March 23, 2023 – The deeply personal HBO Original Documentary JASON ISBELL: RUNNING WITH OUR EYES CLOSED, premiered at the famed Grammy Museum in Los Angeles, as part of HBO’s ongoing Music Box series. The screening of the film was followed by a Q&A with Jason Isbell and director Sam Jones, moderated by Colin Hanks. Audiences were then treated to a special acoustic performance by Jason Isbell and his wife Amanda Shires.
Additional attendees included Chad Gamble (400 Unit) Sadler Vaden (400 Unit), Derry deBorja (400 Unit), Jimbo Hart (400 Unit), Mark Duplass(Executive Producer), Bill Simmons (Executive Producer), Mel Eslyn (Executive Producer) and Sean Fennessey (Co-Executive Producer).
About the film: In his own words, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Jason Isbell takes us on an unexpected journey through his musical evolution and creative process as he goes into the studio to record his new album “Reunions” with his band The 400 Unit. With striking candor and honesty, Isbell lays bare his difficult childhood, his struggles with addiction and relationships, and funneling all his pain and private battles into his music. As the Covid-19 pandemic arrives and forces him and his family into lockdown, Isbell must confront the self-doubt and fears that isolation brings to a recovering addict and artist, even as the album is released to rave reviews. The next installment of the Music Box series created by The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, JASON ISBELL: RUNNING WITH OUR EYES CALLED was directed and produced by Sam Jones (HBO’s “Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off”) and executive produced by Emmy® winners Mark and Jay Duplass (HBO’s “The Lady and the Dale”) and Simmons (HBO’s “Andre The Giant,” “Showbiz Kids”).
Release Date: Debuting April 7th on HBO and streaming on HBO Max
It all started in August 2022 when Jemiah Swinney, a dancer and high school senior who currently attends the New Manchester High School in Douglasville, GA, made an on-camera declaration of her “Biggest Dream” during the kick-off of the Southern Black Girls’ inauguralJoy is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour in Atlanta. Jemiah was performing as part of the Joy is Our Journey dance troupe and had no clue that her declaration would set into motion an experience that would change her life forever!
Once Southern Black Girls saw the footage of Jemiah’s dream, they immediately reached out to Roc Nation and Megan’s Pete and Thomas Foundation, who at the time was serving as the lead community partner for the Joy is Our Journey Dream Bus Tour. Together, they got to work to make Jemiah’s dream come true.
In January 2023, Jemiah received a surprise phone call from Megan Thee Stallion congratulating her with the exciting news that she would be dancing in the NFL Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show with Rihanna!
Caring For Others held its 5th annual International Poverty Forum at the Delta Flight Museum in atlanta. Keynote speaker Earvin “Magic” Johnson delivered a powerful message to the V.I.P. guest in attendance.
Eslene Richmond-Shockley, CEO of Caring For Others was joined by former Mayor of Atlanta, Shirley Franklin., CEO of the Southern Company Chris Womack, Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines Raoul “Ray” Donato, and Kroger’s Atlanta Division Corporate Affairs Manager Tammie Young-Ennaemba to educate the world about the ongoing struggles with poverty and what we can do to help everyday. Monica Pearson served as the moderator.
Former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Eslene Richmond-Shockley CEO of Caring For Others, Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines Raoul “Ray” Donato, and Kroger’s Atlanta Division Corporate Affairs Manager Tammie Young-Ennaemba, Monica Pearson
The International Poverty Forum is an annual event that brings together poverty experts, community leaders, and advocates to discuss and develop solutions for the challenges faced by people living in poverty worldwide.
BET+’s drama series, Zatima, premiered its second season on the network on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Select Media and Influencers we’re in attendance at the Virtue Rooftop Lounge in Atlanta for a VIP viewing with the cast.
The series stars Devale Ellis and Crystal Renee Hayslett in the lead roles, alongside numerous others portraying important supporting roles. The show is helmed by Tyler Perry.
Devale Ellis and Crystal Hayslett
”Zac and Fatima’s relationship is challenged on a whole new level in Season 2. Zac deals with internal discord which is only exacerbated after seeing his mother, Gladys, whom he hasn’t seen in quite a long time. Fatima begins to question herself and if she’s really what Zac needs when she can’t get through to him about dealing with past issues.”
Guyviaud, Remington Hoffman, Nzinga Imani, Cameron FullerJasmin Brown Danielle LaRoachNzinga Imani
Kingsmen Media Group was on the scene for the WE tv “Grown & Gospel” Red Carpet & Screening.
Atlanta’s elite, WE tv and ALLBLK fans, influencers and cast members gathered at Silverspot Cinema in Atlanta to celebrate the premiere of WE tv’s “Grown & Gospel” on Wednesday, March 15. Cast members in attendance included Breeann “Bree” Hammond, J. Brooks, Tasha Page-Lockhart, Elijah Connor, Nikkia Cole-Beach and Shana Wilson-Williams. The show’s creator and reality television royalty, Carlos King, was also in attendance. Check out photos from Larry Cooper.
“Grown & Gospel,” will premiere tonight, March 16 at 9pm ET on WE tv with new episodes available on popular AMC streaming service ALLBLK every Monday.
ABOUT GROW & GOSPEL:
“Grown & Gospel” follows five, career-driven childhood friends searching for success in the Detroit gospel scene and beyond. Navigating the murky waters of the music industry and hustling to step out of the shadows of their prominent parents…this close-knit crew grapples with their strict upbringing and high standards as they push towards being the new generation of Gospel. Hearts are broken, dark secrets revealed, as they work to make names for themselves in the music scene and balance their personal lives with career ambition.
Black Women Film Network (BWFN), celebrating 26 years of preserving the voices of Black women in film and television, is announcing its 2023 class of honorees who will be recognized during an in-person awards luncheon at the annual BWFN Summit – powered by Cvent – on Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 8AM – 5PM at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta, GA. Early bird registration is now open at blackwomenfilm.org.
This year’s honorees are:
Gina Prince-Bythewood (Award-Winning Director/Writer/Producer – “The Woman King,” “Love & Basketball”) – RainmakHER Award *who will be accepting the award virtually
Danielle Deadwyler (Actress – “Till,” “From Scratch”) – Black Woman Rising Award
Tabitha Brown (Actress, Author, Social Media Personality) – InfluenceHER Award
Cas Sigers-Beedles (Writer, Director, Producer – “Scheme Queens,” “Unthinkably Good Things”) – StorytellHER Award
Tammy Williams (Owner, Cinema South Studios and CS145 LED Production Facility) – TrailblazHER Award
Latasha Gillespie (Executive Head of Global Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility for Amazon Studios, Prime Video and IMDb) – Beacon Award
The Summit’s theme is “Her Mic is On: Black Women Owning the Moment,” a tribute to the many high-profile moments of powerful speeches and words of wisdom that Black women have given to the world in recent years.
Launched during Women’s History Month, the BWFN Summit, now in its 8th year, returns to Atlanta as an in-person experience and will feature a full day of expert speakers, panels, master classes, fireside chats, and the awards luncheon where, in addition to highlighting our honorees, we will announce the recipients of our BWFN Scholarship.
“We are thrilled to have yet another opportunity to produce the BWFN Summit, thanks to the support of Cvent,” says BWFN Board Chair Saptosa Foster. “In recent years, we’ve witnessed iconic remarks from women like Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lizzo, Viola Davis, Michelle Obama and countless others. Those moments are part of a rich tradition of wisdom that is the magic of Black women, and we wanted to honor that uniqueness with this year’s Summit theme. Furthermore, there aren’t many places you can go in the film and television industry to network, gain knowledge, and access resources all in one space that is created specifically for Black women. The Summit is that space, and we are fortunate to be able to bring it back to Atlanta in person.”
“Twenty-six years ago, my Georgia State University film teacher told me the world needed to hear stories told by Black women,” says Sheryl Gripper, who founded BWFN in 1997 in Atlanta. “He asked what I was going to do about it. With the help of a visionary group of women, I formed the Black Women Film Network. That vision continues today with the leadership of our Board Chair Saptosa Foster.”
Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part Ihas influenced comedic cinema for 40 plus years and the cult 80s movie is finally getting an interactive gaming experience with its sequel, which both debuted on March 6.
History of the World, Part IIpremiered as a new eight-episode series on Hulu, and as an interactive digital gaming experience available to play online and on Xbox.In the digital gaming experience, fans encounter the show’s colorful characters voiced by the star-studded cast with Ike Barinholtz, Nick Kroll, Wanda Sykes, and of course, the formidable Mel Brooks. The show’s mastermind is no stranger to video games, as Brooks has been involved with several previous gaming projects.
The interactive website version of the History of the World, Part II gaming experience embracesthe crass humor and absurd silliness of the show (and makes no apologies)for an unforgettable, unique experience with plenty of memorable features like the fact that the world didn’t begin with a ‘big bang’ – it was actually ‘The Big Burp.’ Players will feel like they’re part of the show as they experience various historical recreations, from Amelia Earhart to Noah’s Dog Park, and more.
The History of the World, Part II digital gaming experience is available to download FREE on Xbox until March 31, 2023, and for desktop and mobile play until July 6, 2023.
The gaming experience will be demonstrated live during the week of March 6, as well-known gaming streamers experience the game live on Twitch. The game’s developers also have plans for an Xbox giveaway and there will be more historically hilarious surprises.
To learn more about the History of the World, Part II interactive gaming experience, click here.
About Hulu
Hulu is a comprehensive all-in-one premium streaming service that offers an expansive set of live and on-demand entertainment, both in and outside the home, through a wide array of subscription options that give consumers ultimate control over their viewing experience. Hulu is the only on-demand offering that provides access to shows from every major U.S. broadcast network, libraries of hit TV series and films – including content available exclusively on Hulu – and award-winning Hulu Originals, both with and without commercials. Visit hulu.com to subscribe or learn more about the service.
Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit Returns To Atlanta With An All-Star Lineup Including Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Summer Walker, Robert Glasper, Mike Epps, Jodeci, Busta Rhymes, Jeezy, Method Man, Jadakiss, Lucky Daye, Coco Jones, Saucy Santana, Sunday Service Collective and Muni Long.
Mary J. Blige and Pepsi proudly announce the second annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in partnership with Live Nation Urban. The festival returns to the vibrant city of Atlanta, GA, with four days devoted to music, comedy, female empowerment and community building between May 11th -14th, 2023. Presale tickets go live TODAY at NOON ET with code SOAW23, while general on-sale begins Friday, March 10th at 10 AM ET. For tickets, visit www.soawfestival.com.
Created and curated by Grammy-award-winning R&B songstress Mary J. Blige, Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is the only festival experience in the market brought to you exclusively by an all-Black, female team and will return this spring to the hotbed for creativity and culture, Atlanta, GA. After selling out in less than 72 hours last year, the festival continues to bring what are sure to be iconic moments back to the State Farm Arena with two incredible nights of music: the #HipHop50 celebration featuring rarely-performed hits by Mary J. Blige and friends in a special” MJB B-Sides” set; and a special R&B night with performances by the legendary Lauryn Hill, Summer Walker, Lucky Daye, Muni Long, and more.
This year’s festival is a clear “leveling-up” with an expanded footprint in the city and its programming, aiming to create even more opportunities for women and underrepresented groups to find community and joy. New to the festival this year is a special live music event with Grammy-Award winner Robert Glasper along with the Sunday night closing event–PURPOSE BALL, powered by Gilead, produced by Miss Lawrence and featuring a special performance from Saucy Santana. The PURPOSE BALL was created after connecting with friends and partners in the LGBTQAI community around how the festival could celebrate and honor their impact on popular culture—especially in Atlanta. After an extremely successful launch in 2022, and the overwhelming feedback from attendees, the female-led team is set to deliver bigger, better and more impactful programming for 2023 with support from returning and new partners this year, including Mielle Organics, CVS Health and Twitch.
As a 9x Grammy Award-Winning Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Producer, Philanthropist & Global Superstar, Mary J. Blige has committed the majority of her career to amplify, empower, and give voice to BIPOC women through the art of music and truth-telling. This multi-touchpoint festival, which focuses on Music, Wellness, Tech, Beauty, and Financial Literacy, is the evolution of her life’s mission and purpose.
“ I’m so excited to bring our Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit back to Atlanta for its second year, ” said Mary J. Blige, Founder of Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit. “Having the opportunity to continue to uplift, inspire, and build amongst a community of women is the reason why we created this festival. I’m so grateful for all of the support from our performers and participants and of course Live Nation Urban, Pepsi and our additional partners who are committed to celebrating and creating community for Black women.”
The Strength of a Woman festival is engaging with women more than ever before and returns as the go-to destination for inspiring programming, pivotal panels, musical performances, workshops, and much more! Following the success of its debut last year, Blige, and her partners Nicole Jackson, Vice President of MJB Inc., and Marketing Maven Ashaunna Ayars of The Ayars Agency will return this May with initiatives that further empower women of the BIPOC community. The festival is dedicated to curating a safe haven for women, led and assembled by women from production to performances that sustain the festival’s inaugural blueprint.
Jackson, Mary’s long-time business partner, shared, “ the popularity and impact of the inaugural Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit successfully showed how and why Black women are the blueprint for cultural relevancy and inclusion. Being able to look back and see the global reach the festival had through our livestream and billions of media impressions is confirmation that we are filling a void in the festival space. Mary, Ashaunna and myself are overjoyed to be back in Atlanta again and look forward to continued expansion in our programming and partnerships.”
Presented by Pepsi, the festival’s inaugural partner returns to support Blige and her impactful work on and off the stage in a shared mission to inspire the next generation of women. For the second annual festival, Pepsi will once again bring its powerful platform to the production and event experience as it activates throughout the festival grounds, including amplifying the musical experience for fans, elevating local women-led businesses, and more to engage the Atlanta community across the festival and summit.
“The Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit is a testament to the power of amplifying Black women and their voices – starting with Mary, someone whose vision and presence has been instrumental in its success. As a brand and company rooted in celebrating culture and uplifting communities, we are thrilled to show our support and continue to provide new ways to elevate the festival experience for guests throughout the expanded weekend of activities, all while highlighting and supporting the remarkable women of the Atlanta community,” said Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President, PepsiCo Industry Relations and Multicultural Development.
Blige and continued partners chose to return to Atlanta for the second annual event given its reputation as the mecca for young Black creatives and entrepreneurs. The festival is proud to partner with dozens of local, minority, and female-owned businesses and vendors to help cultivate the best experience for attendees. The love for Atlanta is reflected not only in the festival’s investment into the local entrepreneurial community but also in the performers and hosts for the various events taking place over the weekend.
Join Strength of a Woman in Atlanta on the following dates this spring:
Thursday, May 11th
Robert Glasper at City Winery
Friday, May 12th
Concert: Mary J. Blige & Friends with a special “MJB B-Sides” set celebrating Hip Hop 50th Celebration at State Farm Arena
Special performances by Jodeci, Jeezy, DJ Drama and more
Hosted by Kenny Burns
Saturday, May 13th
Strength of a Woman Summit at America’s Mart
Participants and Programming details forthcoming
Concert: R&B Night at State Farm Arena
Performances by Lauryn Hill, Summer Walker, Muni Long, Lucky Daye, and Coco Jones
Hosted by Kenny Burns
Sunday, May 14th
Gospel Brunch and Concert at The Bank
Performance by Sunday Service Collective
Hosted by Ryan Cameron
The Purpose Ball at The Bank powered by Gilead
Produced by Miss Lawrence
Performance by Saucy Santana
Comedy Night Show at Tabernacle
Headliner: Mike Epps
Additional Sets by Don’t Call Me White Girl, Henry Welch and Navv Greene
Hosted by Erica Duchess
About The Ayars Agency
The Ayars Agency is a brand and entertainment marketing firm rooted in strategy – a customized mix of analytics and real-work insights. TAA acutely understands this generation’s worldview, behaviors, relationship to culture, and the importance of the brands in their lives. The Ayars Agency also knows that today’s culture disruptors relate based on shared values and interests, not demographics, race, age, or gender. Their work is grounded in consumer insights, cultural truths, and brand fidelity. Because of this, they are able to conceive, implement, and execute dynamic campaigns rich in cultural impact.
About Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company composed of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. Live Nation Urban (LNU) is a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company. Specifically focusing on Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel, LNU builds platforms, events, and festivals globally and develops dynamic content strategies based upon the live properties created. Live Nation Urban considers itself the most powerful source for live urban music. For additional information, visit www.livenationurban.com.
GOSPEL GREATS TAMELA AND DAVID MANN AND DR. BOBBY JONES TO BE HONORED AT THE 2023 BMI TRAILBLAZERS OF GOSPEL MUSIC AWARDS
Ceremony Also Celebrates Top Gospel Songs, Songwriters and Music Publishers on Thursday, March 30 in Atlanta, GA
BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.)will honor Gospel superstars Tamela and David Mann and Dr. Bobby Jones at its 22nd Annual Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards to be held at Flourish Atlanta on March 30th. The inspirational ceremony will recognize the impact that the three legendary entertainers have made on the genre and beyond and pay tribute to the songwriters and publishers behind the best in Gospel music. The private event will be hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.
“BMI is thrilled to be back in Atlanta celebrating the best in Gospel music,” said Brewton. “We’re extremely proud to honor powerhouse couple Tamela and David Mann for their incredible contributions to the Gospel community, the enduring legacy of Dr. Bobby Jones and the songwriters and publishers behind the top Gospel songs of the previous year. Through song and praise, they deliver inspirational messages of hope, faith and goodwill to music lovers around the world. We feel truly blessed to bring these trailblazers together in fellowship and celebrate their creative works.”
Throughout the ceremony, BMI will also recognize the songwriters, producers and music publishers of the past year’s 25 most-performed Gospel songs in the United States. The BMI Gospel Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year will also be named during the event.
Together, Tamela and David Mann have become staples in the Gospel community and have flourished across radio, television, film and stages around the world. The iconic couple began their professional music careers in the ‘90s after joining the Gospel group Kirk Franklin and the Family and toured the globe. They went on to develop successful solo careers and joint ventures as a couple in music and beyond, creating Tillymann Entertainment in 2005, a home for all of their many projects in entertainment. In 2018, David and Tamela released Us Against the World, their first collaborative album as a duo. The companion book of that album won an NAACP Image® Award for Outstanding Literary Work, and the album’s singles have topped the charts, including the Urban AC track “Ups & Downs.” Most recently, The Manns embarked on the acclaimed “Overcomer Family Tour,” a mixture of music and comedy, featuring their son David Jr. and their daughters La’Tia and Tiffany Mann.
As a solo artist, Tamela has released six studio albums and has received a GRAMMY Award, BET Award, Billboard Music Award and multiple NAACP Image, Stellar Gospel Music and GMA Dove Awards. She was also the first Gospel lead artist in Billboard Gospel radio chart history to score three consecutive No.1 singles from her album Best Days. Beyond music, The Manns have appeared in numerous Tyler Perry plays, films and television shows, including I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Meet the Browns and Madea Goes to Jail, among others, and the pair also starred in their own sitcom, Mann & Wife, and the docuseries, It’s a Mann’s World.
In addition, the esteemed singer, TV host and radio broadcaster Dr. Bobby Jones will be celebrated, honoring his illustrious career spanning more than 40 years. For more than 35 years, he was the host of Bobby Jones Gospel on BET, which was the highest rated show on the network and longest running original cable show in history. Jones is credited for giving Yolanda Adams, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary and many others their first national exposure on television.
An established Gospel singer and songwriter, Jones has received a GRAMMY Award for Best Soul Gospel Performance by a Duo or Group in 1984 for “I’m So Glad I’m Standing Here Today” with Barbara Mandrell. He has also received a Dove Award, three Stellar Awards and a presidential commendation from President George W. Bush, among several other awards and accolades. He currently serves as a UNICEF Ambassador and was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (BMEWOF) in February 2023.
For more information on the BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards, visit www.bmi.com/genres/gospel and use hashtag #BMIGospel on social.
2023 “BET Her Awards,” honoring the brilliance and beauty of Black women who are moving the community forward took place on Sunday, March 5 in Atlanta. Sponsored by Walmart, the “BET Her Awards” shines a spotlight on the impact of Black women through the pillars of Black Love, Black Joy, Black Pride, and Black Power.
Hosted by author, actor, media personality, and pop culture queen Bevy Smith, the “BET Her Awards” gathered the most celebrated and transformative women across industries. This year’s honorees were recognized for their contribution to uplifting women to dream, inspire, create, and overcome including Kandi Burruss, Kym Whitley, Marsai Martin, MC Lyte, Sam Jay, and Thasunda Brown Duckett. In addition to the star-studded list of honorees, Gospel superstar Tamela Mannand honoree MC Lyte blazed the stage with unforgettable performances.
“Black women are the backbone of their communities,” said Tavia Pitts, Senior Vice President of Ad Sales at BET Media Group. “For centuries Black women have done it all, displaying strength and grace that flows naturally in every act. It is an honor to have the “BET Her Awards” return to celebrate the incredible Black women who contribute to society and show unparalleled resilience and courage to propel our communities forward.”
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, Onyx Collective hosted the red carpet premiere for the new half-hour comedy series, UnPrisoned, at The Hollywood Legion Theater in Los Angeles. Creator/Executive Producer Tracy McMillan, Showrunner/Executive Producer Yvette Lee Bowser, Executive Producer/Star Kerry Washington, and Executive Producer/Star Delroy Lindo attended the red carpet, along with cast members Faly Rakotohavana,Marque Richardson, Jordyn McIntosh, Jee Young,andExecutive Producers Joy Gorman Wettels and Pilar Savone.
Event attendees also included: Affion Crockett, Jimmy Jam, Terrence Terrell, Kelz Washington, Tara Duncan, President of Onyx Collective and Jonnie Davis, President of ABC Signature.
(L-R) Faly Rakotohavana, Yvette Lee Bowser, Delroy Lindo, Kerry Washington, Tracy McMillan, Pilar Savone, Marque Richardson, Joy Gorman Wettels, Jee Young, and Jordyn McIntosh (front) attend the red carpet premiere of Onyx Collective’s “Unprisoned” in Los Angeles.
Inspired by Tracy McMillan’s life,UnPrisoned is a half-hour comedy about a messy but perfectionist relationship therapist and single mom whose life is turned right-side-up when her dad gets out of prison and moves in with her and her teenage son. Kerry Washington plays Paige Alexander, a marriage and family therapist, and mom to 16-year-old Finn. Delroy Lindo stars as Edwin Alexander, Paige’s father, who has recently been released from prison.
The 8-episode scripted series is produced by ABC Signature and will release all episodes exclusively on Hulu in the U.S. on March 10th.
The film written, directed and produced by Perry follows a criminal defense attorney who, in the hopes of becoming partner, takes on the case of an artist who may or may not have murdered his girlfriend. Others set as producers include Angi Bones, Will Areu and Rowland.
Rowland is a Grammy and Billboard Music Award winner best known for teaming with Beyoncé and Michelle Williams to found the girl group Destiny’s Child. She’s previously appeared in films including The Curse of Bridge Hollow, Bad Hair, Think Like a Man and Freddy vs. Jason, among others. She’s also previously been seen on series including The Equalizer, L.A.’s Finest, A Black Lady Sketch Show, American Soul and Empire, to name just a few.
‘CREED III’ Held a VIP Red Carpet & HBCU FAN SCREENING IN ATLANTA at the Regal Atlantic Station. Selected Media had a chance to view this amazing movie and interview the cast at the event. Kingsmen Media Group was on the scene to bring you some exclusive content before the Release in theaters on March 3.
Cast in Attendance Included Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Mila Davis-Kent
Celebs/VIPS in attendance included Mayor Andre Dickens, Big Tigger, Da Brat and Judy Dupart, Darrin Henson, Oshea Russell, Cynthia Bailey, Kyle Pitts, Renee Montgomery, K Camp, Trina Braxton, Headkrack, Ricky Dillard and more! Check out photos and videos from Kingsmen Media Group.
Mila Davis-Kent Cynthia BaileyKyle PittsTrina Braxton Ricky Dillard Oshea Russell
SYNOPSIS: After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian – a fighter who has nothing to lose.
Directed by: Michael B. Jordan
Produced by: Irwin Winkler, p.g.a., Charles Winkler, William Chartoff, David Winkler, Ryan Coogler, p.g.a., Michael B. Jordan, p.g.a., Elizabeth Raposo, p.g.a., Jonathan Glickman, Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Mila Davis-Kent, Florian Munteanu, and Phylicia Rashad
Music superstar Rihanna will perform the Oscar®-nominated song “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” at the 95th Oscars®, executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner announced today. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the 95th Oscars will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
“Lift Me Up,” with music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Goransson and lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler, is nominated for Original Song. It is Rihanna’s first Oscar nomination.
Photo credit Dennis Leupold
A nine-time Grammy Award winner, Rihanna has eight multi-platinum albums, and 14 singles that reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The producers will continue to announce talent joining the show in the coming weeks.
The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.
On Tuesday, civil rights attorney Ben Crump was joined by members of Malcolm’s family at the Shabazz Educational Center in Washington Heights. Crump alleges that the agencies named “had factual evidence and exculpatory evidence that they fraudulently concealed from the men who were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X.”
“Many things that will be put forth in our lawsuit that speaks to this factual evidence. We believe that now it could be substantiated based on the recent exonerations of those who were wrongfully convicted.”
“The rhetorical question is this: if the government compensated the two gentlemen that were wrongfully convicted for the assassination of Malcolm X with tens of millions of dollars, then what is to be the compensation for the daughters who suffered the most from the assassination of Malcolm X?”
Comedy legend Marlon Wayans returns in his third comedy special for HBO Max, MARLON WAYANS: GOD LOVES ME, debuting THURSDAY, MARCH 2on HBO Max.
Logline: Filmed at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Wayans delivers a hilarious hour-long performance, unleashing his spot-on impressions and fearless physical comedy to address one of the most infamous recent events in pop culture – “the slap” that took place at the 94th Academy Awards® ceremony. With his inimitable blunt and boisterous style, Wayans skillfully weaves anecdotes from his own life with stories about his long-time friends, from divulging his teenage crush on Jada Pinkett Smith, getting humbled by Chris Rock in an early stand-up set, and examining the impact of Will Smith’s long career. A daring tour-de-force, this special is a hysterical yet thoughtful exploration of friendship, family, mistakes, and redemption.
Marlon Wayans quote: “I’m excited to be back in business with HBO Max. We’ve had a lot of success with my last two specials so this will be great. I know HBO Max and the sophisticated team of executives are notorious for being true tastemakers and snobs of comedy, so I am flattered that they found this special to be… special.”
Credits: Written and performed by Marlon Wayans; directed by Troy Miller; Executive produced by Marlon Wayans, Rick Alvarez, Michael Rotenberg, Steve Harris, Troy Miller.
Apple TV+ today revealed the trailer for the highly anticipated, star-studded drama “Extrapolations,” from writer, director and executive producer Scott Z. Burns (“Contagion,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” “The Report”). Told over a season of eight interconnected episodes and produced by Michael Ellenberg’s Media Res, “Extrapolations” will make its global premiere on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes on Friday, March 17, 2023, followed by one new episode every Friday through April 21, 2023.
“Extrapolations” is a bracing limited series that introduces a near future where the chaotic effects of climate change have become embedded into our everyday lives. Eight interwoven stories about love, work, faith and family from across the globe will explore the intimate, life-altering choices that must be made when the planet is changing faster than the population. Every story is different, but the fight for our future is universal. Are we brave enough to become the solution to our own undoing before it’s too late?
The series stars (in order of appearance) Yara Shahidi, Kit Harington, Daveed Diggs, Matthew Rhys, Heather Graham, Sienna Miller, Tahar Rahim, Meryl Streep, David Schwimmer, Neska Rose, Judd Hirsch, Cherry Jones, Edward Norton, Michael Gandolfini, Indira Varma, Diane Lane, Adarsh Gourav, Gaz Choudhry, Keri Russell, Gemma Chan, Marion Cotillard, Forest Whitaker, Hari Nef, Eiza González, Tobey Maguire, Ben Harper, Murray Bartlett and MaameYaa Boafo.
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“Extrapolations” is executive produced by Burns, Ellenberg, Gregory Jacobs, Dorothy Fortenberry and Media Res’ Lindsey Springer. The series marks another partnership for Apple TV+ and Media Res, joining Emmy, SAG and Critics Choice Award-winner “The Morning Show,” and AFI Award-winning series “Pachinko.”
The series will premiere alongside highly anticipated Apple Originals also set to make their global debut soon on Apple TV+, including “Hello Tomorrow!,” “Liaison,” “The Big Door Prize,” “Schmigadoon!” season two, “Liaison,” “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy,” “The Last Thing He Told Me,” “The Afterparty” season two, “City on Fire,” “Swagger” season two, “Ted Lasso” season three and more.
Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 320 wins and 1,398 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”.
The cast of ‘Strange Love’ held a press junket in atlanta with selected media to discuss their roles in the new movie and much more. Kingsmen Media Group was on the scene to capture some great footage. Check out video and more info about the new movie.
ABOUT STRANGE LOVE In this film, Kountry Wayne is a young, sex deprived and handsome African American man who considers himself an alpha male, until he is pitted against his wife, Megan (Marquita Goings), who works as a phone sex operator against his wishes. To help repair their marriage, they purchase a luxury home for $25,000! Things seemed too good to be true until Megan discovers her husband has fallen in love with a sexy ghost that dwells in their new home!
Kountry Wayne speaks on the people that judge his content and his walk with God
Kountry Wayne & Kingsmen Mike Bless & Kingsmen Ro & Kingsmen
Following the immensely popular Seven Deadly Sins movies—Lust, Envy, Wrath and Greed—Lifetime continues the anthology with a new sin and new movie, Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Story. Executive produced by T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams and Shaun Robinson, and inspired by actual events, the movie centers on the story of a famous bakery owner and reality TV star Birdie Moore (Grammy-Award winner, Stephanie Mills) whose past secrets threaten the enormous success she has achieved. Joining Mills are co-stars Thomas “Nephew Tommy” Miles as Birdie’s son, Gabe Moore; Keeya King as her granddaughter, Ella Boudreaux; and Grammy-Award winner Erica Campbell as Pastor Trey. Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Storypremieres on Saturday, April 8 at 8/7c.
Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Storytells the story of reality TV star Birdie Moore (Stephanie Mills), whose carefully constructed world starts to crumble — like the baked goods that catapulted her to fame — when her family secrets are brought to light. To salvage her legacy, Birdie must let go of the pride that estranged her from her daughter. Birdie’s pride also prevents her from seeing that her son Gabe Moore (Thomas Miles) is actually a thieving opportunist and that her granddaughter Ella Boudreaux (Keeya King) is just a lost twenty-something trying to build up her life after some missteps. While pride helped drive Birdie’s success, it also made her blind to what was happening around her. Will Birdie finally be able to see and admit the truth, or face the consequences of her pride?
Pride: A Seven Deadly Sins Storyis produced by Neshama Entertainment, T.D. Jakes Enterprises, DNA Media Group and RobinHood Productions in association with MarVista Entertainment. T.D. Jakes, Derrick Williams, and Shaun Robinson serve as executive producers along with Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment, and Arnie Zipursky and Suzanne Berger for Neshama. Pride is directed by Troy Scott from a script written by Felicia Brooker. Award-winning composer and music director, Ray Chew, is the movie’s composer.
In addition to Stephanie Mills, Thomas Miles and Keeya King, the movie also stars Lucia Walters (Virgin River) as Shanice; and Jaime M. Callica (Ruthless) as Khalil.
The Seven Deadly Sins movie anthology is inspired by novels from author Victoria Christopher Murray, who is a consulting producer on Pride.
Former Forbes editor Zack O’Malley Greenburg reported a 2022 net worth for Jigga as the wealthiest hip-hop artists with a fortune of $1.5 billion USD. Hov’s status continues to grow after he became hip-hop’s first billionaire, paving the way for others in the industry. A large chunk of his wealth comes from his ownership in Roc Nation as well as his champagne company, Armand de Brignac. He has also taken up stakes in growing businesses including Rihanna‘s Savage x Fenty and D’Usse.
Last week JAY-Z reportedly reached an agreement in his legal battle with D’USSE for a staggering $750,000,000.00 for more than half of his 50% stake in the company.
Jay‘s new estimated net worth: $2.25 Billion and growing.
The Ben Affleck-directed dramedy stars Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, who’s trying to find a way to save Nike at a time when the corporation wasn’t a household name. After finding some game tape of a young Michael Jordan, Vaccaro shows up at the Jordan family home to talk the young player’s parents into recruiting him. Though at first, Nike co-founder Phil Knight (Affleck) is skeptical of a rookie being the face of a new Nike basketball shoe line, he eventually relents and the rest is history,
In addition to Affleck and Damon, the film also stars Jason Bateman, Viola Davis, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, and Chris Tucker.
And while Davis shows up as MJ’s mother, the trailer doesn’t feature Jordan himself. No one associated with the film has said whether Jordan appears in the movie, and the iMDB page doesn’t list an actor cast in the role, either. It looks like there’s only one way to find out whether or not we’re getting our first ever fictionalized portrayal of MJ.
Ahead of his performance of “America The Beautiful” at Super Bowl LVII this Sunday, 12X GRAMMY® Award winner, Babyface, releases his latest single “As a matter of fact,” out today via P Music Group. Written by Babyface & co-produced by Tommy Brown (The Weeknd, Ariana Grande), “As a matter of fact” is Babyface’s first solo single since his 2015 album “Return of the Tender Lover,” and his first single under the P Music Group label. Listen HERE.
The infectious lover’s anthem has secured an iHeart Radio World Premiere and is a follow up to Babyface’s most recent project “Girls Night Out,” which earned Babyface his 80th GRAMMY® nomination for his #1 single “Keeps On Fallin’’ featuring Ella Mai in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category in addition to charting at #1 on the Mediabase R&B chart.
As a passionate philanthropist who actively supports numerous charities including Larry Ruvo‘s Keep Memory Alive,Babyface has collaborated withShine The Light On for two special, limited-edition hoodies and a hat in conjunction with his Super Bowl performance in which a portion of the proceeds will benefit the charity. Following Sunday’s performance, Babyfacewill join Anita Baker for her highly anticipated “The Songstress” arena tour beginning February 14th in Atlanta.
Babyface is one of the most celebrated creative forces in music. He has contributed to over 800 million records sold and over a billion record streams. Babyface has produced and written 125 Top 10 hits, 44 No. 1 R&B hits and 16 No. 1 Pop hits. As a recording artist, songwriter and producer, he has won a total of 12 GRAMMY® Awards and ranks as the only individual in GRAMMY® history to be honored as “Producer of the Year” four times. He has also won five Soul Train Awards, five NAACP Image Awards, four American Music Awards and numerous other honors. In addition, Babyface produced and co-wrote the Oscar-winning song “When You Believe,” sung by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and co-founded the legendary record label LaFace. On October 21, 2022 Babyface released his latest project, Girls Night Out, which features collaborations with some of today’s brightest female R&B stars, including Ari Lennox, Kehlani, Queen Naija and Muni Long among others.
While most sports enthusiasts are preparing for the Super Bowl, there are some of us who are just excited for the music! Yes, we know all about Rihanna making her comeback to the stage during the much anticipated half-time show but, there’s something even more special happening just a few days before. The 24th Annual Super Bowl Soulful Celebration.
Formerly known as the Super Bowl Celebration of Gospel, this evening of inspiration and culture will showcase the hidden talents of a few former players as well as some big names in the entertainment industry. Since 1999 this is the only event that offers an opportunity for the players to celebrate their faith, family and football during the biggest weekend in sports.
The only multicultural program and community event sanctioned by the NFL during Super Bowl weekend, the highly anticipated night of music, comedy, NFL Players and soulful inspiration is hosted by nationally-syndicated radio host Willie Moore, Jr. and themed “Unstoppable,” with featured performances from the legendary Patti LaBelle, Israel Houghton, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Tye Tribbett, and The Players Choir. You read that right, there’s a gospel choir made up entirely of past and present NFL players!
We caught up with Stephen Pierce, former NFL Wide Receiver for the Cleveland Browns, to ask about his involvement with The Players Choir. Pierce, who is currently the CEO of The Stephen Pierce Foundation, an organization that focuses on youth and community outreach, expressed his excitement to once again be involved in this faith filled event. When asked whether he felt more fulfilled on the football field or in the choir Pierce took pause to consider the question then stated “The choir. On the football field I can only reach so many people at a time, even televised. With singing, I feel like I reach more, that I can spread the word of God more.” We have to admit that it was refreshing to see someone so revered be boisterous about their love for God.
This year, the Super Bowl Soulful Celebration will honor Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback and Super Bowl LVII contender Jalen Hurts with the “Faith In Action” award. This award recognizes current and former NFL players making an impact in their communities and in the lives of others off the field. Previous honorees include Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, Tim Brown, Russell Wilson, Tony Dungy and Troy Vincent, among others.
The Super Bowl Soulful Celebration will be hosted by REACH Media Nationally-Syndicated Radio Host Willie Moore, Jr. and presented live on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center in Mesa, Arizona.
Series premiere of ‘Act Your Age’ set for Saturday, March 4 on Bounce, starring Kym Whitley and Tisha Campbell, with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown
Double-episode premiere kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/7p.m. CT
Bounce, the popular broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, today announced that its newest original series, “Act Your Age,” produced in partnership with MGM, will premiere on Saturday, March 4, with the first two episodes back-to-back starting at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT.
The premieres kick off the two-part, 16-episode first season, with the first eight episodes running weekly throughout the spring and the second half running over the summer.
The multiple-camera, half-hour comedy tells the story of three vibrant, successful Washington D.C./Northern Virginia-area women in their 50s who are each at a personal crossroads and who decide the best way forward in life is together. “Act Your Age”stars Kym Whitley (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Next Friday,” “Young and Hungry”) and Tisha Campbell(“Uncoupled,” “My Wife and Kids,” “Dr. Ken”) with special guest star Yvette Nicole Brown(“Community,” “The Mayor,” “Big Shot”).
Whitley plays Bernadette, a successful, no-nonsense real estate developer. Campbell plays Keisha, the wild card of the group who is always up to something, and Brown plays Angela, the former First Lady of Norfolk, Virginia, who is looking to redefine her life after being widowed by her husband, a revered career politician.
The multi-generational sitcom also features Mariah Robinson (“The Wrong Valentine”) and Nathan Anderson (“Black-ish,” “Richie Rich,”) as the 20-something children of Angela and Bernadette, respectively.
Alyson Fouse (“Big Shot,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Wanda Sykes Show”) created the series and serves as showrunner and executive producer. The series is executive produced by Barry Poznick, Bradley Gardner (“Hot in Cleveland”) and David Hudson; and co-executive produced by Ranada Shepard and Ken Ornstein (“Everybody Loves Raymond”).
In addition to Bounce, viewers can also watch “Act Your Age” – along with all Bounce original series – anytime on Brown Sugar, Bounce’s subscription video-on-demand service, with episodes dropping the day after their Bounce premieres. Visit www.BrownSugar.com for more information.
About Bounce
Bounce (@bouncetv) features a programming mix of original series and movies, theatrical motion pictures, off network series, specials and events designed for African American audiences. Bounce is available to 98% of U.S. television homes free and over the air with a digital antenna, on cable, on DISH channel 359, DIRECTV channel 82, over the top on Roku, Pluto TV and Apple TV; on mobile devices via the Bounce app; and on the web via BounceTV.com. Bounce XL, Scripps Networks’ newest free ad-supported television (FAST) channel, is available on Samsung TV Plus, Pluto TV and Xumo. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).
The 65th Grammy Awards celebrated 50 years of hip-hop with a blow-out performance, kicked off by LL Cool J, that featured dozens of icons spanning generations performing onstage.
With Jay-Z leading the cheers from the Crypto.com arena, and DJ Khaled holding up his lighter to the music, the unrelenting tribute’s all-star lineup played their greatest hits.
Emmy-winning actor and current 2x NAACP Image nominee for his work in ABC’s Women of the Movement, Glynn Turman (Fargo,Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom) is coming off an incredible last year with buzz-worthy performances in a number of reputable projects with an incredible 2023 on the horizon. First up, Turman appears opposite Rita Moreno, Sally Field, Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin in the Paramount film 80 FOR BRADY, which is in theaters now. Up next, Turman has the release of his documentary THE LEGEND OF GLYNN TURMAN, which will be on all major platforms this summer (trailer is here: https://vimeo.com/658329085) and later this year, Hulu’s “Black Cake,” from Harpo Films, which reunites him with Women of the Movement star Adrienne Warren and Marissa Jo Cerar. Turman also wrapped filming on Netflix’s RUSTIN, the biopic on the Civil Rights icon which sees him reunite with former MA RAINEY co-star Colman Domingo and director George C. Wolfe in the film for the Obama’s Higher Ground production company.
Turman’s true “Glynn-aissance” is in full swing, coming off of his Emmy nomination in 2019 for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama for his role as Nate Lahey Sr. in the Viola Davis starrer “How to Get Away with Murder.” He also had critically acclaimed and award garnering roles in the Oscar nominated film MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, FX’s “Fargo,” opposite Chris Rock, a major arc on the David E. Kelley/Jack Bender series “Mr. Mercedes,”opposite Ben Affleck in the Gavin O’Connor-directed Warner Bros. film THE WAY BACK, and so many more.
Dear Alpha Female Its Not Him It’s You is a love letter for today’s career woman struggling with romance.
Valentines Day is a little over a week away, but many women have started celebrating their sister friendships with Galentine’s Day. Best-selling author Christal Jordan says the holiday dedicated to sisterly affection was the perfect release date for her highly anticipated new book ‘Dear Alpha Female: It’s not him, it’s You!’
The book is an interactive guide that takes 21st century single women on a journey to self-appreciation by coaching them through the roles they play in their love lives. Jordan describes the book as a “love letter wrapped in accountability” and shares much of her personal testimony as a career woman who identifies with the “alpha female” and struggled with finding and maintaining a romantic relationship despite achieving success in other areas of her life.
‘Love can’t exist without accountability and at some points in my life I needed to be held accountable in areas where I was struggling,’ she shares. A celebrity publicist by trade, Jordan says at the times her business was being touted as one of the premiere PR agencies in the southeast, she was secretly dealing with anxiety and high functioning depression. While her areas of weakness did not show up in her ability to serve clients and lead a staff of five, it did affect her dating life. After going through a painful divorce, Jordan was single for a little over a decade before a girlfriend told her she needed to get help.
That help included being a guest on ‘Iyanla: Fix my Life’, where she was held accountable for her contribution to her singleness. “Ms. Vanzant immediately cut through my exterior and spoke to that little girl inside me that believed she needed to “over-achieve’ to prove her worth. I’d never loved myself unconditionally; I told myself I had to perform at a certain level or else.” After her encounter with Iyanla Vanzant, Jordan went back to therapy and ended up getting married a year and a half later.
Today Jordan says she cringes hearing women boast and brag about their accomplishments suggesting their financial and or career success make them a “perfect catch”. “So many of us have bought into the idea that money, accolades or materialistic things make us worthy of love and then are disappointed and ultimately bitter when those achievements don’t reward us with a loving relationship. The truth is we have to love ourselves differently, finding value in just being our authentic selves. When we are unbalanced we don’t leave an open space for real love.”
Jordan hopes ‘Dear Alpha Female’ will serve as a cautionary epiphany to ambitious women everywhere.
In this thought-provoking devotional, readers will be confronted with questions (Will your life end if you never get married? Are you considered a failure if you don’t have children?) that encourage them to take inventory of their values and do away with toxic beliefs that may be holding them back from attracting the love they desire.
I wrote this book because I truly believe I am not my sister’s keeper, I am my sister,” says Jordan, who remarried last year after spending over a decade as a divorced, single working mom. “It’s time to allow those over-achieving little girls inside of us to relax. We have to let her know she’s carried us this far, but it’s time for her to exhale. It’s time for her to let go of her fear. It’s time for her to be loved unconditionally. It’s time for her to grow.”
TLC’s Chilli, a close friend and client of Jordan’s provides the foreword for the book.
‘Dear Alpha Female It’s Not Him It’s You’ is slated for release on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 in celebration of Galentine’s Day 2023. The book available on Amazon.com, Walmart, Barnes & Noble booksellers and more.
For more information on ‘Dear Alpha Female: It’s Not Him It’s You!’ or for interview opportunities with Christal Jordan email: Jamal James via associate@enchantedpr.net.
History was made at this year’s Grammy award show. Here are some of the highlights and winners.
Beyoncé has become the most decorated artist in Grammy history and Viola Davis became the 18th person to achieve the coveted EGOT status winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and a Tony.
Record of the Year
Don’t Shut Me Down — ABBA
Easy On Me — Adele
BREAK MY SOUL — Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous — Mary J. Blige
You And Me On The Rock — Brandi Carlile Featuring Lucius
Woman — Doja Cat
Bad Habit — Steve Lacy
The Heart Part 5 — Kendrick Lamar
About Damn Time — Lizzo
As It Was — Harry Styles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Lizzo accepts Record Of The Year for “About Damn Time” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Album Of The Year
Voyage — ABBA
30 — Adele
Un Verano Sin Ti — Bad Bunny
RENAISSANCE — Beyoncé
Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe) — Mary J. Blige
In These Silent Days — Brandi Carlile
Music Of The Spheres — Coldplay
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — Kendrick Lamar
Special — Lizzo
Harry’s House — Harry Styles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Harry Styles attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Song Of The Year
abcdefu — GAYLE
About Damn Time — Lizzo
All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film) — Taylor Swift
As It Was — Harry Styles
Bad Habit — Steve Lacy
BREAK MY SOUL — Beyoncé
Easy On Me — Adele
GOD DID — DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy
The Heart Part 5 — Kendrick Lamar
Just Like That — Bonnie Raitt
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: <> poses in the press room during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Best New Artist
Anitta
Omar Apollo
DOMi & JD Beck
Muni Long
Samara Joy
Latto
Måneskin
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: <> onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Best Pop Solo Performance
Easy On Me — Adele
Moscow Mule — Bad Bunny
Woman — Doja Cat
Bad Habit — Steve Lacy
About Damn Time — Lizzo
As It Was — Harry Styles
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: Adele poses with the Best Pop Solo Performance Award for “Easy on Me” in the press room during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Don’t Shut Me Down — ABBA
Bam Bam — Camila Cabello Featuring Ed Sheeran
My Universe — Coldplay & BTS
I Like You (A Happier Song) — Post Malone & Doja Cat
Unholy — Sam Smith & Kim Petras
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Higher — Michael Bublé
When Christmas Comes Around… — Kelly Clarkson
I Dream Of Christmas (Extended) — Norah Jones
Evergreen — Pentatonix
Thank You — Diana Ross
Best Pop Vocal Album
Voyage — ABBA
30 — Adele
Music Of The Spheres — Coldplay
Special — Lizzo
Harry’s House — Harry Styles
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
BREAKMY SOUL — Beyoncé
Rosewood — Bonobo
Don’t Forget My Love — Diplo & Miguel
I’m Good (Blue) — David Guetta & Bebe Rexha
Intimidated — KAYTRANADA Featuring H.E.R.
On My Knees — RÜFÜS DU SOL
Best Dance/Electronic Music Album
Renaissance — Beyoncé
Fragments — Bonobo
Diplo — Diplo
The Last Goodbye — ODESZA
Surrender — RÜFÜS DU SOL
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Between Dreaming And Joy — Jeff Coffin
Not Tight — DOMi & JD Beck
Blooz — Grant Geissman
Jacob’s Ladder — Brad Mehldau
Empire Central — Snarky Puppy
Best Rock Performance
So Happy It Hurts —Bryan Adams
Old Man — Beck
Wild Child —The Black Keys
Broken Horses — Brandi Carlile
Crawl! — Idles
Patient Number 9 —Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck
Holiday —Turnstile
Best Rock Album
Dropout Boogie —The Black Keys
The Boy Named If — Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Crawler — Idles
Mainstream Sellout — Machine Gun Kelly
Patient Number 9 — Ozzy Osbourne
Lucifer On The Sofa — Spoon
Best Alternative Music Performance
There’d Better Be A Mirrorball — Arctic Monkeys
Certainty — Big Thief
King — Florence + The Machine
Chaise Longue — Wet Leg
Spitting Off The Edge Of The World — Yeah Yeah Yeahs Featuring Perfume Genius
Best Alternative Music Album
WE — Arcade Fire
Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You — Big Thief
Fossora — Björk
Wet Leg — Wet Leg
Cool It Down — Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Best R&B Performance
VIRGO’S GROOVE — Beyoncé
Here With Me —Mary J. Blige Featuring Anderson .Paak
The GRAMMY Awards To Celebrate 50 Years Of Hip Hop With Historic Segment At 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
BIG BOI, BUSTA RHYMES WITH SPLIFF STAR, DE LA SOUL, DJ DRAMA, DJ JAZZY JEFF, MISSY ELLIOTT, FUTURE, GLORILLA, GRANDMASTER FLASH, GRANDMASTER MELE MEL & SCORPIO/ETHIOPIAN KING, ICE-T, LIL BABY, LIL WAYNE, THE LOX, METHOD MAN, NELLY, PUBLIC ENEMY, QUEEN LATIFAH, RAHIEM, RAKIM, RUN-DMC, SALT-N-PEPA AND SPINDERELLA, SCARFACE, SWIZZ BEATZ, AND TOO $HORT TO PERFORM
The lineup for the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards® has expanded with the addition of a historic segment celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop in 2023 showcasing the genre’s rich history and continued global influence with electrifying performances by Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, RUN-DMC, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Too $hort. LL COOL J will introduce the segment, perform and give a dedication to hip hop. Questlove will serve as producer and musical director, music will be provided by The Roots and Black Thought will narrate.
This GRAMMY® segment is being produced by Questlove, Jesse Collins, Patrick Menton of Fulwell 73, Creative Producer Fatima Robinson, and Questlove’s manager and President of LNU, Shawn Gee.
“For five decades, Hip Hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I’m so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the GRAMMY stage. It is just the beginning of our year-long celebration of this essential genre of music.”
The all-star performance is part of Paramount Global’s companywide initiative to honor the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop. Paramount announced an extensive slate of new and returning content offerings and initiatives that celebrates the culture across the media and entertainment company’s portfolio of leading broadcast, cable, streaming and digital brands. In partnership with the Recording Academy, CBS will broadcast a special Hip Hop music event later in 2023. More information on the global initiative can be found HERE.
Live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and hosted by Trevor Noah, the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live on Sun, Feb. 5, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Prior to the Telecast, the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony® will be broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT and will be streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com.
The 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy®. Raj Kapoor serves as showrunner and executive producer, alongside Ben Winston and Jesse Collins as executive producers. Phil Heyes joins for the first time as director, Eric Cook as co-executive producer with Tabitha Dumo, Tiana Gandelman, Patrick Menton, and David Wild as producers.
On GRAMMY Sunday, fans can access exclusive behind-the-scenes GRAMMYs® content, including performances, acceptance speeches, interviews from the GRAMMY Live red-carpet special, and more via the Recording Academy’s digital experience on live.GRAMMY.com.
The NAACP and BET announced that U.S. Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) will be honored with the prestigious Chairman’s Award during the “54th NAACP Image Awards.” The Chairman’s Award is bestowed in recognition of individuals who demonstrate exemplary public service and use their distinct platforms to create agents of change. Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump will receive the Social Justice Impact Award for his prolific work on some of the most high-profile cases in the U.S., most recently representing the family of Tyre Nichols, as well as the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, the residents of Flint, Michigan, who were severely affected by the pollution of the Flint River, and the family of Henrietta Lacks in a landmark reparations case.
Kingsmen & Benjamin Crump
The public can now vote to determine the winners of the “54th NAACP Image Awards” by visitingwww.naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 10, 2023. Winners will be revealed during the “54th NAACP Image Awards” telecast on February 25, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET on BET and 8:00 PM PT on delay. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories virtually February 20-23 onwww.naacpimageawards.net and at an Awards Dinner and Program February 24. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World is based on the remarkable true story of one of the greatest comebacks of all time and the transformational power of second chances. Fueled by an impoverished childhood, Foreman channeled his anger into becoming an Olympic Gold medalist and World Heavyweight Champion, followed by a near-death experience that took him from the boxing ring to the pulpit. But when he sees his community struggling spiritually and financially, Foreman returns to the ring and makes history by reclaiming his title, becoming the oldest and most improbable World Heavyweight Boxing Champion ever.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker George Tillman Jr. from a story by Dan Gordon and Frank Baldwin & George Tillman Jr, and a screenplay by Baldwin & Tillman, the film stars Khris Davis (Judas and the Black Messiah) as Foreman and also stars Academy Award® winner Forest Whitaker as Foreman’s trainer and mentor Doc Broadus.I’m
Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning writer and actress Quinta Brunson will host the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards live on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, CA. The annual eventrecognizes music’s rising and A-List artists, creators, producers abillnd executives for their contributions to the industry and community.
Billboard will honor female powerhouses who are shaping the music landscape at the ceremony. Honorees include:
Becky G photo credit Greg Swales
Award-winning Latin pop singer, global superstar and philanthropistBecky G will receive the Impact Award presented by American Express.
Fearless up-and-coming rapper Doechii will receive the Rising Star Award presented by Honda.
Reggaeton pioneer, and one of the first women stars of the genre, Ivy Queen will receive the Icon Award.
Hot 100-topping pop star and critically acclaimed songwriter Kim Petras will receive theChartbreakerAward.
Grammy-nominated rapper and top 40 mainstay Latto will receive the Powerhouse Award.
Daring country singer-songwriter and actress Lainey Wilson will receive the Rulebreaker Award.
Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey will receive the Visionary Award.
Influential South Korean K-pop girl group TWICE will receive theBreakthrough Award.
Performances and additional talent will be announced at a later date.
“We’re thrilled to recognize these groundbreaking artists across genres and generations who are defining today’s sound – and paving the way for tomorrow’s women in music,” said Billboard Editorial Director Hannah Karp. “With the inspiring Quinta Brunson as our host, this year’s Billboard Women in Music Awards is going to be an incredible night.”
Additional honorees, including the 2023 Woman of the Year Award recipient, presenters and more will be announced soon.
Tickets to attend the Women in Music Awards are available to the public. American Express will own the ticket presale taking place on January 31 and February 1, giving American Express® Card Members early access to a limited supply of tickets to the highly anticipated event. Tickets will go on sale wide to the public on Friday, February 3 at 10:00am PT/1:00pm ET, atbillboardwomeninmusic.com. Prices range from $85 – $275. The 2023 Women in Music Awards will also stream live; more details about the livestream will be announced soon.
Sponsors for the 2023 Women in Music Awards include: American Express, presenter of the Impact Award, Honda, presenter of the Rising Star Award, Mugler, and Nationwide.
Fear, the highly anticipated horror film, follows a group of friends who plan a relaxing weekend away from their hectic and stressful work lives. They open up to each other by expressing their deepest fears as they choose a cabin deep in the woods to spend their weekend. While everyone admits to their concerns, each with a different phobia, their nightmare is only beginning.
From New Line Cinema comes “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,”is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam. Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with having adult Super Hero alter-egos. But when the Daughters of Atlas, a vengeful trio of ancient gods, arrive on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Billy—aka Shazam—and his family are thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of their world. “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” stars returning cast members Zachary Levi (“Thor: Ragnarok”) as Shazam; Asher Angel (“Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (“It Chapter Two”) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (“Promising Young Woman”) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (“Raya and the Last Dragon”) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (“Day Shift”) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (“G.I. Joe: Retaliation”) as Super Hero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (“Annabelle: Creation”) as Mary Bromfield / Super Hero Mary; Faithe Herman (“This Is Us”) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (“A Dog’s Journey”) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (“Second Chances”) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (“White Lines”) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (“The Walking Dead”) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (“A Quiet Place Part II”) as Wizard. Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”), with Lucy Liu (“Kung Fu Panda” franchise) and Helen Mirren (“F9: The Fast Saga”). The film is directed by David F. Sandberg (“Shazam!,” “Annabelle: Creation”) and produced by Peter Safran (“Aquaman,” “The Suicide Squad”). It is written by Henry Gayden (“Shazam!,” “There’s Someone Inside Your House”) and Chris Morgan (“Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,” “The Fate of the Furious”), based on characters from DC; Shazam! was created by Bill Parker and C.C. Beck. Executive producers are Walter Hamada, Adam Schlagman, Richard Brener, Dave Neustadter, Victoria Palmeri, Marcus Viscidi and Geoff Johns. Joining director Sandberg behind-the-camera are director of photography Gyula Pados (the “Jumanji” franchise), production designer Paul Kirby (“The Old Guard,” “Jason Bourne”) and editor Michel Aller (“Shazam!,” “The Nun”). The music supervisor is Season Kent (“DC League of Super-Pets,” “The Addams Family 2”) and the music is by Christophe Beck (“Free Guy,” “Frozen II”). Visual effects supervisors are Bruce Jones (“Aquaman,” “It”) and Raymond Chen (“Alita: Battle Angel,” “The Meg”). The costume designer is Louise Mingenbach (“Jumanji: The Next Level,” “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”). New Line Cinema presents A Peter Safran Production of A David F. Sandberg Film, “Shazam! Fury of the Gods,” which is set to open in theaters internationally beginning 15 March 2023 and in North America on March 17, 2023.
The 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony® will return to the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, with current GRAMMY® nominee Randy Rainbow set to co-host. Kicking off the ceremony, the opening number will feature a performance by Blind Boys of Alabama, La Marisoul from La Santa Cecilia and additional surprise performers. Other artists scheduled to perform include current nominees Arooj Aftab, Madison Cunningham, Samara Joy, Anoushka Shankar, and Carlos Vives. Presenting the first GRAMMY Awards® of the day include current nominees Babyface, DOMi & JD BECK, Myles Frost, Arturo O’Farrill, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and five-time GRAMMY winner and former Recording Academy® Board of Trustees Chair Jimmy Jam. Recording Academy Chair of the Board of Trustees Tammy Hurt will provide opening remarks. Additional talent and co-host to be announced in the coming days. The 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will stream live on Sun, Feb. 5, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel and on live.GRAMMY.com. This year, City National Bank has signed on as the first-ever presenting sponsor of the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony.
“We are so excited to kick off GRAMMY Sunday with the Premiere Ceremony ahead of Music’s Biggest Night®,” said Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy. “Not only do we have an incredible lineup of presenters and performers, but this ceremony will also reveal the winners in the vast majority of our categories, celebrating this amazing year in music across many of our genre communities.”
All Premiere Ceremony performers and hosts are 65th GRAMMY® Award nominees, as are most presenters. Aftab is nominated for Best Global Music Performance (“Udhero Na” with Anoushka Shankar); Babyface is nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Keeps On Fallin'” with Ella Mai); Blind Boys of Alabama are nominated for Best Americana Performance (“The Message” with Black Violin); Cunningham is nominated for Best American Roots Performance (“Life According To Raechel”) and Best Folk Album (Revealer); DOMi & JD BECK are up for Best New Artist and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (NOT TiGHT); Frost is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album (MJ The Musical); Joy is nominated for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album (Linger Awhile); La Marisoul is up for Best Tropical Latin Album (Quiero Verte Feliz with La Santa Cecilia); O’Farrill is nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album (Fandango At The Wall In New York with The Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Featuring The Conga Patria Son Jarocho Collective); Rainbow is up for Best Comedy Album (A Little Brains, A Little Talent); Shankar is up for Best Global Music Performance (“Udhero Na” with Arooj Aftab) and Best Global Music Album (Between Us… (Live) with Metropole Orkest & Jules Buckley Featuring Manu Delago); Vives is nominated for Best Tropical Latin Album (Cumbiana II); and Warner is nominated for Best Spoken Word Poetry Album (Hiding In Plain View).
The 65th GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony is produced by Branden Chapman, Ruby Marchand, Chantel Sausedo, and Rex Supa on behalf of the Recording Academy. Greg Fera is executive producer and Cheche Alara is music producer and musical director.
The 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards® will be broadcast live following the Premiere Ceremony on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET / 5-8:30 p.m. PT.
On GRAMMY Sunday, fans can access exclusive behind-the-scenes GRAMMYs® content, including performances, acceptance speeches, interviews from the GRAMMY Live red-carpet special, and more via the Recording Academy’s digital experience on live.GRAMMY.com. Media assets for GRAMMY season and events can be found here.
Synopsis: The remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon is captured in the documentary Bill Russell: Legend. This two-part film from award-winning director Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI, Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power) features the last interview with Bill prior to his passing in 2022 as well as access to his sprawling personal archives. On the court, Russell went on to lead each and every one of his basketball teams to championships” two back-to-back NCAA titles, a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, and 11 championship titles in his thirteen-year career as a Boston Celtic (his last two as the first Black head coach in NBA history). Off the court Russell was a force in the fight for human rights” marching with Martin Luther King Jr., leading boycotts in the NBA over racist practices and speaking out against segregation” efforts which earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Narrated by actors Jeffrey Wright and Corey Stoll and featuring exclusive interviews with the icon’s family and friends as well as Steph Curry, Chris Paul, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jim Brown and more, Bill Russell: Legend illuminates the ways in which Russell stood tall in every sense of the word.
Starz has ordered a third season of its popular Detroit-based family drama. “BMF captures the essence of Detroit through elevated, gritty storytelling and our fans have passionately responded to this show more than ever before,” said Kathryn Busby, President of Original Programming for Starz. “Following such a strong debut with season two, we’re thrilled to continue to expand on the incredible story of the Flenory brothers as they change the game by writing their own rules. We can’t wait to see what our extraordinary producers and cast deliver next.”
The series is inspired by two true legends, brothers Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ Flenory (Demetrius Flenory Jr.) and Terry ‘Southwest T’ Flenory (Da’Vinchi), who rose from the decaying streets of southwest Detroit in the late ’80s and gave birth to one of the most influential crime families in the country, Black Mafia Family.
‘BMF’ is executive produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Executive Producer of the ‘Power’ Universe, ‘For Life,’ ‘Hip Hop Homicides’), alongside showrunner, executive producer, writer and Detroit native Randy Huggins (‘Star,’ ‘Rebel,’ ‘Power’). Heather Zuhlke, Anthony Wilson and Anne Clements also serve as executive producers on the series. “BMF” is produced through Jackson’s G-Unit Film and Television in association with Lionsgate Television for Starz. Senior Vice President of Original Programming Kathryn Tyus-Adair is the executive overseeing ‘BMF’ on behalf of Starz. Erin Conroy is the executive overseeing the series on behalf of Lionsgate.
FILM PREMIERE DATE: February 2, 2023, only on BET+
FILM DESCRIPTION: Recently widowed, Emma Leeden, details the loss of her family in her new book “Invasion”. To generate press, Emma agrees to a staged reading by 19-year-old Sky Brown in Emma’s now fortified home. There’s only one problem, Sky’s spiritual connection is real, and evil emerges in a house they can’t get out of. Cast: Mo’Nique Hicks, Chastity Sereal, Denisha Hardeman, Ian Haywood, Charlene Brown, Lisa Alavi and Sara AlaviExecutive Producers: Lee Daniels, Courtney Glaudé
Producing Director: Courtney Glaudé
Producers: Aundrea Posey, Joy Ganes
Writer: Courtney Glaudé
Director: Courtney Glaudé
Quote from Courtney Glaudé, the film’s writer and director:
“The Reading is a rollercoaster of a project that I am thrilled to see come to life,” says director/writer Courtney Glaudé. “I am a fan of the surgical performance by Mo’Nique, and the love and commitment from the entire cast during the pandemic. I appreciate the dedication to bringing this, as I was told, “sick” vision of mine to the screen; and of course Lee Daniels for being crazy enough to Executive Produce the project and believing in me. I can’t wait for the audience to think they know, but have no idea what’s going to happen. I promise you…it’s crazy.”
Ahead of the premiere of episode 402 this Friday, January 20, Apple TV+ shares a sneak peek clip from the beloved psychological thriller “Servant.” From M. Night Shyamalan and starring Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free and Rupert Grint, the 10-episode final season will release one new episode weekly, every Friday through March 17.
Episode 2 – “Itch”
Leanne begins to torment Dorothy as chaos overtakes Spruce Street.
ABOUT “SERVANT”
Following the suspenseful season three finale, season four will bring the final chapter of the Turner story to an epic and emotional conclusion. Leanne’s war with the Church of Lesser Saints heightens, threatening Spruce street, the city of Philadelphia, and beyond. Meanwhile, the shattered Turner family must not only confront the increasing threat of Leanne, but the certain reality that Dorothy is waking up. As the Turner family brownstone continues to crumble, questions are finally answered: who is Leanne Grayson and who is the child in their home?
“Servant” stars Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free and Rupert Grint, who all reprise their roles for the final season.
In addition to Shyamalan, the series is executive produced by Ashwin Rajan, Jason Blumenthal, Taylor Latham, Larissa E. Michel, Steve Tisch and Todd Black.
Directors for season four are M. Night Shyamalan, Ishana Night Shyamalan, Carlo Mirabella-Davis, Dylan Holmes, Celine Held & Logan George, Kitty Green, Nimrod Antal, and Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala and writers are Ishana Night Shyamalan, Alyssa Clark, Laura Marks, Devin Conroy, Henry Chaisson, Amy Louise Johnson, and Kara Lee Corthon. “Servant” is produced by Blinding Edge and Escape Artists production. The series was created by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominated executive producer and writer Tony Basgallop.
Today, NAACP unveiled the full list of “54th NAACP Image Awards” nominees with ABC and Netflix leading the pack with 28 and 15 nominations respectively. The winners will be revealed during the two-hour LIVE TV special, airing Saturday, February 25th, 2023 at 8:00 PM ET on BET and 8:00 PM PT on delay. The show will be in front of an audience for the first time in three years.
Netflix and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever lead nominations across the motion picture categories with 15 and 12 nominations respectively. ABC and Abbott Elementary received the most nominations in the television + streaming categories with 28 and nine nominations respectively. Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar are tied for the most nominations in the music recording categories (5 respectively). RCA Records / RCA Inspiration received the most nominations across record labels (11). Penguin Random House and Harper Collins lead nominations across literary categories (9).
“This year’s nominees have conveyed a wide range of authentic stories and diverse experiences that have resonated with many in our community, and we’re proud to recognize their outstanding achievements and performances,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP.
“We take pride in recognizing the trailblazing achievements and artistry of this year’s esteemed nominees and celebrating the powerful legacy of the NAACP,” said Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy, BET. “We look forward to bringing the Image Awards back to Pasadena in front of a live audience and delivering unforgettable moments that epitomize the brilliance of the Black community.”
The public can vote to determine the winners of the “54th NAACP Image Awards” by visiting www.naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes on February 10, 2023. Winners will be revealed during the “54th NAACP Image Awards” telecast on February 25, 2023, on BET. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories February 20-24, which will stream on www.naacpimageawards.net. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards.
Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural awards shows, the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will continue a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose.
One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years’ attendees and winners include Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Wizkid, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Jamie Foxx, Chloe x Halle, Regé-Jean Page, Daniel Kaluuya, Michaela Coel, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Blair Underwood, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Loni Love, Sheryl Underwood, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Loretta Devine, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, the late Chadwick Boseman, and many more.
To see the full list of nominees and to cast your vote, please visit naacpimageawards.net.
Today, the Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced nominations in the Motion Pictures and Television categories for the 34th Annual Producers Guild Awards to be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The biggest award of the night, the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, has historically been considered a strong prognosticator for the Best Picture Oscar each year.
Nominees for Theatrical Motion Pictures, Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures, Television Series/Specials, Limited/Anthology Series Television, Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures and eligible producers for Documentary Motion Picture are:
Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All At Once
The Fabelmans
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
The Whale
Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Minions: The Rise of Gru
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Turning Red
Norman Felton Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Drama
Andor
Better Call Saul
Ozark
Severance
The White Lotus
Danny Thomas Award for Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television – Comedy
Abbott Elementary
Barry
The Bear
Hacks
Only Murders in the Building
David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited or Anthology Series Television
DAHMER – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
The Dropout
Inventing Anna
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Pam & Tommy
Award for Outstanding Producer of Televised or Streamed Motion Pictures
Fire Island
Hocus Pocus 2
Pinocchio
Prey
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television
30 for 30
60 Minutes
George Carlin’s American Dream
Lucy and Desi
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy
Award for Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Saturday Night Live
Award for Outstanding Producer of Game & Competition Television
The Amazing Race
Lizzo’s Watch Out For The Big Grrrls
RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
Top Chef
The Voice
The following nominees were previously announced.
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Motion Picture
All That Breathes
Descendant
Fire of Love
Navalny
Nothing Compares
Retrograde
The Territory
The Award for Outstanding Sports Program
Formula 1: Drive to Survive
Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Detroit Lions
Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers
McEnroe
Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Come Off
The Award for Outstanding Children’s Program
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock
Green Eggs and Ham
Sesame Street
Snoopy Presents: It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown
Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant
The Award for Outstanding Short-Form Program
Better Call Saul: Filmmaker Training
Love, Death + Robots
Only Murders in the Building: One Killer Question
Sesame Street’s #ComingTogether Word of the Day Series
Tales of the Jedi
Final Ballots for TV (Comedy, Drama, Limited/Anthology Series, Televised/Streamed Motion Pictures, Non-Fiction, Game/Competition, Live Entertainment/Variety/Sketch/Talk Series) and Film (Theatrical Motion Picture, Animated Motion Picture, and Documentary) will close on February 17, 2023. Winners of these categories will be announced at the 34th Annual Producers Guild Awards on February 25, 2023.
Final Ballots for Children’s, Short Form and Sports Programs will close on February 10, 2023. Winners of the Sports, Children’s and Short Form categories will be announced at the Guild’s Nominee’s Events in New York on February 21 and in Los Angeles on February 23.
At the Producers Guild Awards ceremony in February, the Producers Guild will also present special honors to powerhouse producers and leaders who have left their undeniable marks on the industry. Honorees this year include Tom Cruise (David O. Selznick Achievement Award), Mindy Kaling (Norman Lear Achievement Award), Michael De Luca and Pamela Abdy (Milestone Award). “Till” will receive the Stanley Kramer Award sponsored by Delta Air Lines.
The 2023 Producers Guild Awards Event Chairs are Mike Farah, Chief Executive Officer at Funny Or Die, and Joe Farrell, Chief Creative Officer at Funny Or Die. The 2023 Producers Guild of America Awards are produced by Anchor Street Collective for the Producers Guild of America. Branden Chapman is Executive Producer, Carleen Cappelletti is Co-Executive producer, Matt Ullian and Jane Sarkin of Boldface Partners are talent executives, and Jim Piccirillo is Director. The PGA Awards team also includes Diane Salerno (Six Degrees Global) managing sponsorship, and the PGA’s PR agency of record, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis for PR.
Sponsors of the 2023 Producers Guild Awards include Cadillac, the Official Vehicle, Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline, Glenfiddich Scotch, and GreenSlate, a PGA Partner.
Any questions regarding the 2023 PGA Awards can be submitted to PGAAwards@ssmandl.com.
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About the Producers Guild of America (PGA)
The Producers Guild of America represents over 8,500 producers. It is a non-profit trade organization that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media.
The Guild invests in its core values that benefit the industry at large. These values are rooted in facilitating employment of its members, advocating for sustainable practices in production that minimize human and environmental harm, ensuring a set culture that advances safety and creates viable pathways into the guild for the next generation of producers, particularly those from populations underrepresented in the industry. Year-round it hosts a number of educational, mentoring and professional networking programs, as well as industry events that honor excellence in producing.
Motown Gospel (a division of Capitol CMG/Capitol and Universal Music Group) announces the signing of award-winning artist LaTocha to an exclusive license agreement via her own label, Made Girl Music. A multi-hyphenate force in the music industry, LaTocha is best known as a member of the multi-platinum-selling R&B group Xscape, providing leads on some of the group’s biggest songs, including “Who Can I Run To” and “The Arms of the One Who Loves You.”
“It has always been a passion of mine to do inspirational music,” says LaTocha. “It has been my foundation, and that is very evident, even when I sing R&B music. I can’t escape that.”
For the powerhouse songstress, the interplay of music and faith began at Mt. Olive Church of God in Holiness, in her hometown of College Park, GA. She leaned on that foundation even as she became a household name in one of the biggest girl groups in R&B history.
“A hallmark of LaTocha’s successful career has been her love for gospel music and her strong personal connection to the Black church,” shares Monica Coates, Co-Executive Director, Motown Gospel. “I am excited for her fans—long-standing and new—to finally have a body of work that reflects those areas of her passion.”
Adds EJ Gaines, Co-Executive Director of Motown Gospel: “LaTocha has one of the most recognized voices in R&B, but she also has staying power and manages to maintain relevance in a marketplace that doesn’t always allow for that. I can’t wait for her fans to hear what she’s been working on.”
LaTocha is readying her debut inspirational project, slated for release this year. Fans can stay connected with LaTocha via her social media channels– @iAmLaTocha on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.
The 8 Mile saga continues. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson said he’s creating a television show inspired by the movie. He confirmed the news today (Jan. 6) in an interview on “Big Boy’s Neighborhood.”
50 dropped a bomb in the conversation when he said, “I’m gonna bring 8 Mile to television.” His words shocked Big Boy and his co-hosts. Even more surprising is when Fif added that Eminem was aware and the two are “in motion” with the production.
“It’s gonna be big,” he said. “I’m working. I ain’t got no duds. I’m batting 100… I think it should be there for [Eminem’s] legacy because it’s important to me that they understand it.”
Hulu has revealed a first look at the third and final season of “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” which premieres with the first three episodes on Wednesday, February 15th.New episodes stream every Wu-Wednesday, with a finale on April 5th.
SYNOPSIS: Off the release of their debut album and their continued rise to fame, we follow the Wu-Tang Clan over the course of their five-year plan as they face and overcome different challenges. While each of the members go on separate journeys to figure out where they fit in the music world, RZA struggles to stay on top of things in order to fulfill the promise he made to his Wu brothers. As money, fame, ego, and business threaten to tear the group apart, they must find a way to come together and cement their legacy.
CAST: Ashton Sanders, Shameik Moore, Siddiq Saunderson, Julian Elijah Martinez, Marcus Callender, Zolee Griggs, T.J. Atoms, Dave East, Johnell Young, Uyoata Udi and Damani Sease.
We Are Live Entertainment is excited to announce the return of the “Legendz of the Streetz Tour Reloaded”, set to kick off on Friday, February 3, 2023, in New Orleans, LA. Now in its third installment, the “Legendz of the Streetz Tour Reloaded” returns with fan favorites Jeezy, Rick Ross, T.I., Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz, and Trina. In addition, Jadakiss, Cam’ron, and Ja-Rule have all been added to the bill, with special guest Jucee Froot (from the hit show P-Valley) on select dates. The tour will make its way across North America including stops in Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta, with northeast and west coast dates to be announced in the coming weeks.
Nothing short of a cultural experience, the “Legendz of the Streetz Tour Reloaded” promises to bring more energy, more street anthems, more surprise guests and more iconic performances never seen before on one tour.
Rick Ross ‘Legendz of the Street’ Tour photo credit: Kingsmen Media Group
“When we kicked off the tour in 2021, we knew from the beginning we had something special. No one had ever done anything like this before. “Legendz of the Streetz” is more than just a tour, it’s a movement,” states Lin Rowe, co-founder of We Are Live Entertainment. Rowe continues, “We are running it back to give fans an opportunity to witness one of the biggest and arguably one of the most impactful hip-hop tours to date. If you’re a fan of the culture, you can’t miss this one.” Jerry Schools, co-founder of We Are Live Entertainment states, “It is with great pleasure that we get to continue presenting such an epic tour for fans paying homage to an amazing group of artists.” “This is an opportunity for hip-hop enthusiasts across the country to experience history in the making and it is sure to be another historic run!”
With over 100,000+ tickets sold since the start of the tour in 2021, the “Legendz of the Streetz Tour” continues to receive rave reviews from hip hop enthusiasts and electrify audiences across the U.S.; celebrating legendary artists who continue to pave the way.
Venues, locations, and dates for “The Legendz of the Streetz Tour Reloaded” can be found below:
2/03/2023 | New Orleans, LA | Smoothie King Center
About We Are Live Entertainment We Are Live Entertainment (“WAL”) is a national producer of live entertainment. WAL specializes in the global touring of today’s biggest and brightest stars in music. Founded on a wellspring of industry knowledge and equipped with innovative marketing strategies, WAL is committed to providing fans and concert hopefuls with an unforgettable live music experience.
YOU PEOPLEOn Netflix January 27, 2023 Directed by Kenya BarrisWritten by Jonah Hill and Kenya BarrisProduced by Kevin Misher, Jonah Hill, Kenya BarrisExecutive Producers David Hyman, Matt Dines, Hale Rothstein, Alison Goodwin, Mychelle Deschamps, Andy Berman, Charisse Hewitt-Webster
Synopsis: When a rideshare mix-up in LA brings Ezra Cohen (Jonah Hill) and Amira Mohammed (Lauren London) together, the two find themselves connecting over a shared love of streetwear and music. As they fall in love, their relationship is tested by their respective families: Ezra’s progressive and semi-woke parents (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny) and Amira’s unyielding yet concerned parents (Eddie Murphy and Nia Long) who inject themselves into their lives mercilessly. Kenya Barris’ feature film directorial debut is a modern love story set amidst clashing cultures and interfaith relationships. Co-written by Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill and produced by the two alongside Kevin Misher, the comedy features an all-star ensemble cast including Sam Jay, Elliott Gould, Travis Bennett, Molly Gordon, Rhea Perlman, Deon Cole, Andrea Savage and Mike Epps.
Cast: Jonah Hill, Lauren London, David Duchovny, Nia Long, Sam Jay, Elliott Gould, Travis Bennett, Molly Gordon, Rhea Perlman, Deon Cole, Andrea Savage, Mike Epps, Emily Arlook, Alani La La Anthony, Bryan Greenberg with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eddie Murphy
IMPACT Wrestling will be LIVE in Atlanta with Hard to Kill on January 13th followed by Fallout on January 14th. Don’t miss this must-see event with two action packed nights filled with your favorite IMPACT Stars at Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, GA. Get your tickets now at ImpactWrestling.com
IMPACT Wrestling kicks off 2023 in a big way with two must-see events LIVE from Center Stage in Atlanta!
On January 13th, don’t miss IMPACT’s next pay-per-view extravaganza, Hard To Kill. The following night on January 14th, experience the Hard To Kill Fallout as the television trucks of IMPACT! on AXS TV roll in. Tickets for both events, including two night packages, are on sale now at Ticketmaster.com!
Tubi TV’s latest comedy show, from Green Company Pictures, The Urban, mirrors the Green brothers’ life as business owners. The main character, J. Whitman (R. Saeed) is a successful upholstery shop owner on Urban Avenue, who although successful, is just as flawed as everyone else. Viewers get to experience Whitman’s everyday life, as he navigates a world full of humorously quirky characters. Written, produced, and directed by twins, the Green brothers, the sitcom stars Rodney Perry, Clifton Powell, Tyler Craig, Bern Nadette Stanis and features a special guest appearance by Donnell Rawlings.
Audiences can expect a comedy with a unique and humorous perceptive. The Urban is now available for streaming on TUBI
About Tubi Tubi, a division of FOX Entertainment, is an ad-supported video-on-demand service with more than 45,000 movies and TV shows in the U.S., including a growing library of Tubi Originals, 150+ local and live news, sports and entertainment channels, and 400+ entertainment partners, featuring content from every major Hollywood studio. Tubi gives fans of film, television, news, and sports an easy way to discover new content that is entirely free.
Sylvester 
