Sheryl Underwood’s Husband: The Real Story Everyone’s Asking About After the Netflix Roast

Sheryl Underwood’s private grief became roast fodder at The Roast of Kevin Hart, as comics joked about her husband’s 1990 death — reviving scrutiny of the man she calls Michael, whom several outlets have identified as Michael Sparkman.

Netflix took its roast gloves off and then some. During The Roast of Kevin Hart, a couple comedians went hard at Sheryl Underwood by joking about her late husband and his 1990 death. Yes, they really went there. Here is what actually happened, plus the context people may not know about Underwood, her marriage, and what she has said about it over the years.

What was said at the roast

The live special hit in May 2026, and Underwood, who spent years on The Talk, became a target more than once. Host Shane Gillis even prefaced one bit by saying he felt bad and had called her beforehand to give a heads-up. Underwood laughed in the moment and later returned fire on the same stage. The two biggest swings:

• Shane Gillis referenced her husband’s suicide and delivered a line twisting the old saying about whether Black 'cracks,' adding a visual about jumping from up high and tossing in a few expletives for good measure.
• Tony Hinchcliffe piled on with a jab that her husband ended his life three years into their marriage, then joked he did not know how the man lasted that long after just sitting next to her for two hours.

It was brutal material, but that is the roast format. Underwood eventually got her payback on both men later that night.

Who her husband was (and what we do and do not know)

Underwood has kept a lot of details private. Publicly, she has only ever called him Michael and has not disclosed his full name. Several outlets have reported his name as Michael Sparkman. People reported he was a chef. The two married in 1987, and in August 1990 — three years into the marriage — he died by suicide.

'I will never forget it. I made him a German chocolate cake that morning and told him, Drop the bills in the mailbox and I will see you when you get home. It is the most painful thing in the world because he is not coming back.'

What Underwood has said about the loss

She has talked about this a handful of times, and she is clear about two things: the pain sticks around, and you may never get neat answers. On The Talk in 2018, she said you might never know exactly what pushed someone to that point — whether it was clinical depression, money trouble, or something else. Over time, she has said she feels stronger and tries to use what she learned to help others. Her consistent message: people who need help should get it, and the folks left behind need help too.

Did she remarry?

No. Underwood has not remarried since her husband’s death.

If you or someone you know needs support

Help is available right now. In the U.S., call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.