The Jennifer Hudson family murders. The year started out great for the Oscar winner. She had a role in the hit movie Sex And The City, she released a top selling album and she teamed up with Queen Latifah and Alicia Keys for the movie The Secret Life Of Bees. She was on magazine covers all over the world. And, she fell in love and got engaged to a reality star. Hudson was on top of the world, but it was tragic day in October that changed her life forever when her mother, brother and seven year-old nephew were murdered. Hudson's former brother-in-law, William Balfour, was charged with the grisly murders. Balfour was married to Hudson's sister Julia. How will Jennifer pick up the pieces of her life? She tried to go to back to work before the holidays, but she decided her grief was too much too bear. What will 2009 hold for her? Jennifer has been nominated for four Grammy awards, and she has a new movie coming out with Forest Whitaker.
The Morgan Freeman car crash! The 71 year-old Oscar winner was driving on a wet, slick Tallahatchie County road in Mississippi. When he crashed his automobile, Freeman was trapped inside of the car with a woman who was not his wife. Rescuers had to use the Jaws of Life to get him out. When he was admitted to the hospital, Freeman's wife, Myrna, showed up and the truth came out. The woman in the car was someone he just met. His jumpoff was a woman who was a friend of his wife. The Freemans are currently divorcing, and Myrna stands to get half his fortune. It's cheaper to keep her! Mrs. Freeman could get upwards to $170 million.
The death of Sean Levert. The Levert family has seen its shares of triumphs and tragedies. The family was still dealing with the unexpected death of Gerald Levert a year and a half earlier when word came down that his younger brother Sean had died in prison. Sean was behind in his child support payments, and a judge sent him to jail. Sean was not well at the time of his incarceration. He reportedly was denied his anti-anxiety medication. The coroner said his death was not a homicide, but his Sean's widow, Angela Lowe, went ahead and filed a federal wrongful death suit. The suit accuses county officials of neglecting Sean's medical needs. A new policy was recently put in place that provides more flexibility in giving out anti-anxiety medications so that inmates can get their medicine.
We remember those we lost in 2008: Legendary Singers Levi Stubbs (The Four Tops), Al Wilson (Show & Tell); Pervis Jackson ("Mr. 12:45" of The Spinners), Odetta (Civil Rights Folk and Jazz Songstress) and Oscar Winner Isaac Hayes (Shaft); Oscar Winning Actors Paul Newman & Charlton Heston and Oscar Nominee Roy Scheider (JAWS); Legendary Comedians Bernie Mac and George Carlin, Pioneering Musicians Ike Turner and Bo Diddley; Legendary Music Producers Jerry Wexler (Atlantic Records) and Norman Whitfield (Motown Records); Luther Vandross' mother Evangelist Mary Ida Vandross, NBC 10 and Philadelphia Pioneering Journalist Edie Huggins, NBC Journalist Tim Russert (Meet The Press) and Fashion Critic Mr. Blackwell.
The feuding divas. The night of the 2008 Grammys was filled with music and stars. But, when Beyonce took the stage and introduced Tina Turner as "the queen," the real of Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin had a fit. Re-re said Hold Up, Where's The Respect? There Is Only One Queen, And It's Me! Tina Turner responded: Titles Are Silly. I Don't Need A Title To Define Me. Re-re responded that Beyonce was disrespectful, and she was surprised that Turner would resort to controversy to sell concert tickets. Despite their fabulous careers, the two legends have never met, so don't count them in at next year's cookout.
Eddie Murphy gets married for one minute. In what will go down as one of the quickest marriages in history, Eddie Murphy married longtime girlfriend Tracey Edmonds. It was long suspected that this was just a publicity stunt. Eddie needed a wife for his battered image (dumping pregnant Spice Girl Mel B, getting caught with a transvestite)
The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The adventures of Nene, Sheree, Lisa, Kim and Deshawn had us in stitches. Were these women really like that? The surprise hit series on the Bravo Network has us feening for more for the 09'.
Star and Al divorce. The wedding was huge. He was beaming with joy. She gushed she married a stallion. In the end, the hype died down when Al wouldn't work and star lost her jobs. Someone had to go to work. Star Jones said they couldn't overcome their problem, and they quietly divorced. They are currently dating other people.
Don Cornelius gets arrested. The 72-year old founder of Soul Train faces some serious jail time if he is convicted next year. This past fall Cornelius was arrested for beating up his young Russian wife, Viktoria Chapman-Cornelius. He also had his gun collection taken away. What happened to The Don? He claims he's innocent, but what did he get himself into when he married this woman?
Wanda Sykes comes out. After the passing of Proposition 8 in California which bans same sex marriages, the comedienne and actress decided to let the world know she was angry. So, she revealed all about her private life. Sykes says she couldn't believe it because she recently married her longtime partner.
LABELLE Reunites. After 30 years, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Dash and Nona Hendryx decide to reunite. Best known for their 1975 hit Lady Marmalade, the trio came back with the new CD, Back To Now. The ladies are still looking good, and will be touring in the '09.
Beyonce and Jay-Z get married. They are the leading superstars of the music world. With the perfect blend of hip hop, R&B and dance, they tried to throw off their fans with a quiet ceremony but weeks later Beyonce revealed she is Mrs. Carter.
On the mend: It was a tough year for Singer Toni Braxton. Despite her stint on Dancing With The Stars, Braxton had to deal with a heart condition which forced her to cancel her Las Vegas revue, and she had a non-cancerous lump removed from her breast. Singer Natalie Cole revealed she has Hepatitis C. Cole says she probably contracted it during her years of heavy drug use. Cole underwent chemo and lost her hair and a lot of weight. She is currently awaiting a kidney transplant.
The feuding families. Despite his death two years ago, the family of James Brown continued to fight for their share of his money. A DNA test cleared the way for Tomi Rae Hynie to proclaim her seven-year old child a rightful heir and numerous other adult children were found to be Brown heirs as well. After much legal haggling, there is not much money left in the Brown estate. Meanwhile, the King family exploded this year. The surviving children of Martin and Coretta are not getting along. In this corner, there's Martin III and Bernice King in the other corner their brother Dexter King and his Malibu estate. The children are fighting over memorabilia, mismanaged funds and the future of the King estate.
R Kelly beats the rap! After years of public scrutiny and legal hassles, R Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges. A jury found Kelly not guilty of videotaping himself having with a 13-year old girl. Kelly says the past six years have been hell for him. He has pretty much stayed under the radar, but look for Kels in the '09 with a new album.
Janet Jackson's career crisis. This was not a good year for Ms. Jackson. A flop album and a disastrous tour have left her career in shambles. Can she please find Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and get her music career back on track. Janet's career has been off track since the infamous Superbowl wardrobe malfunction, and now she's gaining weight again.
Prophetess Juanita Bynum and her husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks divorce! It was the beating heard around the world in the summer of '07. The Prophetess was beaten, stomped, kicked and choked by her husband. After numerous legal proceedings, the two realized that this marriage could not be saved. They divorced, and now Bishop Weeks is looking for another wife.
Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff get inducted in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. The legendary songwriting/
Marion Jones goes to jail. The former Olympic darling fessed up to lying about her steroid use and was sentenced to six months in jail. The mother of two lost everything including, her mother's home, her gold medals and her reputation. Look for the Marion Jones tell-all book next year.
2008 was a year of milestones: Dr. J got married to a young girl. Mariah Carey married a very young guy (Nick Cannon). Lisa Raye McCoy left her cheating husband, the Prime Minister Of The Turks And Caicos Islands Michael Misick, Shaquille O'Neal reunited with his wife Shaunie. Katt Williams had a mental breakdown and had to take a break. Usher and his wife welcomed their second son. Jill Scott got engaged and is expecting her first child. And, Oscar Winner Halle Berry gave birth to her first child, a little girl named Nahla Ariela.
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