Jan. 22, 2007

Praise Party

It was a stellar weekend ---- pun intended ---- in Nashville, Tenn. for the 22nd Annual Stellar Gospel Awards. Every Tom, Dick and gospel personality you can think of made the trek to the hub of country music to see who would take home Stellar gold this year.

The award show, typically taped on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, kicked off with Kirk Franklin's 'Imagine Me' benefit concert at the Opryland Hotel, the proceeds of which will go to aid the Children's Defense Fund. The concert was hosted by Franklin and sister--duo Mary Mary and featured performances by Donnie McClurkin, Chante Moore & Kenny Lattimore, Judith Christie McAllister, KiKi Sheard, Paula Champion, actress KeKe Palmer ('Akeelah and the Bee') and Mt. Zion Judah Generation Choir. Among those in attendance was Tyler James Williams ('Everybody Hates Chris'), Derrell and Terrell Brittenum ('American Idol') and rapper I--Rocc.

Outgoing Zomba Gospel president Max Siegel was feted with several celebrations throughout the week. The intimate salute hosted by Dr. Bobby Jones, who was in rare form and cutting up on the microphone, was the first that Siegel was actually able to attend. The personable music executive, whose impact on gospel has been so significant that marketing guru Neily Dickerson puts it best when she says: One day when you look in the dictionary and when you look up 'gospel' it'll have his picture by it. I broke news that Siegel was leaving Zomba Gospel to join the NASCAR industry as President of Global Operations for Dale Earnhardt Inc. (He's still trying to figure out how I found out, too!)

A highlight of the Stellar Gospel Awards weekend is always the BMI Luncheon. The event, which is the equivalent to Clive Davis' pre-Grammy dinner, is the must-attend event and is the hardest invite to snag. BMI's Catherine Brewton and Wardell Malloy always make sure it's the finest affair and this year they honored Fred Hammond and Yolanda Adams. Israel Houghton, Marvin Sapp and Kim Burrell sang songs of Hammond's for his tribute, with Melonie Daniels, Coko of SWV, Sheri Jones--Moffett and Karen Clark Sheard celebrating Adams. Gospel great Donald Lawrence served as musical director for the soiree, with sought -- after musicians like Joe Wilson-thanks again for the scarf Joe!-playing in the band.

Unlike last year's Stellar Gospel Awards ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry, which I described as a lot more Lunesta than it was Vivarin, this year's show was a great one! Hosted by Franklin, Mary Mary and Ty Tribbett, the show was opened by Byron Cage, whose opening selection 'I Will Bless The Lord' landed a trophy for Song of Year. There were also performances by Patti Labelle, Keith Wonderboy Johnson, Z'eil, Richard Smallwood & Vision, Youthful Praise featuring Jason Nelson (he just signed a solo deal with Light Records), Myron Butler & Levi, The Caravans, Vickie Winans, KiKi Sheard, Bishop Paul S. Morton featuring Kurt Carr and Bartholomew and each of the show hosts.

Natalie Cole -- the new love of my life -- joined Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick for the salute to The Clark Sisters. Yolanda Adams paid tribute to The Mighty Clouds of Joy. Maybe it was just me, but I did find it weird that there were only video tributes to the honorees and no musical performances. I imagine that's likely do to the fact that the Stellar Gospel Awards are so overly produced now that despite it being a gospel show, you rarely see that fiery emotion gospel is known for because the organizers work their hardest to keep it out. Nonetheless, there were some genuinely emotional moments this year-I'll wait to see if they make the syndicated telecast before I discuss them-that really made this year's show worthwhile.

I will say that Donald Lawrence has always been revered among his peers-and his eight Stellar Award wins are testament to that-but he set the bar for integrity with his earnest act of humility during the taping. (I won't spoil that either!) Among those in attendance for the show included Gabrielle Union, Idris Elba, Regina Belle, Flex Alexander and wife Shanice, Tracy Ross ('Passions'), jazz singer Jonathan Butler, Taj of SWV, Lisa Kimmey of Out of Eden, Jonathan Slocumb and just about every gospel singer you can imagine.

Publicist Jalila Larsuel should teach a course on how to do a press room! After leaving my seat to go backstage, I was amazed by the amount of journalists who just seemed happy that things flowed so smoothly. (Cause you can't make folks like the hilarious Calvin Terrell of Sister 2 Sister magazine mad!) Special thanks to Larsuel and Eboni Baptiste for the extra love and the good folks at General Motors for providing the wonderful Pontiac G6 Convertible so I could get around.

Health Matters

Gospel superstar Donnie McClurkin is taking his health a lot more seriously now. The platinum--selling inspirational artist discovered he was suffering with diabetes after loosing his eyesight while driving. "I nearly killed everyone in the car because I was being a man and I didn't want to tell anyone I couldn't see," McClurkin shared before his performance at Kirk Franklin's "Imagine Me" benefit concert during the Stellar Gospel Awards weekend.

The 47--year--old singer, who pastors the Perfecting Faith Church in Freeport, NY, said that by the time he learned he had diabetes; his blood sugar level was at 691. "You're supposed to be comatose by the time your level hits 500," he explained.

After changing his diet and taking the necessary measures to get his diabetes under control, McClurkin said he still struggled to get his level under 200. "That was until a woman named CeCe Winans hit me in my chest and prayed for me. My levels have been under 100 ever since," he concluded.

Buzzworthy

Omarosa has found love! TV's most famous reality show star is dating Kenny Gary, son of the famed civil rights attorney Willie Gary. The former The Apprentice contender and The Surreal Life house guest have been dating for several months according to a source close. The two made an appearance together on Martin Luther King Day in Palm Beach, Florida where Gary was the keynote speaker at a King Day celebration. The two are slated to appear together at the Trumpet Awards in Las Vegas on this week and Omarosa is featured on this week's episode of 'I Love New York' as well. Omarosa was previously married to businessman Aaron Stallworth but they divorced in June 2005.

Celebrated music video director Dave Meyers has directed videos for the likes on Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Nas and Missy Elliott, but his film directorial debut on the remake of 'The Hitcher' may have Meyers focusing his attention on Hollywood. "I love movies. Videos is a…well, I mean, I guess the technical description, you're marketing the product. And that always keeps you sort of removed from the pleasure of the…I mean, there's MTV Awards and stuff like that that sort of fill the void. You know, but movies, you are creating the product, and you are the product. And you're creating something that is then marketed. And that allows you to have a much more possessory relationship with it. And you know, it's more true to the directing craft," Meyers said during our interview at the Four Seasons Beverly Hills at Los Angeles.

Can't Say Names…

A certain singing/actor has earned the name among his industry peers as D.A.P., which stands for Desperately After Press. Said entertainer has becoming the butt of the joke even among those who call themselves his friend, with one colleague offering: next he'll appear as a contestant on 'I Love New York!'