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← Older postsNEW MUSIC: Kirk Franklin & GloRilla ‘This Time’ from New Album, I Am What I Am
September 26, 2026Today, 20x-GRAMMY® Award-winning artist, songwriter, producer, and music icon Kirk Franklin releases new single “This Time” featuring GloRilla out now via Uptown Records. Listen HERE. It heralds the arrival of his much-anticipated fourteenth full-length solo album, I Am What I Am, on October 30th. Pre-order/Pre-save HERE. Interpolating Mandrill’s “Children Of The Sun,” joyous and boisterous horns set the tone for the track, and slick handclaps hold the tempo in place. Soul overflows from a steeple-sized chantable chorus driven by Kirk’s uncontainable energy. Meanwhile, multiplatinum Memphis, TN hip-hop powerhouse GloRilla channels the same spirit with upbeat bars laced tightly with her quotable wordplay. “This Time” notably showcases another side of the superstar rapper’s artistry, illuminating her versatility on the beat. Franklin initially preceded I Am What I Am with “Thank You For Everything,” featuring gospel legend Karen Clark Sheard of The Clark Sisters, which has since become the fastest growing record at Gospel radio. Kirk also performed the song at the 41st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards for its live television debut, while the accompanying video made its broadcast debut on BET Her. Watch the “Thank You For Everything” music video HERE. Listen HERE. Variety recently broke the news that Kirk locked down a partnership with Uptown Records in conjunction with his own Fo Yo Soul Entertainment and TRIBL Music Group. Visit KirkFranklin.com, follow Kirk Franklin on Instagram using the handle @KirkFranklin; Tik Tok @TheKirkFranklin; Facebook at /KirkFranklin; and YouTube.
Posted in Coming Soon | Leave a comment“The Voice” returns for its 30th season on Sept. 21 on NBC.
September 17, 2026The four-time Emmy Award-winning musical competition series “The Voice” returns for a milestone Season 30 with the strongest vocalists from across the country invited to compete in the show’s newest season on Sept. 21. Prior to the premiere, “The Voice: 30th Season Celebration” kicks off the festivities on September 17 with host Carson Daly sitting down with coaches past and present – from beloved O.G.’s Blake Shelton, Adam Levine and CeeLo Green to fan favorites Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani, along with newest coaches Queen Latifah and Riley Green – to look back on the evolution of the longstanding music competition and tease the upcoming landmark season. The competition is fierce as music icon Queen Latifah and country superstar Riley Green step in the red chairs for the first time, alongside veteran coaches Kelly Clarkson and Adam Levine as they all vie to discover the next singing phenomenon. This powerhouse coaching panel aim to discover and coach the next singing phenomenon. The show’s innovative format features four stages of competition: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Cut Week, and Live Performance Shows. During the Blind Auditions, the decisions the coaches make are based solely on voice and not looks as the coaches build their teams of 12 artists. The coaches hear the artists perform without getting to see them, thanks to rotating chairs. If a coach is impressed by the artist’s voice, they push a button to select the artist for their team. At this point, the coach’s chair will swivel so that they can face the artist they selected. If more than one coach pushes the button, the power then shifts to the artists to choose which coach they want to work with. If no one pushes their button, the artist is eliminated from the competition. New this season is the …
Posted in Music & Film | Leave a commentVenus Williams Brings Her Love Of Tennis And Design Home With Stunning Crate & Barrel Collection
September 17, 2026Venus Williams is taking her talents from the tennis court to the home with a new Crate & Barrel and Crate & Kids collaboration. Launching September 16, the eclectic collaboration features nearly 200 pieces of furniture, decor, and textiles that are designed to bring elements of her beloved sport into the home. The chic collection draws on elements of tennis, such as movement and color, while incorporating influences from Italian design. For Williams, the collaboration is a natural next step of a career that has expanded beyond tennis. The seven-time Grand Slam champion founded her commercial and residential design firm, V Starr, in 2002 and has worked across hospitality, multifamily residential, and luxury projects. The renowned athlete has also had her hand in fashion, creating activewear and tennis apparel line EleVen by Venus Williams in 2012. “I’m so proud of this collection. Each piece was intentionally designed to feel artful, timeless, and design-driven, while still working cohesively together,” Williams said. “We had fun including a few nods to tennis, inspired by the geometry and elements of the sport, while keeping the overall aesthetic that feels elevated, effortless, and enduring. Ultimately, this collection was made to inspire that feeling of, ‘I could live like this forever.’” Williams’ design background shines in the new Crate & Barrel collection—it pairs bold forms and rich materials with functional pieces that can work together throughout the home. One standout is the Second Serve Stone and Metal Chandelier, which is inspired by a suspended tennis ball during a serve. Williams also incorporates playful references to tennis throughout the collection, including spherical shapes that are similar to the form of a tennis ball. For Crate & Kids, the tennis star drew from her own idea of an ideal childhood bedroom. The design for this collection takes on …
Posted in Fashion, In The Spotlight | Leave a comment‘Why Did I Get Married Again?’ brings returning stars and franchise newcomers together for star-studded LA screening: Take a look
September 17, 2026As if we weren’t already excited enough for Why Did I Get Married Again?, the cast and a handful of celebrity guests gave us even more reason to tune in at the Los Angeles screening on Tuesday (Sept. 8) night. There was plenty to take in on the red carpet, especially with the main cast reuniting more than 15 years after the previous installment brought everyone together in New York. This time around, Tyler Perry, Michael Jai White, Tasha Smith, Sharon Leal, Richard T. Jones, and more gathered at Los Angeles’ Harmony Gold Preview House for the occasion. The night also marked the first time we’d seen several of the franchise’s newcomers together off-screen, perhaps most notably Taraji P. Henson, along with Da’Vinchi, Laya DeLeon Hayes, and Jaden Michael, just to name a few. Not to mention, our “Love Island USA” Season 8 favorites Kuman “KC” Chandler and Tierra “Titi” Davis wound up being two of the evening’s biggest surprises. The ladies didn’t disappoint on the red carpet, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Eva Marcille and Crystle Stewart took on the sheer trend with two absolutely gorgeous gowns, while Smith showed a little skin with cutouts along the sides of her black dress. Henson, on the other hand, wore a black-and-white Rick Owens number. Holding it down for the men, Perry arrived in an Amiri suit, while Jai White went with a black blazer and matching trousers complemented by a brooch and bow tie. Most of the other guys didn’t stray too far from that memo, with Derrick A. King putting his own spin on the formula by going shirtless underneath his suit, Michael trading traditional Oxfords for boots, and Terrell Carter stepping out in an all-leather look. Da’Vinchi, meanwhile, dressed almost entirely in neutrals, down to his brown slacks and button-up …
Posted in Photos | Leave a commentSalli Richardson-Whitfield On Making Emmy History And Opening Doors For Black Women
September 17, 2026Salli Richardson-Whitfield never planned on becoming a director. Now, she is making history as one—again. For much of her career, audiences knew Richardson-Whitfield from in front of the camera. Her résumé stretches back to the early 1990s, with roles in A Low Down Dirty Shame, Eureka and I Am Legend. Directing wasn’t part of some master plan, but the possibility only entered her mind after Ava DuVernay recognized something Richardson-Whitfield had yet to recognize in herself while they were making I Will Follow. “I think you’re a director and you don’t know it,” DuVernay told her. What followed was a second career whose success has surpassed even her own expectations. In 2024, her work on HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty made her the first Black woman nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series. Now, she has entered the record books again. Her nominations for Task and The Gilded Age make Richardson-Whitfield the first woman to receive two directing nominations in the category in the same year. She is also nominated as an executive producer on The Gilded Age, which is up for Outstanding Drama Series. Her path also says something about who gets to imagine themselves behind the camera in the first place. Richardson-Whitfield spent decades working primarily under male directors. Seeing DuVernay directing her own feature gave her a reference point she hadn’t previously had. Now, Richardson-Whitfield has become one herself. At 58, she understands her success differently than she did when she first stepped behind the camera. Awards are important to an extent, but so does what her presence can make possible for another Black woman trying to get access to the same rooms. Richardson-Whitfield now sees her own career as evidence of what can happen when someone is given …
Posted in Highlight | Leave a commentACTRESS NIA LONG HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
September 17, 2026Actress Nia Long was honored today with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Long received her star in the category of Motion Pictures. The guest speakers for the honorary tribute were Snoop Dogg and MICHAEL Producer Graham King. Distinguished guests celebrating the milestone included Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson, her MICHAEL co-star Larenz Tate, and Morris Chestnut,Tiffany Haddish, Mike Epps, Estelle, Courtney B. Vance, Daphne Wayans, and Terrence Howard.
Posted in Celebrity Profile, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentFlight Attendants Aren’t Just Plane People
September 12, 2026Originally Written in 2002 – Updated 2026. By Sonya Jenkins Upon arriving in New York in February 1993, the flight crew was notified that the World Trade Center had been bombed. Instead of staying at the hotel adjoining the WTC, as previously planned, the crew was now to stay at a hotel in Upper Manhattan. The day following the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the flight crew was informed that the Washington, D.C., portion of our trip would not be operating, as airplanes across the nation were grounded for at least two days. Both incidents — in 1993 and in 2001 — affected me in ways I never could have imagined. I did not know anyone personally who had died or been injured in either attack, but still, I felt a great sense of loss. I was immobilized with fear and sadness. Nevertheless, I thanked God for His mercy and prayed that He would comfort those who had lost loved ones. I prayed that peace would be restored to our country and the world. The attacks hit close to home for me because I was one of the recipients of the messages sent to the flight crew in both 1993 and 2001. I traveled to New York on that cold day in 1993 and was scheduled to lay over at a hotel adjoining the World Trade Center on the very day it was bombed. In 2001, my schedule had me flying to Washington, D.C., on September 12 — the day after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the crash of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. You see, along with being a writer, interviewing celebrities, writing freelance articles for newspapers and magazines, and creating my own magazine, I was also a flight attendant. …
Posted in Highlight | Leave a commentStevie Wonder Announces ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ 50th Anniversary Tour
September 9, 2026Stevie Wonder has announced the Songs in the Key of Life Performances – 50th Anniversary Tour, an 18-date run beginning October 13 in Birmingham, England. Wonder will perform the groundbreaking album in full, with the tour concluding December 19 at Los Angeles’ Intuit Dome. Released September 28, 1976, Songs in the Key of Life stands among Wonder’s highest achievements. The double album features “I Wish,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “Sir Duke,” along with “As,” which we recently named the No. 1 song on ESSENCE’s list of the Greatest R&B Songs of All Time. The project earned Wonder the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and was later inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. The tour begins with a European leg featuring stops in Paris and Amsterdam before returning to the United Kingdom. Wonder will then head to the United States for performances at Madison Square Garden in New York and Chicago’s United Center. Two hometown shows at Detroit’s Fox Theatre are scheduled for December. Tickets for most North American dates go on sale September 10 at 10 am local time. Detroit tickets become available September 15 at 10 am local time. European and UK presales begin September 9, followed by the general sale September 11 at 10 am local time. The anniversary tour arrives as Wonder prepares for another addition to his catalog. The 25-time Grammy winner recently announced Through the Eyes of Wonder, his first studio album in over two decades. Take a look at the full tour schedule below. Songs in the Key of Life Performances – 50th Anniversary Tour Dates Source: https://www.essence.com/entertainment/stevie-wonder-songs-in-the-key-of-life-50th-anniversary-tour/
Posted in Tour Alert, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentCHRIS BROWN & USHER ADD EIGHT NEW STADIUM DATES TO THE R&B TOUR FOLLOWING INCREDIBLE FAN DEMAND
September 2, 2026GRAMMY Award-winning icons USHER and Chris Brown today announced eight new stadium dates for The R&B Tour, extending the co-headlining run to 59 total dates following incredible fan demand and a successful first stretch across North America. The newly announced dates include first-time stops in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbia and Indianapolis, along with additional performances in several of the tour’s highest-demand markets, including a fifth show in Atlanta, fourth in Los Angeles, and third in both East Rutherford and Miami. Since kicking off with a sold-out show at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver in June, The R&B Tour has quickly become one of the summer’s biggest live music events, bringing USHER and Chris Brown’s career-spanning catalogs together in a nearly three-hour stadium production. The tour has also earned strong reviews for its ambitious production and unique co-headlining format, which sees USHER and Chris Brown trading the spotlight throughout nine cinematic acts rather than performing traditional back-to-back headline sets. The show moves seamlessly between their respective catalogs, featuring hits including “U Remind Me,” “With You” and “Yeah!,” along with joint performances including “New Flame.” Throughout the night, the two artists also pay tribute to the R&B and music legends who helped pave the way, with special moments honoring Prince, Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye woven into the show. “Brown and Usher… delivered a seamless performance. The three-hour bonanza was littered with dance numbers, acrobatic moves, special guests ranging from Lil Baby to 50 Cent and, of course, picture-perfect moments of Brown and Usher crossing paths onstage to deliver their classic collaborations” – Billboard “The nearly three-hour stadium production featured an innovative format that saw the two superstars alternate performances across nine cinematic acts, creating a nonstop celebration of R&B classics” – The Source Tour Success Highlights Include: The production also features Mario, Eric Bellinger and Tank, who join Chris Brown throughout the show as live backing vocalists and step into the …
Posted in R&B Pop, Rap Culture | Leave a commentMUSIC ICON CHAKA KHAN AND 112’S Q PARKER TAKE CENTER STAGE AS LIVING LEGENDS FOUNDATION CELEBRATES UNSUNG INDUSTRY HEROES DURING ITS MILESTONE 35TH ANNIVERSARY GALA IN ATL
September 1, 2026The Living Legends Foundation, Inc. (LLF) proudly announces iconic recording artist Chaka Khan as Honorary Ambassador, and Q Parker from R&B Group 112 as the Honorary Gala Chair for this year’s Living Legends Foundation’s 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala, taking place Friday, October 2, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. The moment holds special significance for Khan, whose history with the Living Legends Foundation stretches back more than three decades. In 1992, Chaka was among the early artists recognized by the organization, honoring not only her extraordinary artistry, but her impact on the music industry and culture. Now, 34 years later, Khan returns as Honorary Ambassador for the Foundation’s 35th Anniversary, helping turn the spotlight toward the executives, radio personalities, entrepreneurs, advocates and cultural architects whose often unseen contributions have helped build, sustain and shape Black music and entertainment. “When you cross a bridge, you don’t think about all the hands that built it. Some of the most important contributions are the ones we never see,” said Chaka Khan. “Thank you, Living Legends Foundation, for seeing that every story matters and for honoring those hands and hearts that helped build the way for all of us.” “Having Chaka Khan serve as our Honorary Ambassador during this milestone year is incredibly meaningful,” said David C. Linton, Chairman of the Living Legends Foundation. “Chaka’s history with the Foundation reaches back to our earliest years, and her extraordinary career represents the excellence, longevity and cultural impact we have worked to celebrate for 35 years. We are honored to welcome her back as we recognize another remarkable class of Living Legends.” Adding to the significance of this milestone year, the 10-time GRAMMY® Award recipient is also entering an exciting new chapter in her legendary career with the release of Chakzilla on September 18. Her first full-length album in seven years, the highly anticipated project marks a bold new era for Chaka and features collaborations …
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