LeBron proposes to Savannah Brinson
By Florence Anthony
Love and getting engaged were in the air for two celebrity couples on New Year's Eve. The Queen of Soul will soon have a king. According to reports, Aretha Franklin and her longtime boyfriend William "Willie" Wilkerson are engaged to be married. The 69 year-old R&B legend and Wilkerson are talking about tying the knot on Miami Beach, with a fabulous reception aboard a private yacht. Meanwhile, Ms. Franklin is looking at top designers Donna Karan, Valentino and Vera Wang to design her wedding gown. Says Aretha: "We're looking at June or July for our date, and, no, I'm not pregnant. LOL".
In other betrothed news, a very happy Savannah Brinson showed off the 10 carat pear shaped engagement ring that her fiance LeBron James presented her at last Sunday's Miami Heat/Charlotte Bobcats game at the American Airlines arena in Miami. LeBron proposed to the mother of their two sons, LeBron, Jr. and Bryce on New Year's Eve at his 27th birthday dinner at Vesper American Brasserie in the Shelbourne Hotel in South Beach. The couple have been together for eight years.
Due to popular demand, four new dates have been ordered to the discussion series with Broadway producer Alicia Keys following the "Stick Fly" performances on Saturday, January 7 at 8 PM, Monday, February 6 at 7 PM, Thursday, February 16 at 7 PM and Sunday, February 26 at 7:30 PM at the Cort Theater, 138 W. 48th Street, New York City. These discussions will also include members of the cast with special appearances by friends of Alicia's as moderators. "I love standing on stage with this incredible cast and talking to audiences after they experience the magic of seeing 'Stick Fly' performed live," says Keys. "I couldn't resist adding more dates to this discussion series and I look forward to keeping the conversation going."
Everyone is talking about "Boardwalk Empire" cast member Justin Davis. Born in Brooklyn, New York, the performer recently graduated from Brooklyn College. Defying all odds to rise to the top of the entertainment game, Justin was abandoned by both parents as an infant and raised by his maternal grandmother in Brooklyn's East Williamsburg Cooper Park Housing Projects. The talented young man has been acting since the age of 3.
Bringing old school beauty and talent back to the beauty pageant world, 17 year-old Victoria Giler, Miss Bayside Teen, will represent Bayside, New York in the Miss New York Teen USA pageant on January 14 and 15 at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase, New York 10577. The preliminaries on the 14 are at 2:00 PM as well as the finals on January 15. Tickets can be purchased at ticketsforpageant.com, $45 (Grand Tier) $65 (Orchestra). Gorgeous, vivacious and vibrant, Victoria possesses attributes that catapult her past any shooting star. A senior at Frank Sinatra School of the Performing Arts in Queens, New York, with aspirations of attending New York University upon graduation, Victoria is well on her way to stardom.
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"NCIS:LA" star LL Cool J was in Dallas on April 28 to support his wife, Simone, as she presented a trunk show for her jewelry line, Simone I. Smith, at Neiman Marcus at the Northpark Mall. Her collection includes hoop earrings, cuff bracelets and gorgeous lollipop charms called "A Sweet Touch of Hope."
On April 22, Nicole Ari Parker, best known as Teri Joseph on "Soul Food," joined the ranks of some of the theatre world's greatest actresses, in her Broadway debut as Blanche Dubois in the revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire" at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City.
Whoopi Goldberg presented the cast of "In Living Color" with TV Land's "Groundbreaking Award" on April 14 at the 10th Annual TV Land Awards Taping at the Lexington Armory in New York City. The View co-host's mom was the Wayans Family's Head Start teacher
Two-time Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood is starring on Broadway as Stanley in "A Streetcar Named Desire." On April 7, 80 people traveled six hours one way from his hometown of Petersburg, Virginia to New York City to celebrate Blair's debut on the Great White Way.
Actress Meagan Good is engaged to Sony Pictures Entertainment Executive DeVon Franklin, who also happens to be a Seventh Day Adventist Minister. The preacher proposed last month in Los Angeles. The couple began dating after production wrapped on "Jumping The Broom..."
Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Sheree Whitfield was spotted spending the day in New York City with Jewelry Designer Marsha Chun-Matsubara.Carrying a grey Birkin bag and sporting cork Louboutin pumps, Sheree also grabbed lunch at Lavo on Manhattan's East Side. Let's get together soon.