Growing up, I loved performing. I was the kid in every class who talked excessively, got reports, or got called home for doing something crazy in class (calls my mom and teachers would often laugh about, by the way!). There is one teacher, though, that I’ll never forget — my kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Cook. She laid a foundation that has been instrumental to my success. Every morning after our class recited the Pledge of Allegiance, we would then recite the “I Am Somebody” poem by Rev. Jesse Jackson. It emboldened all of us to see ourselves as worthy and worthwhile. It instilled in us a sense of self-determination, and to this day, it remains a powerful reminder to believe in myself. She lit a flame within me that I hope reflects onto everyone I meet, encouraging them to stay bright.
I’ve always had this energy. This buzzing feeling, you know? My mother, a single mom, worked for Indiana Black Expo (IBE ), a nonprofit organization that hosted the largest and longest-running cultural exposition in the country. Every July, Black folks from all over the world descend upon Indianapolis, Indiana, for Summer Celebration. There, I learned the basics of video storytelling using the same equipment MTV shows used. I’m talking hands-on learning with industry-standard equipment and Ryan Bennett, who had taken the program over — he did not play. Ryan demanded excellence from all of us enrolled in the program and dared us to be GREAT.
IBE was about displaying the brilliance of Black people, and I felt that impact every damn day. It further emboldened me to assume I would be successful because I saw Black people living it first-hand. IBE also hosted a teen talk forum every summer called “Holla Back,” which brought the biggest names in Black entertainment to speak directly to young people, and I got to host it with the best in the business. These experiences brought me even closer to the dream of having jobs like theirs one day.
I began my career in local news and, at 19, was the youngest on-court host and the first African American to hold this position for the NBA’s Indiana Pacers. From there, I went on to anchor the national educational program Channel One News. But it was an interview with Taylor Swift that landed me my job at Access Hollywood. Little did she know they were testing me out during that assignment. When we wrapped, Taylor’s people told the show that they loved the conversation and would do anything with me in the future.
That’s all it took, and off I went… first becoming the East Coast correspondent for the show, then moving to the LA office as a correspondent before being promoted to co-host in 2019. NBC’s World of Dance and USA’s America’s Next Big Deal also followed, along with Peacock’s Couple to Throuple. All of these experiences have contributed to my accumulation of 10,000 hours that Malcolm Gladwell highlights in his book Outliers.
When we set out to release House Guest on Juneteenth 2024, it was honestly because we wanted a win for ourselves. I was ready for a career choice that wasn’t dependent on someone else saying “yes.” I wanted something I had more control over. I had grown tired of hearing “no” in all its forms across the industry. I thought… what can we create ourselves? What is missing in the industry right now? What can we put out that we would be proud of, but that will also give me some ways to enrich and expand the skills I have? I wanted it to help prepare me for the next phase of my career: Late Night.
Initially, the whole idea was to practice. I wanted to demonstrate success in this space. KevOnStage was our first guest. The episode went viral. I realized …. I couldn’t practice in private. I wanted to create a space where folks that I love and admire, who I felt weren’t getting celebrated in the way I believed they needed to be, could come kick it and be loved on — in the same way Arsenio Hall did on his show back in the day. The key here has been consistency and growth.
We evolve through every episode. House Guest and the surrounding properties that we are developing are the natural next step in my career. Rather than clinging to an old idea of success from 20 years ago, I decided to define it and create work I’m proud of. Ownership was important to me as well. To be able to be in charge of the work, but here’s the thing — it’s got to be poppin’! The success of this show lies in the folks who pull up to the house and the genuine joy we feel in producing this show for ya’ll.
Now, House Guest is a ground-breaking, Webby Award-winning, two-time NAACP Image Award-nominated, LA Press Club Award-winning, GLAAD-nominated, Queerty-nominated, self-funded, viral, owned-and-operated, fully fledged enterprise. I don’t say that because of the awards or the accolades, follower count or even the financial freedom that we are steadily working toward. Honestly, it’s my wildest dream because I feel like it is in direct alignment with my purpose on this planet. People have shared that they have been inspired by the show to start their own thing, or delve into their family’s history, or just keep going, and that makes this such gratifying work.
One of the pillars of IBE used to be “working together works,” and I’ve carried that with me. Each episode is staffed by our small but mighty crew from every walk of life, and we put so much intention and care into each guest. As a unit we meet challenges head on, we laugh and cry together, we celebrate wins and even losses together.
Through House Guest, I’m learning even more about what community means and how, when we get really clear about what we intend to BRING to the table – something shifts. What we need begins to find us, not by chance, but by alignment. As if the table was set, with all of you, our neighbors, gathered around it all along. Baby, I’ve been waiting for you, just as much as many of you have shared with me that you’ve been in search of a connection and a show like ours. Through all of you, I continue to learn that community is felt, built and breathed into life.
I’m grateful and excited to be meeting so many of you on our tour. We’ve been sold out on every stop, and it blows my mind and humbles me all at the same time. Thank you for loving me as you do. New York City, ATL and Chi-town, ya’ll have my heart! Thank you for showing up for us as you did; it is everything, and I will never forget it! The way that you have poured into our team and me has meant more than I could put into words. Ya’ll are really out here changing my life with this show.
It’s been a dream to bring all the energy, love and joy right to the people that make this thing so special to be a part of. I see it as a reminder to create space for yourself. If you have a dream — get clear about it. I mean, be super specific and go after it. We are waiting on you, but we can’t wait too long.