celebrity report....9-8-08

Singer Natalie Cole is determined to promote her new album, Still Unforgettable, despite her failing health. Cole, 58, is suffering from Hepatitis C. Hepatitis causes extreme fatigue and exhaustion. Cole is undergoing chemo, but it leaves her weak. She is now forced to use an oxygen tank to help her with her breathing. Cole has gone against doctors orders. They have begged her to postpone her promo schedule, but she won't do it. The chemo has already started to make her lose her hair. Cole says she doesn't care. She just slaps a wig on and keeps on going. Her appearance in recent TV shows has left people in shock. Her friends think she should take off the rest of the year to rest then resume her career.

Their wedding was huge….the talk of the town, but the divorce…… very quiet. It is officially over between Star Jones and Al Reynolds. They have quietly settled out of court and have moved on with their lives. Jones is currently dating a handsome New York chef. Friends say she is very happy with her new man.

Mariah Carey is shaking up her management team. Carey is not happy with the buzz her career is getting, and she is replacing longtime manger Benny Medina. Carey feels she can do a better job herself. Medina's past clients included Jennifer Lopez, Tyra Banks and Usher. Medina has been losing clients left and right, and now Carey wants him out. Since marrying Nick Cannon, there has no buzz or excitement surrounding Carey. Despite the stories of her bossing him around, this marriage has been a press snooze. Will Carey do a better job herself? She is known for being wacky despite her great voice. And, what does the future hold for Medina, who can't seem to hold on to his clients? Just a few weeks ago, Usher dumped Medina to go back to his mother, who is now managing her son's career.

What has happened to young Pop Singer Ciara, and why is she posing naked? Ciara has come a long way from dating Bow Wow. Check her out naked on the new issue of Vibe magazine. She's promoting a new album, and her new straight to video movie Mama I want to sing is coming out early next year.

Halle Berry is lashing out at media reports that she bleached the skin of her baby daughter. How could people be so cruel as to spread outrageous lies? Little Nahla's skin has not been bleached. Berry has had enough of the mean-spirited attacks on her family, and she is not going to sit back quietly and take it. Berry was one of the few Hollywood celebrities who didn't cash in on her baby and make lots of money. She even took a lot of flak for it, and she was accused of hiding her baby. Berry started taking her baby out in public a month ago.

Toni Braxton's family is not happy with the fact that she is appearing on the reality show Dancing With The Stars. Braxton has been battling a heart condition that forced her to cancel her Las Vegas nightclub show. By going through a rigorous schedule and dancing on the show, her family feels she is putting her life in danger. Braxton doesn't feel this way, and she says she'll be ready when the show kicks off a new season on the 22nd.

Usher and his wife Tameka Foster are expecting baby number two. There have been rumors of trouble in the marriage, but Usher and his wife are still going strong. Tameka may not get along with his mother, but that is not going to stop her from popping out those babies with Usher. Foster realizes she needs to stake her claim and give him as many babies as she can. This will be her fifth child. Her son with Usher was born last year.

Speaking of babies, Supermodel Naomi Campbell is ready to procreate. Campbell is ready to be a mom. She recently admitted to having fertility problems, but she underwent surgery this past spring to correct the problem. Now, she says she is ready for motherhood.

Director Spike Lee is determined to do a movie about the life of "Mr. Dynamite" James Brown. Lee says if the project happens, he wants Wesley Snipes to star as the Godfather Of Soul. He says Snipes is the only actor who could pull off this role. Lee has been busy with two documentaries. One is about Michael Jordan and the other is on Kobe Bryant. He's also reteaming with Denzel Washington and Clive Owen for a sequel to the hit film Inside Man. Lee's latest movie, Miracle At St. Anna with Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso and Kerry Washington, opens in theatres on September 26th.

Quincy Jones is gearing up to release The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey And Passions. The 75-year old music giant is set to release this book on October 28th. Clint Eastwood is doing the foreword for the book, and Dr. Maya Angelou is doing the introduction. Jones is not slowing down. He is also opening a restaurant in Las Vegas.

Morgan Freeman and Barbara Streisand are among the honorees for the Kennedy Center Honors.

Will Whitney Houston make it into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? She has been placed in the nominations along with The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

It's all about Patti! Patti LaBelle is coming out with her third cookbook, and this one will be promoting her line of natural products. Patti is also hard at work on the LaBelle reunion. Sarah Dash, Nona Hendryx and Patti are reteaming as LaBelle with the new CD called Back To Now. The new CD features production from Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff and Lenny Kravitz. In more Patti news, Anita Baker, Jennifer Hudson, Dionne Warwick, Yolanda Adams and Fantasia will all be on hand for an all-star salute to the Philly Diva. Patti is being honored at the United Negro College Fund's Evening Of Stars. The program will air in January.

Marion Jones is out of jail. The former Olympic darling recently finished up a six-month jail sentence. Jones lied to prosecutors about her steroid use. She lost everything: her gold medals, her reputation, and her mother's home. Jones is married and the mother of two young children. Sources say she will try to pick up the pieces of her life by writing a book about her experiences and why she lied about her steroid use.

More troubles for former child star Gary Coleman. Coleman was involved in an incident where a 24-year old man was hit by Coleman's car. The young man was treated for minor injuries. Sources say the two were arguing at a bowling alley, and Coleman accidentally hit the guy when he was backing out of a parking lot.

I had a chance to talk to Singer Kenny Lattimore when he was in town recently for the Rhythm And Blues Awards. His new CD, Timeless, is out in stores now. On this album, he told me that he pays tribute to many of his musical heroes. Kenny also said he's making the transition back to being a solo performer after two albums with his wife, Singer Chante Moore. They're making their marriage and family work with both of them having new solo projects. Chante's latest CD, Love the Woman, features the hit It Ain't Supposed To Be This Way.

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.

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.

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, on September 30th. The CD features the hit single 'Magic.'

The 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors takes place in October. Actor Comedian Katt Williams is hosting.

The Late Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes make their final screen appearance in the movie Soul Men. Soul Men opens in theatres on November 7th and also stars Samuel L Jackson.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Her daughter is one of the richest celebrities in the world. Maybe that's why she doesn't like to pay her bills.

This Singer could care less about his family. He is very jealous of his brothers and sisters. At a recent event honoring his family, he refused to show up. Instead he stayed hidden with his rich girlfriend who pays all his child support bills. The family event went well and no one missed the jealous brother.