Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is on cloud nine as her HIV/AIDS documentary Unexpected snagged two nominations in the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards.

A documentary about women of colour living with HIV/AIDS in the South, it was produced by Ralph and directed by Zeberiah Newman.

Unexpected debuted on World Aids Day, December 1, 2023 via streaming platform
Hulu.

It is nominated in the category Outstanding Daytime Special alongside Culture Quest – Ukraine (CBS), Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade (ABC), 97th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (NBC), and Recipe for Change: Celebrating Black Men (SpringHill).

Unexpected Truth, the theme song, is nominated for Outstanding Original Song. The other nominees in the category are Shine (General Hospital – ABC) and We’re Home (from
Reconnecting Roots – PBS).

In a post on her official Instagram page, Ralph wrote: “Our documentary short Unexpected has just been nominated for 2 Daytime Emmy Awards! Best Daytime Special and Best Song! God is Good! I am so grateful to my director Zeberiah Newman, and to the amazing women we profiled, CiCi Covin and Masonia Taylor, two black women living with HIV in the rural South, who have channelled their struggles into purpose and activism. Thank you to B Slade, who crafted the score Unexpected Truth for the film, we did it!!”

The post continued: “For decades I’ve dedicated my platform to shining a light on HIV awareness. And Unexpected is an important story about the health disparities, especially those affecting vulnerable communities, that we strive to tell.”

Ralph is no stranger to receiving accolades. Earlier this year, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Abbott Elementary.

She won the award for the category in 2022.

Unexpected premièred at the 2023 Essence Film Festival, won an Award of Excellence at both The Accolade Global Film Competition and The IMPACT Docs Awards, and was a Silver Winner at the Telly Awards. It has also screened at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, DC Black Film Festival, Black Women Film Network, Detroit Black Film Festival, The Women’s Film Festival, and Cleveland Film Festival.

The Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out on Friday, June 7, at Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles, California. It will air live on CBS.