Sommore

Sommore, born Lori Ann Rambough on May 15, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey, is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and television host widely recognized as the "Diva of Contemporary Comedy" and a pioneering figure for women in the male-dominated field of stand-up.^[1][2] She is the half-sister of actress Nia Long, sharing the same father.^[3] Raised by a single mother in a challenging neighborhood, Sommore graduated from McCorristin Catholic High School in 1985 and later earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in mathematics from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia.^[1] After teaching algebra and owning several businesses, including clothing and shoe stores, she transitioned to comedy in the early 1990s, quickly gaining prominence through her sharp, sassy routines addressing relationships, politics, and women's perspectives.^[2] Sommore broke barriers as the first female host of BET's ComicView from 1994 to 1995, earning the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year in 1995.^[2] She co-headlined the groundbreaking Queens of Comedy tour in 2000 alongside Mo'Nique, Laura Hayes, and Adele Givens, which drew over 50,000 attendees in a single Atlanta performance and was later documented in a Spike Lee film, marking it as a record in the Guinness Book of World Records.^[2] In 2010, she became the first woman to headline the Royal Comedy Tour ahead of male comedians, solidifying her status as one of the highest-grossing female comedians in the United States.^[2] Her acting credits include roles in films such as Friday After Next (2002), Soul Plane (2004), and Something New (2006), while her television appearances span hosting Def Comedy Jam and Showtime at the Apollo, as well as guest spots on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.^[2] Sommore has also produced specials like The Queen Stands Alone for Comedy Central in 2008, which attracted over 800,000 viewers, and continues to tour extensively, blending humor with social commentary on personal growth and contemporary issues. In 2025, she announced her seventh self-produced comedy special for Netflix.^[2][4]

Early life and education

Family background

Sommore was born Lori Ann Rambough on May 15, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey.^[5] She was raised primarily by her single mother, an accountant who worked diligently to support the family in a working-class household.^[6] Her father, Doughtry "Doc" Long, was an English professor, poet, and author who lived nearby but was not a constant presence in her daily life.^[5][6] Growing up in a rough neighborhood on Stuyvesant Avenue in East Trenton, Sommore experienced a vibrant yet challenging urban environment characterized by industrial jobs, community centers, bars, a roller skating rink, and a bustling downtown with a movie theater.^[6][7] As an only child, she was immersed in an extended family network, living close to her mother's five sisters and their 12 children, whom she regarded as siblings in a close-knit dynamic spanning a five-mile radius across East Trenton, West Trenton, and the Wilbur section.^[5] This communal upbringing fostered a sense of shared responsibility and familial bonds amid the economic hardships of the area.^[5] Her mother's influence was profound, as she pursued higher education at night, excelling in mathematics and instilling a strong emphasis on learning by requiring daily math and English practice at home.^[5] The family environment was filled with laughter and storytelling, with her father's poetic background contributing to an early appreciation for expressive arts and humor within the household.^[6] Sommore shares a half-sister, actress Nia Long, through her father.^[8]

Academic pursuits

Sommore attended McCorristin Catholic High School in Trenton, New Jersey, graduating in 1985.^[9] Following high school, she pursued higher education at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in mathematics.^[10] After completing her degree, Sommore began her professional career by teaching algebra in the Atlanta public school system, applying her mathematical expertise in an educational setting.^[2][11] She subsequently took initial entrepreneurial steps, opening and operating small businesses in Atlanta, such as clothing and shoe stores, which served as a transitional phase leveraging her business education before entering the entertainment industry.^[2]

Professional career

Entry into comedy

Sommore began her comedy career in the early 1990s while residing in Atlanta, Georgia, after attending local comedy shows that inspired her to pursue stand-up.^[5] She initially performed at open-mic nights and club gigs in the city, honing her craft through these grassroots opportunities and becoming a regular on the local circuit.^[5] During this period, she adopted the stage name "Sommore," derived from the phrase "some more," reflecting her desire for audiences to want additional performances of her humor, as her real name Lori Ann Rambough did not align with her emerging persona.^[5] Her comedic style developed as sarcastic and frank, characterized by witty, unfiltered observations drawn from personal experiences, particularly around relationships, sex, money, and social issues affecting women.^[5] A pivotal early breakthrough came in 1994 when Sommore became the first woman to host BET's ComicView, serving in that role for the 1994-1995 season and gaining national exposure through the long-running stand-up showcase.^[2] This hosting debut marked her transition from local performer to recognized industry figure.^[12]

Rise to prominence

In 1995, Sommore received the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year, recognizing her standout stand-up performances and marking a pivotal moment in her career that elevated her visibility in the comedy industry.^[2][13] Building on her earlier hosting role on BET's ComicView, she expanded her act to national audiences through extensive club circuits in the late 1990s, honing her signature style of sharp, unfiltered humor on relationships and social issues.^[11] This period of touring solidified her reputation, leading to early television specials that showcased her talent to broader viewership.^[14] Her breakthrough came in 2000 with the launch of the Queens of Comedy tour, where she performed alongside Adele Givens, Mo'Nique, and Laura Hayes, drawing massive crowds and establishing her as a leading female comedian.^[2] A highlight was their Atlanta performance for over 50,000 attendees, which earned a Guinness World Record as the largest audience for an all-female comedy show.^[15] The tour's success was amplified by a 2001 Showtime special, which became the network's highest-rated and longest-running comedy program at the time.^[2] During this era, Sommore garnered significant media acclaim, including being dubbed the "Diva of Contemporary Comedy" and receiving praise from Oprah Winfrey, who described her as "a force to be reckoned with" after featuring her on The Oprah Winfrey Show.^[2] These endorsements underscored her rising influence and trailblazing role for women in stand-up.^[16]

Headlining tours

Sommore launched the Royal Comedy Tour in early 2010, marking a historic milestone as the first female comedian to headline over established male headliners such as D.L. Hughley, Rickey Smiley, and Bruce Bruce.^[2] This groundbreaking role challenged traditional gender dynamics in stand-up comedy, positioning her at the forefront of a male-dominated industry. The tour debuted to rave reviews and quickly gained momentum, with Sommore co-producing and leading the lineup that included a mix of veteran and rising comedians.^[2] The tour's scale was impressive, spanning multiple cities across the United States and featuring performances in major venues like Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, and the Universal Amphitheatre.^[2] By 2011, it returned for an extended run following the sellout success of its initial leg, drawing large crowds to arenas such as the RBC Center in Raleigh and the First Mariner Arena in Baltimore.^[17] These multi-city engagements highlighted Sommore's drawing power, with sold-out shows underscoring her appeal to diverse audiences seeking high-energy comedy nights.^[2] During the Royal Comedy Tour, Sommore evolved her material to delve deeper into themes of personal growth, politics, and relationships, delivering sharp, observational humor from a woman's perspective.^[18] Her sets explored her own development and life choices alongside witty critiques of political landscapes and interpersonal dynamics, blending sarcasm with relatable insights on everyday controversies.^[18] This approach resonated widely, allowing her to connect with fans through intelligent commentary on modern issues while maintaining her signature bold style.^[19] Sommore's headlining success on the tour had a lasting impact on female representation in comedy, proving that women could lead major productions over male counterparts and inspiring greater visibility for female performers.^[2] By claiming the top billing in a high-profile, arena-filling production, she solidified her status as a trailblazer, encouraging more opportunities for women to headline and shift industry norms toward inclusivity.^[11]

Recent endeavors

In the mid-2010s, Sommore released her fifth stand-up special, Sommore: The Reign Continues, filmed live at the Knight Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina, on November 1, 2014, to a sold-out audience. This performance, which premiered on Netflix in 2018, showcased her signature bold humor on relationships and contemporary life, solidifying her status as a leading figure in comedy.^[20][21] Building on her self-produced track record, Sommore delivered her sixth special, Sommore: Queen Chandelier, taped at the Wick Theater in Boca Raton, Florida, and released on Netflix on February 7, 2023.^[22] In this hour-long set, she addressed post-quarantine social dynamics, beauty standards, and personal empowerment, earning praise for her sharp, unfiltered delivery.^[23][24] As a producer and entrepreneur, Sommore has expanded into documentary filmmaking, with a personal project focused on her life and career currently in production as of 2025.^[2] She is also developing multiple television projects in the early 2020s, aiming to bring fresh comedic content to broader audiences.^[2] Sommore maintains an active touring schedule, performing nationwide to enthusiastic crowds, including a multi-show engagement at the Kansas City Funny Bone Comedy Club on December 5, 2025.^[25] In June 2025, she filmed her seventh special, Chandelier Fly, at Detroit's historic Garden Theater, further extending her influence in live comedy.^[26] At 59 years old in 2025, Sommore continues to be hailed as the "Queen of Comedy" for her enduring impact on stand-up.^[27]

Media appearances

Television roles

Sommore made her mark in television as the first female host of BET's ComicView, taking over for the 1994-1995 season and significantly elevating her profile in the comedy world.^[2] This hosting gig showcased her commanding stage presence and sharp wit, drawing a wide audience and contributing to her receiving the Richard Pryor Award for Comic of the Year in 1995.^[2] In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Sommore expanded into guest acting roles on popular sitcoms, including an appearance as Olivia on The Parkers in the 2002 episode "Mother's Day Blues," where she brought her comedic timing to a storyline involving family dynamics and financial mishaps.^[2][28] She also featured on HBO's SNAPS, a stand-up comedy showcase that highlighted emerging Black comedians, further demonstrating her versatility in short-form TV performances during the mid-1990s.^[2] Sommore starred in the 2001 stand-up comedy special The Queens of Comedy, a TV film that captured her alongside Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, and Laura Hayes during a live performance at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee, emphasizing bold, unfiltered humor on relationships and everyday life.^[29][30] This high-profile role solidified her as a leading voice in female-led comedy specials. Into the 2000s, Sommore continued with guest spots on MTV's Wild 'N Out in 2007, participating in improvisational challenges that integrated her stand-up style with interactive games, extending her reach to younger audiences through the show's energetic format.^[2][31]

Film roles

Sommore made her feature film debut in the 2002 comedy Friday After Next, directed by Marcus Raboy, where she portrayed the character Cookie, a bold and sassy neighbor in a holiday-themed ensemble cast that included Ice Cube as Craig and Mike Epps as Day-Day.^[32] This role marked her initial foray into acting, leveraging her stand-up persona to deliver comedic timing amid the film's chaotic street humor and party antics.^[2] She followed with a supporting role as Stephanie in the urban comedy A Miami Tail (2003), directed by Melvin James, which followed a stripper's misadventures in Miami's nightlife scene.^[32][33] Building on this, Sommore appeared in Soul Plane (2004), a satirical comedy directed by Jessy Terrero, playing Cherry, a flight attendant in a zany ensemble featuring Kevin Hart, Method Man, and Snoop Dogg, which parodied airline tropes through exaggerated racial and class dynamics. Her performance contributed to the film's high-energy comedic interactions, highlighting her ability to thrive in fast-paced group scenes that amplified the absurdity of the airborne adventure.^[2] In 2006, Sommore had a cameo appearance as herself in Something New, a romantic comedy-drama directed by Sanaa Hamri and starring Sanaa Lathan as a career-driven lawyer navigating interracial romance, where her brief role infused the narrative with authentic comedic flair during social gatherings.^[34] This outing subtly showcased her versatility, blending her real-life comedic presence with the film's exploration of cultural and relational tensions.^[2] Sommore continued with supporting roles in subsequent films, including Abby in Dirty Laundry (2007), a family drama directed by Chris Stokes, depicting a mother's struggle with infidelity and secrets among friends and kin.^[2] These parts further illustrated her transition from stage comedy—echoing her Queens of Comedy roots—to on-screen supporting dynamics in diverse genre blends.^[32]

Personal life

Family relationships

Sommore maintains a distant but acknowledged relationship with her half-sister, actress Nia Long, stemming from their shared father, poet and author Doughtry "Doc" Long, while having different mothers.^[35] Raised in separate households—Sommore in Trenton, New Jersey, and Long primarily on the West Coast—the sisters did not share a close bond during their formative years, a dynamic Sommore has described as typical given their circumstances. She has occasionally referenced their connection in interviews, noting that she deliberately downplayed it early in her career to avoid being overshadowed and to forge her own path in comedy, though they have shared rare family moments before their father's death in 2020.^[35][36] Sommore has no children, a choice she has publicly attributed to her preference for marriage before parenthood, as stated in a 2008 interview where she emphasized waiting for the right partnership.^[10] Details about any current or past romantic partners remain private, aligning with her broader approach to shielding personal relationships from public scrutiny since the early 2000s, when she began prioritizing independence in her public persona.^[35] Extended family ties, beyond her half-sister, are infrequently discussed, reflecting Sommore's commitment to maintaining boundaries around non-professional aspects of her life. Her primary residence in the Miami area, Florida, since the early 2000s supports a low-key family life, offering proximity to warm-weather gatherings.^[37] This South Florida base has allowed occasional, understated family interactions, though Sommore rarely elaborates on them, underscoring her preference for privacy in these matters.

Business interests

After earning a bachelor's degree in business administration with a minor in mathematics from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Sommore transitioned from teaching algebra in Atlanta public schools to entrepreneurship by owning and operating multiple retail businesses in the city during the 1990s.^[2] These ventures included a clothing store, a shoe store, and a specialty store featuring imported African food and products, reflecting her early business acumen and interest in diverse markets.^[2][6] In addition to her foundational retail experiences, Sommore has pursued ongoing entrepreneurial endeavors in media production. She has self-produced several of her stand-up comedy specials, including The Queen Stands Alone (2008) for Comedy Central and A Queen with No Spades (2018), demonstrating her hands-on role in content creation and distribution.^[2] Currently, she is producing a documentary in development and working on multiple television projects, further expanding her production portfolio.^[2] These diversified business interests, spanning retail and media, have contributed to Sommore's financial independence, with her net worth estimated at $2 million as of 2025.^[1]

Filmography and releases

Films

• Friday After Next (2002) as Cookie.
• A Miami Tail (2003) as Stephanie.
• Soul Plane (2004) as Cherry.
• Something New (2006) as Herself.
• Dirty Laundry (2006) as Abby.

Television

• Def Comedy Jam (1995): Performer.^[32]
• Snaps (1995): Self.^[38]
• ComicView (1994–1995): Host.^[2]
• It's Showtime at the Apollo (1996): Performer.^[32]
• The Hughleys (1998): Keshia (guest star).
• BET Live from L.A. (1999): Performer.^[39]
• The Parkers (2002): Guest star in "Mother's Day Blues".^[28]
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2003): Guest.^[40]
• Wild 'N Out (2007): Guest.
• Hit the Floor (2013): Sommore (recurring role).^[41]
• ComicView (2014): Host.^[32]
• All the Queens Men (2019): Host and comedian.^[41]
• South Side (2019): Yvonne Turner.^[41]

Stand-up specials

Sommore has produced and released multiple stand-up comedy specials, showcasing her signature style of bold, observational humor. These specials, often filmed live during her tours, have been distributed via DVD, cable networks, and streaming services, allowing her to reach wider audiences beyond live performances.^[18] Her specials include:

• Sommore: Bitch House (1995): Early stand-up special.^[42]
• The Queen Stands Alone (2008): Filmed live in concert and released on DVD, this marked Sommore's first solo stand-up special, emphasizing her unfiltered comedic voice.^[43][44]
• Chandelier Status (2013): Premiered on Showtime and later available on streaming platforms like Netflix and Tubi, the special was recorded in Miramar, Florida, highlighting her takes on relationships and celebrity culture.^[45][46][47]
• The Reign Continues (2015): A self-produced effort streamed on Netflix starting in 2018, filmed in Charlotte, North Carolina, continuing her reign as a comedy headliner.^[21][48]
• A Queen with No Spades (2018): Released on Showtime, this fourth self-produced special addresses personal growth, politics, and relationships, later appearing on select streaming services.^[49][18]
• Queen Chandelier (2023): Her sixth special, streamed exclusively on Netflix and taped at the Wick Theatre in Boca Raton, Florida, focusing on post-quarantine life observations.^[23][22]

Comedy albums

Sommore has released several audio comedy albums, primarily drawn from her stand-up performances and compilations, showcasing her bold, unfiltered humor on topics ranging from relationships to social observations. These releases highlight her evolution as a solo performer following her breakthrough in group tours.^[50] Her discography includes the following audio albums:

• The Queens of Comedy (2001, Universal Records): A compilation album featuring Sommore alongside Mo'Nique, Adele Givens, and Laura Hayes, with Sommore contributing tracks such as "Drama Mama," "Marriage Is an Amusement Park," "Men Over 30," and "Men in Movies." The album, tied to their touring show, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Comedy Album in 2002.^[51][52]
• Latham Entertainment Presents (2003): Compilation album featuring Sommore's stand-up performances.
• The Queen Stands Alone (2008, Comedy Central Records): Sommore's first solo audio release, capturing her live performance with a runtime of approximately 75 minutes across 12 tracks, including routines on family dynamics and dating. Originally premiered as a TV special, the audio version emphasizes her commanding stage presence.^[53][54]
• Chandelier Status (2013, Entertainment One): This solo album, derived from her Miami performance, runs about 70 minutes and features 14 tracks exploring celebrity culture, body image, and modern relationships, available in digital formats. It reflects her "chandelier status" persona of elevated glamour in comedy.^[50]
• The Reign Continues (2015, Quality Entertainment): Recorded live in Charlotte, North Carolina, this 65-minute audio release includes 11 tracks on themes like aging and pop culture, continuing her solo reign with a focus on relatable, edgy storytelling. It was later streamed widely following its Netflix video counterpart.^[50][55]