Patty Jackson Weekly 411 courtesy 2 Down Front Entertainment

When you look back at the year 2009, the biggest story had to the death of The King Of Pop, Michael Jackson. I think we can all recall what we were doing on that day in late June. I thought it was a publicity stunt. Michael was supposed to do a series of shows in London, but it wasn’t to be. Michael was dead at the age of 50. The King Of Pop was gone. Controversy still surrounds his death, and the question remains was his personal physician responsible? Did Dr. Conrad Murray kill Michael? The investigation into his death continues, and somebody could be arrested next year. The death of Jackson topped the headlines. Since his death, the Michael Jackson estate has made over $150 million through records sales, the hit movie, This Is It, and other Jackson memorabilia. The DVD version of This Is It arrives in stores on January 26th.

Golfer Tiger Woods had a Thanksgiving he will never forget. On that night outside his Florida home, it was the car crash heard around the world. With it the perfect life of Tiger Woods and his family was shattered. Did Tiger’s wife go upside his head with a golf club when she confronted him about his other women? At press time, the number of women linked to Woods had grown to 15. Who knew Tiger had it in him? He betrayed his wife of five years with numerous porn stars, cocktail waitresses, nightclub hostesses and escorts. Woods and his wife Elin have two young children. This car crash has cost woods millions of dollars, loss of endorsements and his family. At press time, Elin had the moving trucks outside of their home, and she was planning on moving out. Woods has taken a leave of absence from golf to get his life together.

American Idol booted Paula Abdul. After 8 seasons, contract negotiation stalled and the popular Abdul, who’s known to be a little out of it during the show, was replaced by Talk Show Host and Comedienne Ellen DeGeneres.

Babies were born in 2009: congrats to Singers Jill Scott and Jennifer Hudson. They both gave birth to baby boys.

There were also breakups in 2009. Toni Braxton and her husband Kerry Lewis called it quits after two kids and eight years of marriage. After 7 years, Janet Jackson and Jermaine Dupri called it quits. Usher and Tameka Raymond divorced after a year filled with drama and a near death. Earlier this year, Tameka almost died when she snuck off to Brazil to have plastic surgery right after she gave birth to the couple’s second child. Tameka had to be put in a medically induced coma to save her life after having a heart attack. Shaq and Shaunie O’Neal called it quits. The popular NBA star was caught having numerous affairs with other NBA players’ women. Shaunie decided she had enough, filed for divorce and now she is getting ready to debut her new reality show NBA Wives on VH1 in March.

Oprah is leaving daytime TV. After 25 years, The Mighty O is leaving daytime TV to concentrate on her own network, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. Oprah steps down in 2011.

Kanye West derailed his career at The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. He felt Country Sensation Taylor Swift stole an award from Beyonce, so he decided to take her to task on the award stage. What an idiot! His boorish behavior may have deep sixed his career.

Speaking of Beyonce, what a year it’s been for her. She had a hit movie (Obsessed), a hit album (I Am Sasha Fierce featuring the hit anthem Single Ladies) and a hot tour. In 2010, look for Beyonce to take the stage in Las Vegas.

Don Cornelius avoided jail. The 73-year old Soul Train Founder was arrested for assaulting his young wife, but avoided jail by copping a plea deal and doing probation and paying fines.

It was a great touring year for Stevie Wonder. Check out his live show from London on DVD. Maxwell hit the road too. After eight years, his audience was ready. He toured the country with a number of sold out shows. He also had a hit, Grammy nominated album with Black Summers’ Night.

Get well wishes go out to Singer Regina Belle, who has been sick for most of the year, and Singer Natalie Cole, who had a successful kidney transplant operation.

Wedding bells rang in 2009 basketball great Dr. J married a beautiful young woman named Dorys Madden, who is rumored to be joining the new season of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. Actress Victoria Rowell also tied the knot with Radcliffe Bailey. She’s best known for her work as “Drucilla” on The Young And The Restless. She’s also rumored to be joining The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. Bishop Thomas Weeks got remarried. Juanita who? Weeks was married to Prophetess Juanita Bynum, and that marriage ended violently. Weeks took to the web to find a new wife. He did, a beautiful woman who is also a prophetess, Christina Glenn. Weeks says despite his troubled past, he is very happy right now.

Tyler Perry had an amazing year. He premiered his new show, Meet The Browns, on TBS. He had a hit movie with I Can Do Bad All By Myself. Tyler even had a minor role in the latest Star Trek movie, and he and Oprah Winfrey have teamed up to promote the Lee Daniels’ movie Precious. Tyler is taking a break from Hollywood to return to the stage in a new "Madea" production. His new movie, Why Did I Get Married Too with Janet Jackson and Jill Scott, comes out in April. It was also a sad time for the filmmaking mogul. Tyler lost his mom a couple of weeks ago.

CHECK HIS NEW TOUR PAGE HERE

Morgan Freeman is rebounding from scandal. He is currently starring as Nelson Mandela in the Clint Eastwood movie Invictus, but earlier this year, he made headlines for a car crash that has left his arm disabled. Freeman was with a woman who was not his wife when he crashed his car. In the following weeks, the secret life of Freeman and his women (the jumpoffs) came to light and his wife went walking.

Mo’Nique had quite a year. She started out with a radio show, lost the radio show, starred in a hit movie (Precious where she plays a monstrous mother) and she started a late night show on BET. In 2010, look for Mo’Nique on the red carpet at the awards shows.

Chris Brown and Rihanna: what happened on that February night? Rihanna suffered a beat down at the hands of Brown and the pictures shocked the world. The photos of a beaten Rihanna revealed how badly she was assaulted. Brown didn’t help matters with his media coverage. He plead guilty to the beating, served community service and paid fines, but he has not been able to salvage his career. Things have not been much better for Rihanna. While she’s everywhere looking fabulous, she hurt herself by not addressing the abuse issue. She waited until it was time to sell her new album, Rated R. Well the album is not doing well. In her latest stunt to sell Rated R, she’s topless on the cover of GQ magazine.

Evander Holyfield broke?!!! In shocking news, it was revealed he blew his $20 million dollar fortune. He gave millions to Televangelist Creflo Dollar. Let’s not get started with the baby mommas. Now, Evander is broke.

Whitney Houston returned looking good and going platinum with her latest project, I Look To You. While her voice may not be what it used to be, it’s good to have her back. Her ex-husband Bobby Brown had an interesting year too. He had a baby with his latest baby mamma, and he’s gearing up for the new season of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.

The King children stopped fighting, but not after losing out on a major movie deal with Steven Spielberg. And, as if things couldn’t get worse, Dexter King almost lost his life. The fighting between the King children was embarrassing. Why couldn’t Martin, III, Bernice and Dexter get along? There were charges of stealing and mismanagement of money. Famed Director Steven Spielberg signed on to do a movie about their parents, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King, but the fighting got so bad Spielberg backed away from the project. Over the summer, Dexter almost lost his life in a car accident. After months of therapy, Dexter still has to get around in a wheelchair. In a recent court ruling, the King children were forced to come to terms on the King Foundation, and now an outsider has been put in charge of running the estate.

Katt Williams continued his downward spiral. Arrests, a stay at a mental facility, and allegations of substance and alcohol abuse filled the comedian’s year. What is going with him, and why won’t he get help? Lately, he’s making news for his arrest and not his movies or comedy show. Let’s hope something tragic doesn’t happen to him in 2010. He needs help.

It was a rough year for BeBe Winans. In addition to dealing with the loss of his father, BeBe ran into trouble with the law when he was arrested for knocking his ex-wife to the ground during a domestic dispute. Months later, charges were dropped against Winans, but the damage was done. He lost his spot on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and his reputation was tarnished. Winans agreed to domestic violence counseling, and he is currently promoting his latest CD, Still, with sister CeCe.

We have a lot to look forward to in 2010. The return of Sade, Fantasia’s new reality show, the new changes on American Idol, Lisa Raye’s new reality show, and will someone be charged in the death of Michael Jackson?

~~ We remember those we lost in 2009 ~~

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