Queen Sugar Explained

Queen Sugar is an American drama television series created and executive produced by Ava DuVernay, with Oprah Winfrey serving as an executive producer. DuVernay also directed the first two episodes. The series is based on the 2014 novel of the same name by American writer Natalie Baszile.^[1] Queen Sugar centers on the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana (Rutina Wesley, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, and Kofi Siriboe) who must deal with the aftermath of their father's sudden death and decide the fate of his 800-acre sugarcane farm. The mainstream themes in the series often accompany episodes centered on racial profiling, the long reach of chattel slavery in American history and the inequities in the criminal justice system, and other issues related to African Americans.^[2]

The show holds a 93% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes and has won two NAACP Image Awards and 12 total nominations. Critics have praised the racially progressive show for storylines that tackle universal issues such as culture, class, and gender, while highlighting elements that address specific concerns of African-American society as expressed by the show's predominantly black cast.^[3]

Queen Sugar airs on Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) and premiered on September 6, 2016.^{[4] [5]} In January 2021, ahead of the fifth season premiere, the series was renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on September 7, 2021. Ahead of the sixth season finale, it was announced that the series was renewed for a 13-episode seventh and final season, which premiered on September 6, 2022.

Plot

The series follows the lives of three siblings in rural Louisiana: Nova Bordelon (played by Rutina Wesley), a formidable journalist and activist from New Orleans; Charley Bordelon (Dawn-Lyen Gardner), a working wife and mother in Los Angeles; and their brother, Ralph Angel Bordelon (Kofi Siriboe), a single parent struggling with unemployment and raising his son alone. Their father has recently died and unexpectedly bequeathed an 800-acre sugarcane farm in equal proportion to each of his three children in Louisiana. Recently divorced, Charley, whose husband is caught up in a scandalous affair, takes her teenage son Micah and moves to the heart of rural Louisiana to operate the farm.

Cast and characters

Main cast

• Rutina Wesley as Nova Bordelon, the eldest Bordelon child. She is a journalist, activist and healer in New Orleans.
• Dawn-Lyen Gardner as Charlotte "Charley" Bordelon West, the second Bordelon child. She was conceived when their father Ernest moved west and married a white woman. She is the biracial half sibling to Nova and Ralph Angel, sports manager, mother of Micah and ex-wife of Davis West (seasons 1–6).
• Kofi Siriboe as Ralph Angel Bordelon, the youngest Bordelon sibling. He is looking to better himself after recently being released from prison. Tied strongly to his family land.
• Nicholas L. Ashe as Micah West, Charley's and Davis' teenage son.
• Omar Dorsey as Hollingsworth "Hollywood" Desonier, a much younger oil rig worker, husband to Violet, and friend of the Bordelon family.
• Dondre Whitfield as Remy Newell, an irrigation specialist who was a friend and confidante to Ernest. He soon tries to help Ernest's grown children and soon becomes Charley's love interest (seasons 1–3; guest seasons 4 and 7).
• Timon Kyle Durrett as Davis West, a charismatic star basketball player, ex-husband of Charley, and father of Micah. His involvement in a sex scandal resulted in the end of their marriage, though they eventually reconcile and remarry (seasons 1–2; recurring seasons 3–6).
• Greg Vaughan as Calvin Gaston, a married police officer and Nova Bordelon's longtime secret lover (season 1; guest season 2; recurring season 4–5, and 7)
• Ethan Hutchison as Blue Bordelon, Ralph Angel's and Darla's nine-year-old son. (seasons 1–5; guest season 6; recurring season 7)
• Marycarmen Lopez as Reyna Velez, Blue's elementary school teacher and Ralph Angel’s love interest (season 1)
• Tina Lifford as Violet Bordelon, the younger sister of Ernest Bordelon. She acts as the matriarch of the family and lives with her husband, Hollywood.
• Bianca Lawson as Darla Bordelon (née Sutton), Ralph Angel's wife and Blue and Tru's mother, seeking to reconnect with them both as she is in recovery from a drug addiction. (seasons 2–7; recurring season 1)
• Henry G. Sanders as Prosper Denton, a lifelong friend to Ernest and fellow farmer (seasons 3–7; recurring seasons 1–2).
• Walter Perez as Romero Rodriguez, a doctor and love interest to Charley (season 4; recurring season 3)
• Tammy Townsend as Billie, Prosper's estranged daughter (seasons 6–7)

Recurring

• Glynn Turman as Ernest Bordelon, the late patriarch of the Bordelon family and older brother of Violet (season 1)
• True O'Brien as Stella, Micah's girlfriend in Los Angeles (season 1)^[6]
• Reagan Gomez-Preston as Chantal Williams, Nova's friend and love interest
• Issac White as Devonte "Too Sweet" Bonclair, a teen who after being falsely imprisoned becomes the main focus of Nova's current crusade on how the parish DA has been railroading African-Americans (season 1; guest, season 3)
• Tanyell Waivers as Keke Raymond, a teenage friend of the family who becomes Micah's girlfriend and then a good friend (seasons 1-5, 7).
• Deja Dee as Sierra, Nova's college roommate
• Sharon Lawrence as Lorna Prescott, Charley's mother
• Michael Michele as Darlene, Darla's mother
• Roger Guenveur Smith as Quincy, Darla's father
• Alimi Ballard as Dr. Robert Dubois, an activist who is briefly Nova's love interest in the second season
• Lea Coco as Jacob Boudreaux, a member of the Landry family who takes a special interest in Charley
• Danielle Lyn as Lizy, Nova's fellow journalist and friend (season 2-3)
• David Jensen as Samuel Landry, the owner of the most popular mill, the Landry mills, in the parish, who Charley and Ralph-Angel go up against
• Brian Michael Smith as Toine Wilkins, Ralph Angel's childhood friend. He is transgender and influences Ralph's acceptance of his son Blue's differences (guest seasons 2–4, 7)^[7]
• Nikko Austen Smith as Asha Green, the old soul. One of Micha's activist high school friends. A brilliant, passionate teenager wanting to make a difference (seasons 3-4)
• Vivien Ngô as Trinh Phan, a young woman who returns to help her parents with their seafood plant who becomes Ralph Angel's love interest (season 3) ^{[8] [9]}
• Tony Aidan Vo as Khanh Phan, the younger brother to Trinh and son of Mrs. Phan (season 3)
• Elyse Dinh McCrillis as Mrs. Phan, a Vietnamese American refugee and the mother to Khanh and Trinh; also Ralph Angel's boss at the seafood plant (season 3)
• Erica Tazel as Deesha Brown-Sonnier, a public defender and Ralph Angel's love interest (season 4)^[10]
• Paula Jai Parker as Celine (season 6)
• Marquis Rodriguez as Isaiah (season 6)
• McKinley Freeman as Dominic (season 6)
• Erika Ashley as Liza (season 6)
• Lamman Rucker as Vince (season 7), Billie's estranged husband

Guest roles

• David Alan Grier as Jimmy Dale, Violet's abusive ex-husband (season 4)^[11]
• Cree Summer as Octavia Laurent (season 4)^[12]
• Bryan Terrell Clark as Darla's love interest who is also in recovery (season 4)^[12]
• Amirah Vann as Parker Campbell, corporate lobbyist and bi-racial daughter of Sam Landry (seasons 4-7).
• LaTonya Holmes as Realtor in "Pleasure Is Black" (season 4 episode 1, 2019).

Episodes

Series overview

Season 7 (2022)

Production

Development

On February 2, 2015, it was announced that Oprah Winfrey Network had ordered a straight-to-series TV drama based on Queen Sugar, the 2014 novel by Natalie Baszile.^{[1] [4] [13] [14]} Ava DuVernay and Oprah Winfrey, who worked on the 2014 film Selma, co-created the series, with DuVernay was set to write and direct the initial episodes.

The first season began filming in February 2016^[15] and contained 13 episodes. DuVernay announced on January 27, 2016, that the series would feature an all-women directorial team.^[16] On February 15, 2016, Melissa Carter served as showrunner alongside Ava DuVernay. Neema Barnette joined the series as director and producer.^[17] Award-winning director Tina Mabry is a producer and will also direct two episodes, and Anthony Sparks,^[18] an award-winning TV writer and professor, began as a co-executive producer for the series in its first season and is the show’s longtime head writer, Executive Producer, and Showrunner.^[19] It was later announced that singer-songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello would provide the score for the series.^[20] Queen Sugar is said to be the first television series in which female directors direct every episode of the series.^[21]

Casting

On January 13, 2016, Rutina Wesley was announced to play the role of Nova Bordelon.^{[22] [23]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oprah Winfrey to Co-Star in & Co-Create With 'Selma' Filmmaker Ava DuVernay 'Queen Sugar' OWN Drama Series. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline Hollywood. February 2, 2015. February 2, 2015. February 4, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150204045158/http://deadline.com/2015/02/oprah-winfrey-selma-filmmaker-ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-own-drama-series-1201364863/. live.
2. Web site: Greene. Adrienne. June 24, 2017. Queen Sugar Deepens Its Complex Family Portrait. August 13, 2018. The Atlantic. August 14, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040407/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/06/queen-sugar-deepens-its-complex-family-portrait/531318/. live.
3. Web site: Oprah Winfrey Network's 'Queen Sugar' has quietly become one of TV's most racially progressive shows. Ronda Racha. Penrice. June 20, 2018. Opinion. NBC News. August 13, 2018. August 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180812151754/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/oprah-winfrey-network-s-queen-sugar-has-quietly-become-one-ncna882926. live.
4. Web site: Jagernauth. Kevin. February 2, 2015. Ava DuVernay Reteams With Oprah Winfrey For Drama Series. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150202215828/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/ava-duvernay-reteams-with-oprah-winfrey-for-drama-series-queen-sugar-20150202. February 2, 2015. February 2, 2015. The Playlist.
5. Web site: Petski. Denise. June 30, 2016. Ava DuVernay & Oprah Winfrey's 'Queen Sugar' Gets Fall Premiere Date On OWN. July 1, 2016. Deadline Hollywood. July 1, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160701132908/http://deadline.com/2016/06/ava-duvernay-oprah-winfrey-queen-sugar-premiere-date-own-trailer-1201781883/. live.
6. Web site: Bowe. Jillian. True O'Brien Joins Former DAYS Co-Star on OWN's Queen Sugar. Daytime Confidential. April 12, 2016. July 24, 2016. September 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160917030003/http://daytimeconfidential.com/2016/04/12/obrien-and-vaughn-in-own-series. live.
7. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' actor Brian Michael Smith comes out as transgender. NBC News. July 16, 2017 . en. 2019-06-20. May 10, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190510034354/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/queen-sugar-actor-brian-michael-smith-comes-out-transgender-n783451. live.
8. News: OWN's QUEEN SUGAR Announces Remaining All-Female Directorial Line-Up for Season 3. Desk. TV News. June 7, 2018. en. January 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230118005637/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/OWNs-QUEEN-SUGAR-Announces-Remaining-All-Female-Directorial-Line-Up-for-Season-3-20180606. live.
9. News: 'Queen Sugar' Unveils Final Set Of Directors For All-Female-Helmed Season 3 Of Oprah Winfrey-Ava DuVernay Drama. Patten. Dominic. June 6, 2018. Deadline Hollywood. June 7, 2018. en-US. June 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142721/https://deadline.com/2018/06/queen-sugar-oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-unveil-final-set-of-directors-for-all-female-helmed-season-3-1202404792/. live.
10. Web site: Evans. Greg. 2019-03-14. 'Queen Sugar' Sets Season 4 Premiere Date, Announces Cast Additions. 2020-06-13. Deadline. en. June 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200613165500/https://deadline.com/2019/03/queen-sugar-ava-duvernay-sets-season-4-premiere-date-cast-additions-1202575952/. live.
11. Web site: David Alan Grier Joins 'Queen Sugar' As Guest Star. Deadline Hollywood. Dino-Ray. Ramos. April 6, 2019. April 6, 2019. April 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406220927/https://deadline.com/2019/04/queen-sugar-david-alan-grier-own-ava-duvernay-1202589709/. live.
12. Web site: 'Queen Sugar': Five Directors & Two Guest Stars Added For Season 4 Of OWN Drama. Deadline Hollywood. Erik. Pedersen. June 6, 2019. July 11, 2019. July 12, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190712014255/https://deadline.com/2019/06/queen-sugar-season-4-directors-guest-stars-cree-summer-bryan-terrell-clark-1202627794/. live.
13. Web site: Oprah, DuVernay creating new drama for OWN. Levin. Gary. February 2, 2015. USA Today. February 2, 2015. February 5, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205065014/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/02/02/oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-selma-queen-sugar/22752925/. live.
14. Web site: Oprah Winfrey & Ava DuVernay Creating Original Drama Series For OWN. Wagmeister. Elizabeth. Variety. February 2, 2015. February 2, 2015. February 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150202220111/http://variety.com/2015/tv/news/oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-own-drama-series-1201421463/. live.
15. Web site: 5 Pieces of Must-Know Casting News. Backstage.com. January 12, 2016. December 2, 2015. February 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160204150505/http://www.backstage.com/news/5-pieces-must-know-casting-news-56856/. live.
16. Web site: Jao. Charline. Ava DuVernay Says Queen Sugar Will Feature an All-Women Directorial Team. January 27, 2016. January 27, 2016. January 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128090747/http://www.themarysue.com/ava-duvernay-queen-sugar/. live.
17. Web site: Neema Barnette Joins OWN Drama Series 'Queen Sugar' As Director - Deadline. Denise Petski. Deadline Hollywood. February 16, 2016. February 15, 2016. February 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160216091506/https://deadline.com/2016/02/neema-barnette-1201703074/. live.
18. Web site: CSUF News Center - Assistant Professor Selected for Oprah Winfrey's New Series 'Queen Sugar' . March 2016 . March 3, 2016 . March 3, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303094554/http://news.fullerton.edu/2016wi/Sparks-QueenSugar.aspx . live .
19. Web site: CSUF News Center - Assistant Professor Selected for Oprah Winfrey's New Series 'Queen Sugar'. March 2016. March 11, 2016. March 6, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306132922/http://news.fullerton.edu/2016wi/Sparks-QueenSugar.aspx. live.
20. Meshell Ndegeocello on Scoring Ava DuVernay's New OWN Series 'Queen Sugar' & Reviving Her Past. Billboard. June 18, 2017. June 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170603185146/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7496118/meshell-ndegeocello-ava-duvernay-own-queen-sugar-interview. live.
21. Desta. Yohana. September 13, 2016. Ava DuVernay and Queen Sugar Look Like the Future of Television. August 13, 2018. Vanity Fair. June 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180610182124/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/09/ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-interview. live.
22. Web site: Rutina Wesley To Star In OWN Drama Series 'Queen Sugar'. Nellie. Andreeva. January 13, 2016. Deadline Hollywood. January 13, 2016. January 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116103154/http://deadline.com/2016/01/rutina-wesley-star-queen-sugar-ava-duvernay-own-1201682168/. live.
23. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Casting: Rutina Wesley to Star in OWN Series, Based on Book. Elizabeth. Wagmeister. January 13, 2016. Variety. January 13, 2016. January 16, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160116091636/http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/rutina-wesley-queen-sugar-cast-own-oprah-ava-duvernay-1201679205/. live.
24. Web site: Petski. Denise. 'Queen Sugar': OWN Drama Series Casts Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe & Omar J. Dorsey In Lead Roles. January 27, 2016. January 27, 2016. January 28, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160128084239/http://deadline.com/2016/01/own-drama-series-queen-sugar-cast-dawn-lyen-gardner-kofi-siriboe-omar-j-dorsey-rutina-wesley-1201691415/. live.
25. Web site: Omar J. Dorsey, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Kofi Siriboe Join 'Que - Shadow and Act. Tambay A. Obenson. January 27, 2016. Shadow and Act. January 27, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160130050222/http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/omar-j-dorsey-dawn-lyen-gardner-kofi-siriboe-join-queen-sugar-to-be-helmed-by-all-women-directing-team-20160127. January 30, 2016. dead.
26. Web site: Queen Sugar: Glynn Turman Cast in OWN Series from Ava DuVernay - Variety. Laura Prudom. Variety. February 1, 2016. February 2016. February 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160202093017/https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/queen-sugar-glynn-turman-own-ava-duvernay-1201693844/. live.
27. Web site: Tina Lifford, Dondré Whitfield Among Four Cast In 'Queen Sugar' - Deadline. Denise Petski. Deadline Hollywood. February 16, 2016. February 16, 2016. February 17, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160217093654/https://deadline.com/2016/02/tina-lifford-dondre-whitfield-timon-kyle-durrett-queen-sugar-own-cast-1201703434/. live.
28. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Adds Bianca Lawson, Greg Vaughan & Henry G. Sanders - Deadline. Denise Petski. Deadline Hollywood. February 23, 2016. February 23, 2016. June 21, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180621195835/https://deadline.com/2016/02/queen-sugar-own-drama-series-oprah-winfrey-cast-bianca-lawson-greg-vaughan-1201707791/. live.
29. Web site: Erik Stocklin Joins Colleen Ballinger-Evans In 'Haters Back Off'. Denise Petski. Deadline Hollywood. March 11, 2016. March 11, 2016. March 12, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160312004155/http://deadline.com/2016/03/eric-stocklin-colleen-ballinger-evans-haters-back-off-netflix-marycarmen-lopez-queen-sugar-1201718525/. live.
30. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Adds Tammy Townsend As Series Regular; Trio Tapped To Recur, Nine Directors Set For Season 6 Of OWN Drama. Deadline Hollywood. Alexandra. Del Rosario. April 6, 2021. April 6, 2021. April 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210406170658/https://deadline.com/2021/04/queen-sugar-tammy-townsend-nine-directors-four-actors-added-season-6-own-1234728481/. live.
31. Web site: Dawn-Lyen Gardner on Instagram: "Though I did not participate in the making of the seventh and now final season of Queen Sugar..." . Instagram . October 9, 2023 . September 6, 2022.
32. Web site: Ava DuVernay-Directed 'Queen Sugar' Gets Season 2 Pickup From OWN – TCA. Dominic. Patten. August 1, 2016. August 2, 2016. August 2, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160802182109/http://deadline.com/2016/08/oprah-winfrey-ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-gets-season-2-renewal-own-1201796851/. live.
33. Web site: OWN Gives 'Queen Sugar' an Early 16-Episode Second Season Renewal + A New Trailer. August 1, 2016. August 2, 2016. August 18, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160818074839/http://shadowandact.com/2016/08/01/own-renews-queen-sugar-for-a-16-episode-second-season-ahead-of-its-season-1-premiere/. live.
34. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' scores Season 3 renewal on OWN. https://web.archive.org/web/20170726231234/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/more-tv-news/queen-sugar-scores-season-3-renewal-on-own/. dead. July 26, 2017. Porter. Rick. July 26, 2017. TV by the Numbers. July 26, 2017.
35. Web site: Seitz . Matt Zoller . 2018-05-29 . Queen Sugar Season 3 Is a Lovingly Composed Family Drama . 2023-12-16 . Vulture.
36. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Renewed For Season 4 By OWN With New Showrunner Anthony Sparks. Deadline Hollywood. Petski. Denise. August 8, 2018. August 8, 2018. August 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180808200340/https://deadline.com/2018/08/queen-sugar-renewed-season-4-own-new-showrunner-anthony-sparks-1202442491/. live.
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38. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Gets Season 5 Renewal From OWN; Anthony Sparks Back As Showrunner. Deadline Hollywood. Dominic. Patten. September 12, 2019. September 12, 2019. September 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913002955/https://deadline.com/2019/09/queen-sugar-renewal-season-5-ava-duvernay-oprah-winfrey-own-anthony-sparks-1202732763/. live.
39. Web site: 'Queen Sugar' Sweetens The Deal With Season 6 Renewal From OWN Ahead Of Season 5 Debut. Deadline Hollywood. Dominic. Patten. January 14, 2021. January 14, 2021. January 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114180536/https://deadline.com/2021/01/ava-durvernay-queen-sugar-renewal-season-6-own-oprah-winfrey-anthony-sparks-1234673478/. live.
40. Web site: Queen Sugar Renewed for Season 6. TVLine. Kimberly. Roots. January 14, 2021. January 14, 2021. January 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210114180019/https://tvline.com/2021/01/14/queen-sugar-renewed-for-season-6/. live.
41. Web site: 'Queen Sugar': Season 6 Trailer Shares Update On The Bordelon Family And Reveals Premiere Date—Watch. Deadline Hollywood. Rosy. Cordero. August 3, 2021. August 3, 2021. August 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803175700/https://deadline.com/2021/08/queen-sugar-season-6-trailer-shares-update-on-the-bordelon-family-and-reveals-premiere-date-watch-1234808276/. live.
42. Web site: Patten . Dominic . 'Queen Sugar' To End Next Year, Ava DuVernay Reveals; "I'm So Proud Of What We've Done," Creator Says Ahead Of Season 6 Finale Tonight . Deadline Hollywood . November 16, 2021 . November 16, 2021 . November 16, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211116181005/https://deadline.com/2021/11/ava-duvernay-queen-sugar-series-end-season-7-own-1234874910/ . live .
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55. Web site: Richards. Kimberley. 2019-03-31. 50th NAACP Image Awards: Here Are The Winners. live. 2022-01-22. HuffPost. en. April 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412143640/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/naacp-image-awards-50-winners_n_5c9b9912e4b07c88662f0e64.
56. Web site: Howard. Katherine. 2020-02-22. NAACP Image Awards: Lizzo Named Entertainer of the Year; 'Just Mercy,' 'Black-ish' Among Top Winners. live. 2022-01-22. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. February 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200223025246/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2020-naacp-image-award-winners-complete-list-updating-1276771.
57. Web site: Jackson. Angelique. 2021-08-22. Michaela Coel, Norman Lear and Steve McQueen Accept Special Awards at 2021 AAFCA TV Honors. 2022-01-25. Variety. en-US. January 25, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220125100838/https://variety.com/2021/scene/news/aafca-tv-honors-michaela-coel-norman-lear-steve-mcqueen-1235046314/. live.
58. Web site: Spivey. Kemberlie. 2022-01-19. 2022 NAACP Image Awards Nominations: The Full List. live. 2022-01-20. Forbes. en. January 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119025807/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kemberliespivey/2022/01/18/2022-naacp-image-awards-nominations-the-full-list/.
59. Web site: Jackson . Angelique . January 12, 2023 . 'Abbott Elementary,' 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' and 'The Woman King' Dominate NAACP Image Award Nominations . January 13, 2023 . . en-US . January 13, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230113030648/https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/naacp-image-award-nominees-angela-bassett-quinta-brunson-1235486668/ . live .
60. Web site: LiteraryHub.com : Natalie Baszile wrote the book she wanted to read: Queen Sugar - Misan Sagay in conversation with the author of one of Oprah's favorite books . October 5, 2016 . December 6, 2016 . December 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220090732/http://lithub.com/natalie-baszile-wrote-the-book-she-wanted-to-read-queen-sugar/ . live .
61. True Bloods Rutina Wesley joins new OWN drama from Oprah and Ava DuVernay|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Will|last=Robinson|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=January 13, 2016|archive-date=January 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160116100121/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/01/13/rutina-wesley-own-series-queen-sugar-ava-duvernay|url-status=live}}[23] Further casting was announced January 27, 2016. Dawn-Lyen Gardner], Kofi Siriboe, and Omar Dorsey, who co-starred in Selma, were all announced in leading roles.^{[24] [25]} On February 1, 2016, it was announced that Emmy Award-winner Glynn Turman will guest-star as Ernest Bordelon, the patriarch of the family who dies in the first episode.^[26] On February 16, 2016, it was announced that Tina Lifford, Dondre Whitfield, Timon Kyle Durrett and Nicholas L. Ashe were cast as series regulars.^[27] On February 23, 2016, Bianca Lawson and Greg Vaughan joined the cast as regulars, while Henry G. Sanders joined in a recurring role. Oprah Winfrey Network said that Winfrey, who earlier was announced as a recurring character, would not have an onscreen role.^[28] On March 11, 2016, it was announced that Marycarmen Lopez also was cast as regular.^[29] On April 6, 2021, Tammy Townsend joined the cast as a new series regular while Paula Jai Parker, Marquis Rodriguez, and McKinley Freeman joined cast in recurring roles for the sixth season.^[30]

    After her absence from the season seven trailer started to get noticed on social media, Dawn-Lyen Gardner explained that she didn't participate on the final season of the show,^[31] so the few moments in which the audience sees or listens to the character were done by mixing archive footage from previous seasons.

    Release

    On August 1, 2016, the series was renewed for a second season ahead of the series' television premiere, which aired in a two-night premiere on June 20 and 21, 2017.^{[32] [33]} The second season premiered on OWN in a two episode special on June 20 and 21, 2017.

    The show was renewed for a third season on July 26, 2017.^[34] The third season premiered in a two-night special on May 29 and 30, 2018.^[35]

    On August 8, 2018, the series was renewed for a fourth season. Following the renewal, co-executive producer Anthony Sparks was revealed to be the new showrunner, replacing Kat Candler.^[36] The fourth season premiered on June 12, 2019.^[37]

    On September 12, 2019, OWN renewed the series for a fifth season which premiered on February 16, 2021.^{[38] [39]} On January 14, 2021, ahead of the fifth season premiere, OWN renewed the series for a sixth season,^[40] which premiered on September 7, 2021.^[41] In November 2021, shortly before the sixth season finale, the series was renewed for a seventh and final season.^[42] The seventh season premiered on September 6, 2022.^[43]

    Reception

    The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 93% approval rating for the first season, with an average rating of 7.4/10 based on 41 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "With an authenticity of culture and place and strong performances throughout, Queen Sugar rises above melodrama in this alluring, unhurried and powerful portrait of a fractious black American family."^[44] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100 based on 25 critics for the season, indicating what the website considers to be "generally favorable reviews".^[45] A 100% approval rating for the second season was reported by Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 8.03/10 based on 7 reviews.^[46]

    Accolades

    Year	Association	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
    2016	AAFCA TV Awards	Best Drama	Queen Sugar		[47]
    Best TV Shows
    2017	AAFCA TV Awards	Best Drama	Queen Sugar		[48]
    Best TV Shows
    Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[49]
    	Outstanding Actor, Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    	Outstanding Actress, Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    		Dawn-Lyen Gardner
    	Outstanding Directing, Drama Series	Ava DuVernay (for "First Things First")
    	Outstanding Writing, Drama Series
    Hollywood Music in Media Awards	Original Score – TV Show/Limited Series	Meshell Ndegeocello		[50]
    NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[51]
    	Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    	Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    	Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series	Ava DuVernay (for "First Things First")
    		Anthony Sparks (for "By Any Chance")
    People's Choice Awards	Favorite Cable TV Drama	Queen Sugar		[52]
    2018	AAFCA TV Awards	Best Drama	Queen Sugar		[53]
    	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar
    		Outstanding Actor, Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress, Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    			Dawn-Lyen Gardner
    		Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series	Omar J. Dorsey
    			Dondré T. Whitfield
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series	Bianca Lawson
    		Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series	Alimi Ballard
    			Roger Guenveur Smith
    		Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series	Michael Michele
    		Outstanding Directing, Drama Series	Cheryl Dunye (for "Fruit of the Flower")
    		Outstanding Writing, Drama Series	Monica Macer, Davita Scarlett (for "Heritage")
    			Ava DuVernay (for "Dream Variations")
    		Outstanding Music	Liza Richardson
    	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[54]
    		Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    			Rutina Wesley
    		Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series	Dondre Whitfield
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Tina Lifford
    		Outstanding Performance by a Youth	Ethan Hutchison
    		Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series	Ava DuVernay (for "Dream Variations")
    			Anthony Sparks (for "What Do I Care For Morning)"
    2019	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Actor, Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress, Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    			Dawn-Lyen Gardner
    		Outstanding Supporting Actor, Drama Series	Nicholas L. Ashe
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress, Drama Series	Tina Lifford
    		Outstanding Directing, Drama Series	DeMane Davis (for "A Rock, A River, A Tree")
    	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[55]
    		Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    2020	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Actor, Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress, Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    		Outstanding Guest Actor, Drama Series	David Alan Grier
    		Outstanding Guest Actress, Drama Series	Cree Summer
    		Outstanding Directing, Drama Series	Ayoka Chenzira (for "I Am")
    		Outstanding Writing, Drama Series	Mike Flynn (for "Where My Body Stops or Begins")
    	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[56]
    		Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series	Rutina Wesley
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Tina Lifford
    		Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Television Series	David Alan Grier
    2021	AAFCA TV Awards	Best Drama	Queen Sugar		[57]
    		Impact Award
    		Best Writing	Anthony Sparks
    	Black Reel Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar
    		Outstanding Actress, Drama Series	Dawn-Lyen Gardner
    2022	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[58]
    		Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series	Dawn-Lyen Gardner
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series	Bianca Lawson
    2023	NAACP Image Awards	Outstanding Drama Series	Queen Sugar		[59]
    		Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series	Kofi Siriboe
    		Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
    		Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
    		Outstanding Guest Actor or Actress in a Television Series	Glynn Turman

    Novel

    See main article: Queen Sugar (novel). UCLA graduate Natalie Baszile started writing Queen Sugar, the novel, in the early 1990s, but the text was only completed ten years later. She first presented the manuscript to publishers in 2009 but without any success. After revising the book for another two years, she resubmitted the text, with one agent agreeing to represent her.

    Baszile took part in a women writer's retreat in Hedgebrook. A friend of hers who was also at the retreat, the novelist Sarah Manyika, suggested that she read part of Queen Sugar to fellow residents. Leigh Haber, O, The Oprah Magazines book editor was attending and loved the novel and passed it to people at Oprah's Harpo Productions. A few months after that, Harpo called to say they wanted to option the book for a project.^[60]

    The book was published by Penguin in 2014 as Baszile's debut novel and, a few months later, OWN negotiated the deal to turn the book into a television series.

    External links

    .