Sherri Shepherd makes Broadway history playing Genie in 'Aladdin'

NEW YORK -- Sherri Shepherd is making Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in "Aladdin. "Shepherd sat down with entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo to talk about taking on the iconic role and how she is bringing her own perspective to the character. "It's a lot of bro stuff going on with the Genie and Aladdin. But I'm a woman, and I'm a mother, and Aladdin doesn't have a mother. So automatically, it's more nurturing," Shepherd said. "I think there's one where they're supposed to fist bump, and they would teach me. I said, who's the... Women don't... We don't be doing that fist bumping thing, and I grabbed his face. And if I was in my twenties, I'd be like, Jasmine, who? But here, it's like more he's the son, and she's very proud of him. "Shepherd said taking on the role was intimidating at first. "My mantra is do things that scare you. I was so scared, and I go, yeah. This is an iconic role. How am I gonna live up to that? But then I had to say, but who are you, Sherri? As soon as you come out with all 92 of your teeth, you know, and smile. And then I had to go, but they have nothing... Nobody has anything to compare it to. You’re the first," she said.

NEW YORK -- Sherri Shepherd is making Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in "Aladdin. "Shepherd sat down with entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo to talk about taking on the iconic role and how she is bringing her own perspective to the character. "It's a lot of bro stuff going on with the Genie and Aladdin. But I'm a woman, and I'm a mother, and Aladdin doesn't have a mother. So automatically, it's more nurturing," Shepherd said. "I think there's one where they're supposed to fist bump, and they would teach me. I said, who's the... Women don't... We don't be doing that fist bumping thing, and I grabbed his face. And if I was in my twenties, I'd be like, Jasmine, who? But here, it's like more he's the son, and she's very proud of him. "Shepherd said taking on the role was intimidating at first. "My mantra is do things that scare you. I was so scared, and I go, yeah. This is an iconic role. How am I gonna live up to that? But then I had to say, but who are you, Sherri? As soon as you come out with all 92 of your teeth, you know, and smile. And then I had to go, but they have nothing... Nobody has anything to compare it to. You’re the first," she said.

NEW YORK -- Sherri Shepherd is making Broadway history as the first woman to play the Genie in "Aladdin. "Shepherd sat down with entertainment reporter Joelle Garguilo to talk about taking on the iconic role and how she is bringing her own perspective to the character. "It's a lot of bro stuff going on with the Genie and Aladdin. But I'm a woman, and I'm a mother, and Aladdin doesn't have a mother. So automatically, it's more nurturing," Shepherd said. "I think there's one where they're supposed to fist bump, and they would teach me. I said, who's the... Women don't... We don't be doing that fist bumping thing, and I grabbed his face. And if I was in my twenties, I'd be like, Jasmine, who? But here, it's like more he's the son, and she's very proud of him. "Shepherd said taking on the role was intimidating at first. "My mantra is do things that scare you. I was so scared, and I go, yeah. This is an iconic role. How am I gonna live up to that? But then I had to say, but who are you, Sherri? As soon as you come out with all 92 of your teeth, you know, and smile. And then I had to go, but they have nothing... Nobody has anything to compare it to. You’re the first," she said.

School SafetyWatch Eyewitness News and ABC13 originals around the clockWednesday, October 21, 2026 12:00AMSHEPHERD, Texas (KTRK) -- The Shepherd Independent School District announced a chickenpox outbreak at Shepherd High School, possibly stemming from the homecoming dance on Oct. 3. Late Tuesday afternoon, Shepherd ISD posted a notice on its Facebook page, declaring an outbreak. However, the posting did not specify the number of cases. Separately, Shepherd ISD's superintendent Todd Davis emailed ABC13, stating the high school had three confirmed cases and four suspected cases. In its original posting on Facebook, the district said in part:"We are notifying families that an outbreak of chickenpox (varicella) has been reported at Shepherd High School. We are monitoring the situation and taking appropriate precautions to help prevent further spread and protect the health of our students and staff. "While the district did not name the incident, a public announcement was first made about chickenpox on Oct. 8:"Shepherd ISD has notified families that a student who attended a school-sponsored event on Saturday, October 3, 2026, has since been reported as having chickenpox (varicella).

The justice’s remarks came during a conversation at Catholic University’s law school with professor J. Joel Alicea, who was a law clerk to Justice Samuel Alito, a conservative. Get Starting PointA guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter EmailWhile Kagan has issued strongly worded dissents in individual election-related cases, her remarks Tuesday amounted to a global critique of how a series of choices by the court’s majority have affected democracy in the United States. Taken together, she said, the rulings have deepened political divisions and made the country’s electoral system work less well. The Supreme Court justices on Oct. 7, 2022. J. Scott Applewhite/Associated PressKagan wrote the dissent, for instance, when the court in 2019 closed the door on federal litigation challenging voting maps aimed at achieving political ends.

Calgary·NewOne person is dead after being hit by a truck and trailer on Deerfoot Trail on Tuesday afternoon, Calgary police said. Police believe victim had pulled over to change tire, was hit by truck changing lanesCBC News · Posted: Oct 20, 2026 9:49 PM EDT | Last Updated: 12 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 2 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. One person is dead after being hit by a truck and trailer along Deerfoot Trail on Tuesday afternoon. Police believe the victim was changing a flat tire when they were struck. (Rebecca Kelly/CBC)One person is dead after being hit by a truck and trailer on Deerfoot Trail on Tuesday afternoon, Calgary police said. Officers responded to reports of a person struck by a vehicle along northbound Deerfoot Trail and 17th Avenue S. E. just after 1 p.m. Upon arrival, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.