After leaving behind her 23-year career in radio, Wendy Williams took on TV with The Wendy Williams Show, now in its sixth season. Since then, she’s become an actor, created a wig line, produced a movie for Lifetime and penned seven books. This year, she added Las Vegas comedy headliner to her list of accomplishments, and adds another one as host of the Soul Train Awards at Orleans Arena on Nov. 7. (The awards show airs Sunday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central on BET.) Las Vegas Magazine’s Kiko Miyasato chatted with Williams and learned just how far bravery and patience has taken her.

You’ve been a frequent visitor to Vegas, first with your stand-up debut and now as host of the 2014 Soul Train Awards. How excited are you to be hosting the awards?

I’m very excited. A little nervous. The part that I’m nervous about is how the stage is going to be set up. How many steps are up or down from the back? Hosting the awards show, there is no podium; I’m not giving a speech. How large is the stage going to be? How tall are my heels going to be? Will I trip? Will I fall? But I’m not nervous about the one thing that probably makes other people terrified and that is public speaking. That doesn’t faze me.

Is there anything about soul music that’s been lost over the years?

The genre of Soul Train Award music, like 20 years and before, they left more to the imagination in their words. They used metaphors. ... It was a sweeter time in R&B, which unfortunately we’re never going to get back to. These days, songs are very obvious. There’s very little need to have an imagination.

Let’s talk about your talk show. A lot of people tune in for your slant on celebrity headlines. What is the obsession with celebrity culture today?

I don’t know. Really! It’s weird. I’m going to give you an example that I’ve always used: People in general these days are hooked on being celebrities, and you can have all the money in the world and no one is happy until they are famous. … Everyone is craving the spotlight; it’s like a weird drug. It’s also not all it’s cracked up to be.

It takes a certain type of personality and confidence to interview people, especially celebrities. How do you do it with such ease?

To be a reasonably good interviewer you have to have an innate curiosity about the world and people around you. It’s not something that you can be taught. Yes, it is innate. I grew up in a time when there were two TVs in the house, one in my parents’ room and one in the family room, so when we had our 5 o’clock dinner, we had A-game conversation. I come from an educated family and my mother and father expected nothing but the best from my brother, sister and I, in terms of dinner conversation—nothing foolish. So, I’m a conversationalist. I’d rather interview than be interviewed.

Any headlines you’re really into at the moment?

I’m interested in most celebrity culture, but when I’m off the show, I have other things to talk about and think about. I even say this on the show: When I’m sitting in the purple chair, that crazy little jewelry box called the studio, that’s when I care (about celebrity culture). But on my way home, I’m trying to think about what I’m going to make for dinner tonight, and how I can squeeze in a nap, and what am I gonna watch on TV tonight, and what length am I gonna cut this wig that I have in my bag. Real life, real stuff.

When you think about everything you’ve succeeded with so far, what are you most proud of?

Having the bravery to still be standing after 30 years. It was not easy. I was in radio for about 25 years—without a successful radio career, the talk show could not have happened. I would say my bravery and my patience is what I’m most proud of. I’ve been brave enough to take leaps, and brave enough to stand up for my own principles. Fearlessness, too. I spent many, many nights by myself trying to build the radio part of my career.

Are there any words of wisdom you make sure to follow?

Two. One: “Travel light, travel far,” which has served me well up to this point. Meaning, when you’re trying to make moves and trying to make things happen, you leave all people behind and you travel with one person. I spent many years earlier in my career slipping through the cracks and getting into places where perhaps I wasn’t invited because I went by myself; I didn’t have any goofy people with me. I was able to stay in the room and work the room and collect business cards. Two: “All money is not good money,” no matter how much it is. Just because someone is waving money in front of you, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with a whole bunch of mess attached to it. Fortunately, I learned that very, very, very early in my career, and it has served me well.

For tickets and information about Soul Train Weekend at Orleans Arena, click here.