Making Lemonade out of Lemmons

Christmas in the summer? Well not exactly… Kasi Lemmons - the infamous directing eye behind Talk to Me (didn’t you just love Taraji in that movie?) has been tapped to helm the lens and pen the script to the Langston Hughes‘ holiday gospel Black Nativity.

The movie is just what its title suggests - the Nativity story told from the perspective of and portrayed by a Black cast. The soon to be film was performed on Broadway in the early 60s.

TLC’s Chilli Hosts Mother’s Day Gala

Dasani Water’s new spokesperson Chilli, from TLC, provided feel-good refreshment to African-American women through a Mother’s Day program that celebrates good work in the community. On April 24th, the Dasani Ultimate Style & Beauty Lounge offered women the opportunity to recharge in a relaxing atmosphere. Rejuvenating spa services included manicures, pedicures, massages and facials and to round out the spa experience. Hosted by Chilli, the event took place at Townhouse Spa in New York. In attendance, as seen below, was Chilli, Teyana Taylor, and VH1 personality Janell Snowden.

It’s a Boy!!!

We hear congratulations is due to Jill Scott and hubby to be Lil Jon Roberts. The couple gave birth to a bouncing baby boy on April 20 at 4:20pm.  The child’s name is Jett Hamilton Roberts and he weighed in at 7.8 lbs. We wish the happy couple all the best… Well that leaves, Kimora, Kelis, and now Ellen Pompeo is also basking in that big belly mix.

Keyshia Cole & Keri Hilson Croon in Concert!

It’s the season for touring!! Grammy-nominated R&B artist Keyshia Cole just announced the “A Different Me” tour that starts on May 13th and ends on June 21st. The 20-city tour will also include performances by Keri Hilson, The Dream, and Bobby V. Since the onset of her career Keyshia has done hundreds of shows. “The most gratifying thing for me in show business is having the ability to be intimate with my fans. Singing directly to them is the most intimate thing I can do,” states Keyshia. Keyshia just wrapped shooting the video for “Trust” with Monica, the third video from A Different Me. She is gearing up to shoot her fourth video for the album for the song “This Is Us” before the tour starts.

KEYSHIA COLE: A DIFFERENT ME TOUR DATES

DATE CITY VENUE
Wednesday, May 13 Cincinnati Aronoff Center
Thursday, May 14 Milwaukee Riverside Theatre
Friday, May 15 Chicago Chicago Theatre
Saturday, May 16 Detroit Fox Theatre
Thursday, May 21 Atlanta Fox Theatre
Friday, May 22 Greensboro Special Events Arena
Saturday, May 23 Atlantic City Mark Etess Arena Taj Mahal
Sunday, May 24 NYC WAMU @ MSG
Thursday, May 28 DC Constitution Hall
Saturday, May 30 Norfolk Ntelos Pavillion
Sunday, May 31 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
Tuesday, June 2 Newark NJPAC
Friday, June 5 Mashantucket, CT MGM Foxwoods
Saturday, June 6 Baltimore Pier Six Pavillion
Tuesday, June 9 Nashville Ryman Auditorium
Thursday, June 11 St. Louis Fox Theatre
Saturday, June 13 Dallas Nokia Live
Sunday, June 14 Houston Reliant Arena
Thursday, June 18 Oakland Paramount Theater
Saturday, June 20 LA Nokia

Estelle & Amy Off to St. Lucia!

Amy Winehouse and Estelle were recently added to a stellar line-up of musical giants including Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, James Ingram and Bebe Winans to perform at this year’s annual St. Lucia Jazz Festival. The event is slated to take place from May 2nd to May 10th.

On Thursday, May 7, Lucian jazz fest fans will be treated to a  very special performance by the Wailers and the Grammy Award winning African songstress from Benin Angelique Kidjo.

With such an impressive line-up, the Jazz Fest committee is looking to recoup even in a recession.

Madonna Vino

Friday night, just short of 7:00pm I was making the mad Moscato dash to the spirits boutique, when I batted my lashes a couple of times to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. Now maybe I’m late on this but did you all know that Madonna has a line of wine? Or rather, there’s been a tributary line of wine dedicated to the “Material Girl”? And it is called the Madonna Wine Collection.

So initially it was the bottle with the pop star glued across it that caught my attention. Then I started to do a little more research. The collection consists of Syrah,  Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each bottle goes for about $90.00 largely because of the etched hand paintings on the front. I thought better of trying it having already had my mind set on the sweet aperitif… But I did later find out that the collection was released to commemorate Madonna’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor” album from oh like almost five years ago…

Beyonce USA Tour Dates Announced!

Beyonce is bringing her “I AM…” World Tour to North America this summer with a series of full-length concerts launching at New York’s Madison Square Garden in June and winding down with a four-night residence at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas July 30-August .

Tickets for Beyonce’s North American concerts will be available as a pre-sale for members of Beyonce’s Fan Club on Monday, April 20, starting at 10:00 AM local venue time. Tickets will go on sale to the general public through Ticketmaster (Ticketmaster.com/Beyonce) on Saturday, April 25, starting at 10:00 AM local venue time. In order to make her concerts affordable to all her fans, Beyonce is making 2000 seats available at each venue for $20 (plus applicable service charges).

Tickets for the four-night residence at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas will go on sale at a later date. Information will be available at www.encorelasvegas.com

The “I AM…” world tour production showcases the music and film superstar like you’ve never seen her before. Beyonce’s extraordinary all-female band will join her again to perform musical hits, classics, and surprises in a newly-created high-tech state-of-the-art concert environment. Winners of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” Video Dance contest will see themselves on-screen during one of the centerpiece sections of the “I AM…” extravaganza.

    BEYONCE'S "I AM..." 2009 NORTH AMERICAN CONCERT DATES*

    DATE            CITY                    VENUE
    Sun/Jun-21      New York City, NY       Madison Square Garden
    Wed/Jun-24      Washington DC           Verizon Center
    Fri/Jun-26      Philadelphia, PA        Wachovia Center**
    Sat/Jun-27      Greensboro, NC          Greensboro Coliseum Complex
    Mon/Jun-29      Ft Lauderdale, FL       Bank Atlantic Center
    Wed/Jul-1       Atlanta, GA             Philips Arena
    Fri/Jul-3       New Orleans, LA         Superdome (Essence Music Festival)
    Sat/Jul-4       Houston, TX             Toyota Center**
    Sun/Jul-5       Dallas, TX              American Airlines Center
    Tue/Jul-7       Phoenix, AZ             US Airways Center
    Thu/Jul-9       Sacramento, CA          Arco Arena
    Fri/Jul-10      Oakland, CA             Oracle Arena
    Sat/Jul-11      Anaheim, CA             Honda Center
    Mon/Jul-13      Los Angeles, CA         Staples Center
    Thu/Jul-16      Minneapolis, MN         Target Center
    Fri/Jul-17      Chicago, IL             United Center
    Sat/Jul-18      Detroit, MI             Palace of Auburn Hills
    Thu/Jul-23      Uncasville, CT          Mohegan Sun
    Thu/Jul-30      Las Vegas, NV           Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas
    Fri/Jul-31      Las Vegas, NV           Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas
    Sat/Aug-1       Las Vegas, NV           Encore Theater, Wynn Las Vegas
    Sun/Aug-2       Las Vegas, NV           Encore Theatre, Wynn Las Vegas

Birthday Spotlight: Carmen Electra

Jill of all trades, Carmen Electra celebrates her birthday on April 20. The former host of MTV’s “Singled Out,” model, “BayWatch” television actress, and funny film siren was born in Ohio and originally named Tara Leigh Patrick.

When she moved to Los Angeles in the mid-90s, Carmen was convinced by Prince (yes, the Purple One) to change her name to Carmen Electra as part of her new singing career persona. While the singing was short lived, Carmen persevered, landing several gigs ont he small screen. Of course, her numerous photo spreads in Playboy magazine have served the lady well - resulting in more high profile work. Carmen also lists Scary Movie, Scary Movie 4, and Starksy & Hutch on her film resume.

Another One Bites The Reality TV Dust

Here we have another star set to put her life on front street for the whole world to see. I’m officially convinced that scripted TV will soon become extinct while celebrities struggle to gain that reality show gold. SMH. Wait, that has already happened. Anyhoo…

I’m sure Fantasia’s show will be fantastic, as will Keshia Knight Pulliam’s, and Solange Knowles‘…  I’m mean VH1 (insert snarky facial expression here) and World Of Wonder Productions are working on the direct-to-series reality project headlined by the American Idol. The series will follow the star as she deals with the ups and downs of fame as a successful recording artist while being a single mother. VH1 will debut the series in early 2010.

Young, Rich & Co-habitating

Yes, that’s what they’re toting it as - the Oxygen reality program surrounding Keshia Knight Pulliam’s life in Atlanta with her live-in love, entrepreneur Kaseem Penn. The show is tentatively titled “Keshia and Kaseem” and it will take a peak into the couple’s lives together. No air date has been set as of yet considering the show is still being developed.

This show obviously follows Keyshia’s classic role on “The Cosby Show” and her parts in the movies Beauty Shop and Tyler Perry Madea Goes to Jail.

Keshia recently celebrated her 30th birthday. My, how time flies!

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