Mary J Blige weds long time boyfriend
Well just recently actress Gwyneth Paltrow did it and now Mary J. Blige has added her name to the growing list of stars who has wedded their significant other on the hush hush. This past weekend Mary secretly married her longtime producer boyfriend Kendu Issacs.
The reigning 'Queen of hip-hop' superstar and her producer beau exchanged their vows at her New Jersey home, surrounded by 50 close friends and family most of which were not from the music industry.
From what was reported, Mary didn't even call in any caterers for the occasion - but instead had her mother Cora and her sister Latonya cooked up barbecued chicken, rice and salad for the celebrity-free guests.
- - Source: billboard.com
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The Grammys are announced: Beyoncé, Jay Z & Pharrell leads the way
If there's one thing that all singers and songwriters want in their careers that would be the prestigious grammy award. Last week the nominees for the 46th Annual Grammy awards were announced and the list was rather impressive.
Topping the list with six nods apiece is woman of the moment Beyoncé, current boyfriend Jay-Z, Atlanta's flamboyant rap duo Outkast and producer turned singer Pharrell Williams (three individual and three with the Neptunes).
Following in a very close 2nd with five each is the innovative Missy Elliott, Rap's bad boy Eminem, Evanescence, rap's money maker 50 Cent, Pop's pretty boy Justin Timberlake, Neptunes other half Chad Hugo (two individual, three with the Neptunes) and the future Hall of Famer Luther Vandross who's still recovering in hospital from the stroke he suffered earlier this year. Nominees earning four nods were Erykah Badu, Willie Nelson, conductor José Serebrier and Jack White.Album Of The Year includes Missy Elliott's Under Construction, Fallen by Evanescence, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast, Justified by Justin Timberlake and Elephant by The White Stripes (note that Beyoncé is ). For Record Of The Year it's Beyoncé feat: Jay-Z 'Crazy In Love', The Black Eyed Peas feat: Justin Timberlake 'Where Is The Love?', Coldplay's 'Clocks', 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem and 'Hey Ya' by Outkast.
Usually the new artist category is wide open but this year's nominees I'm not too thrilled about especially in the R&B field. Heather Headley is included as the R&B contender but for the life of me I can't imagine why Rhiann Benson, Marlon Saunders or Joss Stone have been left out. The Best New Artist nominees are rock group Evanescence, rapper Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent, alt-pop group Fountains Of Wayne, as I mentioned earlier R&B vocalist Heather Headley and dancehall don dada Sean Paul.
Speaking of the absentees of new R&B artists, the R&B of old are in gear for grammy wins. Beyoncé, Erykah Badu and Luther Vandross all appear in the R&B Field. Best R&B Album nominations shows Erykah Badu for Worldwide Underground, Blu Cantrell for her latest Bittersweet, the Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley aka Mr. Biggs for Body Kiss, Aretha Franklin comeback set So Damn Happy and Luther Vandross for Dance With My Father. Best Contemporary R&B Album nods sees Ashanti for Chapter II, Beyoncé for Dangerously In Love, Mary J. Blige for Love and Life, Anthony Hamilton for Comin' From Where I'm From, and R. Kelly for Chocolate Factory.
- Source: grammy.com
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Billboard Music Awards to be handed out next week
Speaking of award show, the latest in the array of award shows the Billboard Music Awards will be center stage next week. The ceremony takes place Dec. 10 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to be hosted by Ryan Seacrest. The two-hour event will air live on Fox at 8 p.m. ET (tape delayed on the West Coast).
R. Kelly, Beyoncé, Sting and Pink are just a few who will perform on the night. Also slated to appear are OutKast, The Black Eyed Peas and Audioslave. They join J.C. Chasez, Celine Dion, Fabolous, Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, Trapt and 3 Doors Down, newlyweds Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, Kelly Clarkson, Chingy and LL Cool J.
Other celebrities slated to appear during the broadcast are Adam Brody, Ben McKenzie and Mischa Barton from the Fox show "The O.C.," Kathy Griffin, Carmen Electra and hubbyDave Navarro.
50 Cent leads the field with six Billboard Music Awards nominations. R. Kelly and Beyoncé are a close second with five nods each, while Sean Paul and The Dixie Chicks duke it out with four each.
- Source: launch.com
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Janet's new album due for early 2004 release
We haven't heard much of Janet Jackson recently and thats because she's hard at work. She's currently in the studio finishing up on her new album which is almost done according to
her long term serving producer and friend Jimmy 'Jam' Harris. Harris, who is one-half of the production duo Jam & Lewis, provided an album update to gossip columnists Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith who's reports can be found on Netscape.com.
Said Harris, "We're about 80 percent done, and we're planning on wrapping the project right before Christmas for an early 2004 release. You may hear a new single right at the beginning of the year." Harris continued, "It will be a balance of a lot of different sides of Janet's personality - there'll be the happy up-tempo songs, the very funky tunes, the very sensual, sexy ballads - everything you would expect from
her."
No reports on who appears on the album yet but Jackson who's brother Michael is in the public eye again for the wrong reasons have kept fans waiting almost three years for the new album which is typical said Jimmy. He explains, saying, "Between albums she likes to go live life, recharge her batteries and be able to share her experiences. It not only raises her artistic level, she's able to talk about things she's going through and other people can relate. That's one of the things that allows her to connect truly with the fans."
- Source: spotlightonR&B.com