Posted on Friday, August 17, 2018

OWN ‘Greenleaf’ Actress LeToya Luckett aka Rochelle Cross Shows Off Baby Bump at 2018 Black Music Honors! (PHOTOS)

Hello World,

The clock still has a few 24-hour segments before Season 3 of OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’ premieres on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29, but thankfully the stars of the show are out and about leading up until then!

Last night, comedian and radio show host Rickey Smiley and singer and OWN “Greenleaf” actress LeToya Luckett ( aka Rochelle Cross, Lady’s Mae’s lady-in-waiting and or archenemy), who debuted her baby bump, co-hosted the 2018 Black Music Honors! The annual two-hour television special honors artists and musicians who have influenced and made significant contributions to American music. This year’s honorees were Bobby Brown, Faith Evans, Bebe & Cece Winans, Whodini, Stephanie Mills and Dallas Austin. Also, the 2018 Black Music Honors recognized the legacy of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul who passed away yesterday. (Condolences to her family and friends. She will certainly be missed the world over.)

The night included performances by Bell Biv Devoe, Next, Jade Novah, Kierra Sheard, Tasha Page-Lockhart, V. Bozeman, Demetria McKinney, DJ Mell Starr, Sammie, Donnie McClurkin, Sammie, Yo-Yo, Koryn Hawthorne, Rhyon Brown, Raheem DeVaughn, Regina Belle, Paris Bennett, Syleena Johnson, Angela Winbush, Jonathan McReynolds, Monie Love, Ruben Studdard and Doug E. Fresh. Additional VIP’s in attendance included Shiggy, Kyla Jade, Stevie J and more.

Proceeds from the 2018 Black Music Honors will benefit the 2019 opening of the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) in Nashville. NMAAM’s mission is to educate the world, preserve the legacy, and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. Event sponsors include AT&T, McDonald’s, Walmart, Johnson & Johnson, Chevrolet and State Farm as title sponsor.

See photos of the evening below:

LeToya Luckett and Rickey Smiley

Paris Bennett, Angela Winbush, Regina Bella perform for Aretha Franklin’s tribute.

LeToya Luckett and Rickey Smiley open the show.

Charity Greenleaf aka Deborah Joy Winans’ Auntie & Uncle CeCe and BeBe Winans

Koryn “Won’t He Do It” Hawthorne. Remember when Koryn and Isaiah better known to me as Gospel Chris Brown or Christian Breezy sang the song on an a “Greenleaf” episode?

Kierra Sheard and Donnie McClurkin sing.

The Tankards

Regina Belle performs.

Ruben Studdard sings.

Darlene McCoy

Tasha Page-Lockhart

Jonathan McReynolds and Tasha Page-Lockhart sing.

James Shaw, the Waffle House shoot-out “shutdowner”

Tommicus Walker and LeToya Luckett. Tommicus is her hubby! Congratulations to the expecting couple 🙂

Again, Season 3 of OWN’s “Greenleaf” is almost HERE!!

Any thoughts?

Posted on Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Erica Campbell, Vickie Winans, GooGoo Atkins, Roland Martin & More Attend ‘We’re The Campbells’ NABJ Screening (PHOTOS)

Hello World,

I wasn’t able to attend the 2018 National Association of Black Journalists Convention & Career Fair held in the city just a few days ago, but I felt like I was there from all of the pics that people have posted. To that end, see some photos from TV One’s screening of “We’re The Campbells” during NABJ 2018 as well as images of Erica Campbell hosting the 2018 NABJ Gospel Brunch. As a reminder, TV One’s “We’re The Campbells” airs Tuesdays at 8/7C!

According to the NABJ recap I received, the #NABJ18 convention wound to a close Sunday morning with a rousing blend of gospel, a movie preview and recognition of individuals who have impacted others.

Sponsored by Motown Gospel and the movie “Beautifully Broken,” the recently regrouped NABJ Gospel Choir sang “You’re Amazing,” before stirring performances were delivered by Lexi, Vickie Winans and others.

The brunch also included the presentation of the Angelo Henderson Community Service Award to WDIV-TV Anchor Rhonda Walker and the award for Educator of the Year to Alicia Nails, the director of the Journalism Institute for Media Diversity.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Friday, July 27, 2018

Anointed Pace Sister Latrice Pace Stars as Celie in ‘The Color Purple’ at Actor’s Express!

Hello World,

So I sure wish I would have heard about this sooner, but I’m so glad I’m able to help promote it all. Latrice Pace, a member of The Anointed Pace Sisters who are like The Clark Sisters in the metro Atlanta area but who have also established a fan base outside of its borders, is starring as Celie in “The Color Purple,” a play based on Alice Walker’s masterpiece of the same name. I’m so excited for a couple of reasons. Did I tell you I met Alice Walker back in April? If not, well, yes I did! It was affirming as a black author to meet a Georgia-bred author whose work will live beyond her and is known the world over. And I’m also excited because I went to high school with Latrice although it was it her younger sister Lydia who graduated in the same class as I did!

Anyhow, check out the details below!

A great American novel becomes a great American musical. Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning triumph bolts joyously to life with soaring music and unforgettable characters. Celebrating the very best of the human spirit, The Color Purple tells the uplifting story of Celie, a woman who struggles through adversity to find strength, love and the power of her own voice.