Shirley Strawberry’s career in radio began in the mid-80s at Chicago’s WCGI-FM, where she was co-host of The Doug Banks Show. By the early ‘90s, her local popularity soared and caught the attention of the programming team at 92.3 The Beat, KKBT-FM, in Los Angeles. That’s where she was introduced to Steve Harvey. From 2000 to 2005, Shirley was the co-host of Harvey’s popular LA-based morning show and it was Harvey himself who dubbed her: “The Best Voice in Radio.”Their program went on to become the #1 morning show in Los Angeles and one of the most talked about in LA radio for their tireless community efforts - from helping students get desperately needed books, to honoring women and teachers, as well as feeding and helping the underprivileged all over the city.
On May 23, 2005, Harvey, Shirley and the rest of the morning show aired their final broadcast in Los Angeles. It was a sad and historic day in LA that left a lasting impact on the Southern California radio dial.
In October of 2005, The Steve Harvey Morning Show was re-launched via a national syndication deal with Premiere Networks, and Shirley joined the show as co-host. Heard on more than 100 radio stations by nearly seven million weekly listeners, it’s the number-one syndicated morning show in America. For her work on the top-rated program, Shirley has been recognized numerous times by industry publication Radio Ink as one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio,”and she was honored with the Alliance for Women in Media’s annual Gracie Award in the National Radio Co-Host category in 2018.
On April 5, 2011, Shirley released her first book, The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk, Real Advice, Because Bitterness Isn't Sexy. Based on the popular Strawberry Letter segment on The Steve Harvey Morning Show, which is also a popular podcast hosted by Shirley, she delivers more of the no-nonsense woman-to-woman straight talk her listeners have come to love. Shirley tells it like it is from the heart. Whether the topic is cheating boyfriends, crazy mother-in-laws, job troubles or money problems, Shirley’s girlfriend-next-door honesty has made the Strawberry Letter segments of the show a huge hit. Now, in this uplifting motivational guide, she brings her vivacious, inspirational, and down-to-earth message to women everywhere: Get up, get out, and be the best you can be! Shirley was honored with an NAACP Image Award for “Best New Author” for the best-selling book.