She may no longer host her a daytime talk show, but Oprah Winfrey still has serious sway. The Associated Press confirms that she has landed the first interview with members of Whitney Houston’s family since the singer’s tragic death last month, as Oprah will sit down with loved ones that include: Whitney‘s sister-in-law/manager, Patricia Houston; her brother Gary; and her daughter Bobbi Kristina, who many fear is headed down a similar, drug-laden path as her mother. Oprah attended Whitney’s funeral in New Jersey and no official cause of death has been determined yet. Autopsy results should be in within a week or two. The interview, meanwhile, will air on OWN Sunday, March 11 at 9 p.m.
Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber are still going strong, as the couple were spotted out just last night on a date in Los Angeles. But the 19-year old singer has called it quits with the other steady presence in her life, telling Facebook followers over the weekend that she and backup band The Scene won’t be playing together for a bit. “My band and I are going our separate ways for a while,” Selena wrote. “This year is all about films and acting and I want my band to play music wherever with whoever. We will be back but, it will be a good while. I love them and I love you guys.” Gomez and The Scene released “When the Sun Goes Down” last year, an album that peaked at number-three on the Billboard 200 chart. But it’s true that Selena’s film career is taking off: she’ll voice a character in Adam Sandler’s animated Hotel Transylvania later this year; and then star alongside James Franco and Vanessa Hudgens in Spring Breakers , a movie about a group of college girls who take over a fast-food joint in order to finance their Florida spring break.
Oprah Winfrey took to Twitter last night to ask Nielsen viewers to watch her cable network OWN instead of the Grammy Awards, a pathetic move that drew criticism from her OWN followers and the market research company alike. “Every 1 who can please turn to OWN especially if u have a Nielsen box,” she tweeted Sunday at the start Oprah’s Next Chapter and the mega-rated Grammys. She later added, “Commercial Grammy people… u can turn to OWN.” The tweets caused a backlash on the social networking site, with some readers – fans of O, no less – accusing her of “begging for viewers” and being “desperate.” Oprah followed up with a flurry of defensive replies that were apparently in response to reader criticism: “The word ‘please’ is used as courtesy not a beg.” “‘Desperate’ not ever a part of my vocabulary” … “‘Unethical’ us a little harsh don’t u think? Seemed like it made sense to me. Sorry if you’re offended.” The original tweet has since been deleted. Networks are not allowed to specifically target Nielsen subscribers. Policy prohibits “attempts to single out panel members … to change their viewing habits.” “In accordance with our policies, Nielsen is reviewing this with our clients and may withhold, breakout and/or make a note in the ratings,” a Nielsen rep told EW . “We take any violation of our policy seriously.” Given that 39.9 million people watched the 2012 Grammys , a more effective punishment might be simply releasing OWN’s miniscule ratings instead. Oprah Winfrey has since released this statement: “I removed the tweet at the request of Nielsen. I intended no harm and apologize for the reference.”
R&B diva’s rep Kristen Foster confirms singer has died. By Rebecca Thomas Whitney Houston Photo: WireImage/Getty Whitney Houston , a multiplatinum pop/R&B singer who ruled the charts for decades beginning in the mid-1980s, has died. Houston was 48. While details such as cause and location of her death are still unknown, Houston’s publicist Kristen Foster confirms to The Associated Press on Saturday (February 11). Houston had recently staged a comeback in 2009, after a tumultuous divorce from singer Bobby Brown in 2006 after 14 years of marriage. The ex-couple have a daughter together, Bobbi Kristina. Brown and Houston battled substance abuse issues throughout their marriage, and their travails were well-publicized. But in recent years, Houston had made attempts to revive her once thriving music career only to find that her show-stopping voice had gathered some rust. At her height, Houston was the music industry’s reigning diva, releasing chart-topping albums well into the late 1990s, and earning her place as one of the best-selling artists in the world. Her unparalleled voice and All-American beauty propelled her onto the silver screen as well, with roles in the “The Bodyguard” and “Waiting to Exhale.” The soundtrack for the former film yielded a string of hit singles and broke myriad chart records as well. Her influence can be heard on a generation of young singers who cite her as an inspiration, from Mariah Carey, Brandy and Monica to Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. But Houston was dogged by her demons. In a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey she detailed the years of addiction and the toll they had taken on her personal and professional lives. Related Artists Whitney Houston
Joanne Trattoria named in honor of her late aunt. By Gil Kaufman Lady Gaga Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic Lady Gaga is known for being ostentatious, outrageous and making the biggest entrance possible. But for a star that has made her name for shocking our senses, Mother Monster’s newest venture is decidedly low-key. After dropping several mentions in interviews over the past few months about a new restaurant she planned to launch with her father, Joseph Germanotta, Joanne Trattoria will finally open its doors on Wednesday. The modest Italian neighborhood eatery on West 68th Street in New York was described by The New York Times as having a “well-stocked bar, a cozy back patio and seating for about 70 people.” The walls are covered with scenes of the Tuscan countryside, and near a fireplace at the entrance, diners will see some Germanotta family photos hanging by a front booth. The restaurant will be run by Joseph and Gaga’s mother, Cynthia, and her proud pop admitted that his daughter “just generates a lot of sizzle,” helping to get the word out about the venture. The chef and partner in the business is Art Smith, who met Gaga at a taping for the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Smith was Winfrey’s personal chef for several years. The name was inspired by Joseph’s late sister, Joanne, who died of lupus at age 19. Not only is “Joanne” Gaga’s middle name, but in a number of interviews the singer has opened up about her strong connection with her late aunt. “I thought I was gonna die,” she said last year. “I wanted to be the artists I loved, like Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol — and I thought the only way to do it was to live the lifestyle. But then I realized my father’s sister Joanne, who’d died at 19, had instilled her spirit in me. She was a painter and a poet — and I had a spiritual vision I had to finish her business.” The Times noted that Gaga is not officially a part-owner of the restaurant, which Joseph said the family could have afforded to open even if his daughter had not risen to global fame. It has long been his dream to open the eatery, he said, and visitors at Joanne will dine on “Southern Italian,” given that Smith is from the South and the Germanottas are Italian. That means they will chow down on dishes such as “Papa G’s chicken,” traditional offerings like osso buco inspired by Joanne and “Cynthia’s salad,” named for Gaga’s mother. Hoping to temper fans’ expectations, Joseph said he wasn’t sure if he’d post current pics of Gaga among the family photos. Maybe, he said, just an old one in which she’s not as recognizable. And though he’s happy to have his eldest get the word out about the family business, if fans make the trek expecting to see a trophy case with VMAs and Grammys, “It’s not going to happen,” he warned. Related Videos MTV First: Lady Gaga Lady Gaga: Inside The Outside Related Artists Lady Gaga
The rumors have been flying through the roof about Jay-Z and Beyonce’s little princess Blue Ivy. The latest is that The Queen of all things media, Oprah Winfrey is Blue’s godmother. But Oprah’s BFF Gayle King released a statement to US Weekly magazine denying those rumors. Although Oprah is very close with the Carters there’s no knowledge of her [Oprah] being elected to look after Baby Blue. Read the statement and let me know your thoughts.~Jazzy McBee Gayle tells Us Weekly, “It’s absolutely not true that she’s the godmother. She’s friends with them, of course, and likes them both very much. She’s working on sending them a baby gift. She hasn’t even had time to send a baby gift because she’s been away.” “Let me just say, if (that report is) true, it is news to her. It is news to her. You know, she was heading to South Africa when the baby was born.”
President’s re-election campaign also reportedly wants will.i.am, Adam Levine and other celebs on his team. By Gil Kaufman Barack Obama Photo: FilmMagic The first time Barack Obama ran for president , he had help from a wide range of celebrities that included Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, 50 Cent, Oprah Winfrey and director Michael Moore. This time, according to a “wish list” of celebrity endorsers circulated to a group of campaign donors that was reportedly obtained by The Tennessean newspaper, a lot of the same names are in the mix (Jay-Z, John Legend, Alicia Keys), along with other big-name acts such as Vampire Weekend, Janelle Mon
Someone sounds like they’re feeling themselves just a lil bit too too tough… NeNe Leakes has lost many friends along the way, but plans to continue making her dreams come true — at whatever cost. In this week’s issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now, Nene tells the magazine she’s launching her own wine label called Miss Moscato, is working on a shoe line and aspires to be the next Oprah Winfrey with her own talk show–and no one can hold her back. “It’s very difficult,” NeNe laments. “You can’t trust a lot of people. Your girlfriends all change, and your family is now against you. There’s definitely a cost that comes with fame.” The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 43, is sought after for lucrative product endorsements and is looking at multimillion-dollar estates, but putting her quest for fame and fortune above her friendships has made her the pariah of the hit Bravo reality series. “I have never experienced so much hate, so much negativity,” NeNe confided to Life & Style after watching the dramatic Nov. 13 episode, in which the other women bashed her behind her back for her exploding ego, inflated bank account — and even her teeth! NeNe is quick to blame the estrangement on her co-stars, claiming that they’re envious of her rising stardom, particularly her stint as a contestant on last season’s Celebrity Apprentice. “I’ve got a lot of shine and had things happen for me, and they’re definitely jealous,” NeNe asserts. Boasting that she’s had more success than any of the other Atlanta Housewives (including Grammy winner Kandi Burruss), NeNe advises her former pals to get to work and stop tearing her down. “They can go out and make it happen for themselves, but don’t try to take it from me!” You guys think NeNe deserves a “ho sit down” for this one or are you with her?? Source
Oprah Winfrey will be making her return to television with a “small screen venture” where she will visit celebrities at his or her homes. The first episode, featuring Stephen Tyler, will air January 1 on her network OWN! Oprah Winfrey Teaches Rosie O’Donnell How to Drink a Tequila Shot (VIDEO) “After 25 years I got myself out of the studio chairs. I moved into the next chapter, and I am having more fun than ever – moving around the country and the world talking to people I’m really interested in getting to know and I think viewers will be, too,” said Oprah. The OWN network has been struggling to find a recipe for success since its launch in 2010. Oprah’s return to the screen comes after much speculation that the Queen of Daytime TV would have to use her own star power to boost the network’s lackluster ratings. Stars Shine As Oprah Hosts Honorary Gala For Ralph Lauren [PHOTOS]
Did you miss her? About seven months after signing off from her iconic daytime talk show, Oprah Winfrey will return to the small screen. The mega star will host a primetime series on OWN titled “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” It will focus on her visits with other celebrities around the world. “After 25 years, I got myself out of the studio chairs,” Winfrey said in a statement. “I moved into the next chapter, and I am having more fun than ever – moving around the country and the world talking to people I’m really interested in getting to know and I think viewers will be, too. It is so energizing to be out and about in the world exploring new people, new places and new ideas.” The premiere will air on January 1 and feature an interview with Steven Tyler at his home in New Hampshire. Future episodes will include guests such as Paula Deen,
