Emmy-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph suggested picking a different name when Lauryn Hill told her she wanted to name her music group “The Fugees.”
It’s been 30 years since Whoopi Goldberg’s beloved movie sequel Sister Act II: Back in the Habit premiered, in which Ralph portrayed Hill’s character’s mother.
In a recent appearance on Good Morning America, Ralph shared how she feels about the 1993 film hitting the 30-year milestone. Instead of the typical “time flies” response, she said it was 30 years ago because of her life then.
“I can believe it,” the Abbott Elementary star began. “My son had just been born, and he was going to set with me every day, so it’s exactly been 30 years.”
She admitted that was a memorable time in her life due to her castmates whom she enjoyed working with, and shared with GMA a moment between her and Hill about the singer’s music career.
“That was one of the best times because I got to work with this enthusiastic, bright, talented young woman,” Ralph said.
She continued, “When I tell you, I look at Lauryn Hill, I remember Lauryn Hill telling me, ‘Ms. Ralph, I’m going to have a band, and the name is going to be The Fugees,’ and I was like, ‘Baby you will definitely have a band, but you may need to rethink that name.’ And she said, ‘Ms. Ralph, you oughta get it, Fugees. Re-fugees,’ and I was like, ‘Okay, I get it, but, rethink it.’ But she was absolutely right,” Ralph told the Good Morning America hosts.
Despite her on-screen mom’s advice, Hill’s band, which included Wyclef Jean and Pras Michel, agreed to the name The Fugees. The following year the group released its debut album, Blunted on Reality. It didn’t make a huge splash in the industry, but that didn’t stop them from becoming one of the most recognized music groups ever.
In February 1996, the group released its second album, The Score, which included hits “Fu-Gee-La,” “Killing Me Softly,” and “Ready or Not,” with The Fugees topping the Billboard 200 chart and going 6x Platinum by October 1997. In addition, The Score, nominated for album of the year, won the best rap album Grammy Award, and “Killing Me Softly” earned the group the best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal award.
When asked if she would participate in a third Sister Act film, Lee said she was on board.
“With Whoopi? Absolutely! Another Sister Act, Three? Absolutely. Just ask me. Come on, ask me,” she said, smiling into the camera.
