Category Archives: Relationships

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Robin Roberts Presents: ‘Mahalia’ to Premiere on Saturday, April 3rd at 8PM ET/PT on Lifetime!

Hello World,

ABC NEWS – Robin Roberts
(ABC/Heidi Gutman)

There will be excellent Easter programming this weekend! Lifetime’s highly anticipated gospel biopic Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia, will premiere Saturday, April 3 at 8:00pm ET/PT. An impressive list of Broadway stars including Tony® nominee Joaquina Kalukango (Slave Play), Jason Dirden (Fences & OWN’s Greenleaf...I loved him as Basie Skanks), Olivia Washington (The Butler) and Rob Demery (Lovecraft Country) join the film which is directed by Tony® Award-winner Kenny Leon and stars Tony Award nominee, SAG and Grammy® Award winning actress Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) as the gospel legend and civil rights trailblazer.

In the movie, Dirden stars as Russell Roberts, the dashing, music-loving Reverend who falls  for Mahalia when they first meet in the late 1940s while Kalukango takes on the role of Mildred, Mahalia’s talented and opinionated, long-time pianist. Washington portrays Estelle, a piano teacher Mahalia meets at church who goes on to become her life-long friend and Demery stars as the influential civil rights leader.

Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson began singing at an early age and went on to become one of the most revered gospel figures in U.S. history, melding her music with the civil rights movement. Her recording of the song Move on Up a Little Higher sold millions of copies, skyrocketing her to international fame and gave her the opportunity to perform at diverse settings including in front of a racially integrated audience at the prestigious Carnegie Hall and at John F. Kennedy’s inaugural ball. An active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, Jackson sang at numerous rallies, including the March on Washington in 1963 alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in hopes that her music would encourage and inspire racial equality.

Danielle Brooks sings these songs in the movie including Come On Children Let’s Sing, Didn’t It Rain, Elijah Rock, His Eyes On The Sparrow, How I Got Over, I’m Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song, I’ve Been Buked, Move On Up A Little Higher, My God Is Real, Precious Lord Take My Hand, Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child. Soundtrack will be available on ABKCO Music & Records.

Below is the trailer…

From Rock’n Robin Productions and Lincoln Square Productions, Mahalia is executive produced by Robin Roberts and Linda Berman. Danielle Brooks and Kenny Leon are co-executive producers. Leon directs from a script written by Bettina Gilois and Todd Kreidler.

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Gospel Music Trailblazer Donnie McClurkin Reveals ‘I’ll Probably Be Alone for The Rest of My Life’ & More on UNCENSORED Easter Sunday…

Photo Credit: DeWayne Rogers

Hello World,

The hit autobiographical series UNCENSORED explores the lives of your favorite personalities as they provide first-hand accounts of their success and the obstacles they faced throughout their careers. Season Three continues with Gospel music trailblazer Donnie McClurkin. Donnie McClurkin has made his mark on the world as a multiple award-winning gospel singer, minister and actor. After overcoming extreme adversity as a child, sharing his testimony and ministry with the world has helped him find peace within himself.

Below are a few clips from Sunday’s episode of UNCENSORED.

“I’ll Probably Be Alone for The Rest of My Life.”

How Oprah Increased Album Sales from 30,000 to 300,000

On the Devastating Loss of His Brother

This season of UNCENSORED also profiles KEM, Remy Ma, Marsha Ambrosius, Lisa Leslie and Jaleel White.

 UNCENSORED is produced for TV One by Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick and Paul Hall (Executive Producers), Jay Allen (Co-Executive Producer), and Nikki Byles (Producer) of Swirl Films. For TV One, Jason Ryan is Executive in Charge of Production; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming and Production.

Any thoughts?

 

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Charity Greenleaf aka Deborah Joy Winans Stars in COLOR OF LOVE on Lifetime on Easter Sunday!

Hello World,

Deborah Joy Winans, formerly Charity Greenleaf of OWN Greenleaf, has been booked for several acting/hosting roles lately! Good for her! And here’s another one: Color of Love. Below is the synopsis:

Inspired by a true story, Color of Love follows Monica Henderson (Winans), an African American widow with two kids who has so much love to give, she often fosters children who need a home. When she finds out that Peter and Rachel, the white brother and sister she fostered twice before, fled from their latest foster home, she takes them in again. Fearing the kids are in danger of slipping through the cracks of a flawed system, she begins the process of adopting them. Despite Monica’s mother and her boyfriend Theo’s beliefs that Peter and Rachel may be better off with a white family, Monica’s love for the kids puts the question of what makes a family to the test. (Think reverse Blind Side.)
Watch Color of Love on Lifetime on Easter Sunday, April 4, at 8PM ET/PT.
Below is the trailer:

Color of Love is produced by Reel One in association with Lifetime. Executive producers include Tamara Bass, Suzanne Chapman, Tom Berry and Barbara Fisher. Don McBrearty directs from a script by Tamara Bass.
Any thoughts?