My Red Carpet Coverage of the 2015 Trumpet Awards/Watch It on TV One THIS Saturday…

Hello World, me and mystikal

Although I love God more than any other being, my other great love (other than my husband and family) are celebrities…So when an opportunity arose to cover the 23rd Annual Trumpet Awards Ceremony from the red carpet, I couldn’t pass it up…So I got my hair did, face did, toes did and wore a dress I’ve had in my closet since my 20s (yay me…#notsohumblebrag)(check out the “us-sie” of me and Mystikal, who performed at the Trumpet Awards)

red carpet

 

and joined the rest of the paparazzi with my Kodak easyshare and went to work…So below are a few of my photos…Make sure to watch the actual awards ceremony on TV One this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

026The creator of the Trumpet Awards, Ms. Xernona Clayton…

006Lou Gossett, Jr. pointing out my itty bitty camera and telling me I was cute 🙂

059One of this year’s honorees, Janelle Monaé

007Isaac from “The Love Boat” also known as Ted Lange 🙂

038Babeee, they are minked (not sure if real or fake..)out… Bishop Ron Gibson and his wife LaVette from the “Preachers of L.A.”

045Another honoree and my soror…Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president of Morehouse School of Medicine…

015Ambassador Andrew Young and his wife Carolyn Young…

soror benjamin trumpetMy soror Dr. Regina Benjamin, former surgeon general of the United States…

053Chanté Moore…

036Deborah Cox…

042Dr. Rachel Ross from “The Doctors”…

050 Ernie Isley of The Isley Brothers and wife…

056Dikembe Mutombo

048Leela James

011Journalist and Alpha Man Roland Martin…

031I caught Naturi Naughton checking her phone…

queQuvenzhané Wallis aka Annie…

020 Larry Dodson of the Bar-Kays…

065One of the hosts for the evening Laila Ali…

063Another honoree Jamie Foxx and Cathy Hughes, founder of TV One…

usieAn “us-ie”…Me and two friends I happened to see inside the ceremony…

069Again…Ms. Xernona Clayton, the force behind the evening…

This year’s honorees included: Lou Brock (Baseball Hall of Famer and St. Louis Cardinal Legend); Arnold W. Donald (President and CEO of Carnival Corporation); Jamie Foxx (Actor, comedian, musician); Tommy Hilfiger (Designer, philanthropist); Guy Vickers (President, THCF, VP Community Affairs); The Isley Brothers (Recording artists); Janelle Monáe (Recording artist); Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice (President/Dean Morehouse School of Medicine); Franklyn R. Wilson (Chairman, Sunshine Holdings, Ltd, Bahamas).

So how did you like my red carpet coverage?

Any thoughts?

“Preachers of L.A.’s” Myesha Chaney is Coming to Atlanta This Friday/MY INTERVIEW…

Hello World, myesha book cover

If you’re a fan of “Preachers of L.A.,” I’ve got great news! Myesha Chaney, First Lady and executive director of Antioch Church of Long Beach and wife to Antioch Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, is headed to the A as a part of the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” Tour.  She will be hosting the women’s empowerment event, on which her new book “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” is based, at the dReam Center Church of Atlanta, 4209, Northeast Expwy, Atlanta, GA 30340 at 7 p.m.

If you’re unfamiliar with First Lady Myesha, she is also a songwriter, recording artist, motivational speaker, worship leader, and entrepreneur. In addition to starring on “Preachers of L.A.” First Lady Myesha and Pastor Wayne also co-host ““Real Life with Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” a radio talk show on KJLH, 102.3.  They are also the parents of three children: Wayne, Reign, and Cadence.

Below is my interview with First Lady Myesha about her new book, Preachers of L.A., her family life and MORE…

How did you come up with the “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” concept and write the book?

It was an answer to prayer. I was a young pastor’s wife, and I felt the expectations of others, and I saw the condition of the women that were in my sphere of influence. And I felt like everyone was just kind of putting on their best face, and they were presenting what they wanted people to see, not the truth. I didn’t want to live a life where I felt I had to be perfect, and I had to not have flaws so I asked God what can I do because I can’t live this life, I don’t want this so He gave me this concept of hiding behind the lipstick.

So I spoke about it at our women’s retreat, and it was so effective that we decided to do it again, and we kept doing it. And I said we need to put this in book so that we can reach more people. So it began as a women’s empowerment event that we host in different cities all across the country, and it’s also a book. Two different things but the same concept.

Tell me more about the women’s empowerment event and what happens.

We start off with some kind of musical component like a praise and worship. We play a video where women do what we call “lipstick confessions,” and they share things that you didn’t actually know about them or you don’t see it on the surface, but it is the truth. We do skits, we have dance, all of these things illustrate the pain we sometimes carry. We  have cardboard testimonies when women actually get up and they have where they were on the front and and they will turn it over and show where they are now. And I’ll get up and do a 40-minute talk about the whole concept of hiding, and I use a woman from the audience and do a kind of facial on the woman to illustrate the various things we do before we put on concealer which is hiding the imperfections. We end with allowing women to get up from the audience and stand and share what their lipstick was. And somehow between all of these elements women are much freer than they have ever been before, and they can share things and get healing for things they have had to struggle with their entire lives.

What has been the response to the women’s empowerment event so far? 

I have met women that have said, “Oh my God after 21 years of being the way I am, I finally changed,” and that is more than enough for me. I did it out of obedience. I didn’t attach anything to it. Sometimes we do things because want to make our name great and make our mark, but this is not one of those ministries. It is a labor of love.  So if a girl pulls me aside and I says, “I know you,” and I’m thinking it’s from the “Preachers of L.A.”or from Antioch Church, but she says, “You do that lipstick event,” that to me is more than enough for me.

I’ve done the workshop over 20 times in cities like L.A., Oakland, Detroit and in Texas in Florida. We’re going to D.C. It was shown on episode 10 of “Preachers of L.A.” too.

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to "Hiding Behind the Lipstick," from episode 10

First Lady Myesha inviting the owner of a strip club to come to “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” from episode 10

How did you become a part of the “Preachers of L.A.?”

Actually, it was my husband. We had been in pitch meetings and kind of in that entertainment space. We prayed toward that from some years prior before any meetings. So when “Preachers of L.A.” came about, my husband was approached, and he was open to it. And I decided to do with him, and it has been a great experience.

How has the show changed your life and the lives of your family?

It has allowed us to reach more people. From Day One, I decided if it helped me to do “Hiding Behind the Lipstick,” easier, I was grateful. I got out of it what I wanted to get from it. I have been able to reach more women. We were on radio for three years so we were quite familiar in this region already. It hasn’t been an overwhelming change. People see you out and want to take pictures more so that has been the only difference that I have experienced. My kids want to be on TV more. They say, “They need to show more of us,” and I’m like, “Really kids?”” But we have normal lives, and our kids have a normal lives. It’s an opportunity that God has given us, and we are grateful.

myesha chaney picWhat has been your favorite story line on “Preachers of L.A.?”

I know for us, we dealt with a lot of family issues as well as the other cast members. It was phenomenal to see the pastors help reconcile things in their family relationships. So that was the most moving story line I think, the stories of us reconciling with family.

One of my favorite story lines is the relationship of Bishop Noel Jones and Loretta. Are they ever going to get married?

(Laughing) I have no idea. I will be sitting and watching and waiting like everyone else.

To register for “Hiding Behind the Lipstick” in Atlanta, go to eventbrite.com. Free & VIP tickets are available!

Any thoughts?

 

 

See “Black or White” Starting This Friday!!!

Hello World, Black-or-White-Poster

Last Thursday, I had the opportunity to attend the Atlanta screening of Kevin Costner’s new film “Black or White.” In a word, the film was “heartwarming.” Below is the official description of the film:

“Black or White” is the story of a grandfather Elliot (Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner) who is suddenly left to care for his beloved granddaughter Eloise. When her paternal grandmother Rowena (Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer) seeks custody with the help of her attorney brother Jeremiah (Anthony Mackie), the little girl is torn between two families who love her deeply. With the best intentions at heart, both families fight for what they feel is right and are soon forced to confront their true feelings about race, forgiveness, and understanding. Anchored by an all-star cast and based on real events, the movie is a look at two seemingly different worlds, in which nothing is as simple as black or white.

Journalist Monica Pearson interviews Anthony Mackie & Kevin Costner at the screening...(still learning how to use my first smartphone :) )

Journalist Monica Pearson interviews Anthony Mackie & Kevin Costner at the screening…(still learning how to use my first smartphone 🙂 )

Although “Black or White” is a family-friendly story, assumptions that black and white people have of each other are uncovered and harsh truths on either side are also addressed, which is timely considering the current climate of American race relations in the wake of the Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown shootings. The end result is that both families, black or white, are equally loving and stable, although different and flawed. Also, in spite of some of the heavy topics of the film such as drug addiction and white privilege, there is plenty of humor! Look out for the character Duvan!

Kevin Costner & Anthony Mackie attended the screening and illuminated more about the film and what led them to get involved. Costner revealed that he believed in the film so much that he gave $9 million of his own money to make sure the film was made. “This film doesn’t victimize black people. It doesn’t victimize white people.” He also expressed his hope that as many people as possible would see what he saw in the film, but admitted that he doesn’t have control over that. “I have to turn this film over to God now because it’s not mine anymore.”

Anthony Mackie revealed that like his character Jeremiah who confronted his drug-addicted nephew, Eloise’ father, about his failure to take responsibility for his life, Mackie’s older brother Calvin Mackie, a successful entrepreneur, had a similar conversation with him years ago. Mackie also said, “Your first thought isn’t what makes you racist. It’s your second and third thought.”

Here is a trailer for the film:

Any thoughts?