Sheryl Lee Ralph Reveals How Her Long Distance Marriage Works: 'Our Business Is in the Bedroom’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

A photo of Sheryl Lee Ralph and Vincent Hughes.Photo:Frank Micelotta/Disney/Getty

Frank Micelotta/Disney/Getty

Nothing is keepingSheryl Lee RalphandVincent Hughesapart — not even distance.

TheAbbott Elementarystar, 67, teased how she keeps her marriage going strong with the Philadelphia senator, whom she’s been married to fornearly two decades, despite their busy schedules and working on opposite ends of the U.S.

“My husband and I are technically very married,” the actress told PEOPLE at the Out100 Event.

“And people always say, ‘Well, how does that work? How does that work?’ I [say], ‘Dolly Partonknows how it works.’ She’s been married [toCarl Thomas Dean] for 50 years. You have never seen her husband one time. You know why? ‘Cause they plan on staying married,” she explained. “And guess what we plan on? Staying married.”

Sheryl Lee Ralph attends the Out100 Celebration at NeueHouse Hollywood on December 11, 2024 in Hollywood, California.Amy Sussman/Getty

Amy Sussman/Getty

The pair, who began dating in the early 2000s andwed in 2005, have a unique circumstance when it comes to their marriage, since Hughes isn’t as easily able to leave Philadelphia due to his duties. They see each other every so often when Ralph travels from Los Angeles to see him.

However, the actress noted that it works for them, and despite the challenges, their romance has persevered over the years. She even shared that they “will be celebrating” their 20th anniversary “next year.”

“Our business is in the bedroom. Thank you!,” she said.

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The Emmy winner previously opened up to thePhiladelphia Inquirerabout the intricacies of their marriage, saying, “Vincent is not able to leave the state the way I can leave the state. In fact, in 20 years of our being together, I’m going to say my husband has been in California maybe 25 times. That means I’m in Philadelphia every two weeks.”

Sheryl Lee Ralph and United States Senator Vincent J. Hughes attend The Hollywood Reporter, SAG-AFTRA and Heineken Celebrate Emmy Award Contenders at Annual Nominees Night on September 10, 2022 in West Hollywood, California.Michael Kovac/The Hollywood Reporter

Back in September, she shared some hints at how she and her husband were planning tocelebrate their milestone wedding anniversaryon July 30, 2025 — and revealed that they were thinking of having a soirée in Philadelphia.

“Well, his state is Pennsylvania, his city is Philadelphia. Maybe [we’ll celebrate] in the courtyard of city hall or on the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. That would be wonderful,” she added. “I don’t know, but it’ll be fabulous.”

When asked if she was planning a party to go along with it, she said, “Absolutely.” She added, “Why go small? Big party.”

Season 4 ofAbbott Elementaryis airing on ABC.

source: people.com