PATTY JACKSON'S 4-1-1
Week of December 10, 2007

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Queen Latifah is laughing off rumors about her love life. Latifah says there will be no wedding, and there is no engagement. Latifah is standing her ground. She doesn’t wish to discuss her private life or her relationship with her personal trainer. Latifah says she is too busy to get caught up in the nonsense. Next month, Latifah will be hosting the People’s Choice Awards.

Fantasia is costing The Color Purple money. Since she started performing in the Broadway musical, she has missed 50 performances. What’s going on Tasia!!!? Is the schedule too much to handle? The schedule is 8 shows a week. Are you too preoccupied with your rapper boyfriend? The Color Purple brings in a lot tourists and church groups. They want to see Fantasia. When Fantasia is not performing, the production loses thousands of dollars. Fantasia has signed for part of the 2008 season. In January, Chaka Khan and BeBe Winans are joining the cast. Chaka Khan has already stated that she can’t do 8 shows a week. She will do the nightly shows, but no matinees.

Last year, she was a Dreamgirl. Now Actress/Singer Anika Noni Rose is joining the Broadway production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Rose will be starring along side Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad. Debbie Allen is directing. The African American version of the Tennessee Williams classic opens on Broadway March 7th.

Usher could also be headed to Broadway. He’s being considered for a revival of the musical Golden Boy. Sammy Davis, Jr. starred in the original production about a pianist who becomes a boxer in the 60’s.

Vivica A. Fox has pleaded no contest to her drunk driving charges. Fox will not be fighting the charges, and she will play a $390 fine, attend an alcohol program and get three years probation. Fox wants to move on with her life and put this behind her. She is also shooting down reports that she is expecting.

It’s splitsville for football great Jerry Rice and his wife Jackie. The Rices have three children, and have been together for over 15 years. Close friends hope it’s only a separation.

The Sly Stone comeback has hit a major snag. Sly can’t leave the drugs alone. The famed musician has been a recluse for over 30 years, and he has battled drug addiction for much of his life. From 1968-1975, Sly & The Family Stone topped the charts with the classics Hot Fun In The Summertime, Everyday People, Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) and Dance To The Music and Family Affair, to name a few. Sly Stone paved the way for Prince and Michael Jackson. Sly‘s niece Lisa now heads up his band. She tried to help her uncle, but he can’t leave the drugs alone. At a recent appearance in New York, Sly was on stage and out of it. The crowd started heckling him by yelling at him to get his crack behind off the stage.

Is teen sensation Bow Wow jealous of Chris Brown? Bow Wow was recently admitted to the hospital. His reps claim it was his appendix, but others cited stress and exhaustion. A close friend of Bow Wow says the rapper is upset by the attention that Chris Brown is getting. Brown is a phenomenal entertainer, and he has been putting on show stopping performances while he’s on tour with Bow Wow. According to published reports, Bow Wow was so upset after a recent show that he trashed his dressing room and hurt himself, and that’s why he had to go the hospital. Bow Wow has admitted that he has let his ego get out of control in the past. Is he returning to his old ways?

Dr. Jan Adams recently settled a lawsuit with a woman who says he left a sponge inside of her following a plastic surgery procedure. The incident happened in 1996. Dr. Adams was the plastic surgeon who operated on Dr. Donda West (Kanye West’s mom) the day before she died.

Prophetess Juanita Bynum graces the cover of the January issue of Essence magazine. The past year was very tough for the religious leader, who was attacked by her husband in late summer. Bynum says she has a new outlook on life and a new focus. And, maybe one day, she will be able to love again. Bynum’s husband Bishop Thomas Weeks is not going to go away quietly. When asked about the vicious beating against his wife, he says the devil made him do it, and he was the one who was abused. Weeks is planning to release a tell all book about his 5-year marriage to Bynum, and I hear a lot of people are going to be shocked at his allegations against her.

Former Child Star Gary Coleman is having money problems. Coleman is best known for the TV Classic Different Strokes. Coleman played the role of “Arnold,” and the past few years have been tough for him. He is trying to raise money by selling his photos on Ebay. He’s also trying to unload his car, a two-seater Saturn.

Who is going to play The Queen of Soul in a new movie? Aretha Franklin says she is close to a decision. Will it be Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson or Fantasia? Aretha is pushing for Halle.

Tracey Edmonds is ready to be Mrs. Eddie Murphy. A wedding could take place before the end of the year. Forget the baby momma drama with Mel B! Forget the trannie rumors! Edmonds is ready to take her place by the side of one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. She recently had her bachelorette party in Las Vegas as she gears up for her big day. Edmonds ex, Singer/Songwriter/Producer Babyface, has moved on with his life. He is now dating a young woman who looks exactly like Tracey. And, Eddie’s ex, Nicole, is now dating Football Player Michael Strahan of the New York Giants

Producer Jermaine Dupri will do anything to make his lady happy, including reuniting her estranged brothers. Janet asked for Dupri’s help in getting her brothers together, and he has come up with the perfect solution. Dupri is planning a big reunion show on New Year’s Eve in Atlanta with Michael, Tito, Marlon, Jackie and Jermaine. Lil’ Brother Randy is still on the outs with Michael, so he has not been included in the reunion. Can the brothers get along for one night? Could this set the stage for a big reunion tour next year?

At the movies, it’s The Perfect Holiday with Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Charlie Murphy, Faison Love and Katt Williams.

Will Smith returns to take over the box with I Am Legend. Will’s daughter Willow co-stars along with Sallie Richardson-Whitfield.

With the new found success of their VH1 reality show, Salt and Pepa are turning their attention to the hair business. The ladies are planning to start a hair weave franchise. They say people need hair, and they want to supply it.

Tennis Sensation Venus Williams has found a new love Rapper Common.

Michael Vick has been sentenced to 23 months in jail following his conviction on dog fighting and conspiracy charges. Vick pleaded guilty to operating a dog fighting ring on his Virginia property. Sources say he will probably be released from jail in late 2008.

American Idol Judge Randy Jackson is getting ready to release a new CD. He’s calling it a music club compilation featuring Mariah Carey and a duet featuring Randy and Paula.

Patti LaBelle, Kelly Rowland and Nick Lachey are getting their choirs together for the new NBC reality show Clash of the Choirs. The best singers in the country have auditioned for this show. Now with the help of their celebrity choir leaders, they are ready to show who has the best choir in the country. NBC’s Clash of the Choirs airs Dec. 17th-20th.

The Luther Vandross auction raised $1.8 million. Some of the items sold include his yearbook that went for $700, $950 for his driver’s license and a Versace travel bag that went for $2,600.

::::: FEATURED EVENTS ::::::

::::: UPCOMING  MOVIES ::::::

Get ready for Sex And The City, the movie. The movie opens in theatres May 30th.

Alicia Keys will be joining Carson Daly for his New Year’s Eve show on NBC. Lenny Kravitz is also performing.

Get ready for these hot new music releases on December 18th- Mary J. Blige- Growing Pains | Jaheim- The Makings of a Man | Kirk Franklin – The Fight of My Life.

Martin Lawrence is also gearing up for a busy 2008. Lawrence has two big movie projects coming out: College Road Trip with Raven Symone opening in theatres March 7th and Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins with Mo’Nique, James Earl Jones and Nicole Ari Parker.

“The Boss”-Diana Ross, Director Martin Scorsese, Beach Boy Founder Brian Wilson and Comedian/Actor Steve Martin have been named for The 2007 Kennedy Center Honors. The awards ceremony takes place on December 26th on CBS.

The 34th Annual Peoples’ Choice Awards is set to air January 8th. Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Denzel Washington, Beyonce, Jamie Foxx, Dwayne “The Rock “Johnson and Chris Tucker are all up for awards.

The new season of American Idol: Season 7 premieres Tuesday January 15th.

BET’s Celebration of Gospel takes place January 27th, 8pm on BET. There will be special appearances by Patti LaBelle, Kirk Franklin, John Legend, Dr. Bobby Jones and the top five Sunday Best finalists. Steve Harvey is hosting.

The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will air February 10th on CBS.

December 25th: The Great Debaters – Starring Denzel Washington (Director), Forest Whitaker and produced by Oprah Winfrey.

January 11th, 2008: First Sunday - Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan and Katt Williams.

February 2008: The Better Man- Martin Lawrence, Mo’Nique and James Earl Jones.

::::: WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ :::::

This TV Personality is having a hard time fitting in on her new TV show. In an effort to blend in, she makes outrageous statements, and she comes across as dumb as a doorknob. Her fellow hosts are getting fed up with her, and people are starting to notice it.

This media personality is paying the price for treating his ex-wife bad. The personality did his ex wrong, and now he has to face the music.

This Singer had the looks, the voice and the dance moves, but he never made it big. A lot of people say his baby momma drama and bad management hurt his chances for making it big.

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