As the world mourns the passing of The Queen Of Soul, her funeral arrangements have been released, and we’ve also learned she did not have a will but leaves behind a “Queen’s Fortune.” First, Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Holliday, the woman reported to soon play Aretha on the big screen Jennifer Hudson and long time friend Stevie Wonder will all sing at Aretha Franklin’s funeral in Detroit. There will be a public viewing at the Charles H. Wright Museum Of African American History in Detroit as Franklin’s body will lie in repose. The viewing will be on August 28th and August 29th for the public. The funeral for family and friends will take place August 31st at Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. A tribute concert is also being organized by Franklin’s longtime Arista/Sony label executive Clive Davis for November at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, published reports say Franklin left no will. The Queen Of Soul’s net worth fortune is valued at $80 million, and since she wasn’t married at the time of her death, her four sons would be her immediate heirs. That’s barring any creditors or others who may make a claim against her estate. Aretha Franklin is on the cover of the latest edition of People magazine as a tribute.
Meanwhile, The Queen of Soul’s tribute at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards fell flat and so did the show’s ratings. First, despite airing on TV Land, Comedy Central, Nick At Night, BET, and a host of other Viacom properties (MTV’s owner), the show had its lowest ratings in its history. All awards shows are feeling the pinch. In 2019, even the Oscars will trim time from its show by presenting some awards off air and adding a new popularity or blockbuster category to reflect the box office. As for the MTV-Aretha Franklin tribute, Madonna walked out on stage and went into a monologue about Aretha Franklin’s song being used for Madonna’s her first audition. Problem was the monologue was more about Madonna and hardly about The Queen. Madonna hit up social media after she got dragged. The Material Girl defended herself by saying she was asked last minute to do the tribute and it wasn’t planned. MTV may also have a reason for letting Madonna take all the heat. While many Franklin videos finally made it to MTV in the mid 80’s, it wasn’t always that way. Michael Jackson didn’t break the unwritten MTV color barrier until Thriller. MTV executives have long denied a no black video rule for MTV. But, it would explain why Prince, Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Rick James and even MTV favorite David Bowie also got lackluster tributes. They all spoke publicly over MTV’s not playing black videos, which would have affected Aretha Franklin too. Let’s hope for better tributes to The Queen Of Soul at The American Music Awards, The BET Awards and The Grammys.
The MTV Video Awards wasn’t a total bust. I liked Jennifer Lopez’s performance and speech. She had Alex Rodriguez sitting in the front row with her children and her mom. Cardi B opened the show with a fake out pretending she was holding her newborn but she was really holding the famous Moon Man figure which is the symbol of The MTV Awards. Comedians/Actors Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish presented the first award of the night and took shots at Donald Trump and the group Fifth Harmony. Hart and Haddish will be co-starring in Night School coming to theaters September 28th.
In more Tiffany Haddish news, she is coming to Netflix in 2019. Her new deal with the streaming service will kick off with an hour long standup comedy special. Haddish has been a big hit on the movie, magazine and talk show circuit. Haddish also has always enjoyed major buzz for her stand up skills on the road. Netflix says Haddish will be tape her performance in early 2019, and it will begin streaming later in the year. The comedienne will also do the voice for the character Tuca in the Tuca & Bertie adult animated series on Netflix.
In more Netflix news, Black-ish Writer/Producer Kenya Barris has inked a deal with the streaming service. While he’ll continue to work on Black-ish on ABC and its spinoff Grown-ish on the Freeform cable network, Barris will develop new programming for Netflix. He’s the second high profile showrunner to leave the alphabet network for the streaming service after Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy; Scandal; How To Get Away With Murder) signed her deal.
Living Single is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The show ran from 1993 to 1998 and actually premiered before NBC’s Friends. Some say because both shows were at Warner Bros., Friends borrowed a lot from Living Single, which was about six African American young people in New York finding their way through career, friendships, romance and establishing their futures. Living Single starred Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Erika Alexander, T.C. Carson, John Henton and Kim Fields. It aired on FOX’s Thursday night line up between Martin and New York Undercover. Living Single continues to air today in syndication. TV One is running a marathon of Living Single this Friday at 6pm and assembled cast members Coles, Carson, Henton and Fields to give their insights and reflections of the show.
Speaking of Living Single, Cast member Queen Latifah has been announced as this year’s recipient of The Marian Anderson Award. As a pioneering hip hop performer and groundbreaking female MC, Latifah evolved her career to also include $100 million blockbuster movies (Bringing Down The House; Girls Trip), television (Living Single; The Queen Latifah Show) and production (co-founder of Flava Unit Entertainment). The Marion Anderson Awards will take place at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets, for its 20th anniversary Gala and Concert. Latifah joins past recipients Harry Belafonte, Jon Bon Jovi, Oprah Winfrey, James Earl Jones, Patti LaBelle and Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff. The festivities will take place November 20th and you can log on to KimmelCenter.org for tickets and information.
Meanwhile Queen Latifah has also been tapped to host the 2018 Black Girls Rock, which tapes in her hometown, Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The show, which honors women and girls striving for and achieving excellence in all walks of life, will tape Sunday, August 26th and air Sunday, September 9th at 8pm on BET.
Speaking of Queen Latifah, she may also be gearing up for another Girls Trip. The 2017 blockbuster comedy, which starred Latifah, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith, was directed by Malcolm Lee (The Best Man) and grossed over $140 million at the box office. Recently caught by the press, Co-star Regina Hall revealed there is a sequel in the works. No details yet on plot or filming schedule.
Jamie Foxx and his daughter Corinne got some good news… a renewal from the FOX network. Beat Shazam is the music game show where teams compete against each other and the clock to identify the songs served up. Foxx is the host and his daughter, Corinne Foxx, serves as the show’s DJ. Beat Shazam has been huge for the FOX network in the ratings.
The fourth time’s the charm for a founding member of The Jackson Five. Jermaine Jackson is taking the plunge once again. The 63-year old singer will marry his 23….YES…. 23-year old girlfriend Maday Velazquez. Jermaine and Maday began dating after his divorce from Halima Rashid in 2016. Halima’s domestic violence arrest for allegedly attacking Jermaine seemed to seal that marriage’s doom. Jermaine was also previously married to his brother Randy’s babymama, Alejandra Oaziaza. In 1973, Jermaine’s first marriage was to Hazel Gordy the daughter of his then label boss Motown Records’ Berry Gordy. No word yet on when Jermaine and Maday will jump the broom. Meanwhile, The surviving Jackson Brothers are on The Jackson Five 50th Anniversary World Tour, which will hit The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City Saturday, September 1st.
Naomi Campbell is on the cover of Essence magazine’s Fall Fashion And Beauty issue for the September edition. Essence announced their new issue with the statement This Is Not A Test, Giving Black Women Covers Since 1970.
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 airs on HBO Sundays at 10:30pm right after Ballers with Dwayne The Rock Johnson at 10pm.
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.
BlacKkKlansman, starring John David Washington (son of Denzel and Pauletta Washington), Topher Grace (That 70’s Show), Adam Driver and the legendary Harry Belafonte, has got huge buzz. The film has grossed nearly $25 million. Because of all the politics and social unrest as it relates to race these days, BlacKkKlansman is touching a cord. Produced by Spike Lee (who also directed) and Oscar Winner Jordan Peele, the movie is 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. Some are calling this Director Spike Lee’s best movie ever.
Check out who’s coming to town:
This 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
This 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
Saturday, September 1st – The Jackson Five 50th Anniversary World Tour at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City. Log onto hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com/event for ticket information.
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 at the Dell Music Center, 33rd and Ridge Avenue. For more information log onto mydelleast.org.
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 with Special Guests Boyz II Men. 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.
Tuesday, November 20th - The 20th Annual Marion Anderson Awards, Gala & Concert honoring Queen Latifah at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce Streets, For more tickets and information log onto KimmelCenter.org.
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.