Sheryl Lee Ralph gave a spicy reply to question about her long-distance marriage
Sheryl Lee Ralph was ready with a spicy response when asked how she’s made her long-distance marriage with husband Vincent Hughes work for nearly 20 years.
The “Abbott Elementary” star, 67, was asked by People at the Out100 event Dec. 11 if she’s “technically” in a long-distance relationship.
“My husband and I are technically very married,” she said.
The Emmy winner lives in Los Angeles for her acting career, while Hughes, who is a Democratic state senator in Pennsylvania, is based in Philadelphia for his political career.
She compared their relationship to another famously successful marriage in the entertainment industry.
“And people always say, ‘Well, how does that work? How does that work?'” Ralph said. “I (say), ‘Dolly Parton knows how it works.’ She’s been married (to Carl Thomas Dean) for 50 years. You have never seen her husband one time. You know why? Because they plan on staying married.
“And guess what we plan on? Staying married. Our business is in the bedroom. Thank you!”
Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb applauded Ralph’s reply.
“I thought that was brilliant, and I also think, you know what, do you know how many times she’s probably been asked that question? Eight million,” Hoda said on the fourth hour of TODAY on Dec. 16.
“She had it,” Jenna said.
“And finally she was like, ‘You’re the last straw,'” Hoda said.
The duo then wondered if they would have asked Ralph the same question about her relationship given its nontraditional nature.
“Probably,” Jenna said.
“That’s one of those questions that you do get asked,” Hoda said.
Ralph and Hughes will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary in July 2025. Since Hughes can’t regularly leave Pennsylvania due to his position as a state senator, Ralph flies from Los Angeles to be with him.
She spoke to People in September about possible plans for the milestone anniversary.
“Well, his state is Pennsylvania, his city is Philadelphia. Maybe in the courtyard of City Hall or on the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” Ralph said. “That would be wonderful. I don’t know, but it’ll be fabulous.”
