Taraji P. Henson Credits Phylicia Rashad with Helping Her Graduate College While Pregnant: 'I Felt Like a Star'

Taraji P. Henson is grateful for Phylicia Rashad's support during a difficult time.

On Friday, Jan. 17, the Tony-winning actress joined Jenna Bush Hager, 43, and guest co-host Henson, 54, on Today with Jenna and Friends to discuss her new Broadway show. There, Henson acknowledged how Rashad, 76, helped push her career forward and supported her when she needed it most.

"I found myself pregnant in college my junior year," Henson began. "I really ran out of money. I didn't know how I was going to finish, but I knew I was going to finish."

"They started a scholarship in honor of their father and I won it," she continued. "Six months pregnant, and I was able to finish school."

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The scholarship helped Henson finish college, which propelled her further in her career. Henson credits Rashad, her sister Debbie Allen and their late father Andrew Allen for playing a huge role in where she is now.

"I won that scholarship and I felt like a star then," Henson said. "If they didn't sow seeds into me how would I know I could do things? How would I know I could make my dreams come true if people didn't go forth and I have a visual of it actually happening."

When Hager asked Rashad what she remembered about first meeting Henson, she said she was "full of light."

"The fact that she was with child that just added to it," Rashad said. "We said that child is fierce. She's the one."

Both of the actresses hold their alma mater in high esteem, Rashad cited Howard University as "more than a brick and mortar."

"My father was a graduate of the 1945 class from what was then the School of Dentistry and now the College of Dentistry, so I grew up hearing about Howard all of my life," she said. "We were privileged to be there and to be taught by them."

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