Janet Jackson is one busy lady she is the cover girl for the latest edition of Essence magazine. She is filming the new Tyler Perry movie for Colored Girls, she’s in love and she’s been named the new spokesperson for the Blackgama Fur campaign. PETA is not happy about Jackson’s latest venture but Janet seems to be happy with it. She looks fabulous in her mink in the black and white photo. Janet follows the likes of Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor who have starred in previous campaigns for What Becomes A Legend Most. PETA has lashed out against Janet accusing her of reviving her career on the backs of dead animals. Janet’s love life has also been heating up with her romance with Wissam Al Mana he’s a young rich Arab Man whose family is in the oil business.

Its wedding bells for Alicia Keys who is tired of being labeled a home wrecker. Keys is expecting her first child with producer Swizz Beats. Swizz Beats made headlines when he left his wife and young child to be with Keys. A Caribbean wedding is rumored to be happening this weekend. In September, Keys is teaming up with Sade for her charity Keep a Child Alive which assists children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

According to published reports a drug dealer is spilling the beans on Whitney Houston accusing the singer of still being on drugs. The dealer says Houston has a 300 thousand dollar a year habit and that she has not stopped doing drugs. Houston has also gained an alarming amount of weight and sources say it’s because she is on a steroid to help her with her respiratory problems. Houston’s ex Bobby Brown is currently on tour with the Heads of State, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill. He is keeping the weight off that he lost on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. He looks good, he’s happy and he says he is enjoying life with his fiancé and young baby.

Wesley Snipes is finally going to jail. After a ten year fight with the IRS Snipes will have to start serving a three year sentence for failing to file and pay taxes since 1998. Snipes has already given the government 15 million dollars but that did not sway a federal appeals court which ruled Snipes must serve his sentence. There is no word on when he will start serving that sentence.

Keisha Cole’s mom Frankie is working on a new book about her life. The book Two Sides to Every Story is a tell all about her life and the lessons she learned on the road to recovery. Frankie has also been added to the cast of VH1’S Celebrity Rehab.

Are Will and Jada headed to Broadway? After the success of the musical Fela which they co-produced the Hollywood power couple has been approached to star in a new revival of the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire. The production is scheduled for 2011. If it happens, Will Smith will play the role made famous by Marlon Brando, Stanley Kowalski.

It’s official after dating for the past three years Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union have come out as a couple. Wade wanted to wait until his messy divorce was over and now he and Gabby can go on with their lives.

Tyrese has announced plans for a new album. Open Invitation is due out next year.

Ice T was embarrassed this week with his recent arrest. Ice T plays a cop on Law and Order and he was arrested in New York for driving without a seat belt and driving with a suspended license.

Actor Michael Ealy has joined the cast of the CBS TV show The Good Wife. Ealy who used to date Halle Berry has a new movie with Chris Brown and Idris Elba coming out in late August, Takers.

Former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers has been shaking things up in her new role as consultant at Ebony/Jet Magazines. Rogers is unhappy with the rebranding of the magazine which has cost the company over 80 thousand dollars.

For the first time in its 24 year history The Oprah Winfrey Show has suffered its worst ratings. The show has been in reruns but recent data shows an all time ratings low. New episodes start in early September as the show enters its 25th and final season.

Actor Kristoff St. John says he is not leaving the Young and the Restless. St. John has signed on for a comedy pilot produced by the Wayans Brothers. St. John plays the character Neil Winters and he will be featured in a reduced role. St. John won an Emmy in 2008. Maybe if they bring back Actress Victoria Rowell who played his wife Drucilla they will know what to do with his character.

Actress Vonetta McGhee has died. The 70’s icon died from a heart attack at the age of 65. McGhee was married to actor Carl Lumbly. McGhee was best known for her work with actor Max Julian and the movies Shaft in Africa, Hammer and Blacula.

Kevin Hart’s latest DVD Seriously Funny is out in stores. His latest movie Death at a Funeral with Chris Rock, Tracey Morgan and Martin Lawrence comes out on DVD August 10th. Martin Lawrence got married a couple of weeks ago to his longtime girlfriend the mother of his two youngest daughters. Lawrence was previously married to Patricia Smith, the current wife of Football great Emmitt Smith.

John Legend is working on a new project which will include a remake of the Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes classic Wake Up Everybody.

Actress Tariji P. Henson has signed on for the Lifetime movie Taken From Me. The story is based on the true life story of Tiffany Rubin whose 7 year son was abducted by his Korean born father. The story traces her journey to get her son back to the USA.

Gospel Great Walter Hawkins is being hailed as one of the greats in the Gospel music industry. Hawkins died at the 61 from pancreatic cancer. He was working on a new album at the time of his death.

Actor Jaleel White has been cleared of charges for assaulting his baby mama. Authorities say there wasn’t enough evidence. The former star of Family Matters was accused of hitting his baby mama in the mouth. White played the character Urkel.

The 23rd Annual Soul Train Awards will air on November 28th.

Is Mel Gibson crazy or is he being set up by his baby mama? With all the controversy surrounding Gibson whether he’s a racist or a mad man many people wonder what his Lethal Weapon co-star has to say. Where is Danny Glover? Spokespeople for Glover say the actor has no comment on the Mel Gibson controversy.

Faith Evans is coming back with a new album at the end of summer. Something About Faith is coming out September 14th.

Terry McMillan’s long awaited sequel to Waiting to Exhale called Getting to Happy arrives in bookstores September 7th.

Denzel Washington has signed on for the spy thriller Safe House as one of his future projects. Washington, who just a Tony Award for his Broadway performance in Fences, has a new movie called Unstoppable coming out in November.

Maxwell says he will have a new album by next winter, and Fantasia’s long awaited release Back to Me comes out late August.

Idris Elba is hot on the cover of Ebony magazine. His new movie Takers arrives in theatres on August 27th. Speaking of new movies, on August 20th, it’s the Lottery Ticket with Loretta Devine, Ice Cube, Bow Wow, Mike Epps & Terry Crews. Idris is also going to be the Honorary Chairperson along with Jimmy Rollins at this year’s Philly’s Men are Cooking. This event is Saturday November 27th more details coming later.

Gospel Great Bishop Walter Hawkins passed away last weekend. Hawkins was part of the gospel musical dynasty The Hawkins Family. Walter, along with his brother Edwin and sister Lynette led the charge with some of the greatest gospel music ever recorded. Walter was married to Tramaine Hawkins, and they had two children and two grandchildren. Bishop Hawkins was 61 and battled pancreatic cancer. Oh Happy Day, The Potter’s House, Changed, Be Grateful, Goin’ Up To Yonder, Marvelous and I’m Going Away are just a few of the classics from the Hawkins musical dynasty.

It’s wedding number two for Martin Lawrence. Lawrence tied the knot last weekend with longtime girlfriend Shamicka Gibbs. The bride was beautiful, and the guests list included Eddie Murphy and Denzel Washington. Lawrence’s latest movie, Death At A Funeral with Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Danny Glover and Zoe Saldana, comes out on DVD August 10th.

Speaking of weddings, Our Family Wedding with Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia, America Ferrera and Lance Gross is out on DVD now.

The fake relationship between Producer The Dream and Christina Milian has come to a halt. I never believed this relationship despite their infant daughter and recent wedding. The Dream, born Terius Youngdell Nash, has a new project out, and he was recently photographed frolicking on the beach with his personal assistant. In a statement released earlier this week, he announced that his marriage to Milian was over. This came as quite a shock to Milian. She says she was blindsided. She is still caring for their child, and wearing her wedding ring. She did not sign a prenup when she married The Dream. Sources say The Dream realized he made a mistake, and now he is trying to back out of it claiming he broke up with Milian shortly after the birth of their daughter, Violet, last February. Milian says this is not true, and they were just together a month ago and everything was fine. If The Dream can prove they separated when he says, then Milian gets less money. In that case, she may get only child support. Milian lost out on former boyfriend Nick Cannon. You can bet she will not let this money get away from her. The Dream’s fortune has come from writing and producing for artists like Beyonce, Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Diddy and Mary J. Blige.

He’s a got a hit reality show, but he can’t get a football gig to save his life. Terrell Owens, a.k.a. T.O, says he can’t understand why no football team has signed him. His last team, The Buffalo Bills, only kept him for a year. Owens has had previous stops with the Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers. He has a rep as troublemaker, but he has never been disciplined by the NFL for off field conduct. His reality show is currently in its second season. The T.O. Show airs Sundays at 10pm on VH1.

Representatives from The Michael Jackson Fan Club say they will clean up the damage left by vandals at the mausoleum where Jackson’s body is being held. Overzealous fans are leaving ink tributes on the tomb at Forest Lawn. The fan club say they fear if this continues, fans will be barred from the gravesite forever. In other MJ news, a California lawmaker has put forth a proposal to have Jackson’s Neverland home made into a state park.

Faith Evans is coming back with a new album at the end of summer. Something About Faith is coming out September 14th.

Did I Do That? Is former child star Actor Jaleel White, whose best known as “Steve Urkel” from the TV show Family Matters, going to be asking that question this time in real life? White has been having problems with his baby momma. White has been in an ongoing custody with Bridget Hardy, who is the mother of his child. Hardy claims White punched her in the breast, slapped her in the mouth and pushed her into a toilet so hard it broke the tank. White says these charges are not true.

Whoopi Goldberg is headed to London for the musical Sister Act. The musical is based on her 1992 film. She is doing 23 shows as she reprises her role from the film. She will be back in time for new episodes of the The View in September.

In more Whoopi news, Goldberg has been catching a lot of flak for talking about her friendship with Mel Gibson saying she believes he’s not a racist. The Oscar winning actor has been in the headlines with his nasty breakup with his Russian girlfriend/babymomma Oksana Grigorieva. She recorded conversations of him spewing hatred towards everyone. The violent outbursts were shocking and disheartening. Has one of America’s favorite movie stars gone mad? Where is Danny Glover, his Lethal Weapon co-star? What does he think of this? Gibson has certainly ruined his career with his hate filled rants and reports of beating his babymomma.

Terry McMillan’s long awaited sequel to Waiting To Exhale called Getting To Happy arrives in bookstores September 7th.

Lisa Wu Hartwell of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta is refuting reports that she may be the housewife let go on the new season of the show. Hartwell says the season will be exciting when new episodes start in September. Hartwell is married to former NFL Player Ed Hartwell, who has just released a calendar showing off his fabulous body.

Denzel Washington has signed on for the spy thriller Safe House as one of his future projects. Washington, who just a Tony Award for his Broadway performance in Fences, has a new movie called Unstoppable coming out in November.

The Oprah Winfrey Bio by Kitty Kelley is being made into movie. The book was not the blockbuster that publishers thought it would be. So, it comes as a surprise that a movie is being made based on the book.

Maxwell says he will have a new album by next winter, and Fantasia’s long awaited release Back To Me comes out late August.

Janet Jackson is the cover girl for the new issue of Essence magazine. She will be releasing her first book, True To Me, soon and she is currently on location with Tyler Perry and Whoopi Goldberg for the movie For Colored Girls.

Idris Elba is hot on the cover of Ebony magazine. His new movie Takers arrives in theatres on August 27th. Speaking of new movies, on August 20th, it’s Lottery Ticket with Loretta Devine, Ice Cube, Bow Wow, Mike Epps & Terry Crews.

Cop Out with Bruce Willis &Tracy Morgan hits the DVD shelves on July 20th.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is being honored at The White House. McCartney is getting the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song from The Library Of Congress. Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae are among those honoring McCartney. The ceremonies will air on PBS July 28th.

Zo! is a multi-talented producer and multi-instrumentalist who tours with The Foreign Exchange as their keyboard player.

His new album, SunStorm is a showcase for his talents and features this great song featuring singer/songwriter Eric Roberson, Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother

SunStorm drops on July 27th!

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In the past, Anita Baker has had some not-so-kind things to say about hip-hop, but it appears that has all changed.

Last year, news broke that Anita had nabbed Snoop Dogg for a song on her upcoming album.

Now we have proof that this collaboration is happening!

Watch the two in the studio working on a song called “Give Me Your Love.”

SOURCE

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RELATED: Snoop Dogg Finally Allowed Back In The UK

BISHOP WALTER HAWKINS

WITH A-LIST CONCERT AT
THE PARAMOUNT THEATER
OAKLAND, CA USA

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7:00 PM PST
Musical Celebration Features Yolanda Adams, Mary Mary and Bebe Winans

Funeral: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 @ 11:00 AM PST

Both Services: At The Paramount Theater – Oakland, CA USA

Eric Benet’s new single, “Sometimes I Cry,” is set for release in the next several weeks. It’s from his new mid-’70s-vibed Reprise/Warner Bros. album, “Lost in Time,” due in September.

Is Mel Gibson a racist? After his latest public gaffe, it sure seems like it. Gibson, best known for his work in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon movies has some explaining to do. Gibson made headlines four years ago during a drunken anti-Semitic tirade towards a Malibu cop. Now, Gibson has been battling his baby momma, and she saved the tapes of his other rants. In a voicemail message, Gibson is heard telling her she’s an embarrassment, a f******g pig, a woman who dresses like a slut and if she gets raped by a pack of n**gers, it’s her fault. What’s up with the racist rants Mel? You make your fortune off of the backs of minorities and Jewish people. Mel, get help! You only have yourself to blame for ruining your career.

Alicia Keys, slow your roll! After her recent slip and fall at The Essence Music Festival, Keys has been urged to put aside the high heels and end her tour. She is having a baby with Producer Swizz Beatz, but her recent antics have left people scratching their heads. Is she thinking of the baby’s safety? I was done when she crawled on the piano during the Prince tribute at The BET Awards.

More problems and strange behavior for Dave Chappelle. After turning down a $50 million contract deal for the Comedy Central network, a lot of people thought he was crazy, but his recent antics over the weekend have topped even that. Chappelle was the passenger on a private jet which had to make an emergency landing because he was acting up. At first, he wouldn’t put his seatbelt on. Then he jumped up and starting poking the pilot of the plane in the arm. WTH! As he was being escorted off, he claimed he didn’t know where he lived. Is Chappelle on that ish?!!!! Just asking!

Music Great Harvey Fuqua passed away this week. The 80-year old Fuqua was the force behind The Moonglows in the 50’s, and he was an early mentor to one of the group’s young members, Marvin Gaye. In addition to Marvin Gaye, Fuqua was known for his work with Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, Johnny Bristol, New Birth, Etta James, Sylvester and The Weather Girls, to name a few. Fuqua had been ill, and succumbed to a heart attack. Fuqua’s nephew is famed Director Antoine Fuqua. Antoine is married to Actress Lela Rochon, and he made headlines himself this week with his I.R.S. tax troubles. Antoine Fuqua is currently working on a movie about Legendary Rapper Tupac Shakur. He’s best known for his work on the movie Training Day featuring Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning performance.

Louis Gossett, Jr. is telling all. The 74-year old Oscar winner has a new book called An Actor And A Gentlemen. In 1982, Gossett won an Academy Awards for his role in the movie An Officer And A Gentlemen. In his book, he says despite the Oscar, the Emmys (one for Roots) and the Golden Globe, he still battled racism and drug and alcohol addiction. In 2004, he entered rehab, and he has been clean ever since.

Maxwell says he will have a new album by next winter, and Fantasia’s long awaited release, Back To Me, comes out late August.

Janet Jackson is the cover girl for the new issue of Essence Magazine. She will be releasing her first book, True To Me, soon. Jackson is currently on location with Tyler Perry and Whoopi Goldberg for the movie For Colored Girls.

Idris Elba is hot on the cover of Ebony Magazine. His new movie Takers arrives in theatres on August 27th.

Pam Grier is the cover girl for the latest issue of Jet magazine.

After winning her fourth Wimbledon title, look for Serena Williams on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Harper’s Bazaar. In Harper’s Bazaar, she revealed why she and Rapper/Actor Common are no longer together. She says their schedules just got too hectic, and there was no room for romance.

Our prayers go out to our good friend Al B. Sure. His mother is battling breast cancer.

Keyshia Cole has snagged Tank for her new album.

Are people starting to disconnect with Oprah? Her show is in reruns at the moment, but the ratings are worse than last year. Analysts are saying people know her talk show is ending in September 2011, so they are starting to disconnect by finding other alternatives at that time slot.

Larry King says goodbye to CNN’s Larry King Live after 25 years in November, and it looks like he will make money after he leaves. King currently makes $7 million a year with the cable network, but if he starts doing ad and pitchwork or game shows, he stands to make more money. Low ratings and his scandalous personal life ended his run at CNN. But you know what, leaving the talk show could be the best thing that happens to him….. financially.

After the success of his last movie Not Easily Broken, Bishop T.D. Jakes is returning with the movie Jumping The Broom. Angela Bassett and Paula Patton will star. Filming begins in a few weeks.

Mary J. Blige has got her G.E.D., and now she’s going to college. Blige never finished high school. Now with her G.E.D., she will be joining the Howard University class of 2014.

Tia and Tamera Mowry of Sister Sister fame will be teaming up for a TV special on the Style network.

Get ready for a new Kardashian reality show. Newlyweds Khloe Kardashian and hubby Lamar Odom of the L.A. Lakers are getting their own reality show. The show will follow her quest to become pregnant, and the furnishing of their multi-million dollar mansion.

The O’Jays will be profiled on the new season of the TV documentary series Unsung along with Teddy Pendergrass, Tammi Terrell and George Clinton. The new season kicks off this fall. Also get ready for K-Ci and JoJo of Jodeci fame. They are getting a reality show on TV One dealing with their lives, and how they have battled their addictions.

Here are some upcoming DVD releases:

July 13th- Our Family Wedding with America Ferrera, Lance Gross, Forest Whitaker and Regina King.

July 20th – Cop Out with Bruce Willis & Tracy Morgan.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is being honored at The White House. McCartney is getting the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song from The Library Of Congress. Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae are among those honoring McCartney. The ceremonies will air on PBS July 28th.

During his 30-plus-year career in gospel, which consisted of at least 14 albums since 1975, Hawkins created an extensive catalog of music both as a solo artist and with his family ensemble.

Bishop Walter Hawakins and Donnie McClurkin “Thank You”

Songs like ‘Thank You,’ ‘Marvelous,’ ‘Going Up Yonder,’ ‘Holy One,’ ‘Be Grateful,’ ‘It’s Right and Good’ and countless others have become anthems, earning Hawkins an induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as well as a Trailblazer Award by his music publishing company, BMI. A singer, songwriter, producer and arranger, Hawkins found himself collaborating with artists from rocker Van Morrison, R&B star Jeffrey Osborne, actress Diahann Carroll and the late disco king Sylvester to gospel greats like Richard Smallwood, Donald Lawrence, Mississippi Mass Choir and the Williams Brothers.

In 2006, Hawkins along with brother Edwin, ex-wife Tramaine Hawkins and sister Lynette Hawkins Stephens famously performed during Oprah Winfrey’s Legend’s Ball Gospel Brunch. Hawkins was also the pastor of the Love Center Church, a ministry he founded in Oakland, Calif. in 1973. He was married to gospel great Tramaine Hawkins but the two divorced. Hawkins is survived by his two children, Trystan Hawkins and R&B singer Walter “Jamie” Hawkins, Jr. ; daughter-in-law, gospel singer Myiia “Sunny” Hawkins; two grandchildren Jamie-Daniel and Jahve; a host of nieces and nephews; and his siblings Carol, Feddie, Edwin, Daniel, and Lynette. Funeral arrangements are pending

Read more: http://elev8.com/breaking-news/elev8-staff/music-legend-bishop-walter-hawkins-has-died-at-age-61/#ixzz0tTrVsfNN

Pregnant Alicia Keys Falls Onstage During Essence Festival Performance
Alicia Keys’ song “Fallin’” became reality this past weekend when the singer, who’s five months pregnant, fell onstage during her performance at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. According to Rap-Up.com, Alicia was performing her song “Love Is Blind,” when she suddenly fell backwards, right on her butt. Trouper that she is, however, she got right back up and continued the song. In fact, it seemed so smooth that in a video of the incident, a concertgoer can be heard asking, “Did she mean to do that?” As for why she fell, a witness told the gossip site MediaTakeOut.com that Alicia was wearing high heels and seemed to be having trouble keeping her balance during her set.

In other Joe Jackson news, he is now co-managing Singer Chris Brown. Brown wowed the audiences at the BET Awards with his emotional tribute to Michael Jackson when he broke down in tears on stage. Despite Brown’s controversial past (beating up then girlfriend Singer Rihanna), Jackson feels he has a winner on his hands with Brown and can help him make money and revitalize his career.

What’s going on with Mel Gibson? His baby momma has made some shocking charges against the Lethal Weapon star. Oksana Grigorieva claims Gibson beat her during violent confrontations, and she has the video to prove it. She also claims he knocked her front teeth out, and does not give her money for their daughter Lucia, who was born in October. A couple of years ago Gibson made headlines with his anti-Semitic remarks. He blamed it on the alcohol, and then he divorced his long suffering wife Robyn. Spokespeople for Gibson claim his baby momma is just looking to make headlines because he no longer wants to be with her.

Is the Oprah Winfrey contest Your Own Show on her network rigged? These are the charges. Thousands submitted entries to be the next star on the Oprah network (OWN), but the contest is flawed and there are voting discrepancies. Can an average Joe win this contest? How can people get over 2 million votes but only 183 views on their page? The winner will be revealed when the network debuts the first of the year. It will be interesting to see who wins.

El DeBarge is ready for his second chance. El has had a rough few years in and out of jail and battling substance abuse. He is now clean and sober. He was one of the highlights of The BET Awards show, and he has a new project coming out in September. Babyface, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and D’Angelo also contributed to the project.

Lauryn Hill has resurfaced with a new look. Hill was at the top of her game in 1998 with the album The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill. Then she fell off. Did she have a breakdown? Why did she disappear? Hill says she needed to get her support system together. She says her time away was a time for personal growth. Hill is no longer sporting locks. She is wearing her hair straight. Hill says she is working on a new CD, and she says will be singing more on this project.

Here are some upcoming DVD releases:

July 6th – Brooklyn’s Finest with Wesley Snipes, Richard Gere, Don Cheadle.

July 13th- Our Family Wedding with America Ferrera, Lance Gross, Forest Whitaker and Regina King.

July 20th – Cop Out with Bruce Willis & Tracy Morgan.

Ladies! Ladies! Please stop feuding! Monica and Vivica A. Fox have been exchanging harsh words about each other since the BET Awards. This is not a good look for either lady, especially Vivica, who has been referred to as The Old Lady. Apparently, they have a different idea of fashion, but their feud is getting out of hand.

Our condolences go out to former Philadelphia Eagle Randall Cunningham. Cunningham’s two-year old son was found floating in a hot tub. Christian Cunningham was pronounced dead at the hospital. He would have turned three in December. Apparently, Randall Cunningham, who is now a pastor, was out of town. The hot tub was used to perform baptisms. Cunningham had a long career in the NFL playing for the Eagles, Vikings, Cowboys and Ravens.

Eric Snow surprised a lot of people when he dumped his wife, former Real Housewives Of Atlanta Star DeShawn Snow. He filed for divorce leaving her and their three kids, and many wondered why. Well apparently he has found love with an old college friend, and they are now dating.

Larry King is leaving CNN after 25 years. Some say he is being forced out because of low ratings and turmoil with his wife Shawn Southwick. This past year has been rough for King: his wife’s suicide attempt, her accusations that he was sleeping with her sister and her own affair allegations with their son’s baseball coach. When King started being the news, execs at CNN decided he was too much baggage. As King steps down, there’s a buzz on who will replace him. Katie Couric has been approached. King wants to pick his successor, and he wants American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest. Piers Morgan one of the Judges on the NBC show America’s Got Talent is the rumored front runner for the job. Morgan is best known for his talk show in Britain.

James Earl Jones is headed back to Broadway. This fall, he will star in Driving Miss Daisy with Vanessa Redgrave. Jones will play the role made famous on film by Morgan Freeman, who was nominated for an Oscar.

Beyonce is driving like crazy. She just got her driver’s license. In other Beyonce news, her reps say there is no reported feud with her dad Matthew Knowles. He will remain her manager, even though he got another woman pregnant while he was married to her mother Tina.

Tyler Perry is not too happy after being clowned in a recent episode of The Boondocks. Aaron McGruder’s popular adult animated show recently aired an episode about a media mogul who plays a famous character in drag and always surrounds himself with handsome men in his movies. Sources say a former staff member who was fired from Tyler Perry Studios started the controversy. That former staffer now works for The Boondocks. McGruder’s show regularly pokes fun and roasts popular celebrities. The show airs on the Turner Network affiliate Cartoon Network, which is a sister company to the cable network that runs Tyler’s shows House Of Payne and Meet The Browns. Insiders say Perry is very upset with the Turner Network because they let this show air without any warning to him. The subject of Perry’s private life is a sore spot, and people don’t talk about it.

In other Tyler Perry news, he plans to hit the road right after he finishes filming the movie For Colored Girls with Whoopi Goldberg and Janet Jackson. Tyler will be touring the country in his latest Madea production Madea’s Big Happy Family.

Speaking of Janet Jackson, she’s the cover girl for the new issue of Essence magazine.

Paula Patton is ready to return to work after having a baby. She and her husband, Singer Robin Thicke, are the proud parents of a baby boy, Julian, born earlier this year. The Precious star is joining the new season of Law And Order: SVU, playing an assistant district attorney.

Get ready for the return of Prophetess Juanita Bynum. After a tumultuous and stormy marriage to Bishop Thomas Weeks, Bynum is ready for her comeback. Her multi-million dollar wedding turned into a disastrous marriage, which left her battered and bruised. The Diary Of Juanita Bynum is her latest project, and she says she addresses her stormy marriage and how she overcame her obstacles. Bynum is now being managed by Beyonce’s dad Matthew Knowles.

Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney is being honored at The White House. McCartney is getting the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song from The Library Of Congress. Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Corinne Bailey Rae are among those honoring McCartney. The ceremonies will air on PBS July 28th.

The O’Jays will be profiled on the new season of the TV documentary series Unsung along with Teddy Pendergrass, Tammi Terrell and George Clinton. The new season kicks off this fall. Also get ready for K-Ci and JoJo of Jodeci fame. They are getting a reality show on TV One dealing with their lives, and how they have battled their addictions.

Although Luther Vandross was an accomplished songwriter who penned songs for himself and artists like Aretha Franklin, he was also loved for his ability to reinterpret songs that we all knew and loved.

This talent put him in a league with singers like Frank Sinatra and Isaac Hayes who were loved for their ability to make you think that they were the first person to sing those songs.

Here are some of our favorite songs that Luther Vandross, who passed away five years ago today, covered and made his own!

Until You Come Back To Me / Superstar

Prefacing it with a bit of the Stevie Wonder-penned Aretha Franklin classic “Until You Come Back To Me,” Luther took The Carpenters’ AM radio classic “Superstar” and filled it with a ton of soul.

If Only For One Night

Brenda Russell’s original version of “If Only For One Night” became immediately obsolete once Luther’s 1985 cover version hit the market.

Creepin’

Originally recorded by Stevie Wonder on his Fulfillingness’ First Finale album in 1974, Luther claimed this one for himself and made his version the one preferred by many.

Sing it for me four times… Creep Creep Creep Creep!

A House Is Not A Home

Luther closed out his debut album with this version of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David standard, infusing it with so much soul that he had to drag it out for seven minutes!

If This World Were Mine (duet with Cheryl Lynn)

The Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell classic got the Luther treatment with a little help from Cheryl Lynn.  The two put their own special brand of stank on it!

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Lil Wayne Thanks fans via his blog posting
Some artists say they’re grateful for the support of each and every one of their fans, but Lil Wayne really means it. In the latest blog posting on his website WeezyThankxYou.com, Weezy thanks close to 100 people who’ve sent him messages of support by name. A few of them are in the music business, like Karla Moy, who runs Drake’s official website, and Vanessa Satten, the editor of XXL magazine. But most of them are just regular fans.

The incarcerated rapper kicked off the posting by telling fans that he’s “alive, breathing and blessed,” and that he’s spending his time behind bars reading and working out. He writes, “I know I say it in every letter, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for the pictures, rocking ‘Free Weezy’ tees and continuous letters. They mean the world.”

Among the fans he thanked were one Kyle Rockin McLaughlin, about whom he says, “Cool middle name; Dani Gruber, who he tells, “I absolutely love your personality but confidence is key;” April Mendoza, who he calls “cute and funny;” a woman named Olivia, who he calls “metaphysically beautiful,” and some dude named Jonathan Everett David Powell, about whom Weezy writes, “I swear I almost dropped a tear reading your letter…you are my power…you are amazing.” Now that’s gratitude

Hudson said her spirits have been lifted by the birth of her now-11-month-old son, David. She said the child makes her “feel like the most special person on Earth. I want him to get the same love and the same upbringing my mother gave us.” The boy’s father is Hudson’s fiancé, WWE wrestler David Otunga.