celebrity report.......8-25-08

We Are Not Doing Drugs! We Don't Even Know How To Spell Cocaine! Well, maybe they know how to spell crack because something strange is going on with the Hailey Brothers (K-Ci and JoJo). At a recent show in Australia, the brothers were performing and JoJo passed out while K-Ci kept on singing like nothing ever happened. In a statement, the Hailey Brothers blamed his passing out on the flight. Then they claimed it was an epileptic fit. I say rehab immediately before someone dies.

The American Idol shakeup is the talk of the town. Another female judge is being added to the mix, and Paula Abdul is not happy. Songwriter Kara Dioguardi will be joining Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul for the 8th season of American Idol. Are the producers tired of the bizarre antics of Abdul? For the past few seasons, her weird behavior has been the elephant in the room. Is she drinking? Is she on drugs? Why is she acting crazy and out of it? In a statement, a very unhappy Abdul pointed out she is concerned about the audience and acceptance, and only time will tell if the audience accepts a new judge.

Ruben Studdard is having tax problems. The velvet teddy bear owes the I.R.S. over $200,000. He owes state and federal taxes and now has several property liens against him. In 2003, when he became the American Idol, he won a million dollars. What has happened to his money? Studdard recently got married, and sources say his wife is in shock. She can't believe they are starting off their marriage life in financial turmoil. Mrs. Studdard wants to start a family. She even had Ruben losing weight. But, what will they do now? Studdard is working on a musical based on the life of Fats Waller and a new CD with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

The O'Neal reunion has hit a speed bump. Damn those jump offs!!!! No sooner do Shaq and Shaunie call off their divorce when a hoochie from the past comes forward to spoil the party. An Atlanta rapper has taken out a restraining order against Shaquille O'Neal. She claims once she broke off the affair this summer, he started stalking her and playing on her phone. She claims he would breathe heavy on the phone and email her threatening messages. The woman in question, Alexis Miller, is no stranger to restraining orders. She had one taken out against her last year from a woman who claimed that Miller was stalking her. A few years ago, Miller had another restraining order placed on a man she was seeing. Shaq has to face a judge next week to answer this charge of stalking. Is Miller just a woman scorned because Shaq decided to go back to his wife? Hmmmmmmm!!

Oscar Winner Morgan Freeman is finding out the hard way you don't mess with your wife's friend. Freeman stands to lose half of his estimated $80 million fortune because of his scandalous affair. Freeman is 71. His wife Myra is 64, and the jump off is 60. So who is this woman? She is a southern belle who was friends with Freeman's wife. She then went behind Mrs. Freeman's back and moved in on her husband. This is going to cost him big time in the end. Was this new girlfriend worth it? Meanwhile, the 48-year old woman that was in the car crash with him was just someone he picked up that night. Viagra must be making Freeman crazy.

Mel B is ready to get married again. The Spice Girl is going to renew vows with her hubby Stephan Belafonte. She is getting paid $400,000 by OK magazine to renew her vows. The ceremony is taking place in an Egyptian palace.

Everybody is buzzing about Faith Evans explosive new book. In the book, Keep The Faith, the singer talks about getting multiple abortions, dealing with an abusive boyfriend when she was in her teens and her stormy marriage Rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Evans thought nothing of beating up his girlfriends, including Rapper Lil' Kim. Evans also describes the start of her music career. She was a backup singer for Al B. Sure making $2,000 a week.

Cedric The Entertainer is headed to Broadway. The stage play American Buffalo, about small time crooks, also stars John Leguizamo. American Buffalo opens on November 17th.

Toni Braxton is determined to prove that she is not sickly. She will be competing on the new season of Dancing With The Stars, and she says she doesn't want to be treated differently. Earlier this year, Braxton had to abandon her Las Vegas show because of a heart condition. The new season of Dancing With The Stars kicks off September 22nd. Other contestants include Football Player Warren Sapp, Soap Star Susan Lucci and Socialite Kim Kardashian.

Happy birthday to the King Of Pop Michael Jackson. Michael turns 50 this week. How will the King Of Pop celebrate? He is expected to celebrate quietly. His family wanted to join him but he owes his brothers money, thousands of dollars, so don't look for a Jackson family reunion for his birthday.

Congrats to Reverend Run and his wife Justine. Their new book take back your family is number 15 on the New York Times Best Sellers List. The Simmons and their children star on the MTV reality show Run's House. The book is a great book for parents with its advice.

James Brown, Jr. is really a Brown. The money is about to be handed out regarding the James Brown Estate. Junior is the son of Brown's companion Tomi Rae Hynie, and now all the children can claim their share of the money.

Meanwhile, the Estate of Isaac Hayes is in question. He lost the rights to his music in the 70's. The big question now is what is going to happen to his young wife. Hayes was 65 at the time of his death. He left behind a 25-year old wife and two-year old son. This is in addition to his 11 other children and three ex-wives. What does the future hold for his young wife, and will she get a share of the Hayes estate.

Get ready for another Tyler Perry TV show. We've seen the play Meet The Browns and the movie version with Angela Bassett. Now get ready for the new TBS TV version. Meet The Browns, the TV show, debuts in January 2009 and will star David Mann as "Mr. Brown." Speaking of Tyler, his new movie, The Family That Preys, is set to open in theatres September 12th. The movie stars Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, Sanaa Lathan, Robin Givens, Taraji P. Henson, Rockmond Dunbar, Cole Hauser and Tyler Perry.

Is Oprah Winfrey tired of being a cover girl for her O Magazine. With sales and circulation down due to the economy, The Mighty O is considering stepping down as the main cover girl. O Magazine has been around since 2000. I can't imagine Oprah not being the cover girl.

After a six year absence, Maxwell is coming back and going on tour.

Regina King will be cast in the new NBC drama LAPD. King, best known for her roles in Poetic Justice, Jerry Maguire and as "Brenda" on 227, was recently seen on the FOX drama 24.

Whatever happened to Singer/Songwriter Siedah Garrett? She is best known for singing with Michael Jackson on the song I Just Can't Stop Loving You. She had the 80's dance hit Do You Want To Right Now, and she just won a Grammy for the song Love You I Do. Jennifer Hudson sang this song on the Dreamgirls soundtrack. She also sang Don't Look Any Further with Dennis Edwards. Well, Garrett is making her mark with her new line of luxury handbags. Siedah Garrett Designs is a favorite among Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey.

Singer Kenny Lattimore is coming out with a new album. The CD, Timeless, is due out on September 9th.

As the NBC drama ER enters its 15th and final season, look for some changes. Angela Bassett is joining the cast along with her husband, Actor Courtney B. Vance.

LL Cool J is getting ready to unveil his new children's clothing line. The line debuts September 7th at Sears department stores.

Will Downing is scheduled to appear on The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Downing has been battling a form of MS and is still recovering. He will appear live via remote from New York. Downing says he learned a lot during his recovery, and he wants to be able to say thanks to those who helped him. The telethon airs Labor Day weekend Sunday, August 31st.

I Want To Take You Higher, The Life And Times Of Sly Stone is title of the new book about the famed musician coming out in October.

Poet and Author Dr. Maya Angelou is going to be honored along with TV Producer Norman Lear at the 2008 Annual Marian Anderson Awards. Lear is best known for the TV classics All In The Family, Sanford & Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times and Maude. The award is named after the famed Contralto Marian Anderson. Past honorees include Sidney Poitier, Richard Gere, Elizabeth Taylor, Gregory Peck, Oprah Winfrey and Harry Belafonte. Dr. Angelou and Lear go back a ways back. The doctor is godmother to Lear's youngest children.

The LaBelle reunion is set for October 21st with their new CD Back To Now. Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash are back together after 30 years. The new CD features production from Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Lenny Kravitz. Speaking of LaBelle, Anita Baker, Jennifer Hudson, Dionne Warwick, Yolanda Adams and Fantasia will all be on hand for the all-star salute to Patti LaBelle. LaBelle is being honored at the United Negro College Fund's Evening Of Stars. The program will air in January.

Sanford & Son, the popular 70's show, is coming out on DVD. The complete series, 17 discs containing all six seasons, comes out on October 28th. The late Comedian Redd Foxx starred as the grouchy junkman and Demond Wilson played his long-suffering son, Lamont.

Oprah Winfrey may make a surprise appearance at The Emmys. Word has it she'll open the show September 21st.

Singer Al Jarreau is hard at work on a new Christmas CD, which is coming out this fall.

Singer Robin Thicke is set to release his new CD, Something Else, in September. The CD features the hit single 'Magic.'

The 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors takes place in October.

Upcoming TV and Film Events:

A new best of compilation featuring the music of Tina Turner is coming out. Look for 'Tina' on September 30th.

WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Actress/Rapper is ready to be a mom. If and when she adopts, will she reveal her true lifestyle?

Jump offs beware!!! This sports wife is never leaving her husband. She doesn't care if he cheats as long as he stays with her and pays the bills. Nothing will make her lose her man!