CeCe Winans and Yolanda Adams have now joined the lineup of We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston. The special, airing November 16 on CBS, will feature performances from and interviews with top artists paying tribute to the late diva, as well as a look at Whitney’s own most memorable performances.

CeCe was, of course, a dear friend of Whitney’s, and performed at her funeral. Yolanda, also a friend, performed “I Love the Lord” as a tribute to Whitney at the NAACP Image Awards earlier this year.

Also on the bill for the event are Celine Dion, Usher and Jennifer Hudson. We Will Always Love You: A Grammy Salute to Whitney Houston will take place and be recorded October 11 at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE.

Tickets to the general public for “We Will Always Love You: A GRAMMY Salute To Whitney Houston” will go on sale today, and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com or via phone at 800.745.3000. For more information on VIP packages and discounted group tickets, please call 1.877.AEG.TICKETS (1.877.234.8425) or visit www.aegtickets.com.

Veteran gospel singer Bryan Wilson is preparing to sweep through the South next week with a series of ministry dates. The Apostle of the Bapolstogic Movement (a 501C3 organization to reintroduce old school Pentecost to a new generation of believers) will also be promoting his Bryan’s Songs/Worldwide Gospel radio single, “Expect You Now.” The song came to Wilson during a worship service two years ago. “The song is a simple one,” he says. “The pastor was praying over people during an altar call and I got up and started singing what they call ` a song of the Lord.’ When people go to the altar, they are expecting God to change them or change their situation so I started to sing, Lord, we expect you now’ and after the service people asked me if that was on one of my CDs and I said, `Not yet but it will be.’”

The soul-stirring track has been simmering at radio for several weeks and earning enthusiastic thumbs up from radio programmers. “Bryan Wilson did his thang on Expect You Now – goose bumps factor enabled,” says Kyle Stewart, an announcer with B106.2 FM in Palm Beach, FL. “There is much maturity in this song that is sure to be pleasing to all ages,” says Jacki Holliday of KDAY in Louisiana. “A true, honest and heartfelt petition to our Lord. Intimate Time with the Lord at its finest.” Jacquie Gales Webb of Washington, D.C.’s WHUR 96.3 FM says, “It’s a pretty song.” One fan on Jango wrote that Wilson is “back with a bang” while another simply said, “just beautiful.”

While Wilson puts the finishing touches on his Worldwide Gospel CD release for 2013, he currently has a new “Limited Edition” CD available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.  Fans can listen to sound bytes at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/best-time-of-my-life/id561940494?i=561940504. Wilson is also be selling the physical CD on his website www.bryanwilson.com and on his tour stops: 

10/14 @ 10:00 AM          Red Oak AME Zion Church, Edgemoor, SC

10/15 @ 7:00 PM            New Life in Christ Ministries, Orangeburg, SC

10/16 @ 7:00 PM            New Life in Christ Ministries, Orangeburg, SC

10/17 @ 6:00 PM            True Life Church, Newberry, SC

10/18 @ 6:30 PM            Centenary United Methodist Church, Moncks Corner, SC

10/19 @ 7:00 PM            Full Life Victory Center, Hartsville, SC

10/20 @ 7:00 PM            Full Life Victory Center, Hartsville, SC

10/21 @ 4:00 PM            Faith United Baptist Church, Baltimore, MD

The BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ 2012 special on BET is back for a third televised installment with heartfelt performances, tributes and special awards to celebrate the achievements of remarkable women of color.  Back by popular demand is the dynamic duo of Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King who are returning to co-host this year’s awards show.  The historic Loews Paradise Theatre in New York City will be the site of the annual celebration which tapes Saturday, October 13, 2012 and premieres Sunday, November 4, 2012 on BET Networks.

Black women are leading in the White House and are becoming more and more prevalent in Fortune 500 companies, dominating professional sports, driving political discourse and winning Hollywood‘s top awards. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 promises to deliver defining moments for women around the world through highlighting empowering stories of excellence from women of color from a broad spectrum of diverse missions and professional backgrounds. 

This year’s much-deserving celebrants and award recipients include: Grammy Award-winning music legend Dionne Warwick – Living Legend Award; actress Kerry Washington – Star Power Award; magazine editor, writer and journalist Susan Taylor – Inspiration Award; singer-songwriter Alicia Keys – Rock Star Award; and human rights activists and doctors, Dr. Hawa Abdi and her daughters – Social Humanitarian Award.

The two-hour event will be a star-studded evening with performances and appearances by Mary Mary, Alicia Keys, Brandy, India.Arie, Keyshia Cole, Ciara and 2011 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Star Power Award recipient Academy Award-nominee Taraji P. Henson and more.  Viewers can expect more memorable moments from this year’s awards show that are sure to empower, entertain and elevate the soul.

“We’re thrilled to once again partner with Beverly Bond and her fantastic organization to bring to the screen the 2012 edition of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! It’s truly an honor to recognize our celebrants who have accomplishments in a wide variety of fields. Look for some very special performances from an array of genres. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! is empowering, uplifting, fun…and perfect on BET!” said Stephen Hill, President of Music Programming and Specials.

“BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc. is extremely proud to partner with BET Networks, for a third year, to produce the 2012 BLACK GIRLS ROCK! special. This show has become an essential platform where dynamic women are honored and exalted for bringing the best of our cultural contributions to the forefront.  The BLACK GIRLS ROCK!award show on BET celebrates the nexus of achievements of women of color and showcases Black female excellence, to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders,” said Beverly Bond, founder of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Inc.

Official sponsors of BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 include My Black is Beautiful, Crest 3-D White, COVERGIRL and Chevrolet. 

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 will premiere internationally on Tuesday, November 13, 2012.

For more information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK! go to www.BET.com/BlackGirlsRock  Join the conversation on Twitter by using hashtag: #BLACKGIRLSROCK and following us @BET.

To apply for media credentials to cover BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 red carpet, visit our press site, www.betpressroom.com.  The deadline to apply for media credentials ends at midnight, Monday, October 8, 2012.

The televised special, BLACK GIRLS ROCK! 2012 is a BET Networks and B.G.R. Enterprises Inc. production.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK! Founder and CEO, Beverly Bond executive produces the telecast along with Stephen Hill, President, Music Programming and Specials, BET Networks and Connie Orlando, Salli Frattini of Sunset Lane Entertainment and co-executive Producer, Jane Mun. 

*All times ET/PT

About Tracee Ellis Ross
Ross is best known as the star of the hit sitcom GIRLFRIENDS that ran for eight seasons on The UPN/CW network and earned her eight NAACP Image Award nominations including two wins, one in 2007 and again in 2009 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. She recently starred in and produced the NAACP Image Award nominated series REED BETWEEN THE LINES. Ross, who won an NAACP Image Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Award for her performance, co-starred opposite Malcolm Jamal Warner.  Ross was also seen in the short film series FIVE which aired on Lifetime Television and received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her performance.  In early 2011, Ross returned to the stage and garnered rave reviews in Nora and Delia Ephron‘s LOVE LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, first at the Westside Theatre in NY and then at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.  Ross’s feature film work has included HBO’s LIFE SUPPORT with Queen Latifah,Tyler Perry‘s DADDY’S LITTLE GIRLS with Gabrielle Union and HANGING UP with Jennifer Connelly and Marcia Gay Harden to name a few.  Ross is a dedicated and passionate volunteer, intent on making a difference in the lives of at-risk teenage girls. She works closely with Aviva Family and Children Services in Los Angeles and also The Big Brother Big Sister organization. As a vetted Obama Surrogate, Ross campaigned across the country during 2007 and 2008 and again during the current election season. She actively participates in the President and First Lady Obama’s Mentoring Initiative.

About Regina King
Regina King‘s distinguished talents have not gone unnoticed by Hollywood.  The skilled actress can currently be seen playing ‘Detective Lydia Adams‘ in TNT’s drama, SOUTHLAND, in production for its fifth season.  Southland focuses on a police unit from Los Angeles, taking viewers into the lives of LAPD cops, criminals and their victims.  In between filming Southland, King made her feature film directorial debut with the teleplay adaptation of the best-selling book, LET THE CHURCH SAY AMEN, for BET to air on the network in 2013.  King’s notable film credits include OUR FAMILY WEDDING, THIS CHRISTMAS, RAY, MISS CONGENIALITY 2; ARMED AND FABULOUS, CINDERELLA STORY, LEGALLY BLONDE 2: RED WHITE AND BLONDE, and DADDY DAY CARE.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, King made her television debut on the hit sitcom “227.”  After five seasons, King made the leap to the silver screen with a role in John Singleton‘s powerful directorial debut, BOYZ N THE HOOD.  She would soon collaborate with Singleton again in POETIC JUSTICE and HIGHER LEARNING.  King has always been consistent in showing her dynamic range, bouncing effortlessly from dramatic material to comedic performances like in the hit film FRIDAY with Ice Cube and in A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE,opposite Martin Lawrence.  A definite turning point in her career came in 1997 with her memorable role as Cube Gooding Jr.’s wife Marci in the blockbuster film JERRY MAGUIRE, which led to starring roles in HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK, ENEMY OF THE STATE, MIGHT JOE YOUNG and DOWN TO EARTH. 

About BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™
Founded by celebrity DJ and Philanthropist, Beverly Bond, BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ is dedicated to promoting positive images of women of color in mass media.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc., is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, that has been dedicated to the healthy development of young women and girls since 2006.  BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ Inc. seeks to build the self-esteem and self-worth of young women of color by changing their outlook on life, broadening their horizons and helping them to empower themselves. For additional information on BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™, visit www.blackgirlsrock.org.

About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, theCaribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET operates in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

Nashville Publicity Group, a public relations firm specializing in family-friendly entertainment, will commemorate their 10th anniversary with the upcoming 2-Disc album release, Nashville Publicity Group presents TEN. The album will be released on January 1st to all digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon.com. 100% of sales from the album will go to charities handpicked by the artists themselves.

Disc One will feature 10 tracks from artists that have been part of Nashville Publicity Group’s first decade. Participating artists include Kevin Max, Bryan Duncan, Stryper, Blessid Union of Souls, Joanne Cash (featuring Johnny Cash), Collin Raye, Kevin LeVar, Propaganda and more. 

Disc Two will feature 10 handpicked songs from independent artists that have the potential to be the future of the music industry. Nashville Publicity Group is accepting submissions from indie artists through October 31, 2012. Email info@nashvillepublicity.com for more information.

“Despite an economic recession and well-documented turmoil within the music industry, we’ve just experienced our tenth consecutive year of growth,” said Mayes about Nashville Publicity Group’s milestone. “I’m proud of the friends that we’ve made, the partnerships we have created and the lives that have been affected as a result of the tremendous talent that we have had the privilege to represent.” 

About Nashville Publicity Group
Founded in 2002 by music industry veteran Brian Mayes, Nashville Publicity Group is a forward thinking full-service public relations and consulting company specializing in family-friendly entertainment. Nashville Publicity Group routinely delivers unparalleled results by creating aggressive, tailor-made campaigns for recording artists, authors, actors, concert tours and festivals, charities, social media and multimedia properties, television and feature film projects and more. For more information, visit www.nashvillepublicity.com.

Imagine her surprise when Alicia Day’s father handed her the phone. It was Tyler Perry calling, and he wanted to replace her stolen van.

“God is good, and Tyler Perry is just wonderful,” Day told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.

The Atlanta movie mogul had heard a Channel 2 Action News report Monday evening about the theft of Day’s customized Chrysler minivan out of the driveway of her Decatur home Sunday.

The 24-year-old woman, who has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair, would be lost without the van, her sole transportation to her part-time job as a greeter at Home Depot on Ponce de Leon Avenue. But about two hours after the story aired, Alicia had a new van, compliments of Perry.

“It’s unbelievable, it happened so fast,” said Alicia’s dad Cecil, who answered the phone around 5 p.m. Monday. “He said, ‘This is Tyler Perry,’ and I said, ‘Who?’ and he said Tyler Perry. He asked to speak to Alicia.”

Perry told Alicia Day he wanted to replace her van that same day.

“This made me feel so wonderful,” she said. “Tyler Perry, of all people, decided to help a handicapped person.”

Perry then drove to R & R Mobility Van & Lifts Inc. in Conyers, where the Days had bought the stolen van 12 years ago. The dealership was closed, but Perry convinced the manager to open back up. It probably didn’t take much convincing. The van cost nearly $60,000.

“I’d never seen anything like this,” said salesman Michael Bortvit. “I had left for the day. I turned around and came back and met with Mr. Perry, who drove up alone in his Land Rover.”

Alicia’s parents, Cecil and Hannelore Day, showed up shortly thereafter, was shown a selection of vans and chose a silver customized 2011 Volkswagen Amerivan.

“It was a humongous gesture of generosity,” Bortvit said. “And it was obvious that not only was he not seeking recognition, he was going out of his way to avoid it.”

Perry has a fan for life in Alicia Day. “I was a big fan of his even before this,” said Day, who said her favorite Tyler Perry movie is, “Why Did I Get Married?”

Meanwhile, her colleagues at Home Depot had begun a fund to help Alicia Day before Perry stepped in. They and company officials plan to present her with a check for $5,000 for her medical expenses on Friday.

The collaboration merges Gospel legend Fred Hammond, Former R&B superstar turned Gospel artist Dave Hollister, 2010 breakout artist Brian Courtney Wilson, and Eric Roberson.

Fred said via his social cam that he’s been talking to the fellas for nearly a year to make this happen.

Details of the collaboration still have to be worked out with their respected labels, but that hasn’t stopped the four of them from recording.

Brian Courtney Wilson speaks with PATH publisher Kris Patrick first about the news, from the studio and home of Fred Hammond as they listen to the first mixes of the album.  

Say’s Brian, “I am extremely grateful to be working with Fred Hammond and the team he has conceived.  We are all excited to be working together and even more excited for you to hear what we think will be an important contribution to Kingdom music.”  Brian goes on to say “That God will be pleased.” as he gets ready to work it out with his Music World Gospel label.  

The new group will be called ‘United Tenors’ for short “U.T.”  Brian says, It’s not just about the talent they put together, the new group is going to look united. 

A pumped up Dave Hollister tells Publisher Kris Patrick, “U.T. is a worship experience like no other for me!  I’ve had visitations before, but the hand of God is on this, and the heart of God is what we are seeking in this experience.” 

“Get ready, get ready,” Dave Hollister says emphatically! 

After announcing that he was a little hurt that he was left out of the Kings Men Tour which features fellow Gospel greats Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, and Israel Houghton, you got the sense that Fred was ready for a new challenge.  This is one challenge that if achieved through contract will make a major impact on the people of God.

Currently, Dave Hollister is Pastoring at Word Assembly Family of Churches in California.  Brian Courtney Wilson is coming off his sophomore album, and Eric Roberson is touring Africa.

Fred Hammond is keeping busy as host of Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound competition, and did surprisingly well with his last album that blended love songs and Gospel music.