American Dream
Season two 'American Idol' winner Ruben Studdard is readying his third studio album, appropriately titled 'The Return.' The Birmingham, Ala.-bred balladeer, who turns 28 on Tuesday Sept. 12, said he decided on the name because people act as though he's disappeared.
"Every time I go somewhere people are always asking me, 'When you gonna come back out?' All that stuff. I thought it would be cool to name the album that since people always be asking where I been and what I been doing," he told me by phone from his Alabama home.
The fact of the matter is that Studdard hasn't really had much down time. He released his post-'Idol' debut album 'Soulful' in 2003, which was certified double-platinum (2 million units sold in the U.S.). That album was followed by the gospel CD, 'I Need An Angel.' That release was certified gold (500,000 units sold in the U.S.) in just five weeks and ranks as one of the 30 bestselling gospel releases of all time.
"Its cool, man, you know," Studdard said of people disregarding the success of his gospel venture, before adding, "Everybody doesn't listen to inspirational music, so I can't get mad at them for not knowing that the album was out. I had a number one single with that album on the Gospel charts, the Christian charts and at the Urban [Adult Contemporary] charts."
Studdard thought he'd venture into the gospel realm again on a special live CD/DVD called 'Gospel Goes Classical' that he recorded on May 7, in Alabama. The 'American Idol' winner sang alongside jazz vocalist Jonathan Butler and Prophetess Juanita Bynum, who were backed by Dr. Henry Panion, III and the GGC Symphony Orchestra and Choir. 'Gospel Goes Classical' will be released Sept. 26, however Studdard's songs and likeness have been removed from the compilation.
"I don't think they could get the stuff together with Maranatha! [Music] and J Records. But we recorded it in Birmingham about three months ago. Ah man, Jonathan Butler hands down is one of the best singer's I've ever heard in my life. And you know Juanita just goes without saying. She's a blessing man, and I enjoyed being with the both of them," said Studdard.
Shortly after completing that project, Studdard headed to Durham, NC where he missed the 'American Idol' season five finale because he checked into the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. "It was like a fat camp for rich people," he laughed. "It's like a five star hotel and they really treat you really well. [I] learned how to change my eating habits and stuff. Basically getting my nutrition stuff together." He's kept off the 15 pounds he lost at the center, and of the nutritional things they taught him, he confessed: "I've maintained all of it." In addition to talking about his Oct. 17 release , I had some 'American Idol' questions for him.
What 'A.I.' finalists do you still communicate with? "Everybody from my season. I talk to Fantasia every now and again. But when it comes to my season, I keep up with just about the whole cast."
Which finalist from all five seasons would you have chosen to be an 'American Idol?' "Elliott Yamin! I just think he's dope man. He has one of the best voices out, that I've heard on the show in a long time."
Will you take Mandisa up on her offer to go on a date? "What offer? Everybody has been telling me that, but I haven't heard her say that though."
So should we tell Mandisa that she needs to call you? "That's what I am saying!"
What do you think about Corey Clark's allegations that he slept with Paula Abdul? "I don't really have any thoughts. I never saw anything like that happen, so I can't make a comment about it. Yeah, we still cool [though]."
How about the man who told the National Enquirer he slept with your runner-up Clay Aiken? "No comment. I don't really think nothing about it."
Buzzworthy
According to Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune gossip C.J., former NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman was in Minneapolis to host a 'Pimp 'n' Ho Bash" at the Spin Nightclub. The 45-year-old Rodman, who married his third wife Michelle Moyer in May 2003, attempted to flirt with a Minnesota resident named Stephanie Blanda at the downtown hot spot called Drink. Banda was at Drink for a bachelorette party for her friend, bride elect Autumn K. (Apparently Autumn begged C.J. not to use her last name because she's marrying "a very wealthy person in the [Minneapolis] suburbs.") When Autumn walked over to find out why her drink was taking so long, Rodman and his handler wanted to know why she decided to get married. "Dennis said, 'Why are you getting married?' I said, 'Because,' and he goes, I don't know if you've ever been with a black guy but we have big &%#@s," Autumn told C.J. When the Twin City gossip called his rep Darren Prince for comment, the person answering the phone said: "I don't think you're going to get one!" After putting the reporter on hold, the aide returned with the typical, "There's no comment."
Gwendolyn Osborne, a Barker's Beauty on 'The Price is Right, wed former NBA star Kenny "The Jet" Smith Sept. 2. Smith is currently a NBA sports analyst for TNT.
The release date for Cheryl "Coko" Clemons of SWV's debut solo gospel CD, 'Grateful,' has been pushed back until Oct. 31. The album was originally scheduled to be released Oct. 3, on Light Records. The CD features a remake of The Clark Sisters' song "Endow Me," where Coko sings alongside Fantasia, Lil' Mo and Faith Evans. (They're calling it The Clark Sisters with Tattoos). The album also features production by Donald Lawrence (Mary J. Blige, Karen Clark Sheard), Shep Crawford (Deborah Cox, Yolanda Adams) and Warryn Campbell (Mary Mary, Kierra "KiKi" Sheard), in addition to a collaboration with her mother, Lady Tibba Gamble.
Former NBA star turned jazz musician Wayman Tisdale's latest CD 'Way Up' has hit No. 1 on the contemporary jazz charts. The disc features the former hoops star collaborating with Eric Benet, Kirk Whalum, George Duke, Jonathan Butler, Bob James and Dave Koz.
Christian jazz artist Kim Jordan inked a deal with Jordan Entertainment Group/Koch to release her CD, 'Full Circle.' The partnership with Jordan's company, ProSounity Music Entertainment, made the one-time independent project available nationally in stores Aug. 22. Jordan is a talented singer/musician who plays keyboards, horns, strings, bass and organ on the new CD.
Toni Braxton has added a $1 million microphone to her Las Vegas show, 'Revealed.' According to BV sister company TMZ.com, Braxton has struck a deal with The Giantto Group, a high-end jewelry company, to use its one-of-a-kind Million Dollar Microphone throughout the run of her show. The mic is made of white gold and encrusted with 650 karats of diamonds. "It's so extravagant, like taking a bath in Dom Perignon. I love it," said the one-time bankrupt Braxton. 'Revealed' runs through March 2007 at the Flamingo Las Vegas.
On Sept. 2 'American Idol' season one finalist Tamyra Gray got married to Sam Watters, a songwriter and producer from the '90s R&B group Color Me Badd, in Capri, Italy. The 27-year-old 'A.I.' favorite wed 36-year-old Watters before 45 guests on an ocean-side cliff. After the ceremony, "They walked through the city and townspeople were opening their windows and cheering for them," Gray's manager, Lisa Braudé, told People magazine. The couple has been together for two years and was actually engaged when Gray's movie 'The Gospel' hit theaters in fall 2005. I know because I saw Gray in the bar of the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the Buckhead community of Atlanta and actually had the waiter send a drink over to her. The waiter told me that she said, "Thanks," but that she was wearing an engagement ring. I interviewed her the next morning, and she spilled the beans then. As for Watters, since his Color Me Badd days he's worked as a songwriter and producer for artists such as Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson and, most recently, Jessica Simpson.
Can't Say Names…
Say it ain't so. I hear the entourage of a certain singer currently on tour is waiting for the artist's road show to end so that they can tell her that her man is cheating on her. Sources tattle that the belter's beau, who has contributed to her recent lifestyle change, has been keeping company with a couple of chicks on the side. Now her camp is afraid to break the news to the singer for fear she'll cancel the rest of her tour. After the tour wraps, the relationship could be 'a wrap' as well.
They have 5 people listed. B's not on tour. Mimi's on tour, but single. I think Kelly Clarkson is also single. Madonna is on tour and married, but no recent lifestyle changes. There's one person left and I hope it's not true but I think this is Mary. 
Frankly Speaking
"I told you two weeks ago that Beyonce's new album, 'B'day,' was a shrill dud. Unless you're into that annoying siren on "Ring the Alarm," this is one CD better off forgotten. … Unlike Justin Timberlake's solidly commercial, if dully constructed 'Futuresex/Lovesounds' album, 'B'day' is one headache-inducing trip down hip-hop lane. On top of thudding programmed drums, the otherwise gifted singer sings for some reason about an octave above her range. There is no advisory for dogs." -Fox News's Fox411 columnist Roger Friedman on Beyonce's 'B'day' CD.
Are you deaf?
BV Scene
Marques Houston and Omarion shopping at the Solstice Sunglass Boutique in the Paseo Nuevo Mall in Santa Barbara, Calif. They dropped $2,500 on shades by Marc Jacobs after spending nearly 30 minutes in the store. The two are apparently vacationing for five days at the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara… Singer Babyface lunched at Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops in Caesars Palace in Las Vegas… Also in Las Vegas were Brandy and brother Ray J, who were spotted partying together at nightclub OPM in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace… Eddie Murphy and girlfriend, Melanie "Scary Space" Brown (formerly of Spice Girls), were spotted "hugged up" at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City, Calif… Soon-to-be divorced singer-producer Teddy Riley having dinner with Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas of TLC at Goldfish restaurant in Atlanta… Cedric The Entertainer, John Salley, actor Wesley Jonathan, actress Mari Morrow, Chico Benymon, former LA Laker Mitch Richmond, actress Denyce Lawton, John Singleton, singer Al B. Sure and some of the models from 'Deal or No Deal' were among those who attended a soiree given by 'Deal or No Deal's' Claudia Jordan and boyfriend, former track star Maurice Green, on the tennis courts of Green's gated Chatsworth, Calif. estate.
Anna Nicole's Son Died
Linear Mode
