Wendy Williams: The Queen of Gossip Gets Candid Best known as the fiery host of her smash daytime talk show, Wendy Williams has become one of the most iconic figures in pop culture thanks to her frank style and larger-than-life persona. But behind the scenes, Wendy's path to success has been filled with heartbreak, scandal, and perseverance. After spending decades spilling tea on celebrities, Wendy is now getting candid about her own sensational life story. Early Life in New Jersey Wendy Joan Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. She was raised in the Wayside section of Ocean Township by her parents Thomas and Shirley Williams. Wendy has credited her mother, a homemaker, as the driving force behind the family and her greatest support system growing up. Education was highly emphasized in the Williams household. Wendy attended Ocean Township High School, where she immediately stood out with her bold, bubbly personality. Wendy was interested in media from a young age. She often listened to New York radio shows like Imus in the Morning, captivated by the DJs sharing gossip about celebrities and popular culture. After high school, Wendy headed to Northeastern University in Boston to study communications and journalism. It was during college that she landed her first on-air gig hosting a show at WRBB radio. After graduating in 1986, Wendy set her sights on breaking into the competitive world of radio and media. Kickstarting a Media Career Wendy returned home to New Jersey after college and eventually transitioned to the radio station WVIS, gaining experience doing news reports. Her dynamic, frank on-air presence soon caught the attention of New York station WCLK, who recruited Wendy to host her own afternoon show. Thanks to her rapid-fire delivery and fearless commentary on everything from music to pop culture, Wendy quickly built a loyal following. In 1989, Wendy moved to the iconic New York station WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM to host a prime afternoon slot. It was here that she fully embraced her identity as a celebrity gossip maven. Her nationally syndicated show "The Wendy Williams Experience" became a huge hit thanks to segments like "Celebrity Rumor Mill," where she spilled the tea on the latest rumors about stars. Wendy cemented her title as the "Queen of All Media" through her honest, uncensored approach. Mainstream Success with The Wendy Williams Show After dominating radio for over 20 years, Wendy decided to take her unique brand to television. In 2008, she launched the test run of The Wendy Williams Show in four cities nationwide. The test run quickly became the highest rated debut in those markets, proving Wendy's appeal translated beyond just radio. Fox signed Wendy to broadcast the show nationally starting in 2009. The Wendy Williams Show became an instant sensation thanks to its lively, unpredictable format highlighting celebrity news, fashion and Wendy's monologues on everything from sex to dating. With segments like "Hot Topics," where Wendy gave her take on juicy rumors and scandals, the show cemented her as the queen of daytime gossip. Wendy's signature phrase "How you doin'?" became ubiquitous. Over 13 seasons, Wendy interviewed A-list stars, introduced viral segments like "Shoe Cam," and attracted millions of devoted viewers. Outspoken yet empathetic, Wendy offered perspectives from her own life experiences that created an intimate bond with audiences. Despite health issues forcing time off in later seasons, Wendy remained ratings gold into the 2020s. Turbulence in Wendy's Personal Life However, as Wendy's professional profile grew, her personal life descended into tumult. In 1994, she married sales manager Kevin Hunter. Wendy gave birth to their son Kevin Jr. in 2000. Behind the scenes though, Kevin Sr. reportedly subjected Wendy to years of controlling behavior and...