RHoA Cast Set to Return

Season 4 of "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" will return with all 6 castmembers.  Season 4 should bring a lot of interesting twists, turns, & drama for Sheree Whitfield, Phaedra Parks, Kandi Burruss, NeNe Leakes, Kim Zolciak, and Cynthia Bailey.

Season 3 truly had our attention, so Season 4 has to be a must-see!!  Season 4 is set to return in October.

Jennifer Hudson's 'Winged Creatures' Rechristened 'Fragments'

 

After winning Oscars in 2006 for their roles in 'The Last King of Scotland' and 'Dreamgirls,' respectively, Forest Whitaker and Jennifer Hudson worked together on a film called 'Winged Creatures.'

With a cast that includes Kate Beckinsale, Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Jackie Earle Haley, Josh Hutcherson, Embeth Davidtz, Jeanne Tripplehorn and Robin Weigert, the movie seemed, at the the very least, promising. Not quite.

It was shelved for three years while producers tried to find a distribution company. Now, with its new title, 'Fragments,' this Rowan Woods-directed film will be released in a limited number of theaters on July 31, with a DVD release date set for Aug. 4.

E. Lynn Harris Dies

According to Today, author, E. Lynn Harris, has passed away. This was confirmed by his publisher, Doubleday. He was on a book tour on the West Coast when he passed. Harris was 54 years old.

"We at Doubleday are deeply shocked and saddened to learn of E. Lynn Harris’ death at too young an age," Harris' longtime publicist, Alison Rich, a Doubleday spokeswoman, said on behalf of the publisher. “His pioneering novels and powerful memoir about the black gay experience touched and inspired millions of lives, and he was a gifted storyteller whose books brought delight and encouragement to readers everywhere. Lynn was a warm and generous person, beloved by friends, fans, and booksellers alike, and we mourn his passing."

The Arkansas Times reported on its Web site that Harris was found in his hotel room. His personal assistant confirmed his failing health, according to Essence.com, but didn't provide details about the cause of death.

Harris is best known for his literary work on African American and gay cultures. Some of his work includes, "If This World Were Mine" and "Invisible Life".

Our prayers are with his family.

Ruben Studdard's "Together"

Ruben's back! Heard his latest song on the radio the other day. Here's the video for his song, "Together".




Nice song!!!! Good to see him doing his thang!!!!

Tameka Foster-Raymond is Recovering....

Usher's wife, Tameka, is recovering after surgery:

A spokesman for Tameka Foster Raymond’s surgeon, R&B singer Usher’s wife, says the mother of five is recovering after slipping into cardiac arrest during a liposuction procedure. According to Ellen Dastry, spokeswoman for plastic surgeon Silivio Sternman, Raymond went into cardiac arrest…… while being anesthetized for a ’simple liposuction’ “but was revived in less than a minute by heart massage.” Dastry, who spoke with the Associated Press also states Raymond was then placed in an induced coma before being taken to the intensive-care unit, a procedure Dastry she says is “absolutely normal” and performed in order to “avoid unnecessary complications.” Sternman and Dastry’s statements follow a report issued by Brazilian news source G1, that said Raymond experienced complications and was placed in an induced coma. According to sources, Tameka Raymond remains hospitalized at the reportedly ‘posh and better equipped’ Sirio-Labanes Hospital.

Wow, surgery is no joke. Sometimes you have to be happy the way God made you!!

Heather Headley's Album Tops Charts

Songstress Heather Headley's latest album, "Audience of One", is topping the charts. The album holds the number one slot on Billboard's Top Christian and Gospel Charts and number six on the R&B chart.

Headley has had a number of appearances lately: the "We Are One" concert & is a featured performer on BET's "Celebration of Gospel" show.

Here's "Jesus is Love" with Smokie Norful from her album:



Congrats Heather!!!

YourBlackCelebrities: 'Hairspray' Costar Brittany Snow Speaks About Nikki Blonsky vs. Bianca Golden

(PEOPLE.com) Nikki Blonsky's friend and Hairspray costar Brittany Snow is as taken aback as anyone at the news of Blonsky's Friday arrest for alleged assault in a Caribbean airport.

"Of course I was surprised," Snow, 22, told PEOPLE Sunday at the Teen Choice Awards in Los Angeles.

"Nikki is one of my really dear friends, and she's not a person that I would ever expect to have that controversy … surrounding her," says Snow.

"But at the same time, you know things get misconstrued in this business," she adds. "I really hope the best for her, because ... she's one of the sweetest girls I've ever met, so I just hope it works out – and it will, because she's a good person, and good things happen to good people."

Blonsky, 19, and her father, Carl Blonsky, were arrested following a brawl involving the family of America's Next Top Model contestant Bianca Golden in the departure lounge of the Providenciales International Airport in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Golden was also charged with assault.

Although Snow has not spoken to Blonsky, their Hairspray costar Zac Efron had. "Zac talked to her for a while."

Snow also said, "I don't know how it happened or what exactly went on, but my heart goes out to her, because I really do love her, and I know she didn't mean to hurt anybody – and nor did her dad. Her family is amazing!"

YourBlackCelebrities: Psychology, Math, Society & Media Determine Who Is Beautiful

By Chiderah A. Monde

Why is it that both Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry are widely considered beautiful women, no matter what race you are, no matter what gender?

With a constantly changing world, comes a constantly changing perception of beauty. Over the years society has changed its description of what is considered the physically “ideal” or “perfect” woman. No longer does the blond bombshell grace the covers of every magazine, nor does the deathly skinny frame or pale skin.

The 21st century demanded a change, for it’s “ideal” woman, and now she has curves, dark hair, and most importantly- darker skin.

Society’s perfect woman is not necessarily Black, although everyone agrees that Beyonce, Halle Berry, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson top a lot of lists. But darker skin is definitely in- whether it is tanned white women, foreign femmes, or mixed beauties, women like Jessica Alba, Angelina Jolie, Aishwarya Rai, Adrianna Lima and Jessica Biel have taken the place of the blond bombshell era.

There’s no question about curves being in demand too. Beyonce is the epitome of the ideal curves for a Black woman, so is Alicia Keys, and quite frankly- so is Kim Kardashian. Men agree that body and curves are sexier, and women feel more comfortable with their bodies being similar shapes to celebrity women.

The interesting thing about the changing perception of beauty is how we can all agree that these women and physical features are considered acceptable. Psychologists argue that an individual’s perception of what is considered attractive is dependent on the person’s parents. That is, we base what is beautiful on what our mothers look like, what our fathers think, and what they both teach us to be beautiful. On the other scholarly hand, some consider attraction to be dependent on symmetry. That is, anything that is symmetrical is aesthetically pleasing. Once something seems out of line, out of sync, or asymmetrical, it is not attractive.

I don’t know how I feel about all of that.

Whether it’s psychology or symmetry that determines what is beautiful, it is all amplified by society and by media. Everything we buy, wear, eat and do is reflection of what some part of society has suggested we should. And “should” is an iffy word…

Nevertheless, we might be moving in an optimistic direction. If curves, dark hair and dark skin is currently in, society is setting an example for accepting a variety of body types. With things like Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty and Maxim’s 2008 Hot 100, the days of having only one perfect woman are long gone.