Entertainment Week - Catching Up!!

Pattys 4-1-1

No prenup? Then no wedding and no marriage! The Queen Of Soul, Aretha Franklin caved into family pressures and canceled her upcoming summer wedding to long-time beau, Willie Wilkerson. Franklin’s sons did not want her to get married because they were worried about their place in her life and her fortune. Wilkerson and Franklin have been dating for close to 25 years. He felt he didn’t need to sign a prenup, but her sons and family felt differently. In the end, she caved into family pressure. The wedding has been called off, and now everyone is wondering if she will continue her relationship with Wilkerson. Look for Re Re to be one of the headliners of The 2012 Essence Music Festival taking place July 6th, 7th and 8th in New Orleans. Also on the bill are Fantasia, SWV, Keyshia Cole, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Charlie Wilson, Raheem DeVaughn, Vivian Green and Stephanie Mills.

High altitude got the best of Actor/Comedian Tracy Morgan. He collapsed at the Sundance Film Festival. Morgan has been ordered to rest after being hospitalized. Doctors are worried about his health since he was a recipient of a new kidney last year.

Everyone wants Vanessa Bryant! The very rich ex-wife of Lakers Superstar Kobe Bryant has been offered a deal by VH1 to be the new star of the L.A. version of their Basketball Wives reality franchise. Will Vanessa take the offer? She was just awarded $75 million and three mansions from Kobe Bryant, who cheated on her for years. They didn’t have a prenup! Will
Vanessa cash in again and be a reality star?

Randy Jackson is firing back at his ex, Alejandra Jackson! Alejandra had two children by Randy then turned around and married his brother Jermaine and had two kids by him! This incident caused major strife in the Jackson family. Alejandra has been using Katherine Jackson and her family by living off of them all these years. Randy says he wants his ex to stop sponging off the Jacksons. It’s been going on for two decades and enough is enough! Randy owes his ex $600,000 in back child support. Randy is fighting this claim because he says he struck a deal Alejandra back in 1993. He claims the deal is she could live in the Jackson estate, and he wouldn’t have to pay child support.

Is the Seal-Heidi Klum breakup a publicity stunt to help him sell albums? Sources say Klum can’t deal with Seal’s volatile temper. He is frustrated with his recording career, and Klum the supermodel is the breadwinner with her millions. They have three kids together and Seal adopted Klum’s oldest daughter. Seal refuses to stop wearing his wedding ring. Could he be in denial? If he divorces Klum, will he go after her money?

The 84th Annual Academy Awards is February 26th. The show will air on ABC, and Billy Crystal is hosting. The movie The Help has nabbed four nominations including Best Actress for Viola Davis, Best Supporting Actress for Octavia Spencer and Best Picture. The Help is also dominating the Screen Actors Guild Awards with four nominations, including Best Ensemble Cast, Best Actress (Viola Davis) and Best Supporting Actress (Octavia Spencer). The SAG Awards take place on February 26th.The Help just won the Black Critics Award for Best Picture.

Is Whitney Houston Broke? Houston is said to be having financial problems. She can no longer perform live and never wrote any of her music. Sources close to the superstar are shutting down reports of her being in financial trouble. Houstonwill be starring in the remake of the 1976 film classic Sparkle with Jordin Sparks. Houston is being urged to write a tell-all book about her life. The music business, the drugs, how the excesses almost killed her and her life with her ex, Bobby Brown, would all have to be in the book. If she tells the truth, the book could be an instant bestseller with copies in the millions!

The Reverend Jesse Jackson is also making headlines. Last week, published reports came out claiming he wasn’t paying child support for his 12-year-old love child. Years ago, Jackson had a child outside of his marriage with his jump off. Karin Stanford got her face cracked when she thought Jackson would leave his wife Jacqueline and marry her. Stanford claims Jackson owes her $12,000 in back support, and says he gives her money when he wants to. Jackson claims he has been paying his child support.

Funeral services are set for Singer Etta James, who died last week at the age of 73 of complications from leukemia. James was best known for her songs Something’s Got A Hold On Me, Stop The Wedding, Tell Mama, and her signature piece, At Last. The public viewing takes place Friday and the funeral services Saturday with Reverend Al Sharpton eulogizing the singing legend.

Star Jones is coming back to The View! Jones left the show in a firestorm six years ago, but she’s returning to the show as a guest in February. Jones will be discussing heart disease as February is Women’s Heart Health Month……. and ratings sweeps month.

Our condolences go out to the family of Fatimah Ali. Ali, 56, was a veteran broadcast and print journalist. She worked at Power 99, WHAT-AM, WURD 900 AM and here at WDAS radio. Ali also worked for the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Sunday Sun. She was a passionate voice in the fight for others whose voices weren’t always heard. She leaves behind five beautiful children. Ali was fearless in her work and her dedication will always be remembered!

How hot is Ne-Yo? He is on the cover of the latest Ebony magazine. He is one of the young stars of the hit movie Red Tails, and now the singer/songwriter/producer just got a promotion. Ne-Yo has been named the head of A&R (artist development) and senior vice president for Motown Records.

Fashion Icon Mikki Taylor has a new book dedicated to First Lady Michelle Obama. The book, Commander In Chic, is dedicated to the fashion stylings of Mrs. Obama.

I hear a June wedding in Miami could be in the works for Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick and his fiancée Kijafa Frink.

The New England Patriots and the New York Giants will battle it out in the Superbowl. All eyes will be on Indianapolis the weekend of February 3rd. On Friday, the 3rd, it’s the gospel celebration which is part of the Superbowl festivities with Fantasia, Wayne Brady, Hezekiah Walker, CeCe Winans, and Donnie McClurkin.