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Entertainment: Oprah and Friends Honor Essence’s Taylor; Housewives’ NeNe Leakes Was Evicted; Despite Running a Fever, Tina Turner Did the Garden

hbarber — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:49:02 +0000

Oprah and friends honor Essence’s Taylor. Oprah, Diddy and Al Sharpton came out to support Susan L. Taylor of Essence magazine. See photos from the exclusive event.
Housewives’ NeNe Leakes was evicted. The breakout star of the hit Bravo reality series “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was evicted from her pricey Duluth five-bedroom house, The Atlanta Constitution reports. According to Darryl Pierce, the broker for the 5,000-square-foot home, NeNe and her husband, Gregory Leakes, left in November, three months after Winwood Properties filed an eviction notice. Filed Sept. 24 with the Magistrate Court of Gwinnett County, the notice said Greg Leakes owed $6,240 in past due rent. “The tenant said they would move by Sept. 14 because they could no longer afford the house,” the notice said. The Leakeses moved into the home shortly after it was built in 2006, Pierce said.
Despite running a fever, Tina Turner did the Garden. People are still talking about how the 69-year-old Tina Turner who, despite having had a fever so high on Monday that she was hospitalized, wowed the crowd peppered with celebrities at New York’s Madison Square Garden Monday night. Whoopi Goldberg raved about her the next morning on “The View,” urging every woman in the audience to go see the show. Other celebs attending “An Evening with Tina Turner” Monday night included Anne Hathaway, MTV head Toni DiSanto, Tom Cruise and his wife, Katie Holmes – who were celebrating their second anniversary, and Molly Simms, reports The New York Post’s Page Six. The celebs, when brought backstage to meet Turner before the show, were told because of her illness, that “no one is to shake her hand, and she cannot talk before performing [because of the illness]. She’s very shy.” But Turner not only shook hands but spoke with each guest, noted the Post. The eight-time Grammy-winner was determined to stick to her tour schedule and pressed ahead with her gig on Monday, reported The San Francisco Chronicle. There was no word on exactly what caused Turner’s illness.

Entertainment: What Are Celebs up to This Holiday Season?; Oprah to Honor Essence Editor

hbarber — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:04:46 +0000

What are the celebs up to this holiday season? So how did Will Smith spend Thanksgiving? What’s on the wish list of some of your favorite stars? Read on.

Oprah to honor Essence Editor Susan L. Taylor. Susan L. Taylor, who has been with Essence magazine for some 37 years, will be honored at a special event on Tuesday, according to Noerdlinger Media. Among those bestowing accolades on the longtime editor of the women’s magazine will be talk-show diva Oprah Winfrey, music producer Sean Combs and author Terry McMillan. Proceeds from the Dec. 2 ceremony will benefit the National CARES Mentoring Movement that is dedicated to pairing vulnerable African-American children with a caring mentor. National CARES, which was founded by Taylor as Essence CARES, currently operates in more than 50 U.S. states. Notable performers at Taylor’s honorary event include singer Yolanda Adams and gospel star Donnie McClurkin. Other notable attendees will include noted poet Ruby Dee, radio host Michael Eric Dyson, rapper Common and outspoken activist Al Sharpton.

Music News: Essence Holds Star-Studded Event ; When Will Jay-Z’s Next Project ?

thenry — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:34:46 +0000

Party Picks
More Party Pics Flip through an album of more exclusive photos of the party after the BET Awards after-party. Check the photos out here.

ESSENCE holds another star-studded music festival this weekend.
Check out pics from the event in New Orleans and come back to BET.com for more later today. Sound Off has the latest.

When will Jay-Z’s next album drop?
The “President” gives us a hint and talks about where he is in the creative process. The details at Sound Off.