What's Next For Wendy Williams As Sherri Shepherd Takes Over Her Time Slot?

Wendy Williams is gearing up for a new project after the end of her eponymous talk show.

The TV personality, who was absent from the "Wendy Williams Show" series finale Friday and the recent 13th season of the talk show, is reportedly set to launch a podcast.

In an "Extra" teaser video, host Billy Bush was depicted talking to Williams on the phone.

"I will tell you exactly everything she just said," Bush told the audience, before telling Williams over the phone, "Wendy, I love you. You're an icon. Hell of a run, girl!"

After ending the call, Bush said, "So here's the deal, she sat down with Debmar Mercury, the production company, they own the 'Wendy Williams Show.' It was an amicable, all agreed, 'We did it, let's get out of here. We're done.' She's heading off into the world of podcasts with iTunes! Congratulations to Wendy Williams on a tremendous run."

International Business Times could not independently verify this information.

Williams had been absent from "The Wendy Williams Show" since July 2021 due to her health condition. Sherri Shepherd filled in for her for most of Season 13 and hosted the finale.

"On behalf of all of the guest hosts, I want to say thank you so much to all of the loyal Wendy watchers for making this show a success. And most of all, we have to thank you, Wendy Williams," Shepherd was quoted by E! News as saying on the show's finale Friday.

She went on to call Williams "queen of all media," adding, "If you think about it, Wendy Williams changed daytime talk with her unique take on 'Hot Topics,' her one-of-a-kind celebrity interviews, the signature 'Ask Wendy' segments and, of course, her famous, 'How you doin'?' Absolutely. And I want to say, Miss Wendy, you are an icon and you are loved by so many. So many."

In April, Williams was spotted enjoying dinner with financial expert and TV personality Baruch Shemtov, her niece Alex Finnie and Finnie's boyfriend, Eric Houston, at Fresco by Scotto in New York City. At the time, unnamed insiders told Page Six that the TV host was in good condition and was ready to return to television.

Williams then said in an Instagram Live interview with Fat Joe last month that she plans to return to her talk show. "I'm coming back to 'The Wendy Williams Show.' Absolutely. Absolutely," she said.

She was also asked about Shepherd's upcoming talk show. "That's not really my thing… anyway, but I love being on my own show, and I love that people love to watch it all the time," Williams said.

But Williams never returned to her show, and the series ended Friday with a video tribute to her.

"Sherri" will debut in the "Wendy Williams Show's" time slot this fall.