After learning that gospel music superstar CeCe Winans had recently celebrated her 50th birthday, it occurred to me that so many other celebrities also reached that landmark year in 2014, although age is not the “big deal” it used to be. People are still “doing their thing” in their fifties, sixties, seventies and even beyond. (James Earl Jones, for example, is 82.)
Among those who also turned 50 this year are Cedric the Entertainer, Holly Robinson Peete, Joseph (“Run”) Simmons, Wanda Sykes, actor Harry Lennix (“Ray,” “The Five Heartbeats”), David Spade, Wendy Williams, Michelle Obama, Rosie Perez, actor Djimon Hounsou, Rob Lowe, Vivica A. Fox, Don Cheadle, Robin Givens, Sandra Bullock, Lenny Kravitz and John Salley.
THE MOST successful celebrity product spokesperson of all time, according to Daily Finance, is Bill Cosby for the popular Jell-O commercials he did from 1974 to 2004.
Two other African Americans are also in the Top 10. They are O.J. Simpson for his Hertz commercials, especially the one in which he ran through the airport, and Michael Jordan for a series of products, most notably Nike.
Looks like the Mariah Carey/Nick Cannon marriage failure is really getting ugly with all kinds of developments and ramifications, including him covering up the “Mariah” tattoo on his back and her reportedly referring to him as “a cheating m—– f—–” on stage.
One would not expect a Christmas album from Earth, Wind & Fire, but “Holiday” will be released on Oct. 21. Philip Bailey said, “It’s Christmas songs but still Earth, Wind & Fire-ish.”
KELLY ROWLAND, who is expecting, raised more than a few eyebrows by posing nude for Elle magazine. (We can’t print the whole picture.) Her husband is Tim Witherspoon who is also her manager. Rowland says the body, especially a woman with child, is “Godmazing.”
True, but that doesn’t lessen the discomfort some people feel when they see such pictures. Nia Long and Demi Moore are among the others who posed that way.
Supermodel Tyson Beckford got all bent out of shape when a TV crew thought he was actor Taye Diggs. He took the matter way too seriously and even showed them his ID.
Golden Brooks, who was Maya Wilkes on “Girlfriends,” which ran for an impressive eight seasons, says she would be interested in doing a reunion show. But costar Tracee Ellis Ross is not so sure that would be a good idea. According to Brooks, Ross feels they might be “too old.”
But at what reunion does everyone look exactly as they did before?
JANET JACKSON sure has been under the radar since she and billionaire Arab businessman Wissam Al Mana were married sometime last year. They live in his country, Qatari, located in Western Asia.
Arab culture is noted for women being suppressed, so it is hoped that Jackson has not been in Qatari and in that marriage giving up freedoms American women take for granted. And just asking: Is she free to leave the country if the marriage doesn’t work?
Aretha Franklin’s covers album, “Great Diva Classics,” has an Oct. 21 release date.
And speaking of the Queen of Soul, everyone agrees that she would look so much more attractive if she would keep her upper arms covered and refrain from wearing low-cut dresses. It’s a distraction and nothing should be allowed to distract from the performances of this icon and treasure.
“I Heard it Through the Grapevine,” written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, is one of those songs that seems to have a life of its own. It has been a hit on four occasions. First by Gladys Knight & the Pips, then Marvin Gaye, then Creedence Clearwater Revival (a mild hit) and finally, Roger. However, it was originally recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles though not released as a single.
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Rihanna’s real name is Robyn Fenty and that Frank Ocean’s is Christopher Breaux.
MEMORIES: “Best of My Love” (the Emotions), “I Don’t Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You)” (Narada Michael Walden), “Centipede” (Rebbie Jackson), “Daydreamin’” (Tatyana Ali), “Crazy” (the Boys), “Looking for a New Love” (Jody Watley), “Standing on the Top” (the Temptations featuring Rick James), “Rise” (Herb Alpert), “One Less Bell to Answer” (the 5th Dimension), “I’m Every Woman” (Chaka Khan).
BLESSINGS to Ray Johnson, Mike Jemison, Brian Spears, Al Allen, Lisa Jackson, Pamela Williams, Damon Williams, Patricia Holsey, Michael Henderson, Anthony Moreland and Rebecca Bare.
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Don Lemon: “Once you own your mind, you are free. Once you get that right, it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks of you.”
Let the music play!
Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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