2024 Emmys: Watch Ayo Edebiri Flawlessly Deliver Viral TikTok Sound
Originally appeared on E! Online
With gentle hands and the heart of a fighter.
Ayo Edebiri may have been nominated for her lead role in The Bear at the 2024 Emmys—cohosted by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy—on Sept. 15, but the breakout star had her mind on a viral TikTok sound while on the red carpet at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The 28-year-old gushed over one celebrity run-in she had on the carpet that made a lasting impression.
“I absolutely freaked out when I saw Reba McEntire and I really, really am proud of myself for not singing the entire theme song,” Edebiri admitted to with Laverne Cox on Live From E!: Emmys, before breaking into the now-TikTok-famous lyrics from the Reba theme song, “A single mom who works real hard, who loves her kids and never stops.”
As she aptly ended the interview, “Hey, I’m a survivor!”
McEntire and her costar Melissa Peterman, who helped cohost E!’s Countdown to the Red Carpet show, are once again teaming up as presenters at the Primetime Emmys.
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And Edebiri, who previously won the Outstanding Support Actress in a Comedy Series in 2023 for her work on The Bear, is now nominated in the lead actress category for her role as Sydney Adamu on the hit series costarring Jeremy Allen White.
Edebiri wowed in a strapless custom Bottega Veneta red, black, and cream dotted gown.
“I started out doing standup comedy. My uniform was big pant, big shirt, that was my life,” she quipped of her differing looks. “It definitely was a costume still, but things have certainly changed, so it’s nice to play in this space.”
And Edebiri is up against her friend Quinta Brunson in this year’s category. She joked about the tense competition between herself and the Abbott Elementary creator and star.
“I think I’ve really held my own and I’ve been really lovely and cordial. And she’s nasty. She’s a nasty woman, you can tell,” Edebiri joked of Brunson before admitting. “No, it’s been really amazing and surreal… For me, I’m really just happy to be there. It’s a real, real nice group to be in.”
For more stars at the 76th Annual Emmy Awards, read on.
Jennifer Aniston
In Oscar de la Renta.
Ayo Edebiri
In custom Bottega Veneta.
Nicola Coughlan
In atelier Prabal Gurung.
Sofía Vergara
In custom Dolce & Gabbana.
Selena Gomez
In custom Ralph Lauren.
Reese Witherspoon
In Christian Dior.
Quinta Brunson
In Georges Chakra FW24 Couture.
Jeremy Allen White
In custom Calvin Klein.
Elizabeth Debicki
In Christian Dior, De Beers jewelry, Vacheron Constantin watch and Aldo shoes.
Meryl Streep
Laura Dern
Holland Taylor
Sarah Paulson
Viola Davis
In custom Zuhair Murad.
Juno Temple
In vintage Roberto Cavalli.
Maya Rudolph
In Chloé FW24 RTW.
Darius McCrary
Tess McCracken, Stephen Nedoroscik
In Jovani
Reba McEntire
Jonathan Bailey
In Giorgio Armani, Santoni shoes, and DeBeers jewelry.
Abby Elliott
Janelle James
In Marchesa.
Jean Smart
Brie Larson
In custom Chanel.
