After 14 years, Singer Faith Evans and her husband Todd Russaw are calling it quits. In court papers, they listed their separation year as 2005, but they had a child together in 2007. The couple is saying their split was a mutual decision. Evans is in talks to do a reality show with KeKe Wyatt, Kelly Price and Angie Stone.
Motown Founder Berry Gordy says it’s time to set the record straight. He is putting together a Motown musical said to be costing $100 million. The music will detail his life and how he stared the famed label. Will he tell the truth? Will he talk about the love affair and secret love child with Diana Ross or his famous feuds with Motown stars including his ex-brother in law Marvin Gaye?
Speaking of Gordy’s family, his ex-son in law Jermaine Jackson is no longer a deadbeat dad. Jermaine has paid his ex, Alejandra Jackson, $80,000 in back support for their two children. Alejandra also had two kids with Jermaine’s brother Randy. Jermaine now gets his passport and driver’s license back. Jermaine held out for a long time. He had the money because he has a rich Arabian girlfriend. But, he was so spiteful to Alejandra, he made her wait and suffer for the money.
Vivica A. Fox says it’s going to be a fall wedding when she ties the knot with her young party promoter boyfriend Omar “Slimm” White. Fox looks great and she appears very happy.
Congrats to Singer Keyshia Cole. She married her baby daddy, Basketball Player Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, over the weekend.
Boxer Oscar De La Hoya is battling substance abuse problems. The boxer is overcoming a cocaine addiction, and he says he hopes rehab will make him stronger and healthier.
The family of Wesley Snipes is suffering as he serves his jail time. Snipes has five children, and his family is facing financial challenges. Snipes won’t be released from prison until 2013 as he serves time for tax evasion. Snipes is currently trying to secure future movie deals so that his family will have money.
Shemar Moore has just signed a contract extension to continue on the CBS show Criminal Minds. He’s also getting more money. Moore got his start playing “Malcolm” on The Young And The Restless.
Brandy, Tatyana Ali and Tempest Bledsoe will be taking off their clothes for a good cause. The three former child stars are spreading the word about skin cancer and the need for sunscreen in a new ad campaign. Brandy starred on Moesha, Tatyana on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and Tempest on The Cosby Show.
Another Cosby Show alum will show off her weight loss. Raven Symone is preparing for her return to TV in the ABC Family show The State Of Georgia.
Is Jennifer Williams of VH1’s Basketball Wives dating Al Reynolds, the ex-husband of Star Jones? We will see soon because the new season of Basketball Wives kicks off May 30th on VH1.
With the success of Jumping The Broom, Bishop T.D. Jakes is ready to do more movies. He’s in talks with Sony to produce more movies and a TV show. Jumping The Broom is a T.D. Jakes/Tracey Edmonds production, and has grossed over $31 million at the box office.
Mike Tyson got a little pay raise for his cameo in the movie Hangover 2. He got $200,000 for this movie. In the first installment, he got $100,000. The stars of the movie including, Bradley Cooper, got $5 million.
Jill Scott, Kem, Kirk Franklin and Kevin Hart will be joining Steve Harvey in Las Vegas for The Hoodie Awards, August 11-14th.
Actress Kerry Washington will be staring in the new Shonda Rhimes TV drama Scandal. Rhimes is known for her TV smashes Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Scandal debuts this fall on ABC.
Will NeNe Leakes be looking for love when The Real Housewives Of Atlanta returns? Sources say she was dating NFL Player Charles Grant, but he dumped her to marry another woman. Yes, NeNe is still married!
Queen Latifah is teaming up with the Home Shopping Network. Latifah is introducing a clothing line as well as accessories. Sizes are 2-24. The Queen Collection will also have handbags and debuts on HSN in August.
Singer Lenny Kravitz will be starring in the movie Hunger Games and his new album, Black And White America, comes out August 30th.
The BET Awards will air live on June 26th with Comedian Kevin Hart as this year’s host. Hart is on a roll. He’ll be starring in the movie version of Steve Harvey’s best-selling book Act Like A Lady… Think Like A Man with Producer Will Packer (Obsessed, This Christmas, Takers and Stomp The Yard) as director. Actresses Gabrielle Union and Taraji P. Henson have been added to the cast along with Michael Ealy. Hart’s latest comedy tour, Laugh At My Pain, is coming to theatres this fall.
In more BET Awards news, Chris Brown leads the pack with 6 nominations. Kanye West, Rihanna and Drake are up for four each with acting nominations for Halle Berry, Idris Elba, Regina King, Laz Alonso and Taraji P. Henson. Jaden and Willow Smith are also up for awards along with Philadelphia Eagle Michael Vick, who’s up for Sportsman Of The Year. Alicia Keys will be performing at the BET Awards as she celebrates the 10th anniversary of her debut album, Songs In A Minor, which is being re-released as a deluxe edition on June 28th. Keys will also have a BET special celebrating the album airing in June, and she graces the cover of the latest issue of Essence magazine.
Jill Scott is the cover girl for the music issue of Ebony magazine.
After reported rumors of lackluster songs and even cancelling her new album altogether, Beyonce is going ahead with a scheduled June 28th release date for her new CD entitled “4.” It’s her lucky number after her birthdate, husband Jay-Z’s birth date, their wedding date and this being her fourth solo album. The album's first single, Run The World (Girls).
Braxton Family Values, the reality show starring Toni Braxton and her sisters, has been renewed for a second season, but did the show’s breakout star, Toni’s Sister Tamar, get a nose job? Yes! Tamar says it’s because she was born with no cartilage in her nose, making breathing difficult. Tamar is getting more than her fair share of press with a rumored demand of a huge payday for appearing in the hit WE reality show. Wendy Williams will be hosting the reunion show
The TV One network is getting ready to unveil a new season of their Unsung music series. The new season kicks off June 6th with Deniece Williams followed by The Spinners on June 13th, Alexander O’Neal & Cherrelle on June 20th, Big Daddy Kane on June 27th, The Ohio Players on July 4th and Evelyn “Champaign” King on July 11th.
Get ready for more Madea. A Madea Christmas is a new production coming out on DVD just in time for the holidays. Tyler Perry will be doing the production in Atlanta.
VH1 presents the TV series Single Ladies on May 30th. The show stars LisaRaye McCoy and Stacey Dash and is produced by Queen Latifah. Also on TV May 30th, it’s the 3rd season premiere of VH1’s Basketball Wives. All the ladies will be back (Evelyn, Royce, Jennifer and Tami) plus some new additions.
Journalist Don Lemon has revealed he is gay. The 45-year old CNN anchor has a new book out called Transparent. Lemon, who used to work locally at NBC-10, already revealed he was molested as a child by a neighbor. He talked about that during his coverage of the Bishop Eddie Long scandal. Lemon says he was never on the downlow since his friends and colleagues already knew. He also says he isn’t gay as a result of sexual abuse but that he was born that way. Lemon’s book, Transparent, is in stores now.
Sugar Ray Leonard reveals sexual abuse in his past as well. The 55-year old boxing legend and Dancing With The Stars contestant has a new autobiography out called The Big Fight: My Life In And Out Of The Ring. Leonard reveals his troubled childhood, alcohol and cocaine habits, becoming a teenage father, martial infidelities and being sexually assaulted by a prominent Olympic boxing coach when he was a teen. Leonard says former Child Actor Todd Bridges’ appearance on Oprah inspired him to reveal the abuse.
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.
Mary J. Blige is ready to start work on her new film project. Blige will be starring in a movie based on the life of Jazz Great Nina Simone. Mary is also releasing My Life II: The Journey Continues in September.
Actor Isaiah Washington, who was fired from Grey’s Anatomy for making a gay slur against a co-worker, has written a new book. The book, A Man from Another Land: How Finding My Roots Changed My Life, explores how traveling to Africa helped him find himself as he tries to get his career back on track.
The 2011 summer season for The Dell Music Center has been announced. Look for some exciting changes this season, including a new night. Thursday will be the new concert night ....no more Monday concerts. The Box office at 33rd and Ridge will be open Wed thru Saturday. A gazebo is being built for coverage in the front. Video screens will be added so you can really enjoy the shows. A marquee is being added in the front to announce the shows. There will be more concessions stands with a better variety of food, including fruit. You can pre-register for tickets at mydelleast.com. The Dell Music Center is located at 33rd and Ridge Avenue. The season kicks off June 23rd with Nancy Wilson and Najee, and the rest of the line up is scheduled as:
July 7th – Angie Stone and Joe;
July 14th- Stephanie Mills and Keith Washington;
July 21st - A Tribute To The Sound Of Philadelphia starring The Delfonics, Jean Carne, Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, The Jones Girls, and “The Iceman” Jerry Butler;
July 28th - Ginuwine, Tank and Avant;
August 4th - Fred Hammond, Martha Munizzi and E. Daniels;
August 11th- Jeffrey Osborne and Marsha Ambrosius;
August 18th – Will Downing, Kirk Whalum and Gerald Albright;
August 25th- Rachelle Ferrell and Angela Winbush;
The Wawa Welcome America celebration has quite a lineup. On June 23rd, it’s Nancy Wilson in concert at The Dell Music Center. Aaron Neville and Gerald Veasley will be appearing at Penns Landing, and on Monday, July 4th, it’s The Roots, Earth Wind & Fire, Jazzy Jeff, Michael McDonald, Estelle and a tribute to Gamble & Huff and the 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records at the Art Museum.
The new season of the HBO series Curb Your Enthusiasm kicks off July 10th for its eighth season.
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.
The Bynum Brothers are getting ready to unveil a new venture: Green Soul, 7169 Ogontz Avenue. It’s a new healthy food restaurant opening July 1st.
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. Chaka Khan is also working on a new album with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
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.
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.
WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this “Domestic” confidant about to get paid? A forbidden affair is all the talk, but will Hollywood big bucks finally make her talk? A tell-all, a TV movie, the big screen: will the showbiz and political mix prove to tempting to keep mum? Will she sell out an ex-boss?
Read more: http://www.wdasfm.com/pages/pattys411.html#ixzz1NgNOr37O
