{
  "id": 6271356,
  "title": "Sherri Shepherd to join Broadway’s ‘Aladdin’ as the Genie, and she’s ‘beyond thrilled’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/sherri-shepherd-to-join-broadways-aladdin-as-the-genie-and-shes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T11:06:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/2026/09/08/sherri-shepherd-to-join-broadways-aladdin-as-the-genie-and-shes-beyond-thrilled"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New York (AP) — Sherri Shepherd plans to join the hit musical \"Aladdin\" as the Genie, fulfilling her wish. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning talk show host and NAACP Image Award winner will take on the role from Oct. 16 to Jan. 3. Shepherd tells The Associated Press that she is \"beyond thrilled\" about the opportunity, noting that her family has seen the musical together and she never dreamed of being part of the \"Aladdin\" family. She is preparing for the role by taking dance and voice lessons and practicing her signature song, \"Friend Like Me,\" on walks through the city. This will be Shepherd's second trip to Broadway, following her 2014 performance as the evil Stepmother in \"Cinderella.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Sherri Shepherd joins Broadway's 'Aladdin' as the Genie.",
    "She is beyond thrilled about the opportunity.",
    "Shepherd's second Broadway appearance follows 2014 Cinderella role."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}