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“The Boss” Diana Ross is finally getting a Grammy. Ross is being honored with the Lifetime Achievement Grammy at this year’s awards celebration. That event is held the night before The 54th Annual Grammy Awards February 12th. Ross will be honored along with Glen Campbell, The Allman Brothers and the late Gil Scott Heron.
GrammywinningPercussionist/Songwriter/Producer Ralph MacDonald has died. MacDonald had an incredible career working with everyone from Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones and Lena Horne to Ashford & Simpson, Amy Winehouse and Teddy Pendergrass. His most successful works came through co-writing the songs Where Is The Love for Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway in 1972, and Just The Two Of Us for Grover Washington, Jr. & Bill Withers in 1981. MacDonald had suffered from both a stroke and lung cancer in recent years. He was 67.
Songwriter-producer Sean Garrett is making a bold prediction about his latest project – Beyonce’s fourth solo album.
“It’s going to be her biggest album ever,” says Garrett, who has worked with Bey before on the tracks “Video Phone,” “Get Me Bodied” and “Upgrade U.”
“We’re going to take it to a whole other level,” he warns.
Will Jay-Z take over the management role for the career of his wife Beyonce? Beyonce has never forgiven her dad Matthew Knowles for fathering a child outside of his marriage to her mother Tina, and she has not been happy with his management style. Jay-Z wants her to be more edgy, and she wants to be more edgy, aka Lady Gaga. Jay-Z is forming a new management company, and we hear Beyonce will be his first client.
The 11th season of Dancing With The Stars kicks off on the 20th. This year’s dancers include David Hasselhoff (Baywatch, Knight Rider) Kirstie Alley (Cheers), Michael Bolton, Football Star Kurt Warner, Sarah Palin’s daughter Bristol, Singer Brandy, Kyle Massey (Corey In The House, That’s So Raven) former husband of Vanessa Williams and Basketball Star Rick Fox and Brady Bunch mom Florence Henderson. Brandy is the favorite to win it all. If Brandy wins, she would be the first African American female to win. Past contestants include Laila Ali, Vivica A. Fox, Mel B, Mya and Lil’ Kim.
Music Great Harvey Fuqua passed away this week. The 80-year old Fuqua was the force behind The Moonglows in the 50’s, and he was an early mentor to one of the group’s young members, Marvin Gaye. In addition to Marvin Gaye, Fuqua was known for his work with Tammi Terrell, The Spinners, Johnny Bristol, New Birth, Etta James, Sylvester and The Weather Girls, to name a few. Fuqua had been ill, and succumbed to a heart attack. Fuqua’s nephew is famed Director Antoine Fuqua. Antoine is married to Actress Lela Rochon, and he made headlines himself this week with his I.R.S. tax troubles. Antoine Fuqua is currently working on a movie about Legendary Rapper Tupac Shakur. He’s best known for his work on the movie Training Day featuring Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning performance.
Weight Watchers, 7-Eleven Tap Jennifer Hudson. Oscar and Grammy award-winner Jennifer Hudson was announced this morning as the latest celebrity to represent Weight Watchers. The Oscar winner will begin appearing in ads for the weight loss company beginning Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Hudson recently lost weight after the birth of her first child, a son with fiancé David Otunga. She says of her new weight loss gig, “It’s a lifestyle change, not a diet.” Meanwhile, J-Hud has also designed a coffee cup for 7-Eleven as part of their “7-Eleven Coffee Cup with a Cause” charity campaign. Her cup goes on sale today at participating 7-Eleven stores across the U.S. and will be available through May 31 or while supplies last. Proceeds from the cup featuring Hudson’s personal design will benefit her designated charity, Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Hudson made a surprise appearance at a Chicago-area Boys & Girls Clubs of America location March 31 to formally announce her partnership with 7-Eleven and officially launch the cup’s sales. Featuring a brightly burning candle as the focal point, the cup is inscribed with the words “Light of Peace” in Hudson’s handwriting. “7-Eleven’s ‘Coffee Cup With A Cause’ program not only lets me give back to an organization that really helped me while I was growing up in Chicago,” Hudson said, “but also is an opportunity to tell others about the great work this organization continues to do. The Boys & Girls Clubs provide safe places for kids to learn and grow, not just in Chicago but across our country and on U.S. military bases around the world.” Throughout 2010, 7-Eleven will introduce limited-edition 20-ounce coffee cups designed by entertainment and sports celebrities to be sold in its U.S. stores. Proceeds from sales of the cups benefit the featured celebrity’s charity of choice. These cups can be filled with any 7-Eleven hot beverage and customized with a selection of creams, syrups and spices at no extra charge.