Cissy Houston and Mariah Carey were at the forefront of an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston at last night’s BET Awards . The latter kicked off the 19-minute event, recalling stories about Whitney – who tragically overdosed and died in February – and told the audience: “I miss my friend. I miss hearing her voice and laughter.” Monica and Brandy also took to the stage, singing multiple Whitney hits, while former Waiting to Exhale co-stars Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine honored their late friend. But it was Cissy who brought tears to the eyes of all in attendance. She sang a version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and A-listers such as Beyonce and Soulja Boy were caught on camera crying. Watch the entire tribute for yourself: Whitney Houston Tribute (BET Awards)
Tom Cruise is reportedly gearing up for a fight. Having been blindsided last week by his spouse, he is ready for a custody battle over Suri Cruise and preparing to counter-file for divorce in California. According to celebrity gossip sources, Cruise wants to ensure that Katie doesn’t get sole custody of Suri, which she asked for in her New York filing. Cruise’s camp says the divorce can only take place in New York if the marriage occurred there or the spouse has been living there continuously. Despite the couple owning an N.Y. apartment deeded in her name, he will argue that both live in L.A. and she doesn’t meet N.Y. residency requirements . This is significant as N.Y. courts are perceived as much more likely to award sole custody in a contentious divorce than their California counterparts. An insider added of Cruise’s game plan: “There is absolutely no way that he is going to let Katie have sole custody. The lines are being drawn.” The somewhat surprising Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes divorce came out of nowhere, allegedly prompted by her fear of Scientology groups corrupting Suri. The Church of Scientology has denied reports suggesting its people are tailing Katie Holmes or that she is under surveillance, as has been rumored. Regardless, it wasn’t a shock to many when she filed for divorce that it was Cruise’s controversial religion at the crux of the couple’s marital problems. “Every move she made and everything she did was controlled … She felt like she was in Rosemary’s Baby ,” says one insider, referring to the 1968 film. Indeed, her decision to leave the movie star wasn’t easy, nor was it simply about the 33-year-old’s own personal contentment, a Holmes source says. “This is about protecting her daughter,” the insider explains. “She wants to be in charge of how Suri is being raised and didn’t want her to have an exclusively Scientology education. She felt she had to get out to save her daughter.”
In January, Kristen Stewart was named the spokesperson of Balenciaga . And now The Twilight Saga star has posed for her first campaign on behalf of this fragrance company. She looks as happy as usual on the poster, too: Photographer Steven Meisel shot the photo, which Stewart endorsed during a recent chat with Women’s Wear Daily. “There is something natural about it,” Kristen said of the pose and set-up. “It’s very alive. I think that as a young person wearing it – considering that I’ve never worn a scent – it kind of puts you on this level of, like, ‘Whoa, check me out.’” The scent promoted here, Florabotanica, combines mint, vetiver and amber. Robert Pattinson is likely taking a whiff of it right about now.
