Sheryl Lee Ralph, the queen of charm and all things Abbott Elementary, has been happily hitched to Pennsylvania politician Vincent Hughes for a whopping 19 years. But here’s the kicker—they’ve never lived under the same roof! Yes, you read that right. Not even a shared junk drawer or an awkward “whose turn is it to do the dishes?” moment. Intrigued? Same.
In a chat with People, Sheryl, 69 and fabulously thriving, got real about their unconventional setup and why it works like a charm. “I’m very fortunate. The man I married is Senator Vincent Hughes, seventh Senatorial district of Pennsylvania,” she revealed, sprinkling in a little humblebrag about her man’s political clout.
Then came the plot twist: “You fall in love with someone, and you realize, oh snap, he’s not leaving his career. He’s not leaving Philadelphia. And I’m certainly not leaving Hollywood—I mean, have you seen the weather and the palm trees?”
The actress also pointed out a major roadblock: kids. Sheryl has two grown-up kiddos from her previous marriage to Eric Maurice, and as any parent knows, uprooting your family is a big no-no unless you’re starring in a sitcom about it.
But here’s where things get juicy. Their secret sauce for marital bliss? A two-week rotation of love and goodbyes. “Every two weeks, we’d see each other, and guess what? It works!” Sheryl dished. “When I visit him, it’s all butterflies and date nights. When it’s time to leave, I’m like, ‘Bye, boo! See you in a bit.’ It’s genius. Life is sweet.”
She kept the wisdom bombs coming: “He has his own life. I have my own life. He’s got a real career, and guess what? So do I. He’s got his spotlight; I’ve got mine. And the best part? He’s not side-eyeing me about fame or status. He’s doing his thing; I’m doing mine.”
Sheryl and Vincent have cracked the code to marriage: love each other, respect each other, and maybe don’t fight over thermostat settings or whose turn it is to take out the trash. Life is indeed good, and Sheryl Lee Ralph is living proof.