Patty Jackson Weekly 411 courtesy 2 Down Front Entertainment

PATTY JACKSON'S 4-1-1
WEEK ENDING: July 23rd, 2010

Janet Jackson is one busy lady she is the cover girl for the latest edition of Essence magazine. She is filming the new Tyler Perry movie for Colored Girls, she’s in love and she’s been named the new spokesperson for the Blackgama Fur campaign. PETA is not happy about Jackson’s latest venture but Janet seems to be happy with it. She looks fabulous in her mink in the black and white photo. Janet follows the likes of Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor who have starred in previous campaigns for What Becomes A Legend Most. PETA has lashed out against Janet accusing her of reviving her career on the backs of dead animals. Janet’s love life has also been heating up with her romance with Wissam Al Mana he’s a young rich Arab Man whose family is in the oil business.

Its wedding bells for Alicia Keys who is tired of being labeled a home wrecker. Keys is expecting her first child with producer Swizz Beats. Swizz Beats made headlines when he left his wife and young child to be with Keys. A Caribbean wedding is rumored to be happening this weekend. In September Keys is teaming up with Sade for her charity Keep a Child Alive which assists children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

Faith Evans is coming back with a new album at the end of summer. Something About Faith is coming out September 14^th.

According to published reports a drug dealer is spilling the beans on Whitney Houston accusing the singer of still being on drugs. The dealer says Houston has a 300 thousand dollar a year habit and that she has not stopped doing drugs. Houston has also gained an alarming amount of weight and sources say it’s because she is on a steroid to help her with her respiratory problems. I had a chance to interview Houston’s ex Bobby Brown. He had no comment on Houston he is currently on tour with the Heads of State, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill. He is keeping the weight off that he lost on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. He looks good, he was happy and he says he is enjoying life with his fiancé and young baby.

Wesley Snipes is finally going to jail. After a ten year fight with the IRS Snipes will have to start serving a three year sentence for failing to file and pay taxes since 1998. Snipes has already given the government 15 million dollars but that did not sway a federal appeals court which ruled Snipes must serve his sentence. There is no word on when he will start serving that sentence.

Keisha Cole’s mom Frankie is working on a new book about her life. The book Two Sides to Every Story is a tell all about her life and the lessons she learned on the road to recovery. Frankie has also been added to the cast of VH1’S Celebrity Rehab.

Are Will and Jada headed to Broadway? After the success of the musical Fela which they co-produced the Hollywood power couple has been approached to star in a new revival of the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire. The production is scheduled for 2011if it happens Will Smith will play the role made famous by Marlon Brando, Stanley Kowalski.

Terry McMillan’s long awaited sequel to Waiting to Exhale called Getting to Happy arrives in bookstores September 7^th.

John Legend is working on a new project which will include a remake of the Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes classic Wake Up Everybody. Come see John Legend at the Pacific Amphitheatre on July 30th.

It’s official after dating for the past three years Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union have come out as a couple. Wade wanted to wait until his messy divorce was over and now he and Gabby can go on with their lives.

Tyrese has announced plans for a new album. Open Invitation is due out next year.

Denzel Washington has signed on for the spy thriller Safe House as one of his future projects. Washington, who just a Tony Award for his Broadway performance in Fences, has a new movie called Unstoppable coming out in November.

Ice T was embarrassed this week with his recent arrest. Ice T plays a cop on Law and Order and he was arrested in New York for driving without a seat belt and driving with a suspended license.

Actor Michael Ealy has joined the cast of the CBS TV show The Good Wife. Ealy who used to date Halle Berry has a new movie with Chris Brown and Idris Elba coming out in late August, Takers.

Former White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers has been shaking things up in her new role as consultant at Ebony/Jet Magazines. Rogers is unhappy with the rebranding of the magazine which has cost the company over 80 thousand dollars.

For the first time in its 24 year history The Oprah Winfrey Show has suffered its worst ratings. The show has been in reruns but recent data shows an all time ratings low. New episodes start in early September as the show enters its 25^th and final season.

Actor Kristoff St. John says he is not leaving the Young and the Restless. St. John has signed on for a comedy pilot produced by the Wayans Brothers. St. John plays the character Neil Winters and he will be featured in a reduced role. St. John won an Emmy in 2008. Maybe if they bring back Actress Victoria Rowell who played his wife Drucilla they will know what to do with his character.

Idris Elba is hot on the cover of Ebony magazine. His new movie Takers arrives in theatres on August 27^th. Speaking of new movies, on August 20^th, it’s the Lottery Ticket with Loretta Devine, Ice Cube, Bow Wow, Mike Epps & Terry Crews. Idris is also going to be the Honorary Chairperson along with Jimmy Rollins at this year’s Philly’s Men are Cooking. This event is Saturday November 27th more details coming later.

Actress Vonetta McGhee has died. The 70’s icon died from a heart attack at the age of 65. McGhee was married to actor Carl Lumbly. McGhee was best known for her work with actor Max Julian and the movies Shaft in Africa, Hammer and Blacula.

Actress Tariji P. Henson has signed on for the Lifetime movie Taken From Me. The story is based on the true life story of Tiffany Rubin whose 7 year son was abducted by his Korean born father. The story traces her journey to get her son back to the USA.

Gospel Great Walter Hawkins is being hailed as one of the greats in the Gospel music industry. Hawkins died at the 61 from pancreatic cancer. He was working on a new album at the time of his death.