Condoleezza Rice performs for the Queen. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave a piano recital for the Queen on Tuesday during what could be her final visit to Buckingham Palace as the nation’s top diplomat. Rice performed music by Johannes Brahms accompanied on violin by Louise Shackleton, the wife of David Miliband, the foreign secretary. Three members of the London Symphony Orchestra backed the high-profile duo. Afterward, the Queen presented Rice with a recording of the performance as a gift. America’s most senior diplomat is a classically trained pianist who had expressed a wish to play at the palace. She was making her final trip to Britain before heading to India.

Entertainer says she’ll likely adopt in U.S. 

Rapper and actress Queen Latifah is ready to adopt her first child, according to the National Enquirer. The Queen has stated that her plans to start a family would “happen eventually,” but the magazine reports that she and her physical trainer are hoping to adopt a child together by Christmas. “I can understand why people go outside the U.S. ,” she says. “You can adopt someone here, and the birth parents have three years to come back and get that child. That’s terrifying. (American children) can use just as much assistance as someone from around the world. I want to do something here.” “Big ‘Tif” hasn’t confirmed the plans for an ‘08 adoption, nor has she confirmed a relationship with her female trainer.

Worked with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin

The man who helped make Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett soul music legends has died at age 91. Wexler, who helped produce hits including Franklin’s “Respect” and many other notable tunes by seminal Black recording artists, passed away last week at his Florida home. Richard Schiff portrays Wexler in the 2004 feature film Ray, starring Jamie Foxx.

Disney wants Spike Lee to shut up

Execs backing a forthcoming Spike Lee flick agree with Clint Eastwood that Lee should “shut his mouth.” Lee recently called out Eastwood for the lack of Black actors in two of Eastwood’s war movies, in an obvious attempt to draw attention to Lee’s forthcoming Miracle at St. Anna, a film about Black soldiers in Europe during World War II. Eastwood dissed Lee in return, before Lee called him “an angry old man.” But Disney’s afraid that Miracle at St. Anna, starring actor Michael Ealy, could possibly lose recognition, Lee tells Entertainment Weekly. “I get the thing, ‘Well Mr. Eastwood is so well-beloved,’ and this may have ramifications at Academy time,’” Lee says. “But it’s over. I said what I had to say. He believes what he believes. And that’s that.”

Diddy drops two new fragrances. After succeeding with Unforgivable – aided by the controversy over a sexually suggestive commercial – Diddy’s back with more in the fragrance department. The I Am King cologne has been announced as Sean John’s next product. I Am Queen will follow as the fragrance for women – or for men who want to smell, well…different. Macy’s will begin selling the new cologne in December, just in time for Christmas. New reality show, new colognes and new money – what a combination.