“I remember leaving the office and thinking, ‘That was not great.’”
Sheryl Lee Ralph isn’t a grandma yet — but she’s more than ready for that era to come.
The 68-year-old actress and singer recently got a small taste of what that era will look like in the upcoming season of “Abbott Elementary,” which premieres on ABC on Oct. 1, according to IMDB.
In the new season, Lee Ralph’s beloved character Barbara becomes a first-time grandma.
In an interview with People, published Sept. 13, the mom of two was asked if she knows what she wants her future grandkids to call her — and she already has her heart set on one nickname, in particular.
“You know what, I didn’t want to be called Nana, because I said my grandmother was Nana,” she said.
“I went to Ghana, and they said to me, ‘Of course you’re Nana, you are Queen. You are a Queen Mother of the family.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, I am absolutely Nana,’” she added.
According to the Akan (Twi) Dictionary, “nana” translates to “king” or “queen” in Akan, one of the most widely spoken languages in Ghana.
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It also happens to be one of the most popular grandma names in the United States — especially in the northeast and west coast, according to Chicco USA.
Other names for grandma include Gram, Grammy, Granny, Meemaw, Nanny, Mimi and Gigi.
But while Lee Ralph has settled on the Nana moniker, she’ll have to wait before making use of it.
Sheryl Lee Ralph shares two adult kids with her ex-husband
Lee Ralph first became a mom in 1992 when she and her ex-husband Eric Maurice, who were married for more than a decade, welcomed a son named Etienne Maurice, per People.
They welcomed their second child, a daughter named Ivy Coco Maurice, in 1995.
While her two kids have yet to start their own journey into parenthood, she might not have to wait long.
Sheryl Lee Ralph’s son has already entered his husband era after proposing to ABC News journalist Stephanie Wash in 2023. The couple got married on July 6, 2024, according to People.
At the time, Lee Ralph hinted at the possibility of welcoming grandkids into the family.
"I am so blessed and happy to see my son find and marry such a smart and beautiful partner who has added so much to his life. It fills my heart with an overwhelming joy and happiness," she told People.
"It is as if all the love and good vibes in the world has come together in this spectacular moment, blessing their union with boundless hope and endless possibilities. And grandchildren too!" she added.
And while Sheryl Lee Ralph’s daughter hasn’t married, the duo are extremely close to one another.
In a 2023 interview with Byrdie, Lee Ralph confirmed that Ivy Coco is her personal stylist — which has added a unique element to their mother-daughter relationship.
“The only dynamic that has now changed is that we see each other as partners," Ivy Coco told Teen Vogue in a May 2024 interview.
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"People are like, ‘Oh my god, that’s your mom.’ And, I’m like, ‘This is my number one client,’” she added.
