celebrity report.....9-15-08

Legendary Motown Songwriter/Producer Norman Whitfield has died. He was 65-years old, and he died from complication due to diabetes. Whitfield, often writing along with Singer Barrett Strong, was responsible for most of Motown Records biggest hits for Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips, The Undisputed Truth, Edwin Starr and of course The Temptations. Whitfield wrote the classics Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, I Wish It Would Rain, I Can't Get Next To You, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me), I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Friendship Train, War, Smiling Faces Sometimes. He started at Motown at the age of 19, and after a long stint created Whitfield Records and launched the group Rose Royce with the Car Wash soundtrack.

Let's talk about jumpoffs. Diahann Carroll a jump off for Sidney Poitier?!!!! Yes! According to her new book, The Legs Are The Last To Go, Carroll says she was submissive and desperate for Sidney Poitier. Carroll, 73, still looks beautiful. She says she has only had a little bit of work done. She was TV's first black sitcom star in the show Julia, and she was nominated for an Academy Award for the title role in the 1974 classic Claudine. In her book, she talks about her affair with a married Poitier. At one point, she left her husband for him, but Poitier refused to accept her daughter. During their affair, Carroll says he promised her the moon and broke her heart. Spokespeople for Poitier had no comment on the book.

Still talkin' jumpoffs. Is Alicia Keys a jump off? According to a married singer, she is. Keys has had the most brilliant career, free of scandal….. until now. She is no longer with her longtime partner Kerry Brothers. R&B singer Mashonda has named Keys in her divorce suit against Hip Hop Producer Swizz Beatz. Swizz Beatz recently toured Europe with Alicia Keys, and they became quite close, despite the fact that he is married with a young child. Spokespeople for Keys claim she is not involved with Swizz Beatz, and they are just working together. Swizz Beatz has responded to his wife's charges. He says they are not true. But, people are talking about Keys and her behavior, and how ladies need to watch their man, and ladies Hmmmmmmm……….!

He's got his mink coats, his jewelry and a new home in Las Vegas, so what's up with the child support? Flavor Flav has to answer to a judge next week, and explain why he is not paying his child support. Flav made $5 million dollars for his work on the VH1 Flavor Of Love series.

Natalie Cole is finally listening to the doctors and she is going to rest. Cole, 58, is suffering from Hepatitis C, and she is undergoing chemo. The chemo has made her lose weight and her hair. She is using a breathing tank to help her with her breathing. She has suspended her promotional tour supporting her new album, Still Unforgettable. Cole has been ordered to rest, and now she is listening to her doctors.

Prosecutors in Cleveland say no criminal conduct was involved in the March death of Singer Sean Levert. Levert, 39, was in jail and became ill. He later died. According to the coroner's report, Levert died from complications of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease. Levert also suffered from heart disease, high blood sugar and withdraw from Xanax. He suffered from severe high anxiety, and he was not given his medication. He had just started a 22-month jail sentence for failing to pay child support. The Levert family is still pressing forward with a wrongful death suit accusing county jail officials of neglecting his medical needs.

Jennifer Hudson is ready to become Mrs. David Otunga, and her family is not happy. Otunga proposed to Hudson on her birthday last week, and she accepted. Otunga is best known for his role as "Punk" on the reality show I Love New York. For the past year, he has been dating Hudson. He and Hudson both hail from Chicago, and he is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He has not been practicing law, but he does travel with Hudson carrying her handbags. This is a busy time for Hudson. Her new self-titled album comes out on September 30th, and her new movie with Alicia Keys and Queen Latifah, The Secret Life Of Bees, arrives in theatres on October 17th. Close friends of Hudson want her to concentrate on her career and not rush into a situation where she could get hurt. Then there's the question of his employment. Does he plan on working? The Hudson family is reaching out to prominent lawyers hoping they can convince her to make him sign a pre nup before they say I do.

R Kelly finally speaks. In an exclusive interview with BET, Kelly described the past seven years like being in prison. He was found not guilty of child pornography charges, and now he just wants to get on with his life. He says disgruntled ex-employees and jealous family members tried to do him in. He says his ordeal has not affected his music. He says he wants to go to Africa and do humanitarian work. When asked if he likes underage girls, Kelly responded he doesn't like anything illegal, but he does have 19-year old friends.

Benny Medina is out as Mariah Carey's manager, so now she will have to deal with her career by herself. First up, an ex-boyfriend who is threatening to write a tell-all. He's a record producer who says he dated Carey for four years. He claims she kept him hidden. Carey is also gearing up for the release of her Lee Daniel's movie Tennessee, which is coming out in December. Friends say Mariah is also seriously considering starting a family with hubby Nick Cannon.

Tyler Perry is hard at work on his next movie, Madea Goes To Jail. This will probably be his last time as "Madea." In a recent appearance on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Perry claims women don't take him seriously because of the "Madea" character. He says women prefer his football player friends.

The Village People got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame last week, but Founding Member/Songwriter Victor Willis had to watch from the sidelines. Willis showed up in a fake cop uniform, and watched with tears in his eyes as the group was celebrated. Willis, who used to be married to Cosby mom Phylicia Rashad, was kicked out of the popular group because of his drug use and problems. Willis still gets royalties for writing The Village People's biggest hits like Y.M.C.A., In The Navy and Macho Man, but, because of his past, he is no longer wanted in the group.

Congratulations to Laila Ali and her husband former NFL Star Curtis Conway. They are the proud parents of a baby boy Curtis Muhammad Conway.

Usher is making out with the ladies in his latest videos, and his pregnant wife is not happy about it. Now that Usher's mom, Johnetta Patton, is back in charge of his career, Usher is being presented as a ladies man with a new sexy, single image. His career is at a crossroads, and his mom is determined to get him back on top. Usher's wife, Tameka Foster, has been relegated to taking care of the kids: her three, their infant son, and the new one on the way.

Shaquille O'Neal is ready to retire. Shaq is now playing for the Phoenix Suns. In a recent interview, he said he may consider retiring at the end of the next NBA season.

Serena Williams is ready to tell all. The tennis sensation is getting paid over a million dollars to talk about her life on and off the tennis court. The book is due out next year.

The TV show The Game is returning to the CW network. After much speculation, the popular comedy starring Tia Mowry, Brittany Daniel and Wendy Raquel Robinson is returning. The new night is Fridays on the CW.

Iyanla Van Zandt is back! The popular motivational speaker, life coach, spiritual counselor, teacher and girlfriend has returned. It's the 20th anniversary reprinting of her first book, Tapping The Power Within. Van Zandt has been through a lot over the last 20 years. She has been down in the valley, and now she is emerging. I had a chance to catch with up Van Zandt, and she reflected on the last 20 years. Getting into TV, via Oprah Winfrey, losing a daughter, a husband and TV show. She has found her voice again and her self worth. In a candid conversation, she held nothing back. She says it's all about forgiveness, and knowing what path you are going on. She talked about being taken off course and finding her own voice again. She is an amazing woman, and she is back ready to make a difference and help others. Tavis Smiley published the book, and it's in bookstores now.
Get ready for these new DVD releases: Sex And The City on September 23rd and Iron Man with Robert Downey, Jr. and Terrance Howard on September 30th.

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.
It's all about Patti! Patti LaBelle is 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.

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.

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.

Singer Al Jarreau is hard at work on a new Christmas CD, which is coming out this fall. Brian McKnight, Aretha Franklin, Howard Hewett and Ledisi are also releasing holiday projects.
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This top rated comedy show has been around for years, but they still refuse to hire African Americans to perform in their comedy skits. One African American performer per season won't do, and neither will having actors wear dark makeup in skits.
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This famous beauty is going too far with her plastic surgery procedures. She's a beautiful woman, but if she keeps it up she may have to change her name to Cryptkeeper.