deelishis, is an American model, and was a reality show contestant. She is best known as the winner of VH1's hit reality TV show Flavor of Love 2....
, and Thea Vidale
Thea Vidale
Thea Vidale , is an American stand-up comedian and actress.She began her career doing stand-up comedy in comic clubs in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles...
.
It was reported that she will have a role in the film adaptation
Film adaptation
Film adaptation is the transfer of a written work to a feature film. It is a type of derivative work.A common form of film adaptation is the use of a novel as the basis of a feature film, but film adaptation includes the use of non-fiction , autobiography, comic book, scripture, plays, and even...
of Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey
Broderick Steven "Steve" Harvey is an American actor, comedian, entertainer, television and radio personality and best-selling author. He is best known as the star of the WB sitcom The Steve Harvey Show, and as one of the four comedians featured in the Spike Lee film The Original Kings of Comedy...
's best-selling book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.
Internet
In 2009, BlogTVBlogTV
blogTV is an online video service. blogTV began in June 2004, in Israel, and was a pioneer in the webcasting industry. Its goals were to supply anyone and everyone, with internet access, a way to express their talents & ideas to the world and to socially network with people face to face. In 2006...
announced that Wendy would be a partner with the virtual web show hosting web site that was schedule to launch in mid-2010 which would feature live streaming web cam sessions with celebrity guests.
Awards
- Williams has won "Radio Personality Of The Year" awards from BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, Black Radio Exclusive and Radio & RecordsRadio & RecordsRadio & Records was a trade publication providing news and airplay information for the radio and music industries. It originally started out as an independent trade from 1973 to 2006 until VNU Media took over in 2006, up until its final issue in 2009.-History:The company was founded in 1973 and...
industry magazines - Williams was awarded the title of "Most Guiltiest Pleasure" at the 2009 NewNowNext AwardsNewNowNext AwardsThe first NewNowNext-Awards were held in 2008 by the gay and lesbian-themed network Logo.- 2008 :The nominees were announced by Cazwell and Amanda Lepore. Hosts were Candis Cayne and Colman Domingo...
for The Wendy Williams Show - She was inducted in 2009 to the National Radio Hall of Fame
- Williams has been awarded title "Woman of the Year" for 2009 by E! Network'sE!E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
The SoupThe SoupThe Soup is an E! Entertainment Television weekly series; it is a revamped version of Talk Soup that focuses on recaps of various pop culture and television show moments of the week...
Controversy
Williams has been referred to (often negatively) in song lyrics by several artists, among them Jay-ZJay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, Bizzy Bone
Bizzy Bone
Bryon Anthony McCane II , better known by his stage name Bizzy Bone, is an American rapper and a member of the Cleveland rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.- Solo career :Bizzy Bone started his solo career in 1998...
, Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Rick Ross
Rick Ross (rapper)
William Leonard Roberts II , better known by his stage name Rick Ross, is an American rapper. He derived his stage name from the drug trafficker "Freeway" Ricky Ross, to whom he has no connection...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Royce da 5'9", and 2Pac.
2Pac
Williams had also been heavily criticized by deceased rap artist and actor Tupac ShakurTupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, especially in his song "Why U Turn On Me"," And I pray you choke. On the next dick down your throat", because she said he got raped in jail.
Mariah Carey
US R&B/Pop singer/songwriter Mariah Carey refers to Williams in her 2008 single Touch My BodyTouch My Body
"Touch My Body" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her eleventh studio album, E=MC² . It was written and produced by Carey, along with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Crystal "Cri$tyle" Johnson and Terius "The Dream" Nash, and was released as the album's lead single on...
. She sings: "'Cause they'd be all up in my business like a Wendy interview, but this is private, between you and I."
Method Man
Williams has been heavily criticized by rap artist and actor Method ManMethod Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
for airing private facts about his family's personal life (particularly his wife's illness) which he would rather have remained private. He said that Williams' behavior was "tacky and disrespectful."
Nicole Spence
On March 25, 2008, the New York PostNew York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
reported that Nicole Spence, talent booker for The Wendy Williams Experience
The Wendy Williams Experience
The Wendy Williams Experience is a gossip show on Vh1. Wendy Williams was mainly shown hosting her radio station . Charlamagne was the co-host. On the show, Wendy spoke about gossip, fashion, the latest Celebrity news, and gave advice to callers. She also interviewed celebrities. and is noted for...
, filed papers with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
suing Williams. Spence, 27, claims that Williams' husband, Kevin Hunter, demanded sex from her on many occasions and created a hostile work environment by threatening and assaulting his wife on company premises. "Mr. Hunter repeatedly sexually propositioned me at work in the most crude and vulgar ways," Spence states. Spence also says that Williams did nothing to stop the alleged abuse, and in fact "offered to take me shopping so I could dress 'like a sexy little bitch,' as Mr. Hunter demanded." Both Williams and Hunter deny the charges.