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April 25, 2012 Posted in Spotlight, 57th NAACP Image Awards | Leave a commentMy Greek Experience
April 25, 2012I’ve always wanted to visit Greece and take a Mediterranean cruise, so when a friend asked me to take a spring trip to Athens, Greece (with a group of avid travelers) to visit some of the most beautiful and revered islands in world, I knew I had to make it a part of my travel experiences. At the time, my Bible class was studying the Book of Revelation. An upsurge of interest was sparked when I saw ancient Ephesus and the Isle of Patmos listed on the itinerary. I especially wanted to see Patmos where St. John the Evangelist had a vision of Christ and wrote the text to the apocalyptic Book of Revelation. I knew that actually visiting the places we were studying about would be more of a spiritual awakening for me . . . so my Greek experience began. Our first stop was in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). Our layover was short, but what I saw of the city (the beautifully colored buildings and the many canals) was enough to make me want to return for a visit someday. A few hours later, we were off to Athens, Greece. Upon arrival in Athens, we were warmly greeted and briefed by our tour guide. After getting refreshed at our hotel, we were off to get a taste of Athens. On day two, we boarded our cruise ship, sailing the Aegean Sea. Our first stop was on the Island of Mykonos, the most visited of the Greek Isles. We hit the ground running, taking in all the beautiful sights and sounds of the rolling sea. I immediately fell in love with the Mykonos; its sugarcube houses with blue/ green shutters, some with balconies that hang over the sea, and its giant white-washed windmills that seemed to beckon me to come …
Posted in Travel | Leave a commentYou Have No Idea
April 25, 2012YOU HAVE NO IDEA – The highly anticipated first book by superstar Vanessa Williams, written with her mother, Helen Williams A Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other) By Vanessa Williams and Helen Williams with Irene Zutell “Sometimes, I thought Mom was being unfeeling when she stood over me while I silently begged for her affection. But in her own way, she was holding me tighter than I could really understand—she was teaching me the lesson I needed. I’m still learning. Mom has yet to say, I told you so.” – Vanessa Williams, from YOU HAVE NO IDEA “A lot of parents think it’s important to be their child’s friend. When Vanessa was growing up, I didn’t care if she liked me. She could hate me as far as I was concerned—and sometimes I think she did. I wanted her to understand that I reacted the way I did because I knew she would continue to do things she would eventually regret.” – Helen Williams, from YOU HAVE NO IDEA In YOU HAVE NO IDEA: A Famous Daughter, Her No-Nonsense Mother, and How They Survived Pageants, Hollywood, Love, Loss (and Each Other) (Gotham Books, April 17, 2012) Vanessa Williams and Helen Williams give a mother-daughter take on Vanessa’s personal and professional life journey, including the obstacles they’ve overcome together and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. During Vanessa’s turbulent teenage years, mother and daughter were constantly at odds, but despite their early conflicts, Helen has always ardently protected and supported her daughter, staying in contact with the FBI about the death threats Vanessa received after being crowned the first black Miss America, and being there for Vanessa through the birth of her four children and dissolution of her two marriages. …
Posted in Celebrity Profile | Leave a commentCASTING DIRECTOR TWINKIE BYRD – HOLLYWOOD CASTING PRO
April 23, 2012HOLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST CASTING DIRECTOR TWINKIE BYRD DOES HER MAGIC WITH UPCOMING FILM, SPARKLE STARRING THE LATE GREAT WHITNEY HOUSTON Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd once again casts up and coming actors season 6 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and The Voice’s celebrity judge Cee-Lo Green in Sparkle, helping them cross over from music to film Jumping the Broom, Notorious and Stomp the Yard casting director, Tracy “Twinkie” Byrd works her magic again with the upcoming film Sparkle starring the late Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks Mike Epps (The Hangover, Next Friday), Cee-Lo Green (The Voice, Kang Fu Panda soundtrack) and the acting debut of season 6 American Idol winner, Jordin Sparks. Byrd’s knack for casting the hottest and most talented entertainers continues to make her stand out from her peers. Not only did she cast Jordin Sparks and Cee-Lo Green, who will be making their big screen debut in Sparkle, but her genius showed in Jumping the Broom by casting Paula Patton and Laz Alonso who went on to win the 2012 NAACP Image Award for the Leading Man in a Movie. Byrd became “notorious” after casting Jamal Woolard, Angela Basset, Derek Luke and Anthony Mackie for the Fox Searchlight film Notorious. Her eye for spotting talent was crucial for casting Stomp the Yard and Stomp The Yard: Homecoming, and she didn’t disappoint with Grammy award winner Chris Brown, Grammy nominated artist Ne-Yo, Harry Lennix, Laz Alonso and Colombus Short. Byrd’s most recent project Sparkle is the story of three sisters that form a successful singing group while dealing with fame and drugs. Though Jordin Sparks is expected to turn heads with her first lead role performance in the film, this was Whitney Houston’s last performance and it is being hailed as phenomenal. Houston’s role was said to compliment her next musical release. Sparks said Houston, “went from being this unreachable supernova pop star to my co-star, friend and someone who was like a mentor to me. It was a …
Posted in Movie News | 3 CommentsTrumpet Awards 2012
April 22, 20122OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRUMPET AWARDS Wayne Brady Hosts 2012 Trumpet Awards in Atlanta Some of America’s finest turned out to witness the 20th Anniversary of the Trumpet Awards and the celebration of African American achievers. The famed “Red Carpet” of the Annual Trumpet Awards rolled out and welcomed an international cast of who’s who in the areas of religion, politics, public service, law, sports and entertainment. The 20thAnnual Trumpet Awards was hosted by Wayne Brady, an Emmy Award winning actor, recording artist, dancer, and television personality. His work can be seen on television or film, in the theater, or heard on the radio. Brady hosted his own syndicated talk/variety show “The Wayne Brady Show.” Currently, Brady can be seen on CBS as the host of the daytime classic “Let’s Make A Deal.” The awards show took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Saturday, January 7. Celebrity guests, honorees, and participants from previous Trumpet Awards attended VIP events throughout the weekend. Honerees for this year’s Trumpet Awards were Earth, Wind, & Fire; Rev. C. L. Franklin (accepted by his daughter Aretha Franklin); Ted Turner; Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr.; Mr. & Mrs. Emmitt Smith; Mayor Cory A. Booker; U.S. Ambassador Nicole Avant; Mary Parker; Tyrese; and a group of 17 African American men and women who are Hotel General Managers. Presenters for the 20th Annual Trumpet Awards were Sharon Leal, The OJays, Blair Underwood, and more. Performers for the show included award-winning recording artists Bilal, Anthony David, Mint Condition, Raphael Saadiq, Naturally Seven, Kim Burrell; Everette Harp, Estelle and Ronnie Laws. Heads of State – Bobby Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill kicked the show off with renditions of their hit songs. The Trumpet Awards Foundation presented the Spiritual Enlightenment Award at the Prayer Breakfast, held at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, January 5, at the Hyatt Hotel. Honorees included Collie Burnett, Jr. Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB TV);Bishop Andrew J. Ford. II, Ford Memorial Temple; Mrs. …
Posted in 57th NAACP Image Awards | Leave a commentJudge Glenda Hatchett
April 21, 2012“First of all you’ve got to work hard. There’s no short cut. Also, never sacrifice who you are. If you start selling your soul, then you’ve lost who you are, so don’t compromise who you are.” Judge Glenda Hatchett, The Judge Hatchett Show
Posted in Celebrity Success Tips | Leave a commentPastor Paula White
April 21, 2012“It doesn’t necessarily matter where you start in life, it matters where you finish. Don’t ever let life label you. Challenge everything that would be against you. You’re not a product of what you’ve gone through. You can use what was meant as your stumbling block and turn it into your stepping stone. When you can really begin to understand that you have a God that loves you and that believes in you – and you find your authentic self – who you really are – and that you’re not a product of what you went through, but you’re a product of what God says about you, then all things are possible.” Pastor Paula White, Paula White Ministries/ Pastor of Without Walls International Church – Tampa, FL
Posted in Celebrity Success Tips | Leave a commentJohnnie Cochran
April 21, 2012“There are three keys to success. One is preparation, two is preparation, and three is preparation. Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” The late Johnnie Cochran, Attorney/Author
Posted in Celebrity Success Tips | Leave a commentHalle Berry
April 21, 2012“Put your all into whatever you choose to do. Create opportunities and be willing to try new things.” Halle Berry, Actress
Posted in Celebrity Success Tips | Leave a commentQuincy Jones
April 21, 2012“Think about getting better at what you do, and don’t give in to impatience. If you don’t go for longevity then you lose the opportunity to grow as a creative and spiritual being.” Quincy Jones, Producer
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