Atlanta, GA -- TLC and Production company True Entertainment are bringing a new reality series to Atlanta called “Preachers’ Wives.” 

The creators of shows such as “Sister Wives” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” have decided to merge forces and focus on the behind the scenes efforts of women with leadership roles in the city’s religious community. 

Although there is no set date for the show, the team is very excited about their new venture. 

“With most praise in religious communities directed towards male preachers, we are thrilled to give these remarkable ladies the spotlight they crave and deserve,” said Steven Weinstock, president of True Entertainment. 

Will you be watching?

Atlanta, GA -- TLC and Production company True Entertainment are bringing a new reality series to Atlanta called “Preachers’ Wives.” 

The creators of shows such as “Sister Wives” and “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” have decided to merge forces and focus on the behind the scenes efforts of women with leadership roles in the city’s religious community. 

Although there is no set date for the show, the team is very excited about their new venture. 

“With most praise in religious communities directed towards male preachers, we are thrilled to give these remarkable ladies the spotlight they crave and deserve,” said Steven Weinstock, president of True Entertainment. 

Will you be watching?

TBR -- Los Angeles, CA -- The music world remains in shock this morning after hearing the news of Don Cornelius death. 

Don Cornelius, the smooth-voiced television host who brought black music and culture into America’s living rooms when he created the dance show “Soul Train,” was found dead at his home in Los Angeles early Wednesday in what appeared to be a suicide, the authorities said. He was 75. 

Police officers responding to a report of a shooting found Mr. Cornelius’s body at 4 a.m. on the floor of his house on Mulholland Drive with a gunshot wound to the head. It appeared to have been self-inflicted, said Ed Winter, the Los Angeles County assistant chief coroner.  

He was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The police said they had ruled out murder and were talking to relatives about Mr. Cornelius’s mental state.  

“Soul Train,” one of the longest-running syndicated shows in television history, played a critical role in spreading the music of black America to the world, offering wide exposure to musicians like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson in the 1970s and ’80s.  

News of Mr. Cornelius’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from civil rights leaders, musicians, entrepreneurs, academics and writers. “He was able to provide the country a window into black youth culture and black music,” said Lonnie G. Bunch III, the director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. “For young black teenagers like myself, it gave a sense of pride and a sense that the culture we loved could be shared and appreciated nationally.”  

Mr. Cornelius, a former disc jockey, created “Soul Train” in 1970 for the Chicago television station WCIU and served as its writer, producer and host. When it became a local sensation, he moved the show to Los Angeles and began broadcasting nationally in 1971, beginning a 35-year run in syndication.  

Born on Chicago’s South Side on Sept. 27, 1936, Mr. Cornelius had an early craving to go into broadcasting. He graduated from DuSable High School in 1954, did a stint in the Marine Corps and then returned to Chicago to marry a childhood sweetheart, Delores Harrison. They had two sons, Anthony and Raymond, who are among his survivors.  

In 1966, he gave up a career selling insurance and cars to take a three-month broadcast course, despite having young children to feed. With his deep baritone, he landed a job as a substitute disc jockey at WVON in Chicago and later as a sports anchor on the television program “A Black’s View of the News.” He produced the “Soul Train” pilot with $400 of his own money, taking the title from a road show he had created for local high schools.  

“ ‘Soul Train’ was developed as a radio show on television,” Mr. Cornelius told The New York Times in 1995. “It was the radio show that I always wanted and never had. I selected the music, and still do, by simply seeing what had chart success.”  

Mr. Cornelius stepped down as host in 1993, handing the reins to a series of actors, comedians and other guest hosts. “I took myself off because I just felt that 22 years was enough and that the audience was changing and I wasn’t,” he said.  

It was not until 2006, however, that he stopped producing new shows. He sold the franchise and the archives two years later to a subsidiary of Vibe Holdings LLC.  

In recent years he went through a bitter divorce from his second wife, Viktoria Chapman-Cornelius, a Russian model. In 2008 he was arrested and charged with spousal battery, assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report, all misdemeanors, after a domestic dispute with his wife in their home.

 A year later he was sentenced to three years’ probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of spousal battery in a plea bargain. During divorce proceedings later that year, he mentioned having “significant health problems” but did not elaborate.

 Clarence Avant, a former chairman of Motown Records, said the suggestion that Mr. Cornelius had committed suicide surprised his friends.  He did not appear despondent or upset when the two men met for lunch last week, Mr. Avant said, though Mr. Cornelius did mention that he had had seizures recently and avoided driving himself. “He was very private,” Mr. Avant said.  

Gospel Goes To Hollywood Awards Luncheon during OSCAR WEEK

Celebrating The UNTOLD STORES of FAITH on Making It in Hollywood

Co-Hosted by BET's "The Game" Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson and

"Everybody Hates Chris" & "The Expandables2" Actor Terry Crews

Friday, February 24, 2012 12noon-3pm

Taglyan Complex, Hollywood Ca.

http://www.gospelgoestohollywood.com/

At the age of 16, local Memphis artist Courtney Franklin had a passion to sing. From his start with Kevin Davidson & The Voices, Courtney has shared the stage with Ted & Sheri, Kurt Carr and Smokie Norful. His recent record signing to gospel recording artist Earnest Pugh's new Label EPM Group, Courtney is taking center stage with a new CD expected to be released May 2012. Courntey talks with me about Memphis artists, his new cd and his promising future. Listen and enjoy  Courtney Franklin interview p1  Courtney Franklin interview p2

Do you have the grace of Crystal Aikin, the passion of Y'Anna Crawley, the power of Le'Andria Johnson, or maybe the style of Amber Bullock? If you think so, get your voices ready and save the date for the upcoming Sunday Best 5 auditions:

Saturday, March 24
Dallas, TX

Saturday, March 31
Washington, D.C.

Saturday, April 14
Atlanta, GA

Saturday, April 21
TBD 

Continue to check back for updates on cities, venues and times!

The Oprah Winfrey Network confirmed Tuesday that as part of her new primetime series, "Oprah's Next Chapter," Winfrey will interview Bishop T.D. Jakes, founder and senior pastor of The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas. 

"The series, which features Oprah as she steps outside of the studio for riveting, enlightening and in-depth conversations with newsmakers, celebrities, thought leaders and real-life families, will expand to air part two of her in-depth interviews starting Monday, January 30," the network announced. 

Winfrey will be visiting Jakes at his 30,000-member church, but the network did not reveal when the visit will be made nor when the recording of her visit with the megachurch pastor would air. Jakes, also an author and filmmaker, broadcasts his sermons on "The Potter's Touch," which airs on a variety of Christian broadcasting networks, including Trinity Broadcasting Network and Black Entertainment Television.

Mary Mary's Erica Campbell is a new mommy! She and her husband Warryn Campbell have welcomed their third child, Zaya Monique Campbell. She was born Tuesday, weighing in at 6 lbs 12 oz. and mother and daughter are both resting comfortably.

In a statement, Erica said that she and Warryn are “feeling so thankful and so blessed to have our sweet Zaya finally make her grand entrance into the world!,” and added, “God is awesome, our family couldn’t be more happy than we are today!”

Erica will take a few weeks out of the duo’s busy schedule to spend time with little Zaya, and then she and sister/bandmate Tina Campbell will begin promoting their new WE tv reality series, which premieres March 29.

You may recall that last year, Mary Mary called off their Have a Mary Mary Christmas Tour because doctors told seventh-months-pregnant Erica that she had to slow down. Even so, throughout most of her pregnancy, Erica and Tina went non-stop, appearing and performing on many TV national shows.

My friend gospel recording artist Angela Spivey opens up about her new CD, God's promises of 2012, her love for Memphis and the covering of her father. Enjoy as Sisters in Christ share.  click here for Angela Spivey