Culture
Whitney Houston – Beautifully Sent Home
Family and friends gathered at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. to say their final goodbyes to a cultural icon.
Family and friends gathered at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, N.J. to say their final goodbyes to a cultural icon.
Whitney Houston’s home going service brought a host of celebrities who paid tribute to the R&B diva.
Funeral for Whitney Houston
The service was held at the very place Houston got her start as a singer. Houston was remembered during a four-hour service filled with heartfelt songs and memories.
The funeral comes a week after Houston was found dead in her Beverly Hilton hotel room bathtub. The official cause of death is still unknown. However, what we do know, is that a legend left us too soon.
Among her mother, Cissy Houston, daughter Bobbi Kristina, and cousin Dionne Warwick, heavyweights in the entertainment industry paid their respects as well. Oprah Winfrey, Ray J, Brandy, and others were in attendance.
There were beautiful performances by Bebe & Cee Cee Winans, R. Kelly, Kim Burrell, Alicia Keys, Donnie McClurkin, & Stevie Wonder, The New Hope Baptist Church Choir, & The New Jersey Mass Choir.
“There are two constants that I know about Whitney Houston,” Perry said during his remarks. “There was a grace that carried her from heaven down through Miss Cissy Houston, a grace that brought her up through singing. The other thing I know for sure: Whitney Houston loved the Lord.”
The ceremony was also blessed by beautiful words from Tyler Perry, Kevin Coster, T.D. Jakes, Ray Watson (Houston’s bodyguard), Ricky Minor (music director/bassist), cousin Dionne Warrick, sister-in-law Pat Houston, and mentor Clive Davis.
Mayor of Newark, Cory Booker, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was in attendance. The Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson were there as well to offer support.
Houston was eulogized by friend, Marvin Winans, who bought his family up to sing one of Whitney’s favorite song’s “Tomorrow”, before delivering his sermon.
At the end of the service, Whitney’s casket was taken out and she was the last voice you heard as they played “I Will Always Love You”.
While fans were not allowed inside the invitation only ceremony, thousands were able to view the home going service through television and live stream on the internet.
Whitney Houston was beautifully sent home. Although I did not know her personally, I feel this is the way she would have wanted it. No matter her struggles, everyone knew Whitney loved the Lord. Today, she was sent home gracefully.
The service reminded us that, she might of left us too soon, but hold on to the love she gave the world and the love the world had for her.
Like T.D. Jakes said best, “Moments like this it feels like death is wrong. But the Bible says that love is stronger than death,”
RIP Whitney
Black Excellence
Inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood® Awards
Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
Get a look inside the 17th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards.
Hosted by Clifford “Method Man” Smith, the star studded event premiered March 15, exclusively on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).
About ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
The ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood honors women who are making their undeniable mark in film and television and amplifies their strides in defining what it means to be a Black woman in Hollywood.
Honorees
This year’s honorees and entertainment industry trailblazers include Academy Award nominated actress & Grammy Award winner, Danielle Brooks, six-time Grammy nominated singer and leading-actress Halle Bailey, acclaimed screenwriter and showrunner of All American, All American: Homecoming and Found, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, and industry powerhouse & President of Original Programming for STARZ, Kathryn Busby.
Check out some photo highlights inside the 17th ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards
For more, please visit http://www.essence.com/bwih2024
Culture
U.S. Virgin Islands Announces the Performance Line-up for St. Thomas Carnival Village Featuring Shaggy, Sizzla, Patrice Roberts, and Machel Montano
The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism and Division of Festivals has announced the performance line-up for the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village.
72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village
The Village will be headlined by Caribbean superstars Shaggy, Patrice Roberts, Sizzla Kalonji, Kes, and Machel Montano, who will kick off the six-night free Village concerts on Monday, April 29.
“The anticipation around this year’s St. Thomas Carnival is at an all-time high, and the Village night performers reflect the continued influence and growth of our territory’s three carnivals,” exclaims USVI Department of Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte.
Center Stage
Adam O, Rudy Live, Temisha, Karnage, Blind Earz, VIO International, and Spectrum Band are among the performers who will take center stage to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“Every year, our goal is to pay homage to the vast Virgin Islands and Caribbean culture that is at the cornerstone of these annual celebrations for natives and visitors alike,” added USVI Division of Festivals Director Ian Turnbull.
Haitian kompa band VAYB and Dominican salsa orchestra Chiquito Team Band will provide a cross-cultural immersion of sound, highlighting the diverse musical interests of Virgin Islands residents.
First-time performers
Rounding out the village are a few first-time performers in the territory, including TeeJay, Jada Kingdom, and Kollision Band, and returning favorites Edwin Yearwood and Krosfyah, and Grandmasters.
Kids Night Out Village Night
This year, the Division of Festivals will host its first Kids Night Out Village Night, with activities including the Toddlers Derby, Best Dressed Doll, and performances by TMK and OTB.
More information on 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival Village
For up-to-date information about the 72nd Annual St. Thomas Carnival, visit https://www.instagram.com/usvifestivals/.
Culture
Online romances get a dose of reality in OWN’S all-new love & relationship series ‘The Never Ever Mets’
Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person.
OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network has announced an all-new relationship series that takes online dating into the real world, The Never Ever Mets.
About The Never Ever Mets Series
Hosted by Ta’Rhonda Jones, this 10-episode series features seven couples who have been virtually dating for some time and believe they may have found lasting love – only they have never met each other in person! Now, they’re meeting face-to-face for the very first time and sharing a house together for three weeks to see if their internet love can survive off the screen and in real life.
Synopsis
As all seven couples convene under the same roof, dating in person rather than through their computers or phones quickly proves to be the biggest challenge yet.
While many couples have been years in the making, some quickly find the in-person relationship is not what they anticipated.
To test the strength of their love connections, the group participates in a series of fun and flirty relationship activities, couples therapy and for some, a trip to the “boom boom room.” But visits from discerning loved ones, meddling opinions and tension from others in the house challenge their bonds even further. At the end of their stay, some will go home together…and some will be signing off for good.
Premiere
The series premieres on Friday, April 19 at 8pm ET/PT, on the OWN Network.
Check out the trailer below:
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newtothis2012
February 24, 2012 at 1:24 am
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