Wendy Jo Smith

Last updated
Wendy Jo Smith
Wendy Ho Headshot by Stag Tagios.jpg
Photograph by Stas Tagios
Born
Other namesWendy Ho (stage persona)
Education Missouri State University
Occupation(s)Comedian, singer, and rapper
Years active2002 to present
Notable work Poop Noodle on YouTube
Website wendyexperience.com

Wendy Jo Smith, better known as her stage-name Wendy Ho, is an American rap-artist, singer, and comedian.

Contents

Early life and career

Wendy Jo Smith's "Wendy Ho" stage persona, photo by Stas Tagios Wendy Ho Against Graffiti by Stag Tagios.jpg
Wendy Jo Smith's "Wendy Ho" stage persona, photo by Stas Tagios

Smith was born in Toledo, Ohio, and spent much of her childhood in Kansas City, Kansas. She moved to New York City in the summer of 2002, where she participated in the cabaret scene and performed in regional theatre shows. [1] [2] [3] She acquired the nickname "Wendy Ho" while attending college at Southwest Missouri State University, where she was the recipient of the Kathleen Turner Performance Scholarship. [4]

Smith began her career in the comedy clubs of New York, eventually playing a Christmas show at a gay-oriented venue. From that point forward she began focusing much of her act on gay audiences. [5] [6] The persona used in the act used her college nickname "Wendy Ho", which has been described as a parody of a prostitute from Harlem [7] as well as a "female drag queen". [5] Her act contains both stand-up comedy, rap performances, and singing. [8] She has stated that she uses the word "Ho" in her stage name in order to reclaim the word from its negative connotations. [9]

Entertainment career

Smith's first release was the rap album The Gospel According to Ho, for which the music video for the track Bitch, I Stole Yo' Purse was produced. The video earned its way into circulation on the cable music video channel Logo TV. Logo viewers voted the video the "ultimate funniest video in February 2008. [10] The television series Nip/Tuck also hired Jennifer Coolidge to play a parody of the Wendy Ho persona called "Hot Coco", who sings a song titled Yo Stank from an album titled The Gospel According to Coco (the name of which parodies the title of Smith's first album). After the performance Coolidge stated "Wendy Ho is about as cool as it gets. I'd never seen anything like her." [11]

The song Fuck Me became a favorite among drag queens in the United States, who began commonly performing to the song after its release. Smith later released a remixed version of the song on her album Number 2 in the summer of 2010 and released her second full album Yes, I'm a Ho! in October 2010. [1] [5] [12] Television appearances for Smith have included her appearance on the Showtime series I Can't Believe I'm Still Single. [13] In 2014, her album Greatest Shits entered the Billboard Comedy Album top 10 chart, hitting number eight for the November 1, 2014 list. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie Brown</span> American actress and television personality

Julie Ann Brown is an American actress, comedian, screen/television writer, singer-songwriter, and television director. Brown is known for her work in the 1980s, where she often played a quintessential valley girl character. Much of her comedy has revolved around the mocking of famous people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MC Lyte</span> Hip hop artist, l author, activist and entrepreneur

Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper, disc jockey, entrepreneur and actress. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin". In 1989, she joined the supergroup Stop the Violence Movement, and appeared on the single "Self Destruction", which was the inaugural number-one single on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily Tomlin</span> American actress (born 1939)

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin is an American actress, comedian, writer, singer, and producer. Tomlin started her career in stand-up comedy and sketch comedy before transitioning her career to acting onstage and on-screen. In a career spanning over fifty years, Tomlin has received numerous accolades, including seven Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and two Tony Awards. She was also awarded the Kennedy Center Honor in 2014 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Latifah</span> American recording artist and actress (born 1970)

Dana Elaine Owens, better known by the stage name Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress and singer. She has received various accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two NAACP Image Awards, in addition to a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2006, she became the first hip hop artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink (singer)</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1979)

Alecia Beth Moore Hart, known professionally as Pink, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. During her teens, Pink was a member of the girl group Choice. Her first solo studio album, Can't Take Me Home (2000), was certified double-platinum in the United States. The R&B-influenced album spawned two Billboard Hot 100 top-ten songs: "There You Go" and "Most Girls". Pink gained further recognition with the collaborative single "Lady Marmalade" from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, which topped many charts worldwide. Pink refocused her sound to pop rock with her second studio album, Missundaztood (2001). The album sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and yielded the international hit songs "Get the Party Started", "Don't Let Me Get Me", and "Just Like a Pill".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendy Williams</span> American broadcaster and writer (born 1964)

Wendy Joan Hunter is an American former broadcaster, media personality, and writer. From 2008 to 2021, she hosted the nationally syndicated television talk show The Wendy Williams Show.

James Roberts, better known as Ed Lover, is an American deejay, radio personality, actor, musician, and former MTV VJ. He hosted "The Ed Lover Show" on SiriusXM's old-school hip hop station BackSpin. As of April 12, 2018, he hosts the morning show at classic hip-hop "104.3 Jams" WBMX in Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ne-Yo</span> American R&B singer (born 1979)

Shaffer Chimere Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. Regarded as a leading figure of 2000s R&B music, he is the recipient of numerous accolades including three Grammy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Coolidge</span> American actress (born 1961)

Jennifer Coolidge is an American actress. A character actress with performances across screen and television, primarily in the comedy genre, Coolidge is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2023, Coolidge was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willam Belli</span> American actor, drag queen, and recording artist

Willam Belli, mononymously known as Willam, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, reality television personality, author, and YouTuber. Willam came to prominence as a contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012, but was disqualified in the "Frenemies" challenge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cazwell</span> American musician (born 1979)

Luke Caswell, known mononymously as Cazwell, is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter. He has released the three studio albums Get into It in 2006, Watch My Mouth in 2009 and Hard 2 B Fresh in 2014, along with videos and singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knock You Down</span> 2009 single by Keri Hilson

"Knock You Down" is a song by American singer and songwriter Keri Hilson, recorded for her debut album, In a Perfect World.... The song features guest vocals from Ne-Yo and Kanye West. All three artists co-wrote the song with its producer Nate "Danja" Hills, as well as Kevin Cossom and Marcella Araica. The song was released first released to rhythmic and urban airplay in the United States as the album's fourth single in the US, and it would later serve as the third worldwide single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todrick Hall</span> American entertainer (born 1985)

Todrick Hall is an American singer, choreographer, and YouTuber. He gained national attention on the ninth season of the televised singing competition American Idol. Following this, he amassed a huge following on YouTube with viral videos including original songs, parodies, and skits. A documentary series about his video-making process titled Todrick aired on MTV in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman's Revenge</span> 2010 song by Nicki Minaj

"Roman's Revenge" is a song by Trinidadian-born rapper Nicki Minaj featuring American rapper Eminem, performing as their respective alter egos Roman Zolanski and Slim Shady. Taken from her debut studio album Pink Friday (2010), written alongside producer Swizz Beatz. It was released exclusively on October 30, 2010 through the United States iTunes Store, as a promotional release preceding the album's release.

Rucka Rucka Ali is an Israeli-American rapper, singer, radio personality, comedian, YouTuber, and parodist. He is best known for his dark humor, political and topical song parodies on YouTube. Much of his content pokes fun at ethnic, racial, and religious stereotypes. As of February 2022, he has amassed 331 million views and 1.759 million subscribers on his music channel on YouTube. He has released eight independent studio albums, four of which have charted in the Billboard Top Comedy Albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yo Yo Honey Singh</span> Indian rapper and singer (born 1983)

Hirdesh Singh, known professionally as Yo Yo Honey Singh, or simply Honey Singh, is an Indian rapper, singer, music producer, and actor. He started in 2003 as a session and recording artist, and became a bhangra and hip hop, Punjabi music producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lega-C</span> American rapper

Danielle McLean, better known by her stage name Lega-C, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is known for her viral YouTube video "White Girl Raps Fast" (2011) and her remixes of "She Will" by Lil Wayne and Drake and "Worldwide Choppers" by Tech N9ne from her mixtape Who Got Tha Heater (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peppermint (entertainer)</span> American actress, singer, and drag queen

Peppermint, or Miss Peppermint, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, television personality, drag queen, and activist. She is best known from the nightlife scene and, in 2017, as the runner-up on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. In 2018, Peppermint made her debut in The Go-Go's-inspired musical Head Over Heels as Pythio, becoming Broadway's first out trans woman to originate a lead role.

"Basic" is a slang term in American popular culture used pejoratively to describe people who are perceived to prefer mainstream products, trends, and music. "Basic bitch" originated in hip hop culture and rose in popularity through rap music, songs, blogs, and videos from 2011 to 2014. Their male counterparts are usually termed "bros". Similar labels to "basic bitch" or "airhead" in other English-speaking countries include contemporary British "Essex girls" and "Sloane Rangers", and Australian "haul girls" known for their love of shopping for designer gear, and uploading videos of their purchases on YouTube.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Truth Hurts (song)</span> 2017 song by Lizzo

"Truth Hurts" is a song released by American singer and rapper Lizzo. It was originally released on September 19, 2017, by Nice Life Recording Company and Atlantic Records, but then re-released as a radio single on March 22, 2019. It was written by Lizzo alongside Jesse Saint John and producers Steven "Tele" Cheung and Ricky Reed.

References

  1. 1 2 Paul E. Pratt (October 21, 2010). "Gay Fave Wendy Ho Releases New Album". San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  2. Shaun Knittel (December 24, 2010). "Wendy Ho skanks up Seattle for the holidays". Seattle Gay News. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  3. "Interview With Wendy Ho, Comedian, Rapper, Singer and Truth Teller". Blog Talk Radio. October 30, 2013. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  4. "Kathleen Turner visits SMS campus Monday". The Standard. November 4, 1998. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 MM Adjarian (August 17, 2010). "Wendy Ho :: Singer. Rapper. Truth Teller. Ho". Edge Boston. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  6. Mark Robins (June 19, 2013). "Wendy Ho wants to change attitudes". Gay Vancouver. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  7. Dave Jaffer (August 20, 2009). "The Manhattan Comedy Project: First we take Manhattan". Hour . Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  8. Paul E. Pratt (March 20, 2008). "NYC Ho Makes Her Rounds in San Francisco". San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  9. MM Adjarian (August 17, 2010). "Wendy Ho :: Singer. Rapper. Truth Teller. Ho (Part 2)". Edge Boston. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  10. "The Click List: Ultimate Funniest Videos, 02.01.08". Logo TV. February 1, 2008. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  11. Brandon Voss (April 1, 2010). "Comedy". Advocate . Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  12. "Out & About: Jan. 27". Washington Blade. January 26, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  13. Tracy Parks (March 14, 2012). "Wendy Ho 'The Queen of Sass and Crass' at The Palm". Banderas News. Retrieved September 26, 2013.
  14. "Billboard Comedy Albums". Billboard. November 1, 2014. Retrieved October 27, 2014.