The Lifetime Where is Wendy Williams? documentary showcased the former talk show in a dire light, only made more grave by the recent reveal of her primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia diagnoses. Despite the series, there is no denying the stellar accomplishments she has made in her life. Here, EBONY revisits five of Williams’ most outstanding achievements over her illustrious 30-year career.
Williams started her broadcast career in 1984, working at small stations until she landed at Hot 97 in New York City. Her dishy segments about Black celebrities, which were often controversial, turned her into one of the most popular radio shock jocks of all time. She dominated the airwaves at WBLS from 2001 to 2008, where she engaged in memorable interviews with stars like Whitney Houston, cementing her signature blunt style we would see in future interviews with stars like KeKe Palmer and reality performer Omarosa.
Talk Show Titan
Williams burst onto TV with The Wendy Williams Show in 2008, and daytime TV would never be the same. From her plush pink armchair, she gave us the tea in her mesmerizing opening monologue. The show, which ran for 13 seasons, was a national phenomenon, garnering millions of viewers who couldn’t wait for Williams to say, “How you doin’?”
Best-Selling Book Author
Williams has penned several books over the course of her career. Her titles include non-fiction books: her dishy memoir The Wendy Williams Experience, The New York Times’ best-seller Wendy’s Got the Heat and several advice manuals. She also launched the fiction series Drama Is Her Middle Name: The Ritz Harper Chronicles Vol. 1.
Enterprising Entrepreneur
Capitalizing on the fame she created, Williams offered The Wendy Williams Experience as a short-lived talk show on VH1 in 2006. She also launched The Wendy Experience Podcast from 2002 to 2020. Williams collaborated on clothing lines for HSN and Walmart and lent her name to several merchandising brands. She also served as a producer on several TV projects, including Watch Wendy Williams: The Movie, which aired on Lifetime in 2021.
Hollywood Walk of Fame Recipient
Williams was rightfully recognized for her contributions to television and radio when she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019. When asked by Access Hollywood about how she felt to receive the star, Williams simply answered, “I guess I showed ‘em.”