celebrity report.......8-2-08

Bobby Brown is proving there is life after Whitney Houston. Brown has been dating his manager, Alicia Etheridge, for the past two years, and he says he is ready to make her his wife. Brown says he's in love and this time, he wants things to work out. Etheridge has been by his side during his run-ins with the law, his mild heart attack and his attempts to revive his career. No wedding date, but Brown says he wants it to happen soon.

Al Who? Star Jones has moved on. Yes! Star has a new man. Star was photographed making out with a handsome older guy at the recent U.S. Open. Star knew all eyes were on her, so she went in for the kill. They were tongue kissing in full view! She was so in control her wig didn't even blow in the breeze…. Go Star! She is determined to put her fiasco marriage behind her and find a new love. This new guy may be the one. His name is Herb Wilson, and he is a hotel chef. Star has been friends with him for years. Friends of Star say he is everything Al isn't: a hardworking man who doesn't like the spotlight. Ouch!

LL Cool J will be joining Janet Jackson on her fall tour. Look for the two at a city near you. In the meantime, LL Cool J's new kids clothing line is debuting at Sears this weekend.

Ruben Studdard has paid his taxes. Last week, Big Rube made headlines when it was revealed he owed the I.R.S. $200,000 from his American Idol winnings. Now that Studdard has paid up, he is ready to get back to work. He is doing the stage musical Ain't Misbehavin', based on the life of Fats Waller with Idol alums Trenyce and Frenchie Davis. He is also working on a new album with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Michael Jackson celebrated his 50th birthday quietly. Even though he's layin' low, he still loves lots of attention. There's a wild rumor going around claiming he's dating Pamela Anderson. Don't believe the hype! We know what she likes, and Michael is not going to give it to her. They both love publicity so they will enjoy the ride. There's also buzz about him appearing on the MTV Video Music Awards as a surprise guest. Michael needs to do something. He has no record label, no new album out and no tour plans. He owes his brothers a ton of money, so he stays away from his family. He is also homeschooling his three kids. Prince and Madonna both turned 50 this year. They are still touring and making money while Michael seems to be off in his own world.

Oprah is kicking off her 23rd season in an Olympic-sized way. Her season premiere is Monday, September 8th with Michael Phelps, his eight gold medals and 150 other Olympians. The welcome home will take place at the Chicago stadium which is hoping to host the Olympics in 2016.

O.J. Simpson had to find out the hard way: Don't Make A Black Woman Mad. Simpson, 61, had an altercation with his oldest daughter, Arnelle, 39, a couple of weeks ago that left him with a bashed head. Arnelle got fed up with her dad's drunk girlfriend. The girlfriend is a 32-year old alcoholic who loves taking Simpson's money. One night, Arnelle had had enough. Her dad's girlfriend is obviously using him for his money so she continued to get drunk. Arnelle spoke up about it, and her dad told her to shut up. Arnelle couldn't believe her ears. Why would her dad put this woman before her? Why does this woman get his money while her mother has to make ends meet by working at Wal-Mart. Arnelle went off on her dad, and she pushed him down. Well, she pushed him so hard, he fell back and cut open the back of his head. O.J. had to hospitalized, and he has been told to stay away from his oldest daughter.

Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding, Jr. will be starring in the TV movie Gifted Hands. The movie is about famed Neurologist Doctor Ben Carson. The movie will air next year.

Pepa is ready to tell all. Sandi "Pepa" Denton from Salt-N-Pepa is writing her autobiography. Pepa used to be married to Rapper Treach (Anthony Criss) from Naughty By Nature. Pepa says Treach used to beat her, and has never apologized for abusing her. They have a daughter. Pepa says despite their problems, he is a great father to their daughter. Pepa also talks about "Play" (Christopher Martin) from Kid 'N Play. Pepa says he used to tease her, and she beat him up. The mother of two will also detail her rocky relationships and her rise to fame with Salt N Pepa.

Will we ever see Singer Robin Thicke on the cover of Vibe magazine? In a recent interview, Thicke says despite his popularity on urban radio, the magazine won't grant him a cover issue. He says it's because he's white. He says he was turned down when his management requested a cover issue. Danyel Smith is the editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine and says this isn't so. She says they have a high level of respect for Thicke and his music, but if he checks Vibe's history, he'll see that white artists, while few, have graced the cover.

Golf Sensation Tiger Woods is expanding his family with his wife Elin. They already have a daughter Sam, who's one, and next year, they will be welcoming baby number 2.

Usher wants the ladies to check him. He's currently planning a fifteen city ladies only tour. Usher's mom wanted to come up with a way to get the buzz back on Usher, so she decided to go old school style. Back in the day, Teddy Pendergrass was known for his ladies only shows, and now Usher is using the same concept. No word yet on which lucky cities will be tour stops.

Ne-Yo has his money. A year ago, he was unceremoniously dumped from R Kelly's tour. Kelly claimed contracts weren't properly signed, but he was just jealous of the attention that Ne-Yo was getting. In a fit of jealousy, Kelly kicked him off their tour without warning, and Ne-Yo sued. A judge recently awarded him $700,000. Ne-Yo's new CD, The Year Of The Gentlemen, is coming out September 16th.

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.

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.

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.

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. The ceremony honoring them is taking place November 17th at the Kimmel Center. 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, a Philadelphia native. 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.

Wayne Brady will be one of the hosts for the Rhythm And Blues Foundation's Pioneer Awards. Dionne Warwick, Bonnie Raitt and The Iceman Jerry Butler are also serving as hosts. The Rhythm And Blues Foundation's 20th Annual Pioneer Awards are taking place September 9th at The Kimmel Center. Honorees include Chaka Khan, Teena Marie, Bill Withers, Kool and The Gang, The Whispers, The Funk Brothers, The Late Singer Donny Hathaway, and legendary Stax Records Chief and Co-Owner Al Bell. For more info call 215-893-1999 or go to Rhythmblues.org

WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Superstar's wife is going to have to act fast. His momma is back in charge and has made it clear there is no room for her in his career.

He's married a superstar. Now he has to make sure she doesn't cheat on him and leave him in the cold.