The fight continues for the James Brown estate, worth $100 million. A lawyer for the estate is claiming Brown’s family is hijacking it. The lawyer claims the money was supposed to go Brown’s grandchildren and to a trust for needy children. The estate is generating money from royalties from his music and marketing. The Godfather Of Soul left behind six known and legal children. He died Christmas Day 2006 from heart failure at the age of 73.
Rapper/Reality Star Flavor Flav is running into problems with his fried chicken restaurant. The restaurant is in Ohio and workers have been complaining about not getting paid. Their checks have been bouncing.
The Oprah Winfrey Show finale is going to be huge. Oprah will say goodbye after 25 years with a huge Hollywood sendoff. May 23rd and 24th will feature Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Tyler Perry, Tom Cruise, Mary J. Blige, Patti LaBelle, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx and Usher, just to name a few.
R Kelly says he’s tired of being misunderstood. R Kelly is telling all in his forthcoming autobiography entitled Soulacoaster. Kelly says he’s going to tell all, including the scandals, divorces and industry fights.
Shirley Strawberry, the co-host of The Steve Harvey Morning Show, is telling all in her new book The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk, Real Advice Because Bitterness Is Not Sexy. The book features the best of the Strawberry letters along with her advice and what it’s like working with Steve Harvey.
Aaron McCargo, Jr. is on a roll. The Camden, NJ native and season 4 winner of The Next Food Network Star is adding the title of author to his resume. McCargo has finished his first cookbook called Simply Done, Well Done. The book is in stores now. McCargo’s Food Network show Big Daddy’s House airs Fridays at 9:30am and Saturdays at 9am.
Get ready for the new DeShawn Snow. After getting dumped by The Real Housewives Of Atlanta and her ex-husband Eric Snow, De Shawn wants to show the world a brand new DeShawn Snow. She recently dropped thirty pounds and is raising her three sons as a single woman. DeShawn is hoping to land another reality show.
Is NeNe Leakes addicted to plastic surgery? The reality star of Celebrity Apprentice and The Real Housewives Of Atlanta has already had work done on her thighs, hips, stomach and nose. Plus she’s had lipo and her breast reduced and lifted along with new veneers. Friends say she should stop, but NeNe loves the spotlight and she wants to look her best. She feels plastic surgery is the way.
Friends of George Lopez want him to slow down. Lopez got a kidney from his wife a few years ago. Then they announced they were divorcing. Now he’s dating young girls, and when I say young girls, young enough to be his daughter. A lot of friends are embarrassed for the late night host. They’re saying he looks foolish, and he gets mad when people assume his dates are his daughter’s friends.
It’s a girl, baby Sydney, for Laila Ali and her husband Curtis Conway. Ali gave birth earlier this week. Sydney joins her two-year old brother Curtis, Jr.
Filming is underway for Season Three of Basketball Wives. Evelyn Lozado will be back. Last season, she went out with a bang after getting info a fight with cast member Tami Roman. Roman found out Evelyn slept with her husband Kenny Anderson and proceeded to whip her behind. Lozado didn’t like the way she was portrayed and demanded an apology and a raise to return. Well Lozado got both: an apology and about $15,000 an episode to return.
Another reality show returning is The Real Housewives Of Atlanta with all cast members intact. The new season returns in October.
Will Smith and his son Jaden will be teaming up for the new M. Night Shyamalan movie. The movie is a sci-fi thriller set 1,000 years in the future. The movie is about a boy, played by Jaden, finding his way around an abandoned planet after his spaceship crashes. Will plays his dad. Jaden had a big hit last year with The Karate Kid, and in 2006, he made his movie debut with his dad in the 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness.
Jermaine Jackson feels no one understands his financial woes. A judge has ordered Jermaine to pay his ex-wife Alejandra $100,000 in back child support. Jackson says he doesn’t have the money, and his ex, who has been mooching off of the Jackson family for over 18 years, doesn’t deserve any money, Alejandra Jackson has two children by Jermaine’s brother Randy and two by Jermaine.
Katie Couric leaving the CBS Evening News……hmmmmmmmm! Who will replace her? Sources say Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes. Couric may be headed to a syndicated deal with CBS in 2012.
Get ready for new music released from Jill Scott. Jill Scott From The Vault: Volume I is coming out this spring featuring a remake of the Bill Withers classic Lovely Day. And, an album of new music, The Light Of The Sun, is coming out in late summer.
Mary J. Blige is releasing My Life II: The Journey Continues in September.
Beyonce returns with a new album in June. Other new releases include Musiq Soulchild (MusiqInTheMagiq) on May 3rd and Raphael Saadiq (Stone Rollin’) on May 10th.
Get well wishes go out to ESPN Sports Anchor Stuart Scott, who is battling cancer. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
Bobby Brown opens up in the new issue of People magazine. He says his 2005 reality show Being Bobby Brown made him turn his life around. Brown, 42, is married to his manager Alicia Etheridge, and they have a young son. Brown has been sober for the past six years. He says alcohol, cocaine and heroin use almost killed him.
A naked Mariah Carey graces the new issue of Life & Style magazine. Carey is showing off her baby bump. She and hubby Nick Cannon are expecting twins, a boy and a girl, any day now.
Kirk Franklin and his beautiful wife Tammi grace the cover of the new issue of Jet magazine.
It’s the cast of Jumping The Broom on the new issue of Ebony magazine. Bishop T. D. Jakes' new movie opens in theatres May 6th on Mothers Day Weekend. The movie stars Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Paula Patton, Mike Epps, Lil’ Romeo, Tasha Smith, Megan Goode and Laz Alonso. Alonso is also one of the stars of the A&E show Breakout Kings.
She may have been booted from Dancing With The Stars, but nothing will slow down Wendy Williams. She is on the latest edition of Essence magazine and she looks great. It’s their “girlfriends” issue.
Bernie Mac’s widow Rhonda McCullough has remarried. Earlier this year, she tied the knot with Horace Gilmore. Bernie Mac died in August of 2008.
Tyrese, who was recently featured in Jet magazine, is coming out with a new book of quotes, How To Get Out Of Your Own Way. This July, Tyrese returns to the big screen in the new Transformers movie.
The new season of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm kicks off July 10th for its eighth season.
Sugar Ray Leonard, who is currently doing his thing on Dancing With The Stars, is getting ready to release his autobiography. The Big Fight: My Life In And Out Of The Ring will discuss his boxing career, being sexually molested as a teen and drug use.
Grammy award winner and new mommy Alicia Keys is shooting a film for the Lifetime Network about breast cancer and its impact on young people’s lives.
When will Allen Iverson return to playing basketball? Iverson has been on the disabled list of his team in Turkey for a lesion on his right calf. Iverson was recently pulled over in Atlanta for driving his Lamborghini with expired tags.
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff are being honored once again in Philadelphia. The Chamber Orchestra Of Philadelphia will give the songwriting producing duo the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award. It all takes place Saturday, May 21st at The Westin Philadelphia, 17th and Chestnut Streets. The honor is part of a two-year celebration for the songwriters/producers who’ve worked with The O’Jays, Lou Rawls, The Jacksons, Jerry Butler, Patti LaBelle, Teddy Pendergrass, The Jones Girls, The Three Degrees, Billy Paul, Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes and Phyllis Hyman. This year marks the 40th anniversary of their famed Philly International label, and 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the Gamble & Huff songwriting partnership, which includes the songs Me & Mrs. Jones, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine and Love Train.
Sade is teaming up with Jay-Z for her next project. The song The Moon And The Sky will be featured on her ultimate collection set which is due out May 3rd. This will be the first time Sade has collaborated with anyone. John Legend will be opening for Sade as she embarks on her U.S. tour. They will be in Philly Fathers’ Day Sunday, June 19th at The Wells Fargo Center.
It’s a new honor for Stevie Wonder. He’s getting inducted into the Apollo Theatre Hall Of Fame on June 13th. Past honorees include Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.
Mary Mary has a new album called Something Big. They are also preparing to go on tour with BeBe and CeCe Winans. They will be in Philly this Friday at the Tower Theatre. Showtime is 6pm
The West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival returns to Ogontz Avenue June 17th through the 19th with Chaka Khan, The Men Of Soul (Jeffrey Osborne/Peabo Bryson/Freddie Jackson/Howard Hewett), Chrisette Michele and Roy Ayers. Before she comes to town, Chaka Khan will be getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on May 19th. She’s also working on a new album with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Chaka is also on the cover of the new issue of Upscale magazine.
Speaking of The West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival 2011, if you're a talented singer or musician, get ready for the Rising Star Talent Search. The winner will get cash and a chance to perform at the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival. Auditions kick off at Relish, 7152 Ogontz Avenue. WDAS’ own Mimi Brown will be hosting. To register call 215-922-5455.
The Dell Music Center at 33rd and Ridge is returning this summer with a hot lineup and a new night of entertainment. No more Monday nights! The new night of entertainment at the Dell will be Thursdays. Go to MyDellEast.com for more information.
Congrats to Eddie Murphy, who got a Career Achievement Award at the recent TV Comedy Awards.
Maya Angelou has signed a deal with the Hallmark Channel for a new TV show called The Spirit Table. I wonder why she didn’t sign a deal with Oprah’s OWN network.
A documentary based on the life of Singer/Actor Harry Belafonte is coming to HBO. The documentary Sing Your Song debuts this fall.
Comedian Sinbad is also getting a reality show. Sinbad’s Family Affair debuts April 12th on the WE network. The show will follow Toni Braxton’s reality show called Braxton’s Family Values. Sinbad’s show will show him rebuilding his career and dealing with his family.
Nelson Mandela is coming out with a book of quotes. Nelson Mandela By Himself features over 2,000 quotes pulled from public speeches and private papers. The former president of South Africa turns 93 in July.
Star Jones released her latest book entitled Satan’s Sisters. The book is about a woman on a female-based talk show called The Lunch Club, and how the other women on the show betray and stab her in the back. Is she talking about her former co-stars on The View? Jones says no.
Check out who’s coming to TV in the fall. Damon Wayans has signed on to the CBS comedy show about a sports radio station. He’ll co star with Eliza Dushku, the real life girlfriend of former L.A. Laker Rick Fox. Wayans is best known for his roles on My Wife & Kids and In Living Color. Cedric The Entertainer will be doing a comedy show for NBC, and Boris Kodjoe returns to TV on ABC’s Georgetown about young staffers on Capital Hill. Kodjoe was recently on the cancelled NBC show Undercovers that co-starred Gugu Mbatha-Raw and was created by J.J. Abrams. Abrams is producing Taraji P. Henson’s new CBS drama Person Of Interest. Donald Faison of Scrubs fame will be one of the stars of the TV Land show The Exes with Tichina Arnold (“Pam” from Martin, “Mom Rochelle” from Everybody Hates Chris). Arnold will also be starring with Fran Dresher on the show Happily Divorced which is also on the TV Land cable network.
Singer Kem is coming out with a new fragrance. He hopes to have his fragrance Secure out by Mother’s Day.
Iyanla Vanzant’s latest book, Peace From Broken Pieces: How To Get Through What You’re Going Through, is now on the New York Times bestsellers list. The book came out last year, but it took Vanzant’s appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show to make it a bestseller. Iyanla and Oprah hashed out their differences during a two-part Oprah Winfrey Show. I hope we get to see more of Vanzant…… hopefully on The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN)!
Oscar Winner Denzel Washington will be the commencement speaker for the University of Penn’s 2011 graduation ceremonies. The two-time Oscar winner will also get an honorary degree at the May 16th event. Washington’s 18-year old son Malcolm is a sophomore at the school.
Della Reese is returning to TV in the ABC show Hallelujah from Desperate Housewives Creator Marc Cherry. Reese’s last show was the CBS hit Touched By An Angel.
Former Prince protégé Vanity has written a tell all book. Vanity is now an evangelist, and she goes by her birth name Denise Matthews. The book, Blame It On Vanity: Hollywood, Hell and Heaven, talks about her life in Hollywood, the music business and her battle with kidney disease.
Get ready for the second season of LisaRaye: The Real McCoy. LisaRaye, 43, is dating Music Mogul Devyne Stephens. The new season will focus on her life, her family and new TV show. The second season kicks off April 9th on TV One.
Marc Anthony is joining the cast of Hawthorne, the Jada Pinkett Smith nursing drama on the TNT network. Anthony will play a police detective that gets close to Smith’s character. The 3rd season of Hawthorne kicks off this summer.
John Travolta says he will be on hand for the Welcome Back Kotter reunion. The TV Land network is saluting the 70’s TV classic this Sunday. Travolta became famous as “Vinnie Barbarino.” Lawrence Hilton Jacobs who played “Freddie Boom Boom Washington” is also appearing as well as Ron Palillo, who player “Arnold Horshack” and Marcia Strassman, who played “Mrs. Kotter.” No word yet on whether Gabe Kaplan, who played “Mr. Kotter,” or Robert Hegyes, who played “Juan Epstein,” will appear. The show originally aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979.
Tyler Perry latest Madea movie, Madea’s Big Happy Family, arrives in theatres April 22nd. The movie stars Bow Wow and Loretta Devine.
On Saturday, May 7th, The Mother’s Day Weekend Music Festival is happening in Atlantic City. The Whispers, Keith Sweat and Charlie Wilson will take the stage at The Boardwalk Hall. For tickets and info call 1-800-736-1420.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A certain Reality Show Star must really need the money. Family secrets are being exposed left and right on the show. This would otherwise be a big no-no, but those reality checks are much needed.
Special Events!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The 2011 West Oak Lane Jazz And Arts Festival June 17-19th. For The Love Of Music will feature Chaka Khan; The Men Of Soul: Jeffrey Osborne, Howard Hewitt, Freddie Jackson and Peabo Bryson; Norman Conners; Christian McBride; Chrisette Michele; Eddie Palimieri; Roy Ayers; Gerald Veasley; Bootsie Barnes and The Philadelphia Jazz Heritage Ensemble, to name a few. The festival is happening between 71st and 74th Streets on Ogontz Avenue.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Friday, April 8th- Mary Mary and BeBe & CeCe Winans at the Tower Theatre on 69th Street in Upper Darby.
Friday, April 22nd - Chaka Khan at the House Of Blues in Atlantic City.
Saturday, April 30th- Bring Back The Love Tour starring K-Ci & JoJo, Dru Hill, Carl Thomas and Case. It’s a 90’s grown and sexy throwback music tour at The Liacouras Center, Broad and Montgomery.
Saturday, May 7th – Mother’s Day Weekend Music Festival starring The Whispers, Keith Sweat and Charlie Wilson at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and info call 1-800-736-1420.
Sunday, May 8th- Eric Benet in concert at Caesars in Atlantic City at the Maximus Theatre. Log onto ppshows.com or call Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420.
Saturday, June 11th- Smokey Robinson at Caesars in Atlantic City.
Sunday, June 19th – Sade and John Legend in concert at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).
July 1st & July 3rd – Earth, Wind & Fire at the Borgata in Atlantic City.
April 10th, 2012- Cirque De Soleil Show featuring the music of Michael Jackson at the Wells Fargo Center (formerly the Wachovia Center).
*Rec'd from Pattys Page
