I am deeply sadden by the lost of Malinda Sapp. As I celebrate a milestone in my own relationship today, it broke my heart to know Marvin Sapp lost the love of his life. He has a great weight on his shoulders, being a dad, a pastor, an artist, and just an individual person; he now has to contend with this great lost. Sorry, but I can’t!

Our hearts go out to the entire Sapp family and the Lighthouse Full Life Center family.

Pastor Marvin Winans praying for Marvin Sapp and his son, Marvin Jr. during the time MaLinda Sapp was ill.

J ennifer Hudson will be back in Chicago to celebrate her 29th birthday on Sept. 12 by hosting the Jennifer Hudson Gospel Birthday Celebration to raise funds for the Julian King Foundation Annual Christmas Toy Drive.

The event will be held at Christ Universal Temple with performances by Jennifer Hudson and several of today’s most beloved and acclaimed traditional gospel artists and choirs. Scheduled to appear: Kelly Price, Shirley Murdock, Ricky Dillard &New G, Walt Whitman & The Soul Children, and Joshua’s Troop and other special guests.

Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com or for more information contact 312.225.8705.

F ashion’s Night Out takes over New York City and other cities around the world on this Friday (Sep10), but last night some very stylish stars and a few of fashion’s biggest names helped to kick things off with what has been billed as the biggest runway show ever at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Vogue contributing editor André Leon Talley is known for his taste and candor, traded in his usual front-row seat for the hosting job, along with blogger and model Hanneli Mustaparta.

New York Fashion Week opens on Thursday in its new home at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park. Previously, the event, sponsored by Mercedes Benz, took place at Bryant Park, The new space is bigger and will accommodate larger crowds.  More photos from the event after the click: Read the rest

R onald Isley (Mr. Biggs) snatches up “2010?s Comeback Queen”, Lauryn Hill to join him for a remake of the classic “Close To You,” a song made famous by The Carpenters in the early 1970s. The song is slated to appear on Mr. Biggs upcoming release, “Mr. I.”, due for release via Def Jam later this month.

The comeback campaign that Lauryn Hill began this summer with a rare interview and a tour announcement continues to gain steam. Shortly after her second stop on the Rock the Bells tour, Lauryn said that she’s “getting closer” to releasing her first studio album in over a decade. She wouldn’t say much more than that, but even that brief quote will surely send a lot of people into a frenzy. Until then enjoy this elegant song of her and Mr. Biggs:

I As we reported on last week that Whoopi Goldberg’s mother, Emma Johnson suffered a stroke, we now regret to report that she died shortly after suffering the stroke, that brought Whoopi back home from the London run of the stage adaptation of “Sister Act,” where she was playing Mother Superior.

The host of “The View,” shared the sad news yesterday on-air. “My brother and I were very, very lucky to have her in our lives,” Whoopi said. “And so, I’m not sad because she had a great time…. I think I’m just sad sometimes because I think, Who will love me the way that she did? But I realized that my brother and I have each other so we’re OK.”

Whoopi Goldberg will return to the show as Mother Superior for five performances. This will make up for her missed performances on October 22-23 and 25 at the London Palladium.

L ionsgate has moved up the release date for Tyler Perry’s movie, “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.” Originally slated for a January 2011 release the movie will now open November 5. The new date puts the film smack in the middle of Oscar season and making the film a contender for nominations. Loretta Divine and Anika Noni Rose performances are said to be Oscar-worthy.

The cast include Janet Jackson, Loretta Divine, Anika Noni Rose, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington, Kimberly Elise, Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad, with cameos by Whoopi Goldberg and Macy Gray.

A ctress, Niecy Nash announced yesterday that she and boyfriend, Jay Tucker are engaged. The couple were attending a Labor Day event over the weekend, when Jay Tucker, an electrical engineer, then presented Niecy with a diamond engagement ring – a move that she hadn’t anticipated.

The two met one year ago, and have tentitavely scheduled the ceremony for May 2011. “I cannot believe that God has been this kind that he would gift me this man,” Niecy said. ”Falling in love was the easy part, planning a wedding — yikes!” It will be the second trip down the aisle for Niecy, she was married to Pastor Don Nash for thirteen years, and has three children with him.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

E l DeBarge is making a comeback. He will release his first album in 16 years, fittingly entitled Second Chance. In the interview with Ebony he talks about what it was like growing up with a abusive father, about drugs, jail, the man he once was and the man he’s now become.

El DeBarge is also about to return to the stage for his first tour in a dozen years. Opening for the Mary J. Blige on her East Coast concert swing kicking off October 2 in Atlanta, El will both celebrate his early hits remembered by his long-time loyal fans and embrace a new generation with sensational new songs.

T he Gospel music industry is once again gearing up for worship, praise and enlightenment at the Annual True Worship Retreat. Led by Gospel artist and Worship Leader, Lance Williams, this highly anticipated event returns to the Shiloh Baptist Church 515-521 West Fourth Street, in Plainfield, New Jersey, September 9-11.

There will be workshops/seminars throughout the weekend for registered attendees. Instructors for this year’s retreat include: Lance Williams, Melonie Daniels, J.J. Hairston and many more. This year, the retreat will launch with a general service on September 9th at 7:30pm, with Gospel favorites, Tye Tribbett and Dr. John Guns along with the True Worship Retreat Mass Choir. This is the only nightly service that is free and open to the public. Read the rest

R apper Ludacris celebrated this weekend with his fifth Annual Ludaday Weekend festivities with various events in Atlanta and brought out many of his celebrity friends to celebrate, including Keshia Knight Pulliam, Lance Gross, Vin Diesel, Larenz Tate, Allen Iverson, Keion Martin, Tracy McGrady, Day 26, and Ludacris’ fiancee Eudoxie.

LudaDay Weekend was created by Ludacris as a platform to give back to the community and celebrate unity amongst the city’s tastemakers, and even nationally tapping celebrity friends to participate in the festivities.

More photos after the click: Read the rest

M aking his rounds in New York City, Kanye West was spotted out and about, stepping into his luxury Maybach in the trendy SoHo neighborhood yesterday (Se06). In related news, Kanye has apologize to Taylor Swift via Twitter. He tweeted, “I’m sorry, Taylor. I wrote a song for Taylor Swift that’s so beautiful, and I want her to have it. If she won’t take it then I’ll perform it for her. She had nothing to do with my issues with award shows. She had no idea what hit her. She’s just a li’l girl with dreams like the rest of us. She deserves the apology more than anyone.”

nnnnnn

R &B artists, Fantasia and Kelly Rowland hung out and entertained fans this weekend in Atlanta. Fantasia belted out singles from her new album, “Back to Me,” and Kelly performed her hit single “Commander.”

nnnnnn

Read the rest

L udaDay kicked off last night (Sep02) with a private dinner at his restaurant Straits in Atlanta. Where he was joined by Atlanta Mayor, Kasim Reed, Kelly Rowland, Keshia Knight Pulliam, basketball player, Kenyon Marton and many others.

LudaDay takes place over the Labor Day Holiday Week and is a time when Ludacris takes this week not only to give back to the community through his Non-Profit Ludacris Foundation but also uses it to kickback and have some fun with the community through various events.

More photos after the click: Read the rest

A ctors, Boris Kodjoe, Blair Underwood and Lance Gross cover the October issue of Essence Magazine. As the fall TV season begins, all three gentleman will be seen on their own shows. From Blair Underwood’s role as an ultra-cool Commander in Chief, to Lance Gross’ return as a fireman, to Boris Kodjoe’s double life as a spy and husband, prime time will never be the same.

T he Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), a global non-profit that promotes the positive portrayal of women in the entertainment biz, held its second annual WEEN Awards Gala held last night at the Asia Society in New York City.

The ceremony honored six individuals, Nia Long, LeToya Luckett, Soledad O’Brien, Angie Martinez, Hydeia Broadbent, and Esther Silver-Parker, they have all proven a commitment to the empowerment of women worldwide.

More photos from the event after the click: Read the rest

M arvin Sapp will headline 7th Annual SpiritFest 2010 in Greenville, SC. The Gospel extravaganza also will feature other acclaimed and award-winning artists, including Vanessa Bell Armstrong, The Williams Brothers, The Rance Allen Group and Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC’s. SpiritFest 2010 starts at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Bi-Lo Center. During the event, two high school seniors will each receive $2,500 scholarships and laptop computers.

The theme of SpiritFest 2010 is “Prayer Still Works.” Marvin sees evidence of answered prayers all around him — three healthy children, a thriving ministry and a successful music career. He said it’s mind-blowing God would take a man from obscure Grand Rapids and catapult him to national attention through his gospel music.

He also knew early in life that he wanted to sing and preach. Many children play house or doctor. Marvin played church, “I would wrap a towel around my neck and a big safety pin and carry my Bible in the backyard.”

R &B singer, Lloyd cut off his trademark hair yesterday, he has sported a lengthy mane since debuting in 2004. He stop by a barbershop in his native Atlanta to switch up his signature and decided to donate his hair to a worthy cause.

Lloyd donated his hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that uses hair donations to provide wigs to people suffering medical-related hair loss. “I’ve been growing my hair since 9th grade. It’s time for a new me,” Lloyd said. “The fact that my hair will go to someone that needs it more than me, makes me feel great about my decision.”

The singer’s new album “King of Hearts” is set for release early next year. More pictures after the click: Read the rest

A lready a success as member of the Gospel girl group Witness, Lisa Page Brooks has scored her first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart this week with “I Want to Say Thank You,” which has been on the charts for 33 weeks. She’s the first female to reach the top spot in over a year since Maurette Brown-Clark’s “It Ain’t Over” in June 2009.

“I Want to Say Thank You” will also be remember as the song finally dethroning Marvin Sapp’s “The Best In Me”, after it spent 25 weeks at the No. 1 spot.

Congratulations Lisa!!!

D olce & Gabbana is launching a limited-edition Naomi Campbell T-shirts on Fashion Night Out 2010 (Spetember 10th) in honor of Naomi Campbell’s 25 years long career. The collection comprises 14 different designs displaying iconic images of the supermodel taken by the world’s most famous fashion photographers, including Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Klein, David LaChapelle, Mario Testino, Ellen von Unwerth, Bruce Weber, Steven Meisel, Herb Ritts and Peter Lindbergh.

All proceeds from the sale of these limited edition shirts (priced at $200 each) will benefit Naomi’s Fashion for Relief charity, which raises funds in the fashion world in times and places of need. For the exclusive launch party, Naomi Campbell will be stopping by Dolce & Gabbana’s Madison Avenue location on September 10th to sign tees from the collection.

Check out a couple of the designs after the click:

Read the rest

P. Diddy is being sued by a woman named Francesca Spero for $12 million. She claims she helped launch the music mogul’s career, but was canned from his company, Bad Boy, because she had hip surgery in 2008. According to the 51 year-old Francesca legal claim, Diddy, real name Sean Combs, was “unsympathetic to her condition” and tried to push her out of the company. In March 2010, she was fired and replaced by a woman much younger who lacked the skill set and experience Francesca brought to the position.

Her lawyer Laurie Berke-Weiss said: “Francesca Spero opened the door for Combs’ career and, now that she’s 51, he showed her the door at Bad Boy.” According to her lawsuit, after surgery to treat a hip misalignment, he allegedly said she earned too much money for someone who could no longer keep up with his fast-paced lifestyle and fired her. Read the rest

After a life threaten health scare, Darwin Hobbs is back on the scene and full of life. With his second chance at life, Darwin is now championing men’s health. He says Black men in particular have to be proactive and not to be afraid go get checked. He recently sat down for an interview with Mona Austin, where he talk about his struggles with weight loss and how the health scare changed his life. (Listen to the audio after the click)

Early this summer, while promoting his album “Champion,” Darwin was headed to the airport when he started experiencing a shortness of breath. Instead of continuing to the airport, he made a detour to St. Joseph hospital in Atlanta. The detour may very well have saved Darwin’s life.

He had developed blood clots in his lungs. Doctors at St. Joseph hospital believe that the clots in Darwin’s lungs stemmed from a larger clot that they discovered in his right leg. Read the rest