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Tag: Oprah Winfrey

  • Eddie Murphy to Star in Richard Pryor Biopic

    Eddie Murphy will reportedly star in an upcoming biopic about legendary comic Richard Pryor. He is set to play the late comedian’s father, LeRoy “Buck Carter” Pryor, who was a boxer and WWII veteran, in the Weinstein Co. drama. Lee Daniels–best known for The Butler and Empire–will direct the biopic.

    The role of Richard Pryor will be played by actor Mike Epps. Might this mean nominations for next year’s Academy Awards for both Epps and Eddie Murphy? Richard Pryor’s widow indicated that’s a possibility.

    “Harvey (Weinstein) would like it to be released for the Oscars. Because, you know, Harvey is good at that sh-t,” Jennifer Lee, who also serves as one of the biopic’s producers, said.

    Eddie Murphy grew up idolizing Richard Pryor.

    “Richard’s the one that made me want to do comedy,” he has previously said. “When I was little I used to sneak into my basement and put his albums on.”

    Eddie Murphy recently appeared on the SNL 40th Anniversary Show, and made news for refusing to do a sketch about Bill Cosby.

    Lee Daniels hinted at a role for Eddie Murphy in this Richard Pryor biopic when he posted a recent picture of himself with Murphy on Instagram.

    “Strap in and brace yourself. They done let me and him out of our cages! #idonteventhinkimreadyforthisone! #excited #proud #OMG,” he captioned the shot.

    In addition to Eddie Murphy and Mike Epps, this biopic about Richard Pryor is rumored to also star Oprah Winfrey and Kate Hudson.

    The biopic is still in pre-production, and no release date has yet been released.

  • Jennifer Hudson to Perform at the Oscars

    Jennifer Hudson to Perform at the Oscars

    Jennifer Hudson will perform at this year’s Oscars. The Academy announced that the Dreamgirls star will be singing for the big event.

    “We’re creating several musical sequences for the Oscars and we couldn’t be happier that our friend, Jennifer Hudson, will be performing in one of them,” the show’s producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, said.

    Hudson is excited about her upcoming performance, and shared that excitement with her fans via Twitter.

    Hudson was actually full of good news on Wednesday–some that even rivals being asked to perform at the Oscars, too.

    That’s not the only news Jennifer Hudson was excited about sharing either. She has a new album available on iTunes.

    Fans are no doubt thrilled to learn all this good news about and from Jennifer Hudson all in the same day. They can not only download her new album, but can look forward to seeing her perform live on TV at the Academy Awards later on this month. And if they don’t mind waiting until next fall, they can see her on Broadway in an Oprah Winfrey-back revival of The Color Purple, too.

    Neil Patrick Harris is hosting the Oscars this year. Last year’s host was Ellen DeGeneres. Which of the two do you think will make the better host?

    Are you a Jennifer Hudson fan? Will you be tuning in to the Oscars on February 22nd at 7:00 PM ET on ABC to see and hear her perform?

  • Anna Kendrick: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Star to Perform at the Oscars

    Anna Kendrick: ‘Pitch Perfect 2’ Star to Perform at the Oscars

    Anna Kendrick is set to perform at the Oscars on February 22nd, but it’s uncertain exactly what the Pitch Perfect 2 and Into the Woods star will do. The shows producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, have merely said that Kendrick will do “something special that is sure to be an ‘Only on the Oscars’ moment.”

    Kendrick sang a hit song from Pitch Perfect called ‘Cups’ that made it all the way to the number six spot on the Billboard Charts. It was featured on the Pitch Perfect soundtrack and marked the first time Anna Kendrick was considered both an actress and a pop music star. She joins a lineup of spectacular performances at the 87th Oscars that includes actor Jack Black, singer Rita Ora, and John Legend together with Common, who will perform ‘Glory’ from the movie Selma.

    Anna Kendrick tweeted word of her invitation to perform at the Oscars earlier on Monday.

    Scarlett Johansson, Octavia Spencer, Zoe Saldana and Josh Hutcherson were added to the roster of Oscar presenters on Monday. They will join perviously scheduled presenters including Benedict Cumberbatch, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, and Marion Cotillard.

    Will you be tuning in to the Oscars to see Anna Kendrick and her “special performance” on February 22? Do you expect she might do an updated version of ‘Cups’ or perhaps even something from the upcoming Pitch Perfect 2? Or will she do something completely unexpected that will find fans even more enamored with this talented actress and singer?

  • Jessica Chastain Floored by Racial Trolling Following Her Diversity Speech

    Jessica Chastain says she is floored by the amount of racist comments directed at her following a recent speech encouraging more diversity in Hollywood.

    While accepting her Most Valuable Player Award at last Thursday’s Critics’ Choice Awards ceremony, Jessica Chastain urged Hollywood executives and actors to support more diversity.

    Jessica Chastain was responding to the underwhelming recognition of actors of color in this year’s Academy Awards nominations.

    “Some people had taken my speech and then made it about awards — like SAG Awards or Oscars. That’s not what my speech was about,” Chastain told the Associated Press.

    “To me awards are just a reflection. It’s just a symptom of the disease and the disease is in the industry. If we had more diversity in our films it would be reflected in diversity in the nominees.”

    During her speech, Jessica Chastain urged her colleagues to “stand together against homophobic, sexist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic and racist agendas.” Her speech led Oprah Winfrey to mouth “wow” at the conclusion of her remarks.

    Jessica Chastain conceded that she was shocked by the slew of “strange” messages she has received in the aftermath of the speech.

    “I’ve had really terrible people who are racists comment on the speech and say really terrible things. I’m understanding that some people in this world, how much hate they can have,” said Jessica Chastain.

    Jessica Chastain went on to say she has also received much support from those in the industry who agree with her views.

    While accepting her award, Jessica Chastain said some things need to change in Hollywood and “we all need to work together to fix it.”

  • Jennifer Hudson to Make Much-Awaited Broadway Debut in Oprah Winfrey-Backed ‘The Color Purple’

    Jennifer Hudson will make her Broadway debut this fall, starring in the Oprah Winfrey-backed revival of The Color Purple.

    This will be the Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe-winner’s first foray in a Broadway production.

    The Dreamgirls actress will take on the role of Shug Avery, a sultry blues singer, in the musical.

    According to the New York Post, Winfrey reached out to Hudson personally to invite her to join the cast.

    John Doyle, who received a directing Tony in 2006 for his own Broadway debut with Sweeney Todd, designed and directed this particular production of the musical, which first opened in 2013 in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

    Music and lyrics are by Grammy winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray.

    The musical is an adaptation of the Alice Walker novel of the same name, which was made into the 1985 Steven Spielberg film starring Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.

  • Christopher Darden, O.J. Simpson Prosecutor, Says He Is Now ‘Pissed Off’ Over the Outcome of the Trial

    Christopher Darden, the prosecutor in the 1995 historic O.J. Simpson trial that has been dubbed the “trial of the century,” says he is “pissed off” at the outcome of the proceedings that set the football player accused of killing ex-wife Nicole Simpson-Brown free.

    The trial was watched around the world and became the first completely televised court proceeding. At the center of the media circus was Darden and lead prosecutor Marcia Clark. The two of them, as well as some key witnesses for the state, faced incredible scrutiny, criticism and outright ridicule for the handling of the trial.

    Twenty years later, Darden leads a life away from the blaring lights and criticism.

    “Sometimes I get recognized as the O.J. Simpson prosecutor,” he told Oprah: Where Are They Now? “People say, ‘Oh, that’s Darden. Oh, he’s put on weight in 20 years!’”

    Darden, 58, said the backlash was, at times, more than he could take.

    “I was devastated and decimated by the trial,” he said.

    Darden said as the years wore on, depression has been replaced with anger.

    “I don’t think I’m so much as bitter. Now, I think I’m angry,” he says. “I mean, I couldn’t be angry back then. I couldn’t be pissed off, because I’m a prosecutor. But now, I’m just Chris Darden. Now I can just be pissed off.”

    While Darden still practices law, he has switched sides in criminal court proceedings.

    “I’m a criminal law defense attorney,” he says. “And I write a little bit here and there.”

    A father of three with his wife of 17 years, Marcia, Darden said he wouldn’t encourage his kids to pursue law, but wouldn’t be surprised if they did.

    “I have the smartest family anyone could have,” he says proudly. “My children are brilliant children. I don’t think that any of them should pursue criminal law,” Darden says. “But I could certainly see them becoming lawyers.”

  • Kristin Cavallari Felt Manipulated on ‘Laguna Beach’

    Former Laguna Beach reality television star Kristin Cavallari opened up to Oprah Winfrey during an Oprah: Where Are They Now? segment, and revealed that her memories of the MTV series are not very fond.

    Cavallari was 17 at the time production of Laguna Beach began, and was dating fellow Orange County, California high school student Stephen Colletti. Cavallari alleges that MTV producers fabricated a love triangle between herself, Colletti and Laguna Beach princess/narrator Lauren Conrad.

    Cavallari commented, “Laguna Beach was… it was tough. I felt very used and manipulated.” The television personality, now 27, added, “Basically my boyfriend at the time, the producers would have him go and take out Lauren Conrad, take her to dinner, bring her flowers, which never would’ve happened if it wasn’t for the show, for MTV.”

    While explaining some of her at times abrasive behavior on Laguna Beach, Cavallari remarked, “Being 16, 17 in high school, not knowing really how to handle your emotions or even realizing what’s going on… I put up a wall. I put up a really tough exterior because I felt like they were really trying to take advantage of me. It was a really difficult time, and then when I saw it air, and saw the way that they represented me, I was really, really upset. I cried for hours and hours after I saw the first episode. It was hard, it was really hard.”

    Cavallari, now a mother of two boys, married Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler in June, 2013.

    Legit first try because he would only give me one shot. Tough cookie..making me laugh. Selfies are good luck now…

    A photo posted by Kristin Cavallari (@kristincavallari) on

    Commenting on the origins of the reality series, the former Dancing with the Stars contestant said, “I was a junior in high school and MTV showed up and did open casting for Laguna Beach. You go and you grab this 20-page packet and then they would take your polaroid and from there they did on-camera interviews. They sort of narrowed it down to these eight people. We weren’t all a group of friends, but there was all some sort of a tie with all of us.”

    LC’s casting interview:

    “I still, to this day, think you should have to be 18 to do a reality show,” Cavallari added. “Only because of my experience.”

  • Kristin Cavallari Says MTV ‘Used and Manipulated’ Her on ‘Laguna Beach’

    Kristin Cavallari, who began her career on MTV’s Laguna Beach, recently opened up on Oprah: Where Are They Now?about the process of landing a role on the reality show and how she feels about it now.

    “I was a junior in high school and MTV showed up and did open casting,” she recalls in the episode, which airs this Sunday. “You grab this 20-page packet and then they would take your Polaroid, and from there, they did on-camera interviews. They sort of narrowed it down to these eight people.”

    The 27-year-old celebrity said she and her other costars — Lo Bosworth, Stephen Colletti, Lauren Conrad, Morgan Olsen, Trey Phillips, Christina Schuller and Talan Torriero — were clueless about what they were getting themselves into during their two years on the series.

    “We had no idea what we were doing,” Cavallari said. “We were just going along with whatever MTV was telling us to do.”

    Cavallari admitted that it wasn’t the best of experiences and blames MTV for feeling “used and manipulated” throughout the series.

    “My boyfriend at the time [Coletti] would take Lauren Conrad to dinner and buy her flowers, which never would have happened if it weren’t for the show and MTV,” she said. “I felt very used and manipulated.”

    Cavallari said her naiveté helped to create the “bad girl” persona that defined her from the series.

    “Being 16, 17 in high school, not knowing really how to handle your emotions or even realizing what’s going on, I put up a wall. I put up a really tough exterior because I felt like they were really trying to take advantage of me,” said Cavallari.

    When the teen finally saw how she was being portrayed on the show, she says it hurt her deeply.

    “When I saw it air and saw the way that they represented me, I was really, really upset. I cried for hours and hours after I saw the first episode,” Cavallari said.

  • Bill Cosby’s Wife, Camille Cosby, Maintains Silence on Allegations of Rape Made Against Her Husband

    Bill Cosby‘s wife, Dr. Camille Olivia Hanks Cosby, is just as silent as her husband over accusations of rape by the comedian that have surfaced this week.

    Cosby‘s wife of 50 years has spoken candidly in the past about integrity and honor, and many are wondering how she is faring after the latest allegations against her husband have surfaced.

    Over the past week, nine women have come forward claiming sexual abuse and the repercussions are extensive, with many venues canceling appearances by the comedian.

    Camille has had a difficult time in the past. In 1997, her son Ennis was murdered and it became public that Cosby had an affair in the ‘70s and possibly fathered a child with another woman. Cosby, who told his wife about the affair in the 70s, admitted the affair publicly but denied fathering the child. The woman, who asked for $40 million, ended up not taking a paternity test to determine if Cosby was the father, according to Camille.

    The always loyal Camille spoke with Oprah Winfrey for O Magazine in 2000 on her fervent beliefs about honesty and integrity.

    “I just don’t like dishonesty,” Camille told Winfrey. “I don’t like a lack of integrity. I think integrity should permeate every aspect of your life. And if you don’t have it, I’m going to feel it, and that’s the end of it.”

    Camille told Winfrey honesty was one of her best qualities.

    “When I look in the mirror, I know I’m looking at an honest person. I know I’m looking at myself, and I’m not looking at someone else I project to the world. What you see here is what you see everywhere I go….”

    She went on to say she is very protective of her home.

    “I only want people who I like in our home,” she told Winfrey. “I don’t want people I don’t like in our home. I just don’t like dishonesty. I don’t like a lack of integrity. I think integrity should permeate every aspect of your life. And if you don’t have it, I’m going to feel it, and that’s the end of it.

  • Brooke Shields Talks Agassi’s Trophy Smashing Fit

    In her soon to be released memoir There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me, actress Brooke Shields writes about her failed marriage to tennis icon Andre Agassi, and alleges he has a jealousy complex.

    Shields, 49, goes on the mention an instance in which Agassi, 44, smashed his Wimbledon trophy after the actress made an appearance on the sitcom Friends. Shields played an obsessed fan of Matt LeBlanc’s character “Joey,” and licked his hand in one scene. Agassi, who was on set in Los Angeles during the time the scene was being filmed, did not take too kindly to it, and took off in his car and drove to Las Vegas, before going into a trophy smashing fury.

    “Upon arrival he systematically smashed and destroyed every single trophy he had won, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, never mind all the others,” Shields recalled. The actress added that Agassi had mentioned to her that she “made him look like a fool.”

    Included in the rampage were Agassi’s 1992 Wimbledon and 1994 U.S. Open trophies.

    Here Shields’ “Erica” licks LeBlanc’s hand:

    Here is Agassi displaying advanced tennis fashion:

    Agassi, widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players in history, went on to win six more Grand Slams, including another U.S. Open in 1999, though broke his only Wimbledon trophy he would ever receive.

    Shields and Agassi got married in 1997, but were divorced in 1999.

    Shields made headlines in 2005, after relating her struggles with postpartum depression to Oprah Winfrey, and how seeing a psychiatrist helped her through her struggle. High-ranking Scientological master Tom Cruise promptly chimed in on The Today Show to school Matt Lauer on the entire history of useless psychiatry, and calls the host “glib.”

    Never gets old:

    Shields, who has two daughters with husband Chris Henchy, was most recently seen on The Michael J. Fox Show, and is the spokesperson for Tupperware’s Chain of Confidence SMART Girls initiative, a program that teaches girls to nurture their mental and physical well-being.

  • George Clooney: Married to Ellen DeGeneres for Halloween

    George Clooney likely had no idea that on Halloween he would be married to Ellen DeGeneres. The holiday has long been a favorite of DeGeneres’ and she goes all out each year with pranks and creepy things on the set of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Her biggest pleasure, however, is her annual Halloween costume, which receives much regalia as it is unveiled on air each year.

    “Amal, the luckiest woman in the world, Mrs. George Clooney,” Ellen said on Friday’s show. Her costume was replete with a long brunette wig, a People magazine cover, and a puppet of George Clooney.

    “I like Halloween because it’s the one time of year you can dress up however you want, and pretend you’re someone you’d never be in real life. For me, that’s married to a man,” Ellen DeGeneres said to her roaring audience.

    Ellen DeGeneres was especially clever with this year’s Halloween costume. Her creativity actually required that she play the roles of both Amal Aladmuddin Clooney and George Clooney, too.

    “Her left arm was actually the actor’s right, with the two of them firmly holding hands. Things went pretty smoothly, though George got a little handsy from time to time. He is a newlywed, though,” TheWrap writes.

    In her pre-George Clooney years, Ellen DeGeneres has portrayed Nicki Minaj with ample cleavage, Sofia Vergara with her split dress, Jennifer Lopez, and even Dr. Phil. This year’s People cover of George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin’s wedding wasn’t completely original. In 2009 Ellen dressed up as her own cover of Oprah Winfrey’s O magazine.

    Sadly George Clooney wasn’t on hand to watch Ellen portray him on Halloween, but he will no doubt see his stuffed puppet version, along with Ellen DeGeneres dressed as Amal. Photos are likely circulating all over the internet and on social media, too.

  • Oprah Winfrey in Atlanta on ‘Life You Want’ Tour

    Oprah Winfrey spent the first stop of her ‘Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend,’ in Atlanta on Friday and Saturday. On Friday night the talk show host and owner of the OWN television network addressed her audience at the Phillips Arena for more than two hours. She shared the inspirational story of her rise from poverty to fame.

    As Winfrey takes her tour to a total of eight cities, she will speak on Fridays and leave the Saturday portion of the event in the hands of other celebrities. OWN host Iyanla Vanzant, Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert, and Pastor Rob Bel will address crowds on Saturdays. Deepak Chopra is scheduled to appear at some of the stops along her tour. He appeared in Atlanta along with the rest of Oprah’s celebrity roster.

    In addition to appearing in Atlanta, Oprah Winfrey will bring ‘Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend’ to stops outside of Detroit, Washington, D.C., Houston, Miami, Seattle, San Jose, and Newark, New Jersey.

    Fox News reports that Oprah’s Atlanta appearance included a motivational speech as well as exercises for audience members to complete in order to both define and attempt to reach their goals.

    Oprah Winfrey reportedly teared up at the end of her two days in Atlanta. She thanked the audience for trusting that “this was worthy of you spending your hard-earned money to be here,” and she told them at the close of Saturday’s event, “Together we rise.”

    Thousands of people attended ‘Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend,’ and–not surprisingly–most of them were women.

    Would you attend Oprah Winfrey’s ‘Oprah’s The Life You Want Weekend’ if it came to a venue near you?

  • Ellen DeGeneres Kicks Off 12th Season, Marriage With Portia de Rossi Saved

    Ellen DeGeneres certainly has a lot to be grateful for. Her daytime talk show is set to kick off its twelfth season on Monday, September 8th–and even more importantly, her marriage with Portia de Rossi has reportedly been salvaged. This doesn’t mean everything is going perfectly for the talk show host and comedienne, but Radar Online does report that the two are ‘doing much better.’

    Ellen and Portia just returned from a European vacation and Ellen is excited to get back to work. Her first show will feature the new–and old–coaches on The Voice. She will be joined by not only Adam Levine and Blake Shelton, but new coaches Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams as well.

    “Towards the end of last season everything was really taking a toll on her,” a source told Radar Online, referring to The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “While Portia was in treatment and everyone was predicting that they were getting a divorce, it was really hard. But thankfully, all of that has passed.”

    “Ellen says that she will be with Portia forever and that she puts her wife before anything, even her career,” the source added.

    The two recently celebrated their sixth anniversary, with a beautiful message in the sky.

    Will Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi eventually create a ‘baby makes three’ scenario? Rumor has it Portia wants to have a child.

    “All Portia can talk about is beginning a new chapter in their lives and starting a family,” a source reportedly told InTouch magazine.

    A baby for Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi would definitely be big news for Ellen’s TV show. Just imagine how excited the audiences would be. Can you imagine the Mother’s Day show that would follow such an announcement? Ellen would likely outdo Oprah Winfrey in TV giveaways by giving away a wealth of baby items.

    Hopefully things truly are fine for Ellen and Portia and that if they decide a child is in the cards for them that this new facet of their lives serves to prove emotionally enriching and joyful. Fans are no doubt beyond thrilled about a new season of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Perhaps they will find the host well-rested and renewed since things are so much better with her marriage.

  • Lindsay Lohan Allegedly On a Crusade to Star on UK’s Reality Show ‘TOWIE’

    Lindsay Lohan is apparently on a crusade to finagle her way on to the popular UK reality show The Only Way is Essex — aka TOWIE.

    While Lohan has not publicly declared her desire to star on the show, a source made it clear she is obsessed with the idea.

    “Lindsay’s obsessed with all things Essex and she’s watched every episode of TOWIE on YouTube. It’s like her new fix. She’s been telling anyone who’ll listen that she’d love to guest star in a few episodes and has even asked her management to set up a meeting with the producers,” said the source.

    Lohan has been (purposely?) hanging with the stars of the show, including a recent trip to Ibiza with Vas J. Morgan.

    That doesn’t necessarily translate into a working gig. On the other hand, she may be on to something since producers insist the reality stars of the show have some connection to Essex, which she may have now that she’s a new BFF of Morgan.

    “We always ensure that everyone on the show has a genuine connection to Essex. As a friend of Vas, Lindsay might fit the bill, but there are no plans as yet,” said another source to Now magazine.

    The Only Way Is Essex follows a diverse group of people that have one thing in common — they live in Essex. The show features a club promoter, a would-be model, a member of a girl band and two bar workers. Each episode airs just days after filming.

    The actress hasn’t had much success with reality TV on this side of the Atlantic. Lohan joined forces with Oprah Winfrey for Lindsay, which aired on OWN earlier this year. Few were really interested in the daily life of the troubled actress, and it was canceled soon after its premiere.

    Image via Lindsay Lohan, Instagram

  • Truffles Are Oprah’s Food Obsession

    Truffles, those tasty little fungi, are what makes Oprah drool.

    “I’m a truffle freak,” she said of her fungus obsession.

    “I walk around with truffle salt. That’s on my rider for the hotels — truffle salt, truffle oil. I want to go to Alba [in Italy] and do the truffle hunt with the pigs.”

    Hmmm. Hunting with pigs. Sounds fun.

    So, once Oprah digs up the truffles with her nose, what will she do with them? Make pasta most likely.

    “I’m really good with, unfortunately, pastas,” Oprah said of cooking with Truffles. “I make a mean pasta with shaved truffles and tortellini stuffed with cheese and truffles.”

    Yum!

    Upon wondering just what a truffle is and doing a little research, it seems that a truffle is a mushroom-type fungus that forms a symbiotic relationships with the roots of several tree species including beech, poplar, oak, birch, hornbeam, hazel, and pine.

    Truffles grow and can be harvested year-round, depending on the species, and can be found buried between the leaf litter and the soil. So when the pigs go rooting around with their noses, that’s the layer of yuck that they are trying to reach.

    The city of Alba, where Oprah wants to root up truffles with pigs, is most famous for the white truffle. Italian white truffles are intensely sought after and are the most valuable truffles on the market.

    The white truffle market in Alba is very busy in the months of October and November when the Fiera del Tartufo (truffle fair) takes place. I wonder if that is when Oprah wants to go?

    The most expensive truffles ever sold went for $330,000, one huge truffle in 2007 and a pair of truffles in 2010. The same guy bought the truffles both times! Imagine having so much money that you could blow that much on a fungus.

    Image via YouTube

  • Kerry Washington Hits Red Carpet Post-Baby at BET Awards

    Kerry Washington stepped out on the red carpet Sunday night for the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

    The event marked Washington’s first live television appearance since giving birth to daughter Isabelle Amarachi on April 21. The child is the first for both Washington and her husband, former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

    Observers said Washington looked “slim, fit, and healthy” in a brightly-colored floral strapless Dolce & Gabbana dress, white Jimmy Choo pumps, and the bare minimum of jewelry.

    Washington was nominated for a Best Actress award this year alongside Angela Bassett (Black Nativity, American Horror Story,) Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave,) Gabrielle Union (Being Mary Jane,) and Oprah Winfrey (The Butler.) Lupita Nyong’o won.

    Washington won the BET Best Actress award in 2013.

    Washington, 37, and Asomugha, 32, married in a small, private ceremony in Hailey, Idaho in June 2013. The notoriously private couple managed to keep the wedding secret for over a week.

    The couple kept their daughter’s birth from hitting the news for an impressive 11 days following her birth.

    Washington began acting in 1994 and landed small television and film roles for the next few years, including parts in Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt and The Last King of Scotland with James McAvoy and Forest Whitaker.

    In 2012 she gained notoriety for her performance opposite Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie Foxx, and Christoph Waltz in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained.

    Also that year she landed the lead role in ABC’s hit series Scandal. Thanks to her role as Olivia Pope, Washington is now a household name. The term “gladiators” and the phrase “It’s handled” have become synonymous with the series and millions of viewers covet Olivia Pope’s wardrobe.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Maya Angelou Remembered With Beautiful Words

    Maya Angelou touched the lives of many who spoke at her memorial service on Saturday at Wake Forest University. The university is where she taught for 32 years as Dr. Angelou, though she never graduated from college.

    During her lifetime she lived larger than most even dream of. She changed the way the world as a whole was looked at by some of the biggest names is showbusiness, politics, and those of her friends that spoke anonymously on Saturday of her resonant voice and life force.

    First Lady Michelle Obama said of her first encounters with Maya Angelou’s work, “Her voice lifted me right out of my own little head. She told us that our worth has nothing to do with what the world might say. Instead, she said, each of us comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. She reminded us that we must each find our own voice, decide our own value, and then announce it to the world with all the pride and joy that is our birthright as members of the human race.”

    Obama was among many famous faces that came to speak of the impact that Maya Angelou had on their lives. Another was Bill Clinton, who enjoyed the privilege of having her read her poem On the Pulse of Morning at his 1993 inauguration. He recalled how she found her voice again after refusing to speak for five years when her mother’s boyfriend raped her as a child.

    “She was without a voice for five years and then she developed the greatest voice on the planet. God loaned her His voice,” Clinton said. “She had the voice of God. And he decided he wanted it back.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqEaPBS-fug

    And of course long time friend and supporter Oprah Winfrey was on hand to say goodbye to the most influential woman in her life. She said, “Maya Angelou is the greatest woman I have ever known.” Then almost sobbing, she added, “She was my anchor. So it’s hard to describe to you what it means when your anchor shifts.”

    Some beautiful words for a beautiful woman and an incredibly influential icon of our times.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons

  • Tracy Morgan: Condition Updated Following Fatal Crash

    Tracy Morgan sustained critical injuries in a crash very early on Saturday morning on the New Jersey Turnpike. That crash killed his friend and comedy writer James McNair–also known as Jimmy Mack. This new information about Morgan’s condition was only recently released and is the first mention of anything other than a statement noting that he was in critical condition.

    A spokesperson–Tracy Morgan’s publicist Lewis Kay–said as of Sunday afternoon that the actor and comedian is “more responsive.” He had surgery on a broken leg early on Sunday and is expected to remain in the hospital for “several weeks.” In addition to the leg on which he had surgery he suffered a broken femur, a broken nose, and several broken ribs. His condition is still deemed critical.

    Kay added that Morgan’s family is “tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”

    Also critically injured in the crash were Jeffrey Millea, 36, of Shelton, Connecticut, and comedian Ardie Fuqua Jr., 43, of Jersey City, New Jersey. Comic Harris Stanton was treated and released on Saturday.

    Ardie Fuqua’s mother Doris visited her son at Robert Wood Johnson Hospital on Saturday.

    “We’re hoping for the best,” she said of his condition, adding that she doesn’t know how long he will need to stay in the hospital. “It’s too early to tell.”

    Comedian Kevin Hart credits Tracy Morgan for paving the way for him and many fellow comics who now make their livings as entertainers.

    “We just want him to get better and to get back to everyone that loves him and get back to doing what he does best, making people laugh,” Hart said.

    He tweeted out a prayer request for his fellow comic as well.

    Oprah Winfrey’s best friend Gayle King asked her followers to keep Tracy Morgan in their hearts.

    Dog the Bounty Hunter, a.k.a. Duane Chapman, also shared his prayer request for Tracy Morgan.

    While the news about Tracy Morgan’s present condition sounds more positive it certainly sounds like the SNL alum still isn’t out of the woods. Even once his condition is officially upgraded it sounds like he has several weeks–if not months–of rehab ahead of him.

    Image via Facebook

  • Oprah Winfrey Remembers Maya Angelou

    Oprah Winfrey is one of millions mourning the loss of prolific author and poet, Maya Angelou.

    When news outlets began reporting Angelou’s death on Wednesday, May 28, many celebrities, public figures, dignitaries and fans took to social media with dedicatory posts about the I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings author.

    The 60-year-old media proprietor also opted to share her thoughts. Winfrey released a heartfelt statement via Instagram about the woman she has often referred to as her hero. Now, she says Angelou is her “rainbow in my clouds.”

    “I’ve been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister, and friend since my twenties,” Winfrey said. “She was there for me always, guiding  me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When  you get, give,’ is one of my best lessons from her.”

    “What stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has done or  written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace. I loved her and I know she  loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my clouds,” Winfrey said.

    Winfrey and Angelou met for the first time more than 30 years ago back in the early 1970s. Over the years, the two have forged a remarkable friendship. On several occasions Winfrey, who has admired Angelou since she was a child, praised her as “one of the greatest influences of my entire life.”

    Back in 2011, Winfrey shared one of the most powerful lessons she’d ever learned with the world. She credited Angelou as the teacher. “She is like a mother to me, a sister to me, a friend to me,” Winfrey said of her childhood hero.

    Image via Oprah Winfrey, Facebook

  • Nate Berkus Ties the Knot With Jeremiah Brent

    Nate Berkus Ties the Knot With Jeremiah Brent

    Nake Berkus and boyfriend Jeremiah Brent said “I do” on Saturday at the New York Public Library–marking the first time that a same-sex couple has tied the knot at the famous landmark. The couple got engaged about a year ago while in Peru.

    220 guests attended the affair including Berkus and Brent’s parents as well as many celebrities. Oprah Winfrey, Rachael Ray, Rebecca Minkoff, Irene Neuwirth, and Busy Phillips were among the distinguished guests.

    Sheri Salata, President of OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network & Harpo Studios, served as officiant for the wedding ceremony. Nate Berkus was styling in a J.Crew suit. Jeremiah Brent wore Saint Laurent. The men exchanged Van Cleef & Arpels gold bands that are identical.

    A favorite choir of Berkus’s–Gospel for Teens/The Mama Foundation for the Arts–gave a rousing performance following the wedding ceremony. The men coordinated with wedding planner and friend Marcy Blum Associates for the evening’s design plans. The ceremony wall was custom made from Nake Berkus’s fabric line and accessories from his Target collection.

    Long wooden tables covered with Berkus’s linens seated guests at the reception. Guests dined on Target dinnerware from the Nate Berkus collection. It almost sounds like Berkus and Brent’s wedding was akin to a very upscale advertisement for Target.

    Swiss Cottage Designs created menus for the reception and were then taken home as keepsakes by the wedding guests. The food was created by Great Performances based on individual requests from both Berkus and Brent. Mad Marj served as the Dj for the event and Estelle sang a special performance of American Boy.

    Congratulations are definitely in order for Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent on their weekend wedding. May they enjoy many wonderfully happy years together.

    Can you imagine how impeccably the rooms in their home must be designed?

    Image via YouTube

  • Rob Lowe on Rehab, Bieber and Being Hot

    Rob Lowe on Rehab, Bieber and Being Hot

    The forever young Rob Lowe, 50, appeared on Oprah Prime April 6 and shared his thoughts on his time in rehab, Justin Bieber and what it’s really like to be ridiculously good-looking.

    Like many young celebrities, the Brat Pack actor came to a crossroads with addiction and chose to fight against it rather than succumb. Thankfully, Lowe has been sober for nearly 24 years and he credits his stint in rehab for the long-term success in his battle with addiction.

    “I loved it,” said Lowe. “I don’t know what that says about me. I didn’t love the fact that I had to go and it was absolutely painful, but I liked the science. I couldn’t have gotten sober without rehab because I needed the science. I needed to [learn about] addiction and what it does to your body and all of the research and the things like that.”

    Lowe says he is a firm believer in 12-step programs, but says he needed that time in rehab to solidify his sobriety.

    “A lot of people can do it through 12-step programs alone—I wouldn’t have been one of them, although I believe in them. I needed to do the work,” he said.

    Lowe also shared his thoughts on Justin Bieber‘s recent escapades. No stranger to the pressures and temptations of being young, rich and famous, Lowe says he can empathize with Bieber’s troubles.

    “I have tremendous empathy [for Bieber]. He makes really good music, he does, but I think he knows the dark secret, and the dark secret is 80 percent of his audience doesn’t give a s–t about the music. And he knows it. It bums him out,” said the Parks and Recreation actor.

    “They care about lemming-think, and their girlfriends and who’s oohing and aahing and screaming. It has nothing to do with what he’s doing as an artist. He is the guy who is standing in front at a moment that they’re going through a developmental thing. It’s natural, it’s all great, but if it wasn’t him, it would be somebody else, like it was me.”

    And like Bieber, Rowe has had to deal with being super hot. Everyone would love to have Lowe’s looks problems, but he says it’s not always easy to be so good-looking.

    “There’s this unbelievable bias and prejudice against quote-unquote good-looking people, that they can’t be in pain or they can’t have rough lives or be deep or interesting,” Lowe said in a New York Times interview. “They can’t be any of the things that you long to play as an actor. I’m getting to play those parts now and loving it. When I was a teen idol, I was so goddamn pretty I wouldn’t have taken myself seriously.”

    Image via YouTube