Dionne Warwick says the accusations against her sister are hogwash, and she’ll never forgive those promoting it. The legendary singer made her first comments publicly to Larry King on his internet show. Dionne’s late sister, Singer Dee Dee Warwick, has been accused of molesting her late cousin Whitney Houston in the documentary Whitney. Whitney’s brother, Gary Garland-Houston, makes the allegations in the documentary and says Dee Dee also molested him. Dionne Warwick says Dee Dee would have never harmed children, particularly within the family. The 5 time Grammy winner says she has no forgiveness for those perpetuating this insanity. Singer Cissy Houston, Whitney and Gary’s mom, already issued her statement that it cannot be stressed enough the hard time they have believing any of the allegations against Dee Dee Warwick.
Mel B took to instagram to celebrate her divorce from Stephen Belafonte. But it looks like Belafonte has more to celebrate, and if he does, the tab’s on Mel. After nine months of court appearances and testimony that included wild sex parties, drugs and alcohol, abusive behavior and restraining orders, the estranged couple got their divorce finalized. Mel B took to social media and did a video celebration having her BFF and hairdresser hold up the divorce papers. But, that must be despite the ruling because this divorce was costly….to Mel! She’s been ordered to pay $5,000 a month in child support for their six-year old daughter Madison. Plus, Mel continues to pay $15,000 a month in spousal support and Belafonte’s $350,000 lawyers fees. OUCH! This ruling still came down despite published reports the long drawn out battle has ruined Mel B’s finances and even has the I.R.S. garnishing her America’s Got Talent paychecks. Apparently, those reports weren’t a concern of the court. The judge also dropped the restraining orders on both sides. Belafonte did lose his motion to see Mel’s daughter by Eddie Murphy, 10-year old Angel who Belafonte helped raise during his 10-year marriage to Mel B. Belafonte says through he didn’t prevail on that front, he may try again in the future.
Shawn Stockman leaving Boyz II Men?!! Stockman says relax and that he’s still all in with the group he helped form more than 30-years ago here in Philly with Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris and former members Michael McCrary and Marc Nelson. Stockman has released a new solo single called Feelin Lil Som’n, which is what got the talk swirling, but he quickly cleared that up. Stockman also talked about the National Anthem. Boyz II Men have often sung it at sporting events. While Stockman still sings it with the group, he no longer prefers to and won’t perform it solo. Stockman says along with solidarity for the NFL players, the song’s writer, Francis Scott Key, was a slave owner and included racist lines into the original poem which became the song. Stockman says the song doesn’t represent the modern United States. He also noted people who criticize the protestors are taking the protestors’ actions out of context. Stockman says the protests aren’t and never were antimilitary. Meanwhile, the single Feelin Lil Som’n will be on Stockman’s forth coming solo debut, the making of which he calls a liberating experience.
Former Today Show Anchor (and WDAS Intern) Tamron Hall is headed back to daytime TV with ABC. Hall was on a roll co-anchoring the third hour of The Today Show with Al Roker, Willie Geist and, before he got fired, Billy Bush. Then NBC kicked everyone off the 9am hour to make room for former FOX News Anchor Megyn Kelly. After that, Hall decided to leave NBC altogether, and has now signed a deal with Disney/ABC for a syndicated daytime talk show. Hall said in a statement her new partners respect and appreciate the relationship she’s built with the audience. The new Tamron Hall project is still being developed, but could make its debut in 2019.
LeBron James has another new project headed to Showtime that acknowledges a TV host’s diss toward him. After creating a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, James is producing a documentary series that looks at the bold and positive moves athletes have been making off the court and off the field for a better society. The documentary is titled Shut Up And Dribble. Its title comes from the advice Commentator Laura Ingraham gave to James on her show because he publicly speaks on social issues. Ingraham was dragged on social media as racist and a bully because of it. Now James is using the title to draw attention to how valuable it can be if athletes do speak up and become active in the community. Shut Up And Dribble is scheduled to premiere in October on Showtime.
We remember Actress Charlotte Rae, who’ll forever be remembered as “Mrs. Garrett.” Rae first made her splash on Broadway in the 1950’s in the plays Three Wishes For Jamie, The Threepenny Opera and Lil’ Abner, to name a few. Film and television followed for the next two decades until an association with Producer Norman Lear. Guest shots on Lear’s shows All In The Family, Good Times And Hot l Baltimore (spelled wrong because the “E” in the hotel sign was burned out on the show), led to Lear producing Diff’rent Strokes in 1978. Lear cast Rae as Mrs. Garrett, the housekeeper to the successful white businessman who adopted his former late maid’s two black sons. The show and Rae became so popular in 1979, she was given a spinoff set at an all girls' boarding school called The Facts of Life. The show ran 9 years on NBC, though Rae left the series at the beginning of the eighth season. The cast (Kim Fields, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn and Nancy McKeon) reunited for the TV Land Awards in 2011. Rae died of bone cancer and her former castmates expressed their heartfelt tributes via social media, including Todd Bridges the only surviving member of the original cast of Diff’rent Strokes. Charlotte Rae was 92-years old.
Get ready the magazine game of the sisters is off the hook this month:
First, Emmy nominated Actress/Writer/Producer Issa Rae of HBO’ Insecure covers this month Ebony magazine’s fashion issue. Part of Rae’s personal mantra is behind the cover and accompanying photo shoot inside. The 33-year old says she wants to continue to form platforms where young girls who look, think and feel like she does can see themselves. Meanwhile, Insecure returns to HBO this Sunday, at 10:30pm right after the season premiere of Ballers with Dwayne The Rock Johnson at 10pm.
Janet Jackson is on the cover of Essence magazine’s Sizzling Summer Styles issue for the July/August edition.
Next up is Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong’o on the cover of Porter magazine for their desire issue. The 35-year old Oscar winner talks of self acceptance and the success of Black Panther, now only the third movie in history to make $700 million of its 1.3 billion gross in the United States box office alone.
Emmy nominee Tracee Ellis Ross covers Elle’ Canada. The Golden Globe winning actress, who has also directed episodes of her hit show Black-ish this past season, speaks about her social activism and growing up in her mom’s (Entertainment Legend Diana Ross) embrace and not her shadow.
Zendaya covers Marie Claire for their fall fashion issue. The soon to be 22-year old says she’s on a mission to rewrite the Hollywood narrative and show how much beauty there is in the wide spectrum of the African American community.
Queen Bey is on the cover of Vogue magazine. Beyonce speaks candidly about her marriage surviving cheating and the difficult birth of her twins, which resulted in her having a c-section. Bey not only had creative control over the cover and accompanying photo layout, but she had it done by African American photographer, 23-year old Tyler Mitchell. Mitchell shooting a Vogue cover is the first time an African American has ever done this in Vogue’s 126-year history.
Rihanna graces the cover of British Vogue for their September themed the big fashion issue. Rih Rih’s movie Ocean’s 8, the female cast-caper/heist movie, has taken in over $137 million at the summer box office.
Tiffany Haddish graces the cover of the September issue of Glamour magazine. Up next, Haddish co-stars with fellow Comedian Kevin Hart in Night School coming to theaters September 28th. After that, Haddish joins Tika Sumpter (The Haves & The Have Nots), Amber Riley (Glee), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Whoopi Goldberg for Nobody’s Fool, written and directed by Tyler Perry hitting theaters November 2nd.
Sanaa Lathan’s pet project, Nappily Ever After, is coming to Netflix. Lathan, who dons a shaved head for the role, plays Violet Jones, whose accident in a hair salon makes her realize she’s not living her life to the fullest. The romantic comedy also stars Ernie Hudson, Ricky Whittle and Lynn Whitfield. Nappily Ever After, based on the Tina Gordon Chism novel, begins streaming Friday, September 21st on Netflix.
The MTV Video Music Award nominations are out and brand new mom Cardi B leads all nominees with 10 nods. Beyonce & Jay-Z, The Carters, have eight nominations for A***hit off their album Everything Is Love. Drake and Childish Gambino have 7, and 6 nominations go to Bruno Mars. The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards air Monday, August 20th at 9pm on MTV.
The stars return to the Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue, this summer. Tickets are on sale now and check out the lineup:
Thurs., Aug 16th - Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill & Ralph Tresvant with special guest Major
Sun., August 19th – The Basement Party starring Rakim, MC Lyte, Kurtis Blow, Stetsasonic, Tracey Lee, the Alumni featuring Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Dana Dane, Monie Love and Kwame
Thurs., Aug. 23rd - Patti LaBelle & Gregory Porter
Sunday, September 2nd - Patty Jackson’s Annual Party in the Park Celebrating my 35th anniversary starring Maze featuring Frankie Beverly & The Whispers and Blue Magic
For more information log onto mydelleast.org.
At the movies this week, it’s BlacKkKlansman. Spike Lee and Oscar Winner Jordan Peele have teamed up for this movie based on the life experiences of African American Detective Ron Stallworth, who so successfully infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado that he became the head of the chapter. Lee and Peele both serve as producers with Lee directing and co-writing. The film stars John David Washington (son of Denzel and Pauletta Washington), Topher Grace (That 70’s Show), Adam Driver and the legendary Harry Belafonte.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This Sunday, August 12th – Gladys Knight and The O’Jays in concert at the Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street & Parkside Avenue. For more information log on to manncenter.org
Saturday, August 25th – Smokey Robinson in concert at the Mann Center For The Performing Arts, 52nd Street & Parkside Avenue. For more information log on to manncenter.org
Saturday, August 25th & Sunday, August 26th – Stevie Wonder in concert at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
Saturday, September 1st & Sunday September 2nd – Made In America 2018 starring Nicki Minaj, Fat Joe, Janelle Monae’, Miguel and Meek Mill on The Ben Franklin Parkway. For tickets and information log onto madeinamericafest.com
Sunday, September 2nd – Earth, Wind & Fire in concert at the Borgata Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. For more information log on to theborgata.com
Saturday, September 15th – The Aubrey and The Three Amigos Tour starring Drake and Migos at the Wells Fargo Center. Log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com for ticket information.
Wednesday & Thursday, September 19th and 20th – Bruno Mars on The 24K Magic North American Concert Tour at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Saturday, September 22nd – The LIT AF Tour Hosted by Martin Lawrence featuring Deray Davis/ Deon Cole/ Adele Givens/ Benji Brown at the Liacouras Center, Broad & Montgomery. For more information log onto liacourascenter.com/events
Sunday, September 23rd– RBRM, a.k.a. Ricky/Bobby/Ronnie & Mike, a.k.a. Ricky Bell/Bobby Brown/Ronnie DeVoe/Michael Bivins at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, September 29th – Maxwell at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, October 6th & Sunday, October 7th- Mike Epps, Bruce Bruce, Jay Pharoah, Sheryl Underwood, Tony Rock and Gary Owen and more over the two days of The Atlantic City Comedy Festival on Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. For tickets and information log onto boardwalkhall.com/events.
Friday, November 16th – Hall & Oates at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
Saturday, November 24th - The Irresponsible Tour starring Kevin Hart at the Wells Fargo Center. For tickets and information log onto wellsfargocenterphilly.com.
Saturday, December 8th – Maxwell at the Tower Theater on 69th Street in Upper Darby. Log onto ticketmaster.com for tickets and information.
If you would like more info please email me at PattyJackson@iHeartMedia.com or check me out with my midday reports at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm during the day.