Feb. 20, 2006

"Sometimes people ask me if it's hard to go on secular television and talk about Christ. I always tell them that it's the least that I can do since he died for me," Star Jones Reynolds began, as she spoke before more than 3,000-plus people who packed the main sanctuary at the Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Md., for the Gospel Heritage Foundation Praise & Worship Conference.

Gospel artists such as Daryl Coley, Maurette Brown Clark, Stephen Hurd, Lexi, Brent Jones, Albertina Walker, Johnny Sanders and Lucinda Moore looked on as Reynolds spoke about her book, 'Shine: A Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Journey to Finding Love,' and the spiritual awakening that inspired her to write it. "My pastor Dr. A.R. Bernard told me, 'Star, I saw a change in you.' He said, 'I knew you recognized Him as your savior, but now I see you recognized Him as your Lord!'

Reynolds graces the Feb. 2006 cover of Gospel Today. The magazine's publisher Dr. Teresa Hairston is also founder and chairman of the Gospel Heritage Foundation Praise & Worship Conference. Hairston presented Reynolds with a gold framed copy of her cover. "It would take a female publisher to make me look prettier than I look in person on their magazine," Reynolds joked.

'The View' host's speech was the prelude to a rousing sermon on faith by New Orleans pastor Bishop Paul S. Morton, during the opening night of the three-day conference. In addition to a host of workshops and classes during the day, the Gospel Heritage Foundation Praise & Worship Conference also featured a live CD recording featuring Lecresia Campbell, Jonathan Nelson and LeJuene Thompson; day and night worship services; and an award show that honored Tramaine Hawkins, The Winans, The Barret Sisters and Rev. Clay Evans.

Perfect Match

Former City High singer Ryan Toby is happy that he's finally able to gush about his wife, fellow group member Claudette Ortiz. The singer, who also starred in 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit,' told us that it was difficult hiding that he and Ortiz were in love while the Wyclef Jean-produced trio promoted their self-titled CD in 2001. "It was pretty early when we fell in love. Maybe about a year after the group got together. We were on the low together for a long time, for about two years. Then the cat got out of the bag, and we've been together for about seven years. We've been married going on two years," he said.

Despite the hustle of promoting his debut solo effort, 'Soul of a Songwriter,' and grueling hours in the studio -- he's produced and penned tunes for Usher, LL Cool J, Mary J. Blige, Tyrese, Charlie Wilson and Ruben Studdard. Toby believes having a wife in the business makes it easier to handle.

"I am blessed because I got a wife that's in the music industry. It's not like I got a woman who tries to understand my life. My woman lives my life. She walks the same walk I walk everyday. She deals with the exact same things. When we come home after a long day, we don't have to try and relate to each other's day because we lived each other's day. Ten times out of 10, a song she recorded was a song I wrote. Or if I was doing a show, she was singing backgrounds for me or sitting in the audience," explained Toby.

Though Toby's April 18 release is being done independently, the crooner shared that Ortiz is still signed to Interscope Records.

Buzzworthy

The Essence Music Festival is lining up an A-list arsenal of talent for its first time in Houston. Hundreds of thousands of folks will make the trek to Houston over the July 1-3 weekend to see Earth, Wind & Fire, LL Cool J, Toni Braxton, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Cedric The Entertainer, Mary J. Blige, Steve Harvey, Charlie Wilson and Mo'Nique. Who would you like to see added to the festival next? The good folks at Essence want to hear from you. Drop a line to BVBuzz@aol.com and tell us one artist and one comic you'd like to see at the festival. We aren't making any promises, but we'll pass along your top picks.

Look for Tyrese, Stevie Wonder, Kelly Price and Anthony Hamilton on BET's 'Celebration of Gospel' on Feb. 23. Those R&B stars join Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Micah Stampley, CeCe Winans, Dr. Bobby Jones and other premiere gospel talent on the two-hour special.

'Scary Movie' and 'The Honeymooners' star Regina Hall told us that she is a huge fan of the ABC drama 'Grey's Anatomy.' "'I just love it. It's my favorite show on television," said the Washington, D.C. native. Hall, who also starred on 'Alley McBeal,' would love to guest star on 'Grey's Anatomy.' "The writing on that show is so great. The acting and the tone. Just well done and well performed," she added.

Syndicated radio and television personality Tom Joyner is pulling out the bigwigs for his 2006 Fantastic Voyage® Cruise. Among those slated to perform during the seven-day outing on the swank Royal Caribbean ship are Bobby Brown, Whoopi Goldberg, Morris Day & The Time, Vickie Winans, Babyface, Kem, Fred Hammond, Chuck Brown, Wanda Sykes and Earth, Wind & Fire. Additional performers and surprise celebrity guests will be announced in the weeks to come. The excursion will depart from Miami and make port stops at Grand Bahama Island, Freeport; Nassau, Bahamas; Ocho Rios, Jamaica and Labadee, Hispaniola.

One-time video vixen turned bestselling author Karrine Steffans has signed on with entertainment powerhouse The Firm for representation. The company will handle Steffans' sophomore book and her reality show. Leonardo Dicaprio, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Goldie Hawn, Ice Cube and Gwyneth Paltrow are among others signed to The Firm. After nearly nine months since its release, Steffans' memoir 'Confessions of a Video Vixen' is back on The New York Times bestseller list and has out-sold socialite Hilton's 'Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek behind the Pose' by more than 150,000 copies. Look for Steffans' upcoming television appearances on 'The Montel Williams Show' and Univision's 'Cristina.'

Wendy Raquel Robinson ('The Steve Harvey Show') will star in the upcoming spin-off to UPN's 'Girlfriends,' a show that will air on the new CW network. Robinson beat out a bevy of actresses for the role, which is said to be a young mother. A host of unknown actors have been named as her costars. Among them are Aldis Hodge, Coby Bell, Cynthia Addai-Robinson and Hosea Sanchez.

BV Scene

Ving Rhames and football great Jim Brown flying on an American Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Miami… Chris Tucker and comedienne Loni Love performing stand-up at the Ontario Improv in Canada… Radio and TV tycoon Cathy Hughes and boyfriend, harpist Jeff Majors, sitting in the suites at Washington, D.C.'s Warner Theatre for a Valentine's Day show featuring Eric Benet, Lalah Hathaway and Amanda Dumas… Usher partying at The Venetian club Tao in Las Vegas. The crooner, who isn't as pudgy as he looked in those holiday photos from St. Barts, danced to one of his own songs while N'Sync's JC Chasez and David Gallagher ('7th Heaven') looked on… Alicia Keys was spotted in the Beverly Center Mall in Beverly Hills at my favorite eyewear chain, Solstice Sunglass Boutique, buying two pair of Gucci shades… The Rock looking at singer Scott Stapp of Creed, with his signature raised-eyebrow, in befuddlement as the singer moped about his career on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Los Angeles. The inebriated Stapp was arrested for public intoxication at LAX airport, and it was determined his alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit.

Can't Say Names…

What hip-hop ham, who moonlights in TV and fashion, may be married despite leading fans to believe that he and his baby's mother are only dating. Sources tell us that the baby's mother has told her southern group of gal pals that she and the part-time rapper are really husband and wife. Friends of the pair believe they're pretending not to be married because they believe "him being single is more appealing to female fans," however the baby's mother's confession to her girlfriends is evidence of her desire for everyone to know.