On the red carpet for the Emmy Awards 2024, Ayo Edebiri had a memorable fan moment. Nominated for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role in The Bear, Edebiri met country music icon Reba McEntire before the ceremony. Speaking to E! News’ Laverne Cox, she admitted that she was thrilled and “absolutely freaked out.”
“I’m really proud of myself for not breaking into the entire theme song,” Edebiri said, referring to McEntire’s hit “I’m A Survivor,” the theme for McEntire’s long-running sitcom.
Despite her initial restraint, Edebiri couldn’t resist eventually reciting some lyrics. “A single mom that works too hard, who loves her kids and never stops!” she sang. “Hey, I’m a survivor, okay?”
Social media captured Edebiri’s astonishment at meeting McEntire, with videos showing her excitedly exclaiming, “Oh, my God!”
This was Edebiri’s second appearance at the Emmys this year. In January, she won outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in the first season of The Bear. During her acceptance speech, she thanked her parents, expressing her gratitude and love while playfully acknowledging her “bad kid” status.
For this ceremony, Edebiri was nominated in the lead actress category, which was won by Hacks star Jean Smart. McEntire, who is currently a coach on NBC’s The Voice, will also make her return to scripted television with the debut of Happy’s Place on October 18. This new series marks her return to TV after her sitcom Reba ended over a decade ago, and it will feature former costar Melissa Peterman.
