How’s the life

folks? Things continue to be all over the place with aftershocks in

Haiti, a Republican occupying the Senate seat formerly held by the late

Ted Kennedy, the one-year anniversary of President Obama’s

inauguration, John Edwards finally admitting he’s the biological father

of his former mistress’ daughter and the Supreme Court overturning

federal laws that prevented corporations from using their money to buy

political ads.

Congratulations to

Save the Last Dance/Barbershop star Sean Patrick Thomas and his wife,

who are expecting a new addition to their family. Shout out to the

sounding boards for never forgetting that a beautiful woman never stays

single for long.

Now let’s get down to business. Here is…the Last Word for the week ending Jan. 22, 2010.

 

1.       Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie Recruit New All-Star Line-Up for “We Are the World” Remake

 

The crisis in Haiti has become a catalyst for Quincy Jones and Lionel Ritchie, who are marking the 25th

anniversary of their Michael Jackson-assisted star-studded benefit

single, “We Are the World,” with a remake of the classic song.

 

The folks at The Hollywood Reporter

reveal that history will repeat itself, as the pair will extend an

invitation for artists to re-record the tune the day after the Grammys

on Feb. 1 at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

The original version

of “We Are the World,” produced by Jones, was recorded in 1985 after

the American Music Awards and featured a who’s who of singers such as

Jackson, Ritchie, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Ray Charles, Bob

Dylan, Tina Turner and Billy Joel. Proceeds from the song went to

famine relief in Africa.

Those invited to

take part in the remake include Usher, Natalie Cole and John Legend,

with a lot more artists to follow in the coming days.  

“We Are the World”

was originally scheduled to be performed during a 25th anniversary

celebration on Jan. 28, but those plans were scrapped after Haiti’s 7.0

magnitude earthquake. As a result, the effort will turn into a

fundraiser. The celebration has now been rescheduled for Feb. 1 with a

single and music video highlighting the session is set to debut soon

after. 

Money from the song

will go to relief efforts in Haiti. Although plans are still sketchy,

there is talk of Jackson being apart of the remake in some fashion.

 

 

2. Kelly Rowland Goes on a Sugar-Free Diet, Takes up Pole-Dancing

 

Look at a current picture of Kelly Rowland and you may notice that she’s lost some weight.

In fact, the singer

is happy to be without the extra pounds as she confesses to taking up a

new skill that played a role in creating a slimmer version of her.

“Right now, I have a

pole dance instructor in Miami and she teaches me a lot,” Rowland

shared with People.. “You’d be surprised how hard those ladies work.”

To help the effort, Kelly combined rocking the pole with a healthy diet. One that doesn’t include sugar.

“I’m telling you, I’m not eating sugar. I didn’t even try to lose weight,” the songbird  said.

“I read this book, called You Are What You Eat. [The author, Gillian

McKeith,] is talking about sugar, she’s talking about meat, she’s

talking about cheese. I did some of those things for a month, but for

the most part, it is just sugar that is gone from my diet.”

So much weight did Kelly lose?

“I lost weight,

probably almost 10 pounds. But 10 pounds did a lot,” she said. “ … It’s

more here, in the hip and [rear] area, but it’s definitely trimmed down

since no sugar has taken place.”

So there you have it. More proof that if you eat right and  make your stripper fantasy  come to life, you too can be slim, freaky and make your man a happy camper.

3.       Kirk Franklin Organizes Gospel-Inspired “We Are the World” Effort

 

While Quincy and Co.

gearing up for their redo, Kirk Franklin has put together a “We Are the

World” type effort of his own. Only this one involves a star-packed

cadre of gospel singers. The Franklin-produced collaboration, titled

“’A Song for Pain,” was recorded over the weekend during this year’s

Stellar Awards in Nashville, Tenn.

 

Among the gospel

greats lending vocals for “A Song for Pain” are Yolanda Adams, Jeremy

Camp, Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Natalie Grant, Fred Hammond,

Tamela and David Mann, Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Paul S.

Morton, J. Moss, Smokey Norful, Marvin Sapp, Karen Clark-Sheard, Kiera

“KiKi” Sheard, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans and Marvin Winans.

 

A spokesperson for

Franklin says the singer is currently mastering the track with plans to

release it later this week via iTunes and other digital retailers.  To

coincide with the song’s release, the Gospel Music Channel will air a

one-hour special featuring the official “A Song for Pain” music video

in the coming weeks. Proceeds from “A Song for Pain” will go to a fund

in support of victims affected by the Haiti earthquake.

 

 

 

4.       Scott Baio Makes Twitter Death Threat List over Michelle Obama Joke

 

Be careful what you say. Or if you’re Scott Baio, what you tweet.

 

The actor, who’s best known for his work on Charles in Charge and Happy Days, has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way as he’s been on the receiving end of death threats.

 

According to

reports, Baio’s problems stemmed from a joke he made about Michelle

Obama. The joke in question came when the actor posted an unflattering

photo of the First Lady on Wednesday (Jan. 20) and tweeted the

following comment: “WOW He wakes up to this every morning,”

 

Baio’s remark drew

the wrath of Twitter users, who labeled the proud Republican as

everything from an a**hole to a racist idiot and suggested he kill

himself.

 

“Timafi: ‘easy to find your house Scottie boy and finish YOU. I am a republican and I love Mrs O,'”  wrote one Twitter user, while Ishatonu  predicted

the downfall of Baio’s time as an actor by pondering “how long until

@RealScottBaio realizes his career is dead. Resorting to insulting

Michelle Obama will only further his irrelevancy.”

 

Baio later came to his defense, saying his remark was meant as a joke and nothing serious against Mrs. Obama.

 

“People need to

relax and laugh a bit,” tweeted the entertainer. “Life is too short no

matter what party you are with. A joke is just that, a joke.”

 

After informing the

Twitterverse that “The FBI has been contacted & we have a file

number for the threats, along with twitter support,”  Baio continued defending himself.

 “I’m NOT racist for posting a pic of M.O. My WIFE’S BEST FRD IS BLACK,HELLO”  the

actor tweeted after posting the picture. “Do I look like I’m racist?

This is [his wife] Renee’s BEST frd. STOP USING THE RACE CARD!!!”

 

“If I’m racist, don’t think I would have Directed shows like The Parkers & The Wayans Bros. or worked 41 eps w/ Victoria Rowell on D.Murder,”

continued Baio, who stated his following had swelled to 5000 because

“people love to hate” and the FBI is after all “death threaters.”

 

“For New followers:

I POST A LOT OF JOKES WITH PICS. They are JUST that, a joke. NOT

targeting anyone. Laughter IS the best medicine,” Baio said.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

of the jury, that is the case. Did Chachi/Charles go too far with the

humor or was it a harmless joke on his part?  What say you?5.       Beyonce Outgrows Sasha Fierce

 

She is Sasha Fierce no more. After only one album, Beyonce is laying to rest her bold alter ego.

In an interview with Allure

magazine, the songstress made her piece with Sasha while making a vow

to have her two sides peacefully live as one. In short, the real

Beyonce is standing up and she wants everyone to notice.

“Sasha Fierce is my

alter ego, this other side of me that’s almost animalistic and strong

and fearless, and I have used this person to take over when I’m too

scared or too shy,” the singer/actress said. “The thing that’s

interesting is I don’t need Sasha Fierce anymore, because I’ve grown,

and I’m now able to merge the two. I want people to see me. I want

people to see who I am.”

Not that I really

noticed the two sides, but Beyonce was always Beyonce to me. Still

talented. Still beautiful. Still able to stand out. No matter what. But

I can always remember the good times Sasha provided. Whether she was

representing the single ladies with that roboglove, hustling as a diva

or chatting back and forth with me and Lady Gaga on the video, it was a

slice knowing Sasha.

Sweet dreams Miss Fierce.

In Other Words…

 

If you want to pay

your respects in person to the late Teddy Pendergrass, there will be a

chance to do so this weekend with an official public viewing. The

viewing  will take place today (Jan. 22) from

noon to 8 p.m. at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 West

Cheltenham Ave., in Philadelphia . A private viewing and memorial will

be held on Saturday (Jan. 23).

Actor. Comedian.

Radio show host. Author. Now Steve Harvey can add game show host to his

resume. The entertainer is on deck to become the new host of Family

Feud. Harvey, who will replace outgoing host John O’Hurley, will begin

his stint on Family Feud when the show’s new season premieres next

fall.Not one to forget

where he came from Judge Greg Mathis is doing his part to work with

inmates in prison via his new black prisoner initiative Empowerment

Education and Respect (PEER). 

According to Black

Voices, Mathis will take time out to visit jails and prisons throughout

the country to encourage inmates to change their lives as part of the

initiative. To date, he has visited the Wayne County Jail in his

hometown of Detroit, where he served his one-year sentence, as well as

the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta and the State Correctional

Institution at Chester, PA. Mathis’ next stop will be the Golden Grove

Correctional Facility in St. Croix, Virgin Islands on Feb.8.

Kandi Burruss is on her way back to the music scene, now that she’s signed with Asylum

Records through her label, Kandi Koated Entertainment. The

singer/reality show star’s as yet untitled forthcoming album, which is

slated for release this spring, will feature appearance from Gucci

Mane, Rick Ross, Rasheeda and Burris’ former Xscape groupmate, Tameka

“Tiny” Cottle. Production will be handled by Jazze Phae and Drumma Boy,

among others.

March looks to

be a good month for Raheem DeVaughn, who is gearing up for the release

of his upcoming album, The Love and War Masterpiece. The offering,

which includes the single “Bulletproof,” stands as evidence of the

singer’s current mindstate.

“I named the album The Love and War Masterpeace because I feel that is where I am as a

person and where we are as a people,” DeVaughn told Singersroom.com.

“We are all trying to master that internal peace and happiness in a

very strange time.”

 

Look for DeVaughn’s second single “I Don’t Care,” to hit radio on Monday (Jan. 25). The Love and War Masterpeace is slated to hit stores March 2.Prince is making his support of the Minnesota Vikings official with the release of a new song  he’s

written. MyFoxTwinCities.com reports the tune, titled “Purple and

Gold,” was written after the Purple One came home after seeing the

Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys last week. To hear Prince tell, the

victory was a sign of things to come.  

“I saw the future,”

said the crooner, who admitted that “Purple and Gold” came easy and

fast as it was written for the Viking’s upcoming NFC Championship game

matchup against the New Orleans Saints. It’s no surprise that the

Vikings love the new song and plan to put it on their site.