April 17, 2006

The "Queen of Inspirational Soul" Ann Nesby said she's having the time of her life right now. The former Sounds of Blackness lead vocalist has a new CD of gospel standards called 'In The Spirit' on Shanachie Entertainment dropping this week, and her granddaughter Paris Bennett is a top six finalist on 'American Idol.' "It's overwhelming. You know I'm excited," a beaming Nesby said before heading over to the 'American Idol' results show at Hollywood's Kodak Theater last week. "You think you get excited when your children do well-because I was excited when my daughter Jamecia [Paris's mother] did her record with Mercury Records and her singing-but with your grandchildren, I think you call that super-excitement. It's an awesome pleasure that I know God allowed us to have!"

Nesby is a music veteran-a multiple Grammy and Stellar Award nominee, who has guest starred on albums by artists ranging from Bishop T.D. Jakes to Jadakiss and lent vocals to everyone from Sting to Patti LaBelle. What advice has she offered her granddaughter, especially in dealing with feedback from 'A.I.' judge Simon Cowell?

"I tell Paris to take the bitter with the sweet! Keep doing your best, and every time you step out on stage you give them everything you got. Because when you give everything that you have, at least you can be satisfied with what you did," she shared. "She really loves me and she values my opinion and we have a serious closeness and a heart to heart friendship that I treasure!"

The Joliet, Ill.-bred singer, who appeared opposite Beyonce Knowles, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Mike Epps in the film 'The Fighting Temptations,' said she gave it her all when recording 'In The Spirit' despite the fact it was done in the studio. "Though we were in the studio, we recorded it live. We did it in a couple of days-six songs one day and six songs the next day. It was old school. It was like we were on stage and the spirit of the Lord was there," recalled Nesby.

In addition to promoting 'In The Spirit' and racking up frequent flyer miles flying back and forth to Los Angeles each week to support Bennett, Nesby makes appearances as a new spokesmodel for clothing designer Donna Vinci's Lisa Rene fashion line. "Who would have thought that Ann Nesby would be modeling clothes for a line of clothing that was not a plus-sized clothing line?" laughed the singer, who has lost nearly 130 pounds since having gastric bypass surgery on March 28, 2005. "I lost a whole other person, I like to say."

Big Chill

Disney World Resort launched its new thrill ride Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom with an elaborate two-day celebration. The Asia community of Animal Kingdom was transformed into a mile-long block party, where guests dined on a buffet of grilled lamb, crab cakes and multiple shrimp dishes, interacted with the Disney cast members, and witnessed the premiere of a new fireworks presentation tailored for Expedition Everest.

Boy band B5, Isabella Rossellini ('The Innocent'), John Cleese ('Monty Python'), singing duo Aly & AJ, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Wangari Maathai, Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin and some of cast of the Disney movie 'High School Musical' (Monique Coleman, Corbin Bleu, Ashley Tisdale and Vanessa Anne Hudgens) were all on hand for the unveiling of Everest- -- a 200 ft. tall replica of the Himalayan Mountains that includes a 50-mile-per-hour roller coaster with an 80 ft. drop. The Discovery Channel is airing a special on the exhilarating coaster -- which yours truly braved three times -- called 'Building a Thrill Ride: Expedition Everest.' The documentary of the attraction will be on the network throughout the month of April.

"Expedition Everest is a shining example of what we do best at Disney -- create unique, high-quality and innovative experiences to delight our guests from around the world," said Bob Iger, president and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, who spoke at the opening ceremony. "Though our mountain may be slightly smaller in scale to the one you find in Asia, it is remarkable in its authenticity."

In addition to launching Expedition Everest, Walt Disney World is extending its marketing efforts toward appealing to the African-American travel consumer. The company, known by its marquee character Mickey Mouse, recently tapped film director Antoine Fuqua ('Training Day') to shoot a commercial aimed at the African-American family.

"It's about dreaming. It's about being inspired," said Fuqua of the 30-second spot. "I knew what Walt Disney World meant to my kids. I wanted to do something that would be exciting to them and their friends. It's important to see themselves, African-American children, in these commercials."

Buzzworthy

Those rumors circulating on the blogs about Solange Knowles-the happily married younger sister of Beyonce Knowles-being pregnant again are not true. The images circulating on the Internet of a pregnant Knowles are from the baby shower for her son Daniel Julez Smith, who was born on Oct. 18, 2004. "She is definitely not pregnant again," said Knowles Family spokesperson Priscilla Clarke, before sending me a statement from Knowles herself. She stated: "There is absolutely no validity to this rumor, the bloggers are circulating old photos of me from my baby shower over two years ago and are misrepresenting them as current photos... I am definitely not pregnant." Knowles, who wed her husband Daniel Smith in March 2004, certainly wasn't with child when photographed at the Hollywood Walk of Fame celebration for Destiny's Child on March 28, 2006.

Multiple Stellar Award winning gospel star Donald Lawrence hosted an intimate dinner for media professionals, retail outlets and radio personalities at the swank Washington, D.C. restaurant B. Smith's last week. Lawrence was celebrating the success of the two-CD release of his Tri-City Singers on EMI Gospel. In an unprecedented move for a gospel artist, Lawrence followed in the footsteps of Bruce Springsteen, Nelly and Guns N' Roses as one of the few artists to release two separate CDs on the same day. 'Finale Act 1' and 'Finale Act 2' bowed at number four and number five respectively on Billboard's Gospel Chart in its first week and made history by impacting six separate Billboard charts.

Former 'Less Than Perfect' star Sherri Shepherd, who has become a regular guest on the talk show 'Ellen,' has joined the cast of the Patricia Heaton ('Everybody Loves Raymond') comedy pilot. Jenny McCarthy is also one of the leads for the pilot, currently called 'The Untitled Patricia Heaton Project.' In other pilot news, Tamala Jones ('The Tracy Morgan Show') and Bree Turner ('Bring It On Again') have joined the cast of Wayne Brady's comedy pilot 'Flirt' for the new CW Network. Brady plays a women's magazine's only male employee in the series.

Doesn't look like Bow Wow, who is no longer dating singer Ciara, will be heading out with his usual suspects on the Scream Tour this summer. Instead, the pint-size rapper is hitting the road with Ray J, T-Pain and B5. The forthcoming outing won't play stadium size venues like the Scream Tour, but will hit mid-size venues, with an emphasis on the southern region.

Former Bad Boy Entertainment recording artist and 'Sister Act' star Tonya Blount is working on her gospel debut. Blount built a name for herself traveling with her husband, gospel singer Greg O'Quinn, and is now the praise and worship leader at the Sanctuary at Kingdom Square in Capitol Heights, Md. The singer recently signed a management agreement with Yolanda Adams' former manager Shiba Haley, who has been seeking a major recording contract for Blount.

Can't Say Names...

Which recently "retired" singer isn't acting like a person who is supposed to be done with the music business? Sources said that in addition to said singer being recently spotted at a recent music conference, the retiree is also shopping new recording options with several record companies. Word also has it that the artist has been writing and producing new music that's being shopped to fellow artists. Sounds like a short-lived retirement to me.

BV Scene

Actors Chad L. Coleman, Michael K. Williams, Kelli R. Brown, Jamie Hector and Edwina Findley of 'The Wire' having lunch at the Indian restaurant Akbar on North Charles Street in Baltimore... Niecy Nash ('Clean House') and Hollywood public relations pro Danicka Berry spotted getting their tresses tamed at the Los Angeles hair salon Studio 412... Comedienne Wanda Sykes dined at the restaurant Gibsons in Chicago... Motivational speaker Les Brown standing outside of the Animal Kingdom Resort in Orlando... Gabrielle Union shopping at IshopBlush.com's new boutique Blush in Potomac, Md., while in the Washington, D.C. area speaking to Congress about the issue of sexual assault... Coko of SWV and manager Phil Thornton shopping in Louis Vuitton at the Beverly Center Mall in Beverly Hills, Calif... Usher, Ludacris and Lil' Jon performing the song "Lovers and Friends" for the first time together at the Maxim party at the nightclub Tryst at the Wynn Las Vegas. Taye Diggs, Christina Aguilera, Nick Lachey and Tori Spelling were also among the partygoers.