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Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of December 25th, 2006

The Godfather of Soul is dead, and his last days were filled with loneliness and heartache. The hardest working man in show business died at the age of 73 with his agent by his side. Where was his wife? Tomi Rae Hyne, the 36-year old mother of his five-year old son, was not with Brown. She has been in his life for the past ten years, but at the end she was not with him. Hyne claimed she was Brown’s wife, but she wasn’t. Brown never got over the embarrassment of finding out the woman he thought he married was already married to another man. Hyne did divorce her first hubby, but when she and Brown remarried, it was not legal. So, she is not his wife. According to attorneys for Brown’s estate, Hyne was just a guest in his house, and she has a house down the street. The Brown Family has waited a long time to get rid of Hyne, and now they have. She has been barred from the Georgia home. Hyne claims she has no money and nowhere to go. The fight is on the estate of James Brown, who leaves behind two daughters and another son. An older son, Teddy, died several years ago. Hynes does have an ace in the hole with her five-year old son. But, she is not Brown’s legal wife, and she has no claims to his money. Hopefully, whoever is in charge won’t punish the young child because of the mistakes of the mother. James Brown was undoubtedly the most influential performer on the music scene. Funk, Soul, Disco, Hip Hop, they all owe a great debt to the Godfather of Soul. Despite his enormous success, he led a wild life that included stints in jail, drug abuse, family feuds and domestic violence. When his life story comes to the big screen, it will be a fascinating tale of the greatest showman in music history.

Despite the fact that he publicly dumped her while she is pregnant, Mel B wants Eddie Murphy back. Sources say the former Spice Girl has turned to voodoo to woo Murphy back to her. Apparently, Mel is willing to forgive Murphy for the public humiliation. She just wants her man back. Mel B has had meetings with a voodoo priestess and she has been drinking concoctions hoping he will return to her. She has also been rubbing cigars into her arm, and stuffing her underwear along with his in a jar. Maybe this is the reason they call her Scary Spice! Mel B is at the end of her rope, and she doesn’t want to raise another child alone. She already has a seven-year old daughter. Mel B believes she is perfect for Eddie Murphy, but he is easily influenced by his friends who want to drink and get high all day. Murphy feels betrayed by Mel B, and he doesn’t believe that the child she is carrying is his. Mel B says she got pregnant by Murphy the first time they slept together. Why would a man who already has six kids sleep with a woman for the first time with no protection?!! Murphy says he doesn’t believe the child could be his because he has proof that Mel was also seeing another man. He wants a DNA test. If the baby turns out to be his, it could cost Murphy between $15- 30 million. That’s no voodoo. That’s a payday for Mel B!

Star Jones-Reynolds says she’s a changed woman, and she is teaming up with Oprah Winfrey to prove to the world that she is not the mean-spirited, self-centered Diva that many think she is. Jones-Reynolds left the ABC show The View in June, and she has been looking for a job. She recently joined forces with TV One to do some work, but she wants more. Jones-Reynolds is overhauling her image, and she will be leaving the country. Oprah Winfrey is headed to South Africa to start the New Year at the opening of her all girls academy. Oprah is taking a host of celebrities with her, and Jones-Reynolds is going to be on board to help out.

Is Oscar-winning Actress Halle Berry dating a “K-Fed?” You know, a cute man who’s broke (a.k.a. Kevin Federline, Britney Spears soon to be ex). Halle has been wearing a huge ring on her engagement finger. Halle says she will never get married again, but for the past year, she has been dating Canadian Model Gabriel Aubry. The relationship appears to be steady and serious, but her friends are asking, Does this man have any money? Berry recently gave him the money to open a café in New York, and he lets everybody knows that Halle is his woman. Is Aubry the new “K-Fed?” He does have a job as a successful male model. Halle’s new movie, Perfect Stranger with Bruce Willis, opens in theatres on April 13th.

Actress Kim Fields (“Tootie” on The Facts of Life and “Regine” on Living Single) is expecting her first child. The 37-year old actress has been dating Broadway Actor Christopher Morgan, and she says they are excited about their first child. Friends of Morgan are talking about the Broadway actor. Apparently, they want him to be honest with Kim about his sexuality. If he is bi-sexual, Fields probably knows about it. Right now, she is just looking forward to motherhood.

The Houston Family will be making their singing debut on the soundtrack to the Tyler Perry movie Daddy’s Little Girls. Whitney, CeCe, Bobbi Kris and Dionne Warwick are all singing together on the song Family First. This is Whitney’s first recording since leaving hubby Bobby Brown and getting her life together. The Tyler Perry movie, which stars Gabrielle Union and Idris Elba, arrives in theatres February 14th.

Actor Mike Evans has died. He is best known for his role as “Lionel” on the 70’s TV show The Jeffersons. Evans was 57 years old, and he died from throat cancer. Evans started his career on the TV show All In The Family, and he helped to create the TV classic Good Times with Eric Monte.

Hot on the heels of the success of the movie Dreamgirls and NBC’s mini series about The Temptations, the ABC network is planning to do a miniseries based on the life of The Supremes. The true story about Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Florence Ballard and Cindy Birdsong will be based on the autobiography written by Mary Wilson.

2007 is going to be a special year for The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin. She has a new album: Aretha, A Woman Falling Out of Love, coming out on January 27th. She will also be honored on the UNCF Evening of Stars with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The show will air on BET.

2007 will also signal the return of Vesta Williams. Vesta is best known for the 80’s hit Congratulations. She has a new album of remakes coming out. Vesta: Distant Lover arrives in stores January 30th. The album will feature remakes of classic songs such as Distant Lover (Marvin Gaye), Whip Appeal (Babyface), Free (Deniece Williams), Knocks Me Off My Feet (Stevie Wonder), Ooh Baby Baby (Smokey Robinson), No Ordinary Love (Sade) and With You I’m Born Again (Billy Preston & Syreeta).

Pulitzer Prize-winning Author Alice Walker (The Color Purple) is finally opening up about her private life. Walker has always been guarded about her life rarely discussing her ex-husband or daughter, but now she is talking about a past romance she had in the 80’s with Singer Tracey Chapman. Chapman is best known for the song Fast Car. Walker admits her romance with Chapman was one of the best periods of her life regarding knowing a true love.

American Idol returns to Fox on January 16th. Sources say a midseason shocker is expected to happen. What will be the Idol shocker?

“Jack Bauer” returns with 24 on Fox on January 14th. Regina King joins Kiefer Sutherland for the new season.

BET’s Celebration of Gospel will air on January 28th. WDAS morning man Steve Harvey will be hosting with special guests Fantasia, Kirk Franklin, Shirley Caesar, Faith Evans and Smokie Norful.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This former Basketball Superstar is Chocolate, Fine and one of the Greatest Players to ever grace the courts. He cheats on his wife all the time. He is always trying to pick up women. He recently got his face cracked when the girl kept telling him to leave her alone because he’s married. The Basketball Superstar expects women to fall at his feet, and he hates to be reminded that he’s married. (M.J.? Juanita has finally had enough)