Aretha Franklin & Natalie Cole...WHO ASKED YOU?!

Aretha Franklin's Grammy Wrath Is Out Of Control
source

Natalie & Macy

Aretha Franklin just received a MusicCares Award last week from the Grammys.

She deserved it. A sweetheart friend of mine pulled some strings for me to get a ticket, but I was ultimately unable to attend when a dear relative passed away days before the event.

But when I got the news that I was going to see Aretha perform, I was humbled. I've attended a MusicCares event for Natalie Cole (stay tuned for the irony) several years ago, and it was incredible. The MusicCares event is essentially a night devoted to a singular artist. So if you are a genuine fan, it is a privilege to be in attendance. I could not believe that I was going to get to see the undisputed QUEEN OF SOUL in this setting.

But now, I'm glad that I didn't go.

Today, Hip Hop Media Training launches its own awards show. It's called the WhoCares Awards, and Aretha is the first recipient.

Aretha is upset with the introduction Beyonce made for Tina Turner at the Grammys. Beyonce referred to Tina Turner as the Queen and Aretha felt disrespected, and had enough nerve to complain out loud about it via a statement issued by her publicist (news):

"I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyoncé. However, I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy," Aretha wrote.

Yo, Aretha, Beyonce didn't call Tina Turner the Queen Of Soul. She simply referred to her as the Queen. Ugh, didn't you see the movie "What's Love Got To Do With It?" How about the book? Did you see how great Tina Turner looked on stage at the Grammys, next to Beyonce, who is 42 years younger? Did you see her moves? I know you're a woman, but did you check out her body? Did you see the kind of shape she's in even though she eats off of the Senior Citizen menu at Dennys? Do you know that she will be 70 years old next year? Did you hear how great she sounded? Do you remember how she found the strength to turn everything around after years of abuse from Ike Turner? Didn't you know that she was penniless, but went on to become one of the most successful women in entertainment? Don't you know that Anna Mae Bullock is from Nutbush, Tennesse? Nut-bush! (Do you even know where that is?) You don't remember how she helped revolutionize rock 'n roll, not to mention soul?

What is wrong with you?

You don't think she deserves to be considered a queen?

Not even on the night she is being honored?

Come on now, Aretha. Don't be greedy. Show Tina some R-E-S-P-E-C-T?

If you want to be upset at someone for handing out titles that you think are inappropriate, where were you on the night of June 19, 2001 when your god daughter Whitney Houston referred to her ex-husband Bobby Brown as the King Of R&B at the 1st Annual BET Awards?

We needed you to issue a statement then. That would have been perfect. It would have been fitting for the Queen Of Soul to announce, "Here ye, here ye! Bobby Brown is not the King Of R&B."

But you left us hanging.

Thankfully, Jamie Foxx told us that Whitney apparently meant that Bobby was the King of "Reefer & Beer."

And just because I'm all pumped up, I think I should also toss a couple words in Natalie Cole's direction.

Man. Aretha and Natalie are two of my favorites. I'm telling you. I love some Natalie Cole. Baby Girl, you are underrated. You have some of my favorite songs?

But why are you hating on Amy Winehouse? (news)

Why?

What did she do to you?

Why do you think the Grammys were wrong for giving her those awards?

Because she's on drugs?

Is that it?

Natalie, we are not talking about Britney Spears here.

I don't care that Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings are getting shaft and not receiving the credit they deserve for being Amy's backing band. I love them too. But don't try to act like you don't like "Rehab."

Don't try to act like you weren't surprised when you found out that "Rehab" was some blue-eyed soul?

Let the moral courts judge Amy. But the Grammys is supposed to recognize the most outstanding recorded works in the related categories. If you are implying that Amy's work is not worth recognition, you are wrong. How about you go back to the height of your own drug issues and return all the awards you received during that time? How would you feel if your honors were erased from the history books?

We are all proud that you were able to overcome your own bought with drugs. You're looking good Natalie. Try to meet with Amy. Talk to her. Tell her your story. Maybe you can help her.

Just don't do her dirty like Dr. Phil did Britney.

Don't be a hater.

And that's the message for the day. It's for both you and Aretha.

Stop the hateration.

You are legends and you're setting a bad example source


Macy doesn't consider herself a junkie

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I agree 100% with the author Billy Johnson, Jr.
These ladies have too much time on their hands to worry about someone else, who's not THINKING ABOUT THEM.
Who does Aretha think she is? You have platinum sales, plaques, awards, etc and you're trippin' cuz T.T. was called Queen?
Is this a joke?
And what makes this ghetto soap opera a trip is that you, Ms. Franklin, behaved in a manner UNBECOMING A QUEEN!
You aired your pettiness out in the open...and your argument is invalid.
That wasn't YOUR NIGHT.
That was about Tina Turner...GET OVER YOURSELF.
What's that song you made with Fantasia...'Put u up on Game"
Let me Put You Up on (some ) Game...
DON'T NOBODY OWE YOU ANYTHING!
Tina Turner is older than you...shouldn't you respect your elders, MS, R-E-S-P-E-C-T??
Or is respect simply one way when you're involved.
You wanna trip out cuz Tina was called Queen...smh...
WHO ASKED YOU?!

And to Natalie Cole:
How can a skillet call the pot, black?!
Did you forget where you came from?
You had the same fight with addiction as Amy Winehouse.
Didn't you receive accolades, applause etc when YOU were strong out in the NOT SO DISTANT PAST??
You say bad behavior shouldn't be rewarded, but I don't see you spouting that in reference to Lil' Wayne, R. Kelly, Foxy Brown, Naomi Campbell...they're infamous with drugs, PEDOPHILIA, violence...but I haven't heard speak on that.
Now this girl is in recovery. A recovering addict such as yourself, should know what kind of detriment words such as yours could do to a person in a delicate state.
Remember when YOU AND YOUR MAMA was in the news when YOU were strung out.
Let's not act brand new.
I'm curious as to the timing...you didn't speak about Amy before the Grammys, but you're vocal now.
After she won 5 Grammys.
Seems like you're hatin' to me.
She was as shocked as everyone else to win.
But did Amy give herself those Grammys? Or was it the same panel who GAVE U YOURS?
That child is sick...and I'm so glad I'm not reading about her doing crazy crap in the news anymore. I wish her well in her recovery.
You and Aretha's behavior post-Grammys are embarrassing.
And it's shocking cuz lawd KNOWS you two are old enough to know better.
Your genre's supposed to be the one that has class.
I can't tell.

What I don't get is...you performed with Macy Gray and her drug use was no secret...shoot she alluded to it in her interviews, and how many awards did she win under the influence?? Macy's talented too-I think her 1st cd was the best. But she didn't see anything wrong with partaking. You not only performed on a song...but u popped at her shows- what's up with that?!

Either you're prejudiced (which I doubt) or you're hatin' on her sweepin those Grammys. You should've offered her words of encouragement in her recovery. You know what it's like to have detractors-and now you're one. smh
And just so you know I am a fan of yours, I saw you this summer in Detroit w/Jeffrey Osborne ok, and you looked stunning.

You want to offer commentary on that girl winning Grammys...but keepin' it real...
WHO ASKED YOU?!


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Night At The Grammys...

Must give a drumbeat to my Colored Girl sista LJ, for providing me with this story. thx LJ :)

(CNN) -- It looked like it was going to be all Amy Winehouse -- until the end.

Herbie Hancock picked up the album of the year award for "River: The Joni Letters."

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Winehouse, the troubled singer and songwriter who was let out of rehab to perform via satellite at the 50th annual Grammy Awards Sunday night, took home awards in five of the six categories in which she was nominated, including three of the big four general categories: record of the year, song of the year (both for "Rehab") and best new artist.

But when it came time for the final announcement, album of the year, the award went to 67-year-old jazz legend Herbie Hancock for "River: The Joni Letters," his album of Joni Mitchell interpretations.

The decision appeared to shock many, though Hancock wasn't caught off-stride.

In his acceptance, the pianist, who had earlier co-performed George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," paid tribute to a number of his predecessors, most notably mentor Miles Davis.

"I'd like to thank the Academy for courageously breaking the mold this time, in doing so, honoring the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane ... unquestionably deserved the award in the past," Hancock said. "But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible."

"River" is the first jazz album to win album of the year since Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto's 1964 "Getz/Gilberto" pulled off the trick. The two works are the only jazz albums to have done so.

Still, Winehouse can consider it a good night. Besides her Grammys, the singer performed a biting medley of "You Know I'm No Good" and "Rehab" via satellite and seemed genuinely thrilled for the honors she received. Gallery: Check out the stars in their finery »

Upon winning record of the year, just after her performance, she appeared unaware the cameras were on her as she and her band whooped it up after winning record of the year. But she recovered, giving a rousing thank-you speech in which she said the award was for "my mom and dad, for my Blake, my Blake incarcerated, and for London!" "Blake" is her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, currently behind bars awaiting trial on assault and trial-fixing charges.

Kanye West, who received eight nominations total, won best rap album for his "Graduation," giving him four wins.

Don't Miss

• List of Grammy winners
• InStyle.com: Grammy star style
• Herbie Hancock rides on the 'River'

West gave a powerful performance of "Stronger" and "Hey Mama." The latter song, in particular, was written for his mother and appeared on West's 2005 album "Late Registration." Donda West died November 10 of a heart attack after surgery.

"I appreciate all the support, I appreciate all the prayers," he said regarding his mother while accepting the best rap album award. Then, addressing his mother, he said, "I know you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world. And, Mama, all I'm gonna do is keep making you proud."

Vince Gill's "These Days" won best country album, an award presented to him by Ringo Starr.

"I just had an award given to me by a Beatle," Gill said with wonder, and then looked at West -- who's often been vocal at a perceived lack of mainstream industry acceptance -- in the audience. "Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?"

West smiled as the audience burst into laughter.

The Foo Fighters' "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" won best rock album.

"This doesn't get old," frontman Dave Grohl said, dedicating the Grammy to his daughter Violet, who "inspired me to write this record."

The first award of the night, female R&B performance, went to Alicia Keys, who also opened the show with a "duet" with a virtual Frank Sinatra, captured on video in an old performance. The pair sang "Learnin' the Blues."

"I hope to one day be as classic as he [is]," she told CNN on the red carpet. Watch Keys describe her Grammy thrills »

The night's performances ranged from stirring -- West's "Stronger"/"Hey Mama," a duet featuring Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli, and a John Fogerty-Jerry Lee Lewis-Little Richard medley of classics were highlights -- to offbeat, including a Beatles tribute from Cirque du Soleil and the film, "Across the Universe," and a lighthearted duet of "That Old Black Magic" between Keely Smith and Kid Rock.

The evening's other winners of the evening included Bruce Springsteen, who received three Grammys, including best rock song for "Radio Nowhere," as well as the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige.

Also earning a Grammy was Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who defeated two presidents -- Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter -- to take home the award for best spoken-word album. Obama won for his book, "The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts On Reclaiming The American Dream.

For Hancock, the Grammy fulfills a dream of his own. The jazzman had won 10 Grammys going into the night's ceremony, but never album of the year.

"I don't pay attention to pigeonholes," he told CNN recently. This time, neither did the Recording Academy.

Story and photos on the red carpet

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PLEASE check out Fantasia on the red carpet!
She is nothing short of stunning.
I hope she keeps it up!

**
Also, I'M SO SICK OF KANYE'S and his spoiled brat mentality.
what? they can't cue the music for him, like they do EVERYONE ELSE?
He's not a prodigy, he's not a "floeticist" , he's not floetic ok???



His beats are tight, but his lyrics are zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
a bore.
I challenged my son to listen to the lyrics (of Kanye's songs) and count how many times Kanye said somethin that made you stop and want to marinate on the words for a min...
I'm still waiting on my kid to give some feedback. lol

I rest my case.

Check out Rihanna, and the Time :)



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Amy Needs to Stay In London...and In Rehab...YES YES YES..

I'm digging this Amy v2.0!!



This girl looked great on the Grammy's!
She danced, smiled and knew ALL OF THE LYRICS to her songs, and she can SANG!
I'm so happy for her success!
I pray she keeps it up.

when she's sober, she has a way of singin' out the side of her mouth, lip whatever...and her 'blues brothers' looking brothas aka her back up singers are hilarious with their "Temptations" choreography, lol

...uh oh
she just found out she won for Rehab!!
she's so shocked, oh goodness she's so shocked!!
I love seeing her sober!
The crowd is chanting, "AMY, AMY AMY"
She thanked her mom and dad (her mom was on stage with her)
she thanked "Ray-Ray and Joe..." (this girl knows she's ghetto, lol)
...this is for Blake (husband), Blake incarcerated...
and for London...cuz Captain Town ain't burnin' down!"
I am typing so fast, lol
Congrats, Amy!
(at 08:32 into the video*below*, Amy's announced as the winner-observe her facial expression and the action happening around her! Priceless, lol)

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Amy Has Gone To Rehab-I say YES, YES, YES!

Winehouse Says Yes to Rehab

Singer Amy Winehouse has checked herself into rehab in a bid to kick her drug addictions.

The move follows a meeting on Thursday with her record label Universal, her management, family members and doctors.

It follows photographs published in the U.K. earlier this week apparently showing the troubled star smoking crack cocaine.

A statement from Universal reveals Winehouse's rehab stint -- at an undisclosed location -- is a bid to help her kick her drug dependence in time to appear at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on February 10. Winehouse is nominated for six awards.

The statement reads, "Amy Winehouse's planned appearance at the NRJ Awards in France on Saturday has been canceled as the artist has entered a rehabilitation clinic.

"Amy decided to enter the facility today after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors. She has come to understand that she requires specialist treatment to continue her ongoing recovery from drug addiction and prepare for her planned appearance at the Grammy Awards.

"Amy entered the facility by mutual agreement and continues to receive the full support of all concerned.

"Amy is the most talented and important musical artist of her generation and has made huge strides on her road to recovery. Universal Music Group wants nothing more than to see her take the time she needs to come back to full health and fulfill her incredible potential with the label.

"All concerned feel that Amy must put her health before all other considerations and will be by her side whenever and wherever they are needed." source

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I know this chile didn't want to go to Rehab (no, no, no), but I hope something "clicks" while she's in there. I don't want to seem like the grim reaper, but if she's only going to rehab, in light of the recent release of her smoking "crack" on video (see below) then she is sure to relapse when she's released. Also, she's depressed at the incarceration of her husband. I hope she's in the right rehab facility-but she's schedule to perform at the Grammy's-which I think those idiots at the Grammy's did (schedule Amy Winehouse to appear) to insure people will tune in. The Grammy's have sucked consistently for years-and they're choosing to exploit Amy,just as MTV (who's rating were low for the past several years) did (cruelly) with Britney Spears. That drug induced chile had NO BIZNESS on stage trying to perform. They should've thrown a collage of pics together set to Brit's music, and called it a day.
Anyway-let's wish Amy best wishes-she's going to need it!





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JESUS HAS TAKEN THE WHEEL-Amy Winehouse Arrested!!!!!!!!!

Lord thank you, O Hearer of Prayers!!
I'm so glad this child is arrested.
Now....at first glance, it may not seem a blessing.
But Amy will be drug free at least while she's being held...which i hope is for some time!

Winehouse Reportedly Arrested in Britain

source

LONDON — Amy Winehouse was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving her husband, according to several British media reports.

Authorities said a 24-year-old was arrested during an appointment at a police station as part of an investigation into "perverting the course of justice," an offense similar in American law to contempt of court or obstruction.

(enlarge photo) British singer Amy Winehouse arrives at the MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, in this June 3, 2007, file photo. Winehouse was arrested Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007 on suspicion of attempting to interfere with a court case involving her husband, Sky News reported. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Several British media outlets — including Sky News, Times Online and the Press Association news agency — reported that the woman was Winehouse. Police would not confirm the reports.

Winehouse, 24, recently canceled all concerts and public appearances for the rest of the year on doctor's orders. Her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was ordered held in custody in London last month on charges of perverting the course of justice stemming from a case in which he is accused of assaulting a male bartender in June.

Fielder-Civil allegedly tried to interfere with a witness' testimony, according to court documents.

Winehouse, an admitted marijuana smoker, has been dogged by reports of continued drug use amid a flurry of canceled concert dates. She was recently spotted walking outside of her London home wearing a bra and jeans, with no shoes, looking distressed

File This Under: Jesus...PLEASE PLEASE Take The Wheel!

Courtesy of TMZ.com

source

London lady soul singer Amy Winehouse left home after powdering her nose (left) and was chauffeured to her first party stop -- where along the way, she decided that she'd change her pants (right) -- leaving paparazzi gaping at the half-naked, gap-toothed, beehived, lovelorn wreck.

<<<<<

After an evening of "entertainment" it appears Wino lost her keys, and had to get back into her home, not by ringing for Jeeves, but by sliding under the gate (below). According to sources she made it inside.

File This Under: Jesus Take The Wheel!

Talent wasted...

Winehouse seen in bra, jeans outside of house
Rep says embattled singer got out of bed to investigate noise
source

LONDON - Embattled songstress Amy Winehouse was photographed in nothing more than a bra and blue jeans wandering outside of her London home before dawn on Sunday.
click here

But according to her rep, Amy’s disheveled look wasn’t due to a night of hard-partying, but rather, an apparent case of bed head.

“She was not on an all-night bender,” her U.K. rep told People, who added the singer had been sound asleep when she heard a noise outside her London flat and went to see what it was around 5:45 AM. “She heard all these noises and she went outside to look and there were all these photographers ... She’d been sound asleep ... of course she looked startled.”
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Photographed sans makeup and without her trademark beehive hairdo, Amy was “muttering incomprehensibly,” according to British newspapers.

When contacted by Access Hollywood, Winehouse’s U.S. rep said the singer was “awakened at 6 a.m. by a lot of noise. Came outside her flat to investigate and was met by photographers.”

Last week, Winehouse announced she was canceling the remainder of her concerts in 2007 after a run of personal and professional setbacks.

She made the announcement on the heels of news that her husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, was in a London prison awaiting trial on charges of witness tampering and assaulting a pub landlord.

“I can’t give it my all onstage without my Blake. I’m so sorry but I don’t want to do the shows half-heartedly; I love singing. My husband is everything to me and without him it’s just not the same,” Winehouse said in a statement on her Web site.

More from Access Hollywood
Photo gallery: Half-dressed Winehouse and more

That news came just weeks after the singer slurred her words and wobbled around the stage during a concert in Birmingham, England. Amy then threatened a booing and hissing crowd.

As far as the recent photograph of the scantily-clad “Rehab” singer, her rep told People that folks shouldn’t jump to conclusions.

“In light of recent reports, it’s easy to make assumptions, but she’s trying to get better and she needs the space to do that,” her rep said.

What In The Crack-Heroin-Hell Is Wrong With Amy?!

Lord, I know that no one knows the time of your return,

but I'm begging you to come sooner rather than later --everyday we see things that are pointing to the imminent day of your return! If you're not coming today, can you PLEASE...JESUS PLEASE TAKE THE WHEEL, SNATCH THE WHEEL OUT OF AMY WINEHOUSE'S HANDS!! in your name I pray! amen

I like celebrity news! I like it simply because I'm NOT a celebrity.
Having said that, I was cruising thru dlisted.com, and read a post on Amy Winehouse.
Ok, cool. The post made reference to her drug use (old news), but upon further reading the poster was mentioning Amy was supposed to be performing. Ok. Amy's onstage, Amy has a microphone posted in front of her, musicians are playing their instruments, and the background singers (Jamaican, African perhaps??) are doin' their thang.

Everybody's handlin' biz.

Except Amy.

Amy, it seems, is more interested in her beehive/storage space.

There seems to be a treasure of some sort hidden
in that teased,back-combed treasure trove, and Amy's intent on finding whatever goody awaits her.

Well, the goody turns out to be a drug of some sort.



There's NO WAY you'll misunderstand what you saw, this is unbelievable!



In the MOST CONSPICUOUS MANNER, Amy Winehouse pulls the drug out of her 'hive, holds it in her hand, and as if she's in a crackhouse,proceeds to snort it.
RIGHT THERE ON STAGE, DURING A PERFORMANCE, ON CAMERA FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE!

I'm pissed, scared, and confused.
How in the world can her bony body ingest that much drug??
What is she not wanting to deal with?
What happened to Amy that she chooses to self-medicate herself into a bloody stupor, and why are promoters, record labels etc exploiting her and scheduling her for shows when she's under the influence?? Many times, she's incoherent. You can't make out the lyrics of her songs.

Lord, please this pray is for Amy, Lindsay, Britney, Tracy Morgan, and other celebrities who riding a meteorite straight to self-destruction.
Someone call A& E for a "Celebrity Intervention!" Stat!