Jill Scott had fans floored on Wednesday (April 2) when she made a guest appearance on the hit series, Abbott Elementary. The Why Did I Get Married? star visited the fictional school as herself to perform her hit, “Golden,” on the season four episode titled “Ava Fest: Tokyo Drift.”
Just when the group thought their fundraising efforts had failed, Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) came through with her church contact to perform at their makeshift block party. That contact just happened to be Jill Scott— whose godmother sings on Barbara’s church choir, despite her lack of talent.
“This lady has gone above and beyond to make my godmother feel welcome in the choir, and she can’t even sing. It’s the least I could do,” the singer shared.
Scott spoke on a weird fan once breaking into her dressing room and stealing her ear monitors. “Like what you gon’ do with ear monitors?” she questioned after introducing her security detail.
Ava (Janelle James) mocked Barbara by expressing, “The Lord works in mysterious ways” before the latter revealed, “I knew He had a plan when he brought Jill Scott’s godmother to our church choir and it wasn’t because we needed a crackly soprano.”
They did end up meeting their fundraising goals with Ava’s help by charging attendees more than an actual Jill Scott concert would cost.
The episode comically ended when it was revealed that Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) was the crazed fan she mentioned earlier. He showed her a shrine of all the things he stole from her over the years and a caricature drawing of them.
Ralph teased Scott’s appearance at The Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party. “They’re female, and I can’t tell you anything — but I’m living my life like it’s golden. That’s it,” she shared with Entertainment Tonight.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the surprise guest. One person joked, “The way Jill Scott’s entire mood changed when she saw her missing scarf in the possession of Mr. Johnson.”
Another tweeted, “Quinta Brunson is a national treasure. The incomparable Jill Scott joins a masterpiece.” Someone else quipped, “Oh Quinta did it BIG with this one, she really got Jill Scott up in here at Abbott!”
The episode is currently streaming on Hulu.