Patty Jackson Weekly 411 courtesy 2 Down Front Entertainment

Did The King of Pop have to die? The shock of his death is still sinking in, and there are so many unanswered questions. The toxicology reports will reveal a lot, but we will have to wait weeks for the results. Was he addicted to prescription drugs? Where are the doctors who supplied with him drugs? It didn’t start with his latest physician, Dr. Conrad Murray. He just happened to be his doctor at the time. What about the kids? Katherine Jackson has been placed in charge, but will have to fight off legal challenges from Debbie Rowe, who was the surrogate for the oldest two children. How about the African nanny, Grace Rwaramba, who raised the kids? She’s the woman who was the only mother they knew. Diana Ross was named in the will to step in and raise the children if something should happen to Katherine. Would The Boss be willing? What role will Jackson’s dermatologist play? Dr. Arnold Klein is being named as the biological father of the oldest kids. How do you control Papa Joe? The Jackson patriarch, who is seen as a loose cannon and a media hog, loves the spotlight to promote his personal causes. The Jackson family is trying to sort it all out, and they are demanding family loyalty. They want certain family members to keep quiet. Stop trying to make a buck! Don’t leak private info! All baby mommas and girlfriends have also been ordered to keep quiet out of respect for the family. Katherine Jackson needs her family right now to be loyal, and she needs them to be strong. Jet magazine, Time magazine, Newsweek and People are just a few of the publications with Michael Jackson tributes out now.

R.I.P.

Quincy Jones says They Messed up My Magazine! In 1992, Jones launched Vibe magazine, and now in 2009, the magazine is folding. Vibe fell victim to a poor economy and lagging ad sales. Jones says he hopes to revive the magazine on line. I used to be a big fan of Vibe, but in recent years I couldn’t relate to the artists and poor articles.

The divorce battle between Usher and his wife Tameka Foster is heating up, and it’s getting ugly. According to published reports, Usher has ordered a paternity test for the second child born to Foster. Friends say he doesn’t believe the child is his. At stake is Usher’s $80 million fortune. Usher’s mom told him not to marry this woman, but he wouldn’t listen? Now he may have to pay big time. There was a prenup signed, and the couple tell different versions on when the relations ended. Usher says they separated after 11 months of marriage. Foster says they separated 19 months after getting married. She also stated she had no idea her husband wanted out of the marriage. She says they had sex a week before he filed the papers. If it is proven that Usher and Foster separated after 11 months of marriage, she would get no money, just child support. Friends of Foster feel Usher is trying to cheat her out of her money. She left her husband and three kids to be with Usher, gives him two babies, and then he dumps her.

What went wrong with the BET Awards? The rebroadcast is set for this weekend. They had record breaking numbers (10 million viewers), but a lot of people were disappointed in the execution of the show. I’m sure the death of Michael Jackson threw them off, but many people were expecting a better tribute for The King of Pop. The show had been in the planning stages for six months, so they kept a lot of stuff in, but trying to add new features made the show seem forced and drawn out. The Ving Rhames-Baby Boy skit with Tyrese was embarrassing. Let’s hope they edit this out. The Don Cornelius segment with The O’Jays: I understand he is a legend, but, Houston, We Got a Problem! He should not have been left up there rambling on and on. It hurts Don’s legacy. Rappers and racy lyrics: this has got to go. It’s a turn off for adults. Artists demanding who should be on the show and shouldn’t: they don’t run your network. Yeah, they may have star power, but you can’t ban one artist for their behavior and let others who have troubled pasts rule the stage. Past BET Awards shows were off the hook. They stood head and shoulders above the rest of the shows. Mo’Nique dancing to Beyonce, the Fugees reunion, Michael Jackson paying homage to James Brown, Rick James letting the world know who he is live and uncut, and Prince teaming up with Stevie Wonder and Yolanda Adams to salute Chaka Khan. This year maybe it was too much hype and too much pressure with Michael Jackson dying. Let’s hope they edit it to down to the good parts, Maxwell, The O’Jays tribute, Jamie Foxx moonwalking, and leave the junk out.

Speaking of Jamie, friends say the Oscar winner took the criticism of The BET Awards to heart. He feels many people do not understand his brand of humor, and that he did not mean to offend anyone during the show. He says he loved Michael Jackson, respected his talent and what he brought to the world. Foxx is gearing up for a music tour, and he is about to create a new TV project for MTV. Back in the 90’s, he was one of the stars of the TV Show in Living Color. Now he wants to produce a sketch comedy show for MTV. Sources say it would be an updated version of In Living Color. CHECK OUT TOUR PAGE

Was Boxer Evander Holyfield too giving? His home is about to be foreclosed, plus divorces, failed businesses and child support are dooming the 46-year old boxing legend. What happened? He has 11 kids, but reportedly gave Televangelist Creflo Dollar $20 million.

Martin Lawrence is currently developing several TV projects with his production company. One will be an animated show based on his life as a child.

Maxwell returns next week with the long awaited album Black Summers’ Nights. He is also on tour supporting the project. CHECK OUT TOUR PAGE

American Idol Judge Simon Cowell is set to become the richest man on TV. Cowell, a.k.a. “Mr. Mean,” is set to sign a new deal that would pay him between $100 and $144 million to stay on the show. Dang, is he worth all that?!!!!

Tyler Perry is gearing up a busy fall. The promos have already started for his new Madea movie, I Can Do Bad All By Myself. The movie hits theaters on September 11th, and will star Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige and Gladys Knight. Of course, Perry returns as “Madea.” He’s also has his new project with Oprah Winfrey, the Lee Daniel film Precious. Precious hits theatres on November 6th, and is based on the novel Push by Sapphire. Precious stars Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Sherri Shepherd and newcomer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe.

Brian McKnight is working on a new album. He says he will feature Stevie Wonder and Jill Scott on the new project.

Sheryl Lee Ralph is returning to Broadway. The former Dreamgirls star is joining the cast of the musical The First Wives Club. The Broadway production is based on the best-selling book and movie The First Wives Club. Ralph will be playing the role made famous by Goldie Hawn. In real life, Ralph is the wife of Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes. Veteran Motown Songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland are doing the musical score for the show.

Check out Queen Latifah on the new issue of Essence magazine. She also has a new album coming on July 7th titled Persona. Latifah has also signed on for a new movie called Sports Romance with Rapper/Actor Common. In the movie, she plays a sports trainer who falls in love with a pro basketball player.

We Remember Singer Fayette Pinkney of The Three Degrees. Pinkney passed away over the weekend after a sudden illness. Pinkney was a member of The Three Degrees from 1963-1976. The remaining members of the group include Helen Scott, Valerie Holiday and Cynthia Garrison.

The VH1 network is getting ready to unveil a new lineup of reality shows, and the ladies are taking charge and looking for love. There’s Fantasia with a show based on her life and career. The Fantasia show debuts in January. Pepa from Salt and Pepa is looking for love. She is on the hunt after a disastrous marriage to Rapper Treach from Naughty By Nature. Chilli from TLC is famous for her past relationships with Producer Dallas Austin and Singer Usher. Chilli is still hot and looking for love in her reality show, which debuts next year.

Spokespeople for R Kelly are denying reports that Kelly has a new teenage friend. Kelly is currently on tour in South Africa. Friends feel because of his reputation with young girls, he will always be on the radar and monitored by authorities.

Actor Hill Harper (CSI-New York) is back with a new book. Harper’s previous books (Letters To A Young Brother and Letters To A Young Sister) topped the New York Times Best Sellers List. Harper’s new book, The Conversation: How Black Men and Women Can Build Trusting Relationships, is available in stores now. Harper says the dynamics of being in a relationship can be so complex, but dialogue can bring together a better understanding between men and women.

Kirk Franklin is working on a new book. The award winning gospel superstar says his book will be called The Blue Print.

The new issue of Ebony magazine is profiling the “It Women.” Women who have “It” include First Lady Michelle Obama, Tina Turner, Alicia Keys and Halle Berry. They are gracing various Ebony “It” factor covers.

Quincy Jones is coming to Broadway. Jones says he has been working on this project for the past 33 years, which is titled Genesis: An Evolution Of Jazz And Blues.

Mary J. Blige is releasing a new CD in November called Technical Difficulty. Blige says she’s excited about the project. She is going to be everywhere this fall. She is one of the stars of the new Tyler Perry-Madea movie; I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which comes out in September. Mary’s co-star in the movie is Gladys Knight. Knight is coming out with a jewelry line. The singer/actress and business woman is excited about her new venture. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line will be sold at major department stores and through The Home Shopping Network. The Gladys Knight Jewelry Line debuts in December.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation is gearing up for the 91st birthday celebration of the South African leader. The foundation is staging a big concert on July 18th with Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Alicia Keys at Madison Square Garden in New York

This year’s VH-1 Hip Hop Honors will pay homage to Def Jam Records. The famed label celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. In addition to honoring the labels founders, Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin, they will pay tribute to the great Def Jam artists such as Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, DMX, Ludacris and Kanye West. Tracy Morgan is hosting The Hip Hop Honors, and it will air on Oct 12th on VH1.

Jeffrey Osborne will be releasing a new live CD on July 7th. The CD will feature over three decades of Osborne’s music including his days with LTD and his solo career.