The Spelman College graduate began her long career as a talk show host on the Lifetime Network in 1987 with the short-lived show Attitudes.

The following year, she was a correspondent on Inside Edition until 1993, when King World Enterprises (which syndicated Oprah), offered Watts her own show.

Rolanda had a successful run from 1994 to 1997.

After her show was canceled, she appeared in a semi-regular role on Sister Sister and in guest parts on soap operas including The Bold and The Beautiful and Days of Our Lives.

2002 saw her hosting the PAX reality show Lie Detector (a precursor to Moment of Truth).