[Sophist08edLady]

Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of December 11th, 2006

On Sunday, December 17th, I will be teaming up with Justin Guarini, season one contestant from American Idol, and Anwar Robinson, season three contestant, at Bright Hope Baptist Church, 12th and Cecil B. Moore Avenue for Christmas At Bright Hope. I will be doing a reading. The music will be provided by The Bright Hope Baptist Church Celestial Choir, under the direction of J. Donald Dumpson. The program starts at 4pm, and is free and open to the public.

Lionel and Brenda Richie are joining forces to help their daughter Nicole. Nicole Richie was arrested earlier this week for driving under the influence. Nicole was arrested after she was seen driving in her SUV, going in the wrong direction on the freeway. Nicole admits she was high on Vicodin and marijuana. This is not the first time Nicole has been arrested on drug suspicions. Back in 2003, she was arrested on narcotics possession. On her arrest sheet, she was listed at 5’2, 90 pounds and Caucasian. On her 2006 arrest sheet she was listed as 5’1, 85 pounds and African American. Nicole is the adopted daughter of Brenda and Lionel Richie. She is the niece of Sheila E., and Michael Jackson is her godfather. Brenda and Lionel have been divorced for years, but they realize their daughter needs help. She may have to be admitted to rehab again. Nicole has a lot of issues, and a lot of people feel she is destroying herself.

What’s up with Queen Latifah and her personal trainer? Queen Latifah has always been tight lipped about her love life, but now her personal trainer and close friend, Jeanette Jenkins, is talking. Jenkins has been traveling with Latifah on the set of her new movie Hairspray. Queen Latifah is starring in the movie with John Travolta. Sources say Jenkins and Latifah have been fighting on the set. This is very shocking on Latifah’s part because she guards her privacy, but apparently a Fubu model is causing the problems. Somebody has been cheating, and now the personal trainer is coming forward with tales of her and the Queen.

Mel B speaks! Melanie Brown, the former Spice Girl who is allegedly pregnant by Eddie Murphy, says Murphy is a lying, cheating scumbag, and she can’t believe he has dumped her. Mel B says Eddie, 45, is a mama’s boy who still lives with his mother. Mel B admits Eddie’s mom and family didn’t like her because they thought she would cut in on their money. She says Eddie’s family is on his payroll. Mel B says the baby she is carrying is Eddie Murphy’s, and they conceived the first time they slept together. Mel B says she is devastated over being dumped by the movie star, and now he is going to pay. Mel B has been meeting with high powered lawyers. She says once the DNA tests are revealed, he will have to show her the money. Eddie Murphy has responded to Mel B’s allegations. He says he doesn’t think the child she is carrying is his because he has proof she was cheating on him. Eddie says he has the photos, and the man she was seeing was a man he knew. Eddie claims he was humiliated by her actions, and that’s why he dumped her and moved on with film producer Tracey Edmonds. If Eddie is the father (this will make baby number seven), he will have to pay Mel B her money and invest in condoms immediately!

Speaking of Eddie, he is about to hit the big screen in the movie Dreamgirls. He is amazing as “James ‘Thunder’ Early” in the movie. Don’t be surprised if he is nominated for many awards for his performance. With the hype of the movie, I have been getting emails about many of the performers associated with the Broadway musical and about The Legendary Supremes, who Dreamgirls is loosely based on. Beyonce plays the character “Deena Jones.” She is the Diana Ross-like character. Sheryl Lee Ralph played the role on Broadway. I had a chance to talk to Sheryl the other night. She said she loved the movie and found it very entertaining. She says she was a little disappointed when she was not asked to be part of the movie, but the cast made her feel very special at the Los Angeles premiere. Diana Ross is one person who is not happy about the movie. She never saw the Broadway musical, and she has no intention of seeing the movie. Everybody from Oprah to Diane Sawyer has been trying to get an interview with Miss Ross, but she is turning everybody down. Diana Ross feels insulted about the Dreamgirls concept. She claims no one asked her permission or paid her any money. Ross’ Supreme counterpart Mary Wilson is the exact opposite. She is ecstatic about the movie and the legacy of Dreamgirls. She was recently hired by The Extra magazine TV show as a Dreamgirls correspondent. Mary Wilson was thrilled at the opportunity because she says her life inspired the movie. Wilson is the author of Dreamgirl & Supreme Faith: My Life As A Supreme. Singer Jennifer Holliday won a Tony Award for the role of “Effie White,” which she originated on Broadway. Holliday is not happy either. She says she was not invited to the premieres, and she feels she was purposely cut out. Holliday says the Dreamgirls experience has left her so bitter, she won’t even watch video performances of her show stopping tune And I’m Telling You. Life has been rough for Holliday. Despite losing over 150 pounds, she has dealt with two failed marriages, suicide attempts, depression and bankruptcy. Holliday currently lives in Harlem. She says she doesn’t go out, and doesn’t have a cell phone or email. Lately, she has been advertising herself as being available for singing engagements as the Original Dreamgirl. Former American Idol Contestant Jennifer Hudson is getting praise everywhere for her role in the movie as “Effie White.” Hudson rises to the challenge of the role, and she does a good job singing her version of the Jennifer Holliday classic. The awards are starting to pour on for Hudson. She was recently voted as the Breakthrough Artist by the National Board of Review. Dreamgirls, with Jamie Foxx, Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover and Anika Noni Rose, opens in theatres Christmas.

Yolanda Adams is starting a clothing line. Yolanda’s Clozet will start off with a line of jeans and T-shirts. Next year, the entire line will be unveiled. Adams says she has always had a talent for sewing and designing clothes. Her line will be carried in Walmart and Macy’s. Adams is also starting her own management company managing singers and songwriters.

The 49th Annual Grammy Awards will air February 11th. Mary J. Blige is up for eight Grammy’s for her CD, The Breakthrough. Her song, Be Without You, is up for Song and Record of the Year, and her album is up for Album of the Year. The song, Be Without You, is not really an original song. The song was sampled from the Patti LaBelle classic Love, Need and Want You. That song was written by Philly’s own Kenny Gamble and Bunny Sigler. In other Mary J. Blige news, her greatest hits CD, The Retrospective, is out in stores.

After turning himself over to authorities, Actor Wesley Snipes proclaimed he was being singled out. Snipes was arrested and released on bail last week after being indicted on tax evasion charges. Snipes, 44, has not paid taxes in over six years, and he owes the government $12 million. Snipes says he is not guilty. He claims he is the victim of bad tax advice. A trial date for Snipes has been set for January 10th.

Actress Lisa Raye McCoy Missick speaks out on the state of her marriage to Prime Minister Michael Missick. The star of the CW show All of Us says the fairytale is not over for her and her husband. She says the marriage is still in the honeymoon stages. Lisa Raye married the Prime Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this year. A few weeks ago, reports surfaced that the Prime Minister was expecting a child with another woman. Lisa Raye had no comment on this story. She says even though she continues to split her time between Los Angeles and the islands, she is planning on doing some big things in 2007. Lisa Raye is planning to open the L Raye Theatre, the first ever movie theatre on the Turks and Caicos Islands. The theatre is scheduled to open by the spring.

At the movies, it’s the Pursuit of Happyness with Will and Jaden Smith. Will stars in the movie with his 8-year old son. The Pursuit of Happyness is based on the true life story of Chris Gardner, who rose from the streets of homelessness to the top of Wall Street. The movie is excellent and inspiring. Will and his son are amazing. The Smiths have it going on! Will’s wife Jada Pinkett recently donated $1 million to the Baltimore School for the Arts for their expansion program. Jada attended the school, and the school will be dedicated to her friend, the late Rapper Tupac Shakur, who was killed in a drive by shooting in 1996.

Fantasia is back with a new, self-titled album, and she’s excited about going on the road. She is scheduled to go on tour with Jamie Foxx. Jamie feels like he owes Fantasia. He tried to get her a role in the Dreamgirls movie, but when she went public with her reading problems, she lost out on the role. Jamie Foxx is a big fan of Fantasia’s, so he’s letting her go on tour with him. She was very disappointed when she didn’t get the movie role despite the help of two Oscar winners, Jamie Foxx and Denzel Washington. Fantasia says she’s glad for her fellow Idol Contestant Jennifer Hudson.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell says she’s a misunderstood woman. Campbell says stories of her abusing her assistants were blown out of proportion. She feels she’s a target because people have agendas. Campbell admits she has to be careful with whom she hangs around, and she’s proud of the fact she doesn’t drink or do drugs anymore. Naomi has been arrested several times for abusing her foreign assistants.

The twins have arrived! Sean “Diddy” Combs and longtime girlfriend Kim Porter are the proud parents of twin girls. The girls join their brothers Christian, Justin and Quincy.

Director Spike Lee’s next project will be a movie about the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. The riots followed the acquittals by a white jury of four officers who were videotaped beating motorist Rodney King. During the riots, 55 people died and $1 billion in damages was caused.

The January issue of Essence magazine features Patti LaBelle, Vanessa Williams, Kelly Rowland, Nancy Wilson and Wendy Raquel Robinson. The issue celebrates looking great at any age. The ladies look lovely.

Natalie Cole is releasing a CD featuring her greatest love songs called Our Love, I Live for Your Love. The CD comes out on January 30th.

The month of February is going to be huge one for Prince. He’s up for five Grammy Awards, and he will be performing during the halftime show at Superbowl 41. Superbowl Sunday is set for February 4th. The game will air on CBS.

Singer Keith Sweat has recorded a song in memory of his late friend, Singer Gerald Levert. The song, My Friend, was recorded by Sweat right after Gerald’s memorial service in Cleveland. One of the highlights of Gerald’s career was recording with Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill as part of the group LSG.

On Saturday. O.P. Productions will be having a Christmas Old School/New School Jam at Club Quest (Formerly Ambrosia’s), 1605 Claymont Street. For more info call 302-765-2151.

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

This lady is a media mogul. She isn’t married, and she is always dispelling rumors about her sexuality. A couple of weeks ago at a major media event, an Oscar-winning Actor made a joke about her sex life with a close female friend. He said he was only joking, but the joke was heard around the world. He apologized profusely, but she has vowed never to speak to him again. At one time, they were very close and many thought they had something going on.