After suffering the loss of her mother, brother and nephew, Jennifer Hudson is making her return to the music spotlight, and we've got photos of her at work on her new music video.
Hudson has filmed a video for her single "If This Isn't Love," which is set to premiere the week of Feb. 9. The 27-year-old Oscar winner will also sing the national anthem Sunday at the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, William Balfour, the man suspected of killing Hudson's relatives, has plead not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and home invasion, says the Associated Press.
source : Perez Hilton, Entertainment Tonight Online
When "Making the Band" returns on February 12, fans already know two former members will be missing: Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods, who were dismissed from the group by Diddy last season. But they'll probably be surprised that Shannon Bex isn't there either, which apparently means the end of the band.
"As of right now, [Danity Kane doesn't exist]," Dawn Richard told MTV News on Wednesday (January 28). "It's devastating for me."
"You'll see me and Drea [Aundrea Fimbres] try and pick up the pieces on our own [on this season's show] — pieces that we didn't even make," she continued. "We didn't even break it and we're trying to sweep it up ourselves. Puff invited all the girls to come back on this season and they chose not to. Only two of us showed up. That's fine if that's the choice.
Leslie is finally releasing his sophomore self-titled album after several times being pushed back last year on February 10th. All of the songs on the album was produced by him. The man is a beast. Here are a few tracks from the LP that will definitely feed into the appetite. His album combines the sounds of Pharell, Prince, and Maroon 5. HOT! and his BASS LINE! YES!!!! AHHHH!! Lol
Jennifer Hudson will perform at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on February 8, where she's been nominated for four awards.
This is the second televised performance Hudson has announced since the October murders of her mother, brother and nephew. Last week, it was revealed that the Oscar winner will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl, in Tampa, Florida, on February 1. That will be the singer's first public appearance since the tragedy.
Hudson is up for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song (for "Spotlight"), Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals for her duet with Fantasia ("I'm His Only Woman"), and Best R&B Album. Days before the show, she will also perform on February 6 at the Recording Academy's MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Neil Diamond.
The 27-year-old sang the national anthem at the Democratic National Convention in August to a rapturous reception, but she is not expected to take part in any of the festivities for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.
Here’s a flash from the music world: while the rest of us were enjoying the holidays, Hidden Beach Records honcho Steve McKeever and movie music supervisor Bonnie Greenberg have been hard at work putting together a special CD tied to Barack Obama’s inauguration.
The CD features a dozen stars including Stevie Wonder, who contributed a totally new track called “All About the Love Again.” The single, destined to be Wonder’s biggest hit in more than a decade, is a sizzling fresh slice of R&B, very updated and ready to embraced in remixes, etc.
The other artists on the album include Maroon 5 with their own new track, “Pure Imagination (2009),” plus will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow, Lenny Kravitz, India.Arie, Melissa Etheridge, Usher, James Taylor, Jennifer Hudson, Death Cab for Cutie, Ozomatli, Robin Thicke, The Tony Rich Project, Wilco, Bebe Winans, rapper Common, Lionel Richie, and Melissa Etheridge.
McKeever and Greenberg, with an even bigger committee, worked tirelessly to put together a combination of artists and songs based on the songs’ themes and lyrics, too.
Unlike most compilation CDs, the Obama Soundtrack is full of new, catchy very hot material — no retreads or musty pieces from the vaults. All the artists, I am told by sources, were paid on the same level no matter how big or small they considered themselves. And that, I’ve heard in the music industry, caused a little problem as the always charming Warner M. Group refused to make deals for any of their artists including anything from the Atlantic vaults. I’m sure, in fact, that Aretha Franklin has no idea that requests for a couple of her classic tracks like “A Change is Gonna Come”—were declined. The M in WMG now stands for Miserly.
But the Obama Soundtrack should also be collector’s item purchase since it includes a DVD of several speech clips from the new US president. The CD, by the way, intersperses pieces of Obama speeches throughout the new songs. For example, I don’t know much about the Tony Rich project, but I love their contribution called “The Dream is Real.”
The "Secret" CD hits stores on Inauguration Day.
source : FOX News
I can exclusively tell you that Ms. Hudson will return to the stage for the first time since her horrific family tragedy at next month's Super Bowl.
The Grammy-nominated songbird will sing the national anthem before the big gridiron game on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Fla.
"She certainly can nail it,'" a source just told me. "She proved it at the Democratic National Convention."
The Chicago native performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Democratic National Convention when Sen. Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination in August.
Hailing from the streets of New York City, Jordan "J.o" Ware was born with natural music ability, which could be seen at an early age. Writing his first song at the age of five, Jordan would soon pick up a violin and his life would then change forever. While performing with the Opus 118 East Harlem Violin Program, Jordan had the opportunity to tour the world and perform with such acts as Wyclef Jean, Madonna, N'SYNC, Gloria Estefan, Bobby McFerrin and Quincy Jones. Jordan always loved music and after spending time at such musical schools as Bloomingdale House of Music, and the MAP program at the Julliard School of Music, he decided to move to the genre of jazz and blues.
Under the teaching of his mentor, Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Jordan learned the art of improvisation and fell in love with the violin for yet a second time. While attending Morehouse College, Jordan began to fuse Jazz violin and Hip-Hop together, while making tracks on his computer. He loved the challenge of creating a new genre of music, which could be known and loved by others. Jordan is quick to let his opinion of music today be known. "Music is supposed to have meaning behind it, unfortunately we are in a time where money is the determination of meaning. That is why I am here to change that." Jordan "J.o" Ware is a man of many talents. He is a violinist, an MC, a producer and an entrepreneur (One Love Music Ent.). The future holds much for this young talent, and only time will tell how far he goes...
She received nominations for best new recording artist, best female recording artist, best duo (with Fantasia), best music video (“Spotlight”), best song (“Spotlight”), best album (“Jennifer Hudson”) and best supporting actress (“The Secret Life of Bees”). WORK!Beyonce got five nominations, including best female recording artist, best video for both “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies,” best album for “I Am…Sasha Fierce,” and best supporting actress for “Cadillac Records.”Best motion picture nominations went to “Cadillac Records,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Miracle at St. Anna,” “Seven Pounds” and “Tyler Perry's The Family That Preys."
source: Examiner
My life was torn beyond repairI felt so alone, seemed no one caredYou came along, gave me a songTo ease the pain and erase the strain(Bridge)You could have left me standing thereWith no one, no one to careBut You promised me You'd be there on timeAnd You did just what You said(Female solo)Against all odds, I made the choiceTo give You my life, now I rejoiceYou answered my prayers not a moment to soonYour word I embraced, my sins You erased(Chorus)(I gave it up) That's when You bless me(Oh I let it go) That's when You bless me(Lord, You brought me through, now I'm brand new)Yes(I said have Your way) That's when You bless me(Oh I'm here to stay) That's when You bless me(Lord, You promised me You would hear my plea)And You did just what You said.(Female solo)Against all odds, I made the choiceTo give You my trust, now I rejoiceYou answered my prayers not a moment to soonYour word I embraced, my sins You erased(Vamp)And You did just what You said....
Jennifer Hudson will not be singing at Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20, despite reports to the contrary, her rep told Access Hollywood.“There is no truth to this,” the rep said.The New York Post reported on Wednesday that Jennifer was in talks to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the ceremony, but the rep told Access that the star has no plans to participate in any inaugural activities.In August, Jennifer sang the national anthem the night Barack accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s national convention.The Oscar winner hasn’t hit the stage since the murders of her mother, brother and nephew in Chicago in October 2008.William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer’s sister, Julia, has been charged with the killings. He faces three counts of first-degree murder and home invasion charges. His next court hearing is set for January 20.As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com, Jennifer’s first performance since the tragic events of October will occur on February 6, at the MusiCares Person of the Year event in LA honoring Neil Diamond.The star was recently nominated for several Grammys for her self-titled debut album.
