The Third Annual Women Of Excellence Awards luncheon will take place Saturday, April 1st 11am at the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia, 201 North 17th Street. Our honorees will be First Lady Of Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church Dr. Ellyn Jo Waller; City Councilwoman Janie Blackwell; FOX29 Reporter and Weather Anchor Sue Serio; President& CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Julie Coker Graham; Vice President & Assistant GM, Harrah’s Philadelphia Jacqueline Grace and our Trailblazer Award Recipient is Author/Motivational Speaker/Educator and former Essence Magazine Editor-In-Chief Susan Taylor. Our musical performers will be Joe, Leela James and Eric Benet. Tickets are available right now from our homepage at WDASFM.com.
New Edition is on a roll this year, and now they're going on tour with group members new and veteran. New Edition is enjoying a resurgence like none before. After scoring high ratings for BET with their mini-series and getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in January, now Michael Bivins, Ricky Bell, Bobby Brown, Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill are close to finalizing a tour deal with mini-series castmembers Yazz the Greatest (Bryshere Y. Gray), Luke James, Elijah Kelly, Keith Powers, Algee Smith and Woody McClain. Everyone is geared up for what could be the tour of the year. At press time, no dates have been announced yet.
After her close call, Fantasia is rejoining the In It To Win It Tour with Charlie Wilson and Johnny Gill.The former American Idol champ was injured while on her tour bus.Apparently, she was sleeping next to the aromatherapy vaporizer she uses for her vocal chords. The extremely hot water spilled over her arm and Fantasia suffered second degree burns. After being briefly hospitalized, the 32-year old R&B singer/actress announced she’ll be rejoining the tour after being forced to sit out a Memphis date.Fantasia’s latest CD is the number one R&B album called Definition that was released last summer. She’ll join Charlie Wilson, Johnny Gill and Solero at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City,Friday, March 31st.
It’s the end of an era for reality TV’s First Family.T.I. and Tiny are calling it quits for their very popular family reality show The Family Hustle. Tiny filed for divorce, but later withdrew the petition. It may not much matter because the couple is moving forward….separately. Tiny and her fellow X-scape bandmembers, Kandi Burruss, Tamika and LaTocha Scott, announced they were reuniting fora tour and upcoming album. T.I. has been spotted out and about with Instagram Model Bernice Burgos allegedly in several cities. Rather than wait for too much more to hit the fan, MTV Networks released a statement that The Family Hustle was wonderful for the VH1 networkand viewers, but the the show will end its six-year run in April with the 100th episode serving as the series finale.
Robin Thicke and Paula Patton are on the verge of a custody agreement involving their six-year old son Julian. The divorced couple had some problems on and off the record while they were going through this court process. Allegations back and forth on both sides, accusations of domestic violence, excessive discipline,some wild behavior during hand-off's from one parent to the other and the judge even issued a temporary restraining order. Now after all the drama, it looks like the two sides don’t want anything else to affect their son or their individual parental rights. I’m hearing Robin and Paula are close to an arrangement that’s cool with both.
Oscar nominee and Empire Co-star Gabourey Sidibe is telling all. Sidibe is now adding author to her resume and has written the new book This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare. The woman who gave an iconic performance in the Academy Award winning Lee Daniels movie Precious details the struggles she deals with despite being a star. Sidibe talks about her very personal decision to have lap band surgery, her type 2 diabetes diagnosis and her teenage battle with bulimia and self-esteem issues. Despite these challenges, Sidibe is feeling pretty good these days. She reunited with Lee Daniels for the number one drama series Empire. Her weight is coming down quite a bit. The actress says she’s ready to receive her gentleman caller. Empire returns to FOX on Wednesday, March 22nd at 9pm, and her new book, This Is Just My Face: Try Not To Stare, will be available in May.
J-Lo and Drake are out, and J-Lo and A-Rod are in! Was that whole Jenny From The Block and Drake just fake? Was it all for publicity? Maybe they were just ……..with benefits?!!!! Well,Jennifer Lopez has now moved on to former World Series Champ Alex Rodriguez. A-Rod was the talk of the baseball world, and he’s settled in comfortably as an ambassador to the sport and a FOX Sports announcer. Lopez seems to have her choice of suitors, which at onetime also appeared to include ex-husband Marc Anthony. Is there some promise with Lopez and Rodriguez?
Is Nick Cannon out and Marlon Wayans in? Cannon’s recent Showtime standup comedy special found Nick using the N word to describe how NBC treats him as host of the summer show America’s Got Talent. When he caught flak from the network brass, Cannon decided to leave the show. He’s a brand new dad anyway. Cannon’s girlfriend, Brittany Bell, welcomed their first child together, and his third. The 36-year old host/actor/comedian even took to social media to show introducing his baby, Golden “Sagon” Cannon, to his twins, Monroe and Moroccan, his mother and his grandmother. Meanwhile, who’s going to replace Cannon on America’s Got Talent? The top three contenders are Marlon Wayans, who has already has an NBC midseason replacement deal with a new family sitcom. There’s Comedian Tone Bell, who already had two series on NBC. TV Actor Brandon Mychal Smith (Dirty Grandpa, Get On Up as Little Richard; TV’s So Random) remains in the running as well and at press time, it seemed he'd be the one to get the gig.
Brand new mom and Today Show 10am Co-anchor Hoda Kotb is on the cover of this week’s People magazine. Kotb has become a first time mom at age 52 having adopted infant daughter Haley Jo Kotb. Hoda talks about keeping her colleagues, friends and even family in the dark about her wanting a child of her own. The longtime NBC journalist also discusses meeting her child on Valentine’s Day and how it was love at first sight. Hoda Kotb’s People magazine issue is out right now.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama covers a special Ebony magazine collector’s issue. Ladies First: 100 + Of The Most Powerful Women Of All Time is now available and was designed for Women’s History Month. Meanwhile, Former President Barack and the former FLOTUS have closed their first post White House book deal rumored to have a $65 million price tag.Penguin/Random House won the bidding war, but isn't confirming if the books are memoirs or not. As for the hefty pay, The Obamas are choosing to donate a great deal of that money to charity, including The Obama Foundation. Expect new books from both the former POTUS and FLOTUS in 2018.
Faizon Love was caught on video letting the fists fly with a valet at a Columbus airport. The comedian and actor best known for his roles in TV’s The Parent‘Hood and Real Husbands Of Hollywood as well as the movies Friday and The Players Club was arrested and charged with assault.Apparently the valet charge to the 48-year old comedian is what began a situation that would soon turn violent. Love is seen on video and by witnesses at the valet stand. Two other workers had to separate the comedian and the valet. Love was arrested, held overnight and then released on bond. At press time, he’s still scheduled for two comedy club appearances in Columbus.
An 80's icon and an Olympic darling are part of the season's Dancing With The Stars.The dancing reality show is back and is bringing The A-Team's Mr. T.,Olympic Gold Medalist Simone Biles, Legendary Singer/Musician Charo, Singer Normani Kordei (Fifth Harmony) and the NFL's Rashad Jennings (The NY Jets). Dancing With The Stars premieres Monday, March 20th at 8pm on ABC.
Actress Kerry Washington isn't just sitting on her Scandal laurels. She'shard at work as producer and star of The Perfect Mother. This projects follows up her Emmy nominated performance in her HBO production of Confirmation in 2016, which chronicled Anita Hill's testifying against the confirmation of now Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The Perfect Mother is a thriller that follows the lives of a group of mothers and a dad being turned upside down when a child is kidnapped from one of them. When the investigation appears to draw suspicion to the child's parent, things go from bad to worse.The Perfect Mother is still in development and for now is aimed at the big screen, but no release date has been set yet.
Queen Latifah and Benjamin Bratt’s hit drama will return for a second season on FOX. Philly’sown Lee Daniels produces the drama Star, which airs Wednesdays at 9pm, and the FOX Network is very pleased and released a statement confirming renewing the show. Star’s season finale will air March 15th,and the countdown is on with guest stars including Rickey Smiley, Big Boi, Missy Elliot, Paris Jackson and Naomi Campbell.
Speaking of Lee Daniels’ productions, Terrence Howard and Taraji P. Henson will return to their number one rated TV drama Empire on FOX Wednesday, March 22nd.They’ll have plenty of company as Actress Demi Moore makes her debut on the series. Moore will play a nurse with a mysterious past at the end of this season and will return in season four as well.Moore’s daughter, with ex-husband Bruce Willis, Rumer Willis had already been cast as well as Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives) Taye Diggs (The Best Man); Nia Long (Love Jones) and Phylicia Rashad (The Cosby Show). Empire returns to FOX on Wednesday, March 22nd at 9pm.
Golden Globe award winning Actress Tracee Ellis Ross (Black-ish) covers the April edition of Health magazine.
The cast of Underground (Aldis Hodge, Alano Miller, Amirah Vann and Aisha Hinds) cover the latest Upscale magazine. The TV series Underground, co-executive produced by Singer/Songwriter John Legend, is currently in its second season on WGN America and airs Wednesdays at 10pm.
Oscar nominated Filmmaker Ava DuVernay is on the cover of Essence magazine’s March 2017 issue.
Actress Jurnee Smollett (Underground) covers Ebony’s March 2017 issue.
Essence Magazine has released a commemorative collector’s book on the former First Family. The Obamas: The White House Years is available now.
Serena Williams will appear in the 2017 Swimsuit Issue of Sports Illustrated. The soon to be wife of Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian did her shoot in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Williams is joined in the S.I. Swimsuit issue by Danielle Herrington, Chrissy Teigen, Lisa Marie Jaetha, Sumba, Kelly Gale, Las Ribeiro, and Gymnastic Gold Medalist Simone Biles. Plus, 63-year old Christie Brinkley and her daughters Sailor and Alexa Ray are also featured. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is on stands now.
Warmdaddy’s is presenting their R&B Rewind Series beginning in February. Upcoming shows will include Alexander O’ Neal & Cherrelle, Miki Howard and Deniece Williams. For reservations and information call 215-462-2000 or log onto warmdaddys.com
Essence Magazine is gearing up for its 23rd Annual Essence Fest and The Hip Hop Queen Of Soul, A Legend and The Boss will be in the house! Yes! Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Motown Legend Miss Diana Ross will headline the now legendary festival. Chaka Khan, Philly’s own Jazmine Sullivan, India.Arie, Solange, Shirley Jones of The Jones Girls, Ro James, Tweet, Shaggy, Michel’le, Yuna and Lalah Hathaway will also be performing with more acts to come. The 2017 Essence Fest will be June 29th through July 2nd in New Orleans.
Check out who’s coming to town:
Friday, March 31st– The In It To Win It Tour starring Charlie Wilson, Fantasia, Johnny Gill and Solero at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto boardwalkhall.com.
Saturday, April 15th– The Philly Spring Jam starring Guy featuring Teddy Riley, Ginuwine, Jagged Edge, Dru Hill and Next at The Liacouras Center,Broad and Montgomery. Tickets go on sale January 17th and for information 1-800-298-4200.
Saturday, May 13th– Mothers Day Weekend concert starring Frankie Beverly & Maze, Gladys Knight and Kem at The Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto boardwalkhall.com.
Saturday, May 13th– Mothers Day Weekend concert starring Brian McKnight at The Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA. Tickets are on sale now and for more information log onto keswicktheatre.com.
Sunday May 14th - Stephanie Mills and Troop are at The Tropicana in Atlantic City for a special Mother's Day show. Tickets are on sale now at TicketMaster.com.
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.