Goldberg received a Drama Desk and Theatre World Award for her 1985 Broadway solo show Whoopi Goldberg. She has also starred on Broadway in Xanadu, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and another solo show, Whoopi, and appeared in the West End in the musical Sister Act.

She has won numerous awards during her career including the Grammy, Golden Globe, as well as the Academy Award for Ghost, and hosted both the Tony Awards and the Academy Awards. Most recently, she received a Daytime Emmy for her work as co-host of The View.

In related news, it has also been announced that Ed Asner would appear on the show in a role to be determined. Asner's stage credits include FDR, Ivanov, The Tempest, Face of a Hero, and Born Yesterday. He is perhaps best known for his work on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant.

The Middle centers on the life of a dysfunctional family in Orson, Indiana. The cast also features Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, and Atticus Shaffer.