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← Older posts Newer posts →2024 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE™ PRESENTED BY COCA-COLA®
July 16, 2024The ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® served attendees with unforgettable daytime experiences and electrifying nighttime performances July 4-7. To inspire the record-breaking crowd the first Black woman Vice President Kamala Harris also appeared at the Global Black Economic Forum HQ in a candid “Chief to Chief” conversation with ESSENCE Ventures President and CEO Caroline Wanga. One of the greatest athletes of all-time, an entrepreneur and style icon Serena Williams made her debut during the history of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® during BEAUTYCON™: @ESSENCEFEST Edition and inaugural ESSENCE Black Women in Business Dinner. Vice President Kamala Harris held a candid “Chief to Chief” conversation with ESSENCE President and CEO Caroline Wanga at the GBEF® HQ Experience stage. For 50 years, ESSENCE has taught Black women how to unleash their power shared by Wagna. With less than 122 days left before the election for the next Presidential administration in the United States, Harris urged attendees of the ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® to enter rooms with their shoulders back and chin up. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was filled with an indescribable joy that festival-goers could experience as day three continued with a full spectrum of unmatched daytime experiences. Highlights include: A full day of panels at theESSENCE Stage™, including: o Actress Emayatzy Corinealdi and actors Morris Chestnut and McKinley Freeman provided fans with a behind-the-scenes look at Season 2 of the Hulu series Reasonable Doubt during a fireside chat. o Actor Aldis Hodge delved into the mind of Detective Cross and shares how his version of the popular character encapsulates brotherhood, family, and Black love. o Producer Carlos King kept it real(ity) with some of the biggest names in Black Reality TV, the pioneer of bounce Big Freedia, entrepreneur Yandy Smith-Harris, entrepreneur and TV personality Toya Johnson-Rushing. o Mothers of two of the biggest superstars in NBA history, Sonya Curry and Lucille O’Neal, alongside Michelle L. Rice, President of TV One and CLEO TV engaged in a candid conversation around nurturing the talent and …
Posted in COWBOY CARTER TOUR- ATLANTA - A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, In The Spotlight | Leave a comment39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards – in Las Vegas, July 20
July 16, 2024TAMELA MANN, KIERRA SHEARD, ISRAEL HOUGHTON, KORYN HAWTHORNE, KAREN CLARK SHEARD, RICKY DILLARD, CHANDLER MOORE, TASHA PAGE-LOCKHARTMALI MUSIC AND MORE ANNOUNCED AS PERFORMERS FOR39TH STELLAR GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDSTHE GREATEST NIGHT IN GOSPEL MUSICRETURNS TO LAS VEGAS AT THE ORLEANS ARENA ON SATURDAY, JULY 20CO-HOSTED BY TWO-TIME EMMY AWARD- WINNER LONI LOVE & RADIO PERSONALITY/COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEYSET TO PREMIERE ON THE STELLAR NETWORK, SATURDAY,AUGUST 3 AT 8/7C AND 11 PM ET;SET TO PREMIERE ON BET, SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 8/7CView The Full Nomination List Here Kierra SheardKaren Clark Sheard Chandler MooreTamela Mann (CHICAGO, IL) July 16, 2024 – Central City Productions announces the first round of performers set to take the stage for the 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards in Las Vegas at the Orleans Arenaon Saturday, July 20. Co-hosted by Emmy Award-winning TV personality and comedian Loni Love, alongside Marconi Award-winning radio/TV personality and comedian Rickey Smiley, the 39th annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards will premiere on the Stellar Network on Saturday, August 3 at 8PM and11PM EST and in broadcast syndication from August 10, 2024 – September 8, 2024. BET will air the 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Sunday, August 4 at 8 PM ET/PT. The Red Carpet Xpecial will be available via Xumo Play on-demand on August 10. The 39th Stellar Gospel Music Awards to be available on September 9.“I’m so happy to be co-hosting the Stellar Awards again. Nothing stirs my soul more than gospel music, so celebrating this genre is truly an honor,” shares co-host, Rickey Smiley.Joining previously announced honorees, Kim Burrell (Aretha Franklin Icon Award) and Tye Tribbett(James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award), are newly announced performers: Chandler Moore, Kierra Sheard, Anthony Brown and group therAPy, Da’ T.R.U.T.H, Israel Houghton, Karen Clark Sheard, Kelontae Gavin, Koryn Hawthorne, Lisa Knowles-Smith, Mali Music, Melvin Crispell III, Rich Tolbert Jr., Tasha Page-Lockhart, Ricky Dillard and Tamela Mann. Willie Moore Jr. has been announced as the official blue carpet host. Kirk Franklin, Erica Campbell, and Angel Taylor will also make special appearances.“I am very honored to be …
Posted in In The Spotlight | Leave a commentTHE BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL ICE MEDAL OF HONOR EVENT IN ATLANTA ON JUNE 2
May 28, 2024Celebrating 100 Years of the Black American Music Art Form Honorees Include Muni Long, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Grandmaster Flash, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Robert “Kool” Bell, Suzanne de Passe and Jeffrey Harleston The Black American Music Association and its Board of Directors, led by Chairman Michael Mauldin, announces The ICE (Imperial Crown of Excellence) Medal of Honor inaugural celebration in Atlanta on June 2, 2024. The attendees of this groundbreaking historic event will be adorned in cocktail attire while dining, honoring and paying tribute to the legends, creative visionaries, and trailblazers within Black American music, who have captivated audiences worldwide and left an everlasting impact on the cultural landscape.The ICE Medal of Honor seeks to shine a spotlight on the indelible contributions made by artists and executives who have enriched the world with their talents and also paved the way for generations to come. The ICE Medal of Honor will serve as a beacon of recognition & education of the Black American music art form, and an ode to the resilience, innovation, and brilliance of its creatives. Honorary hosts for this inaugural ceremony are Michael Mauldin, L.A. Reid & Chaka Zulu.The Honorable Mayor Andre Dickens will be making a special toast and salute to the Honorees along with the City of Atlanta. The Mayor is also being awarded the ICE – Culture & Community Leadership Honor.Among the distinguished recipients of The ICE Medal of Honor are some of the most remarkable names in the industry, including:● Grandmaster Flash – Transformative Award● Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis – Global Creative Impact Honor● Suzanne de Passe – Trailblazer Honor● Jeffrey Harleston – Music Executive Leadership of the Year● Robert “Kool” Bell – Lifetime Achievement Honor● Muni Long, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox – R&B Song of the Year● SoSo Def Records – Artist Development Label of an Era● LaFace Records – Artist Development Label of an Era● Domani Harris: New Developing Artist of the Year. “We are thrilled to launch the ICE Medal of Honor and …
Posted in R&B Pop Culture, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentEXTRAordinary: How To Be In Demand in Television & Movies as a Background Talent
May 27, 2024For many actors, winning an Oscar is the ultimate accolade, which brings respect in an industry that is oftentimes competitive and toiling. Having a passion for the craft, getting regular work and generating a lucrative salary are motivations that keep most actors in the acting game. But the starting point of becoming an actor, could just be becoming an Extra – also known as a Background Talent. There are many Oscar winners who first started out as extras. Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Lady GaGa, Viola Davis, Donald Glover, Terry Crews, Channing Tatum, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, Megan Fox, George Clooney, Bruce Willis and Marilyn Monroe are just a few huge movie actors who started as a background talent. I’m still actually compiling the long list! What set these actors apart from the regular background artist is the belief in themselves that they were indeed, EXTRAordinary, instead of just an Extra. Yes, being considered an Extra or a background talent isn’t too appealing to many actors, especially when extras are at the bottom of the totem pole in pay and often don’t get much respect. But like many things in life, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish that truly matters. . The journey to becoming an actor can be one of the most frustrating journeys one might experience in job hunting, but it can also be one of the most incredible and rewarding journeys, if you have the right attitude. Your destiny as an actor is determined by your talent, but it is also determined by what you think of yourself and persistence. Whether you’re a background talent or principal actor, never think of yourself as someone of little significance or as just an extra. Think of yourself as EXTRAordinary. I began my acting career in high …
Posted in Inspirational, MOTIVATION | Leave a commentTHE CITY OF ATLANTA TO HOST BLACK GIRLS ROCK! AWARDS SHOW TAPING LIVE ON JUNE 27 AT THE FOX THEATRE
May 23, 2024Academy Awards-Nominated Actress Danielle Brooks to Host BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Awards 2024 THE STAR-STUDED CELEBRATION PAYS TRIBUTE TO AWARD-WINNING ACTRESS TRACEE ELLIS ROSS, ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER GINA PRINCE-BYTHEWOOD, ICONIC SINGER AND BROADWAY LEGEND STEPHANIE MILLSDESIGNER AND PHILANTHROPIST AURORA JAMES, MATERNAL HEALTH & WELLNESS ADVOCATE, LATHAM THOMAS, ARTIST, ANIMATOR AND SUSTAINABILITY TRAILBLAZER MAYA PENN, AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING SINGER, ACTRESS, AND ENTREPRENEUR FANTASIA TO BE HONORED [BUSINESS WIRE]–Beverly Bond, CEO and founder of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!, has announced that the eagerly awaited BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards show is returning to television this year through an exciting new broadcast partnership with Lifetime A&E Networks. BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® celebrates the outstanding contributions of trailblazers, entertainers, icons, community activists, pioneers, business moguls, thought leaders, and rising stars. The show will be taped at the Fox Theatre on June 27 and will air August 1, 2024, on Lifetime. ritically acclaimed actress, singer, and producer Danielle Brooks, known for her roles in Orange is the New Black and The Color Purple, will host the triumphant return of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Awards. The 2024 star-studded lineup of celebrants includes former BGR! Awards host, Founder and co-CEO of Pattern Beauty, and actress Tracee Ellis Ross (Star Power Award); Acclaimed Filmmaker of The Woman King and Love and Basketball Gina Prince-Bythewood (Shot Caller Award); GRAMMY Award-winning singer, actress, and entrepreneur Fantasia (Black Girl Magic Award).Creator of premium fashion Brand Brother Vellies and The Fifteen Percent Pledge initiative, philanthropist Aurora James (Boss Up Award); Artist, animator, and sustainability advocate Maya Penn (Young, Gifted and Black Award); ‘Mama Glow’ founder, maternal health advocate, doula and wellness practitioner Latham Thomas (Community Change Agent Award); singer and Broadway icon Stephanie Mills (Living Legend Award) to be honored. “As the BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Awards make their much-anticipated return to television on Lifetime, we are thrilled to reignite this empowering platform on a new network in the vibrant city of Atlanta, our new cultural epicenter for celebration,” stated Beverly Bond. “In a world where the voices of women of color are often …
Posted in MOTIVATION | Leave a commentI AM: CELINE DION – Amazon Prime – June 25
May 23, 2024Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I AM: CELINE DION gives us a raw and honest behind-the-scenes look at the iconic superstar’s struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, this inspirational documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while also showcasing the resilience of the human spirit. I AM: CELINE DION is presented by Amazon MGM Studios and is a Vermilion Films production in partnership with Sony Music Vision and Sony Music Entertainment Canada. Directed by Irene TaylorProduced by Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, Julie Begey Seureau and Irene TaylorExecutive produced by Dave Platel, Denis Savage, Shane Carter, Krista WegenerRuntime: 102 minutes Rated: PG
Posted in Movie News, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentA Quiet Place: Day One in theaters Now
May 23, 2024Experience the day the world went quiet. Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou Directed By Michael Sarnoski Produced By Michael Bay, Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, John Krasinski Executive Produced By Allyson Seeger, Vicki Dee Rock
Posted in Cinema | Leave a comment2024 BLACK MUSIC HONORS
May 20, 2024JOHNNY GILL, PATRICE RUSHEN, BOOTSY COLLINS AND HEZEKIAH WALKER HONORED AT 2024 BLACK MUSIC HONORS; WITH A SURPRISE SALUTE TO MC LYTE
Posted in BLACK MUSIC HONORS 2024, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentUSHER AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING MALE ARTIST, ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR, AND PRESIDENT’S AWARD AT 55TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS
March 21, 2024OPRAH WINFREY PRESENTS USHER WITH PRESTIGIOUS PRESIDENT AWARD. WATCH HERE WATCH THE VIDEOS FOR “Good Good”, “Risk It All”, “Standing Next To You” AND “Ruin” FROM COMING HOME HIGHEST CHARTING ALBUM IN OVER A DECADE WITH COMING HOME Listen HERE ABOUT USHERUSHER has changed music, culture, and countless lives. The multiple GRAMMY Award-winning diamond-selling international megastar, actor, dancer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist inspires change yet again in 2023 and beyond. Beyond selling over 80 million records worldwide and collecting dozens of awards, he has simultaneously lit up the small screen on NBC’s The Voice and the big screen in blockbusters such as Hustlers. He has also tirelessly distinguished himself as a devout humanitarian, raising tens of millions of dollars for various causes and uplifting youth via his New Look Foundation. Since 1999 he has been providing opportunities for young people in underserved communities and enabling them to flourish and achieve seemingly impossible dreams. A long-time supporter and Global Citizen Ambassador, USHER has performed at events since 2015 raising awareness to defeat poverty, defend the planet and demand equity. A true outlier, he is equally at home on the stage of his sold out My Way Las Vegas residency as he was on a 2016 government cultural mission to Cuba as part of President Barack Obama’s Presidential Committee for Arts and Humanities. Usher’s ninth studio album COMING HOME will be released via mega/gamma. on February 9. Follow USHER:TikTok InstagramTwitter Facebook Youtube
Posted in Spotlight | Leave a comment55th NAACP Image Awards Photos
March 17, 2024“55th NAACP Image Awards” Images (Photo Credit: Getty Images for BET) March 16, 2024 NAACP and BET honored Black excellence in music, television and film across 90 categories at the “55th NAACP Image Awards.” Hosted by GRAMMY® award-winning recording artist, critically acclaimed Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning and Academy Award®-nominated actor and producer Queen Latifah (series star/executive producer of The Equalizer, CBS), the legendary show aired live at 8 pm ET / PT on BET, CBS and additional Paramount Networks live from the Shrine Auditorium. Colman Domingo, Fantasia Barrino, Mike Epps, Quinta Brunson, The Color Purple, Usher and more took top honors. Special awards recipients delivered moving speeches, including Amanda Gorman, New Edition, and Usher. Watch an encore of the “55th NAACP Image Awards” Monday, March 18 at 7 PM ET/PT on BET. Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural award shows, the “55th NAACP Image Awards” continues its tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to these values. The complete list of winners for the “55th NAACP Image Awards” are: ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR Usher OUTSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY Angel Laketa Moore MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES Outstanding Motion Picture The Color Purple Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Fantasia Barrino – The Color Purple Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Colman Domingo – Rustin Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Colman Domingo – The Color Purple Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Taraji P. Henson – The Color Purple Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Phylicia Pearl Mpasi – The Color Purple Outstanding Youth Performance (Motion Picture) Mila Davis-Kent – Creed III Outstanding International Motion Picture Brother Outstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film Eric K. Yue – “A Thousand and One” Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Blitz Bazawule – “The Color Purple” Outstanding Independent Motion Picture “Brother” Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a …
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