With the 'American Idol' season finale just days away, BV Buzz had our own 'Idol' insider give us some perspective on this week's big decision between contenders Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee. Season two finalist Trenyce, who placed in the top five the year Ruben Studdard won, believes the 'Idol' title will go to the Alabama-bred Hicks. "It's time for a white male to win. Nothing unpredictable about that! It's Clay Aiken's revenge! Get ready America," she laughed.
Though Trenyce thinks that a Hicks' victory is obvious, she still anticipates a big audience. "Expect some of the biggest ratings that television has ever seen," she said. As much as the Memphis, Tenn. native would like to watch the broadcast live, she'll have to catch it on TiVo because she debuts this week in the Las Vegas production, 'V: The Ultimate Variety Show' at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino. Trenyce signed a one-year deal with the production, the work of famed Las Vegas producer David Saxe, and is the first 'Idol' alum to star in a Las Vegas production.
"My manager Eric Floyd of Goddess Empire masterminded the whole thing," confessed Trenyce, who landed the role in 'V' after Floyd convinced the new Las Vegas resident to audition for Simon Cowell's new show 'America's Got Talent.' "He made me go down to the V Theater to audition, which I never had any intention of doing because of Simon Cowell being its producer. I've had enough of him to last me for the rest of my life! But my manager being the visionary that he is looked me square in my eyes and said 'Do this audition and David Saxe will see you and ask you to star in one of his shows.' I'll be damned, that's exactly the way it all went down," she explained.
Trenyce will miss six weeks of 'V' starting in June, when she heads to Indianapolis, Ind. to star as Deena Jones in 'Dreamgirls.' "'Dreamgirls' has always been a dream project for me to participate in. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to play Deena Jones," she said. Trenyce passed on an opportunity to star in a Philadelphia production of the famed musical last fall because of a previous commitment, but is ecstatic about this new opportunity. The Indianapolis show is being held in conjunction with both The Scottish Rite Performing Arts Center and The Madame C.J. Walker Theater.
With anticipation growing about the film adaptation of 'Dreamgirls' starring Beyonce Knowles, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and 'American Idol's' Jennifer Hudson heating up, Vegas promoter Saxe wants to bring the one-time Broadway musical to The Strip. Trenyce has already been approached to star in that production of 'Dreamgirls' as well.
Relationship Roundup
TLC member Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins is dating Takeo Spikes of the Buffalo Bills. Details are sketchy. A rep for the singer said she was unable to comment on the courtship. We told you last week that actress Gabrielle Union is dating Minnesota Vikings safety Darren Sharper. The two have been making the rounds, attending several Hollywood soirees and even the Kentucky Derby together. Union is getting a divorce from her husband, former NFL player Christopher Howard.
R&B singer Lil' Mo is dating neo-soul crooner Raheem DeVaughn. The pair apparently met and began a "friendship" while touring together on last fall's Seagram's Gin Live concert tour. Mo, who is in the process of a divorce from husband Al Stone, also appears in the music video for DeVaughn's new single "You."
Nicole Murphy's romance with Atlanta businessman Alan F. Daniels is reportedly over. I saw Murphy in Santa Monica last fall with Daniels, and the two were all over each other in the Fred Segal boutique. The former model's divorce from EX-husband Eddie Murphy is now final.
Nia Long is rumored to be dating Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints. But she'll likely deny this report and have whoever is her publicist now call me screaming, so I take back everything I just reported in advance.
Soul Music
The 'Hardest Working Woman in Gospel' Vickie Winans recorded the live component of her 30-song double-disc, 'Woman To Woman: Songs of Life,' at the 10,000-seat House of Hope in Oak Lawn, Ill. on May 12. The live concert was hosted by Bishop T.D. Jakes and the session also commemorated Winans' twentieth anniversary in the music business.
Backed by a full band and mini-orchestra under the command of music director Steven Ford (Richard Smallwood, Donnie McClurkin) and a vocal ensemble and 30-voice choir directed by Tyscot recording artist Vashawn Mitchell, Winans recorded 11 new songs. The gospel veteran's son Mario Winans wrote a song called "Stand Up and Carry On" for the session, and Winans also recorded a track by Brent Jones called "The Rainbow." She collaborated with group Special Gift on the title track; re-made the Walter Hawkins classic "Lord I Love You;" and brought the house down with the gospel standard "Stretch Out."
Winans, a multiple Grammy-, Stellar- and Dove-Award winner, honored 20 people who have been instrumental in her career. Dr. Bobby Jones, Andre Crouch, Christie Johnson (mother of Earvin "Magic" Johnson), Tom Burrell (founder of Burrell Communications), Veda Brown of Black Gospel Promo and Winans' 82-year-old mother Mattie Bowman-who was near-death just a week before the session-were among those who received the onyx and crystal V Award.
Other notables in attendance for the recording session included Sandra Crouch, Darius Brooks, 'Queen of Gospel' Albertina Walker, Mark Hubbard, Angie Winans, Orlando Wright, Neily Dickerson, Leanne Faine, Calvin Terrell (Sister 2 Sister), Delores "Mom" Winans, April Washington, Alvin Williams (Gospel Music Channel), Inez Andrews of The Caravans and the entire Zomba Gospel executive team.
Buzzworthy
Actor Hill Harper ('CSI: NY') has partnered with Abercrombie & Fitch for a tour to promote his book 'Letters to a Young Brother,' an inspirational tome done to uplift and empower America's youth. Harper said that publishing his book was no easy task because book companies were not interested in the subject matter. "The book companies told me, 'Hill, we think you can sell books because you're on a show with 17 million viewers, but we don't want this book. You're pitching a book to a population that doesn't read,'" he recalled, during a swank party at the new Mr. Chow in the Tribeca community of New York City.
Among those who attended the soiree, organized by brand strategist Marvet Britto, included actor Jeffrey Wright, Constantine Morales ('American Idol'), Zoë Saldana, Julissa (BET's 'The Center'), Adrienne Bailon of 3LW, director George C. Wolfe, Henry Simmons, Gabrielle Union, Obba Babatunde, Naima Mora ('America's Next Top Model'), Chenoa Maxwell ('G'), Adam Rodriguez ('CSI: Miami') and a host of media professionals. Harper's tour visited Howard University last weekend. For upcoming tour dates, visit
www.letterstoayoungbrother.com.
Apparently reality show stars don't watch their own shows after they leave them. 'America's Next Top Model' winner Naima said she's been too busy to catch the last two season's of the Tyra Banks-produced series. "I've been traveling a lot and have been too busy to watch TV," she confessed, before apologizing for being so "loopy." Mora said she was "tired" and then excused herself to go smoke a cigarette. Morales ('American Idol') had a similar response when I probed him for his prediction on the 'Idol' finals. "In all honesty, I haven't been watching," he said. "I'm not sure who's going to win."
Can't Say Names…
Sources say that a former soul-crooning heartthrob is trying to clean up his act and prepare for his comeback. After several run-ins with the law and reports of drug abuse, the singer has checked himself into an international rehabilitation facility in an attempt to get clean for good. Once said singer checks out of rehab, he'll go in with a trainer to get back in shape.
Yeah, DeAngelo, it's time to get off the brown sugar and get that six pack back!
Dancer/Civil Rights Activist Katherine Dunham Dies at 96
Hybrid Mode
