(Dec. 9, 2003) Miracles Still Do Happen: I recently interviewed singing sensation Tamia for an upcoming cover story for Smooth magazine. During the interview, the lovely singer revealed to me why her junior album “Still” was pushed back from its original release date in August 2003. “I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis,” admitted Tamia. I knew Tamia’s album had been pushed back due to an undisclosed illness, but I didn’t know it was multiple sclerosis.
The Canadian beauty, who is married to Orlando Magic player Grant Hill, went on to share, “I had been going through some things like two months prior. I remember one time I had been telling people my leg went numb. They looked at me and started laughing. A lot of times, I joke around so you never know when to take me serious or not. I’d put my jeans on and couldn’t even feel it. I’m like the type of person that if anything happens, I am right at the doctor’s office. He was like ‘I don’t know what’s wrong.’ I’d been exercising a lot, and he thought that maybe I’d pinched a nerve or something. So I did all kinds of tests, and then I went away for our anniversary. It got really, really bad to the point that I couldn’t even get out of bed. I came back for a visit at the doctor’s office and they literally were like, ‘Go down the street to the hospital.’ So I stayed there for about a week running tests. They told me I had to shut everything down because we don’t know what’s going on with you. They didn’t even give me a specific time. Unfortunately, it was during the time when they were about to release my album. However, I am a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and I had to prioritize and shut everything down and take care of myself. Later on they diagnosed me, and I’m taking it from there and getting better and better each day. When they first told me, I had my mother, my mother-in-law, [and] my husband in the room, and we all for a good 15 to 20 minutes were like ‘oh my goodness.’ Even now thinking about it, I still get a little choked up. The first two people that I thought about were Nancy Davis and Montel Williams. They are two people that I know had multiple sclerosis and are doing very well. That was very big for me to have that type of vision of someone who is still healthy and is having a healthy, productive life. It wasn’t the end of the world.”
Well it certainly wasn’t the end for Tamia. Last Thursday, the night before she was scheduled to fly to New York City for her Smooth cover shoot, Tamia called me with great news. “I just wanted to let you know that the spot on my spine where they found the M.S. is gone,” she exclaimed.
“Wait,” I said. “You mean the multiple sclerosis is completely gone? It like went away?”
“Yep! They said they’ve never really seen anything like it. It’s gone,” she answered. “I know I had some people praying for me!”
Look at that. God is still working miracles, both big and small!
Tamia’s forthcoming album has been re-titled “More” and will now be released in March. The set will also feature a rendition of The Winans’ hit “Tomorrow,” the song that Tamia performed two years ago on BET’s “Celebration of Gospel.” The Smooth issue featuring Tamia will be on newsstands in mid-January.
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This Just In…: I’m told that recently divorced singer Brandy is dating Los Angeles Clipper guard Quentin Richardson. Brandy has been spotted at several Clippers games and was even spotted with tennis star Serena Williams at a game on Dec. 3. (Rumor has it Brandy is trying to hook Serena up with Clipper Corey Maggette.) Quentin, 23, and Brandy, 24, have apparently been spotted all over Hollywood together and even attended the Brand Jordan MP3 player launch together at the Hollywood hotspot Cinespace.
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Coming To The Stage: It’s a done deal. E. Lynn Harris’s novel “Not A Day Goes By” is being turned into a stage play. The production began rehearsals this week in Dallas and will star actress Jackee (“227”), “American Idol” contestant Trenyce and comedian Gary Owens. The show is slated to open on Jan. 5, 2004 in Little Rock, Ark. with other dates to follow in Birmingham, Ala. Memphis, Tenn., Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. For more information on the production, go to
http://www.randomhouse.com/features/...arris/notaday.
…Bishop T.D. Jakes’ newest venture is the theatrical production of his best-selling novel “Cover Girls.” The great Bishop has teamed up with Clear Channel Entertainment and music mogul Matthew Knowles for the production, which will begin rehearsals in the coming weeks. “Cover Girls” will star veteran actress Kim Fields (“Living Single”) and the Queen of Inspirational Soul, Ann Nesby. The show kicks off on Jan. 6, 2004 in Grand Prairie, Texas, with dates also scheduled for Jackson, Miss., New Orleans and New York City.
…2004 Grammy-nominated gospel star Vickie Winans has a new play called "Torn Between Two Loves" scheduled to launch next spring. Details about the production are sketchy right now, but the play is slated to begin on March 2, 2004 in Lafayette, La. For more information on the play, visit
www.VickieWinans.com. Also on Vickie… The singer was recently married to Joe McLemore in Las Vegas. This is the gospel diva’s third marriage.
…Also hitting the stage next spring is “Friends and Lovers,” the play based on the best-selling novel by Eric Jerome Dickey. For more information, visit www.imreadyproductions.com. WISH IT WOULD BE A FREAKING MOVIE but OKAY I WILL STILL SEE IT!!!!
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Soap Talk: Real life lovebirds Kenny Lattimore and Chante Moore will be making an appearance on the CBS soap “The Young and The Restless” on Dec. 23. The happily married couple will be performing at Neil (Kristoff St. John) and Drucilla’s (Victoria Rowell) wedding.
Also on Victoria… The actress will be among the stars presenting inspirational stories about adoption on the fifth annual “A Home For The Holidays.” The show will also air on Dec. 23 on CBS. Victoria was actually raised in foster care. The special will also feature appearances by Mya, No Doubt, Mary J. Blige, Enrique Iglesias, Amy Grant and Jamie Foxx.
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Found Love: In case you hadn’t heard, Alicia Keys has a boyfriend. According to the New York Daily News, the New York-bred Clive Davis protégé is apparently dating her longtime producer Kerry Brothers. At the recent launch party for her second album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," the couple’s canoodling apparently left little doubt of their affection for one another. Alicia stayed at her beau’s side the entire evening, as singers including Patti LaBelle and Jill Scott stopped through to show some love. Look for Alicia’s sophomore album to debut at number one this week, with early estimates looking as though she’ll sell more than 600,000 units.
~~~ Things That Make You Say Hmmm!?!: "I've always been a big dinosaur fan. You read about them in school, but you never really see any of them like that," said singer Marques Houston in Vibe’s December issue. Though Marques may not sound like the brightest guy after reading this quote, don’t sleep on his debut solo set “MH.” The album, which was released on Oct. 21, is surprisingly great!
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Can’t Say Names: What R&B singer has a new album slated to come out early next year, but his handlers are shielding him from doing interviews because of the recent drama he faced in his personal life?
HMMMMMMM. . .Jaheim?!?!?!!?
* What “American Idol” finalist is the least favorite among her reality show cohorts? Said singer apparently has a make it by-any-means-necessary method of achieving success and, because of that, has abandoned one side of her ethnicity in hopes of attaining crossover success.
My guess is K-Lo
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Quickies:
~ Singer Lil’ Mo was victim of a robbery on Thanksgiving Day. The pint-sized vocal powerhouse’s Maryland home was robbed on Turkey Day, and nearly $100,000 in cash and $100,000 in jewelry was stolen from the singer’s safe. Nothing else in the house was touched, which makes it seem as though someone close to the singer may have been the culprit. Police are investigating.