Tyler Perry knows he doesn’t need the often mystified reviews of predominantly white critics to sell his movies to his predominantly black audience. That’s why I Can Do Bad All By Myself was released, as Perry’s movies usually are, without a press preview. I bought a ticket for the show in my neighborhood last Friday, and I wasn’t the only one: I Can Do Bad fulfilled industry expectations, coming in first at the box office with some $24 million in revenue. My own expectations were surpassed, though, when I found myself weeping during scenes of worship at the church that plays such an important part in the story. As fictional Pastor Brian, real-life minister and gospel star Marvin Winans preached messages of strength, support, and praise while a choir raised the roof. And if that wasn’t enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, Gladys Knight, resplendent in pink suit and grand black church hat, joined Winans in a duet.

I’ve been thinking of my intense, unfiltered reaction to the movie-particularly its warm, inclusive, unself-conscious spiritual component, as accessible to this white Jewish critic as to the black Christian women sitting beside me in the movie theater. I’ve been thinking of Tyler Perry’s church scenes because-well, because as pollsters often remind us, we Americans like to think of ourselves as a religious nation. Yet we almost never see religion taken seriously and without jokiness in a mainstream movie aimed at a white audience. We certainly almost never see the unique, specific, authentic ritual that distinguishes one sect from another, something beyond a non-denominational minister waiting for a bride to walk down the aisle. (I’m still reeling from the who knew? authenticity and profound attention to detail Joel and Ethan Coen bring to their depiction of 1960s suburban Hebrew school in their new movie A Serious Man-more about that another time.)

I don’t want to bait politicians or partisan media pundits or anyone who brandishes faith like a mallet in service to a political agenda but I do want to ask you: Do you agree with me that white-oriented, mainstream American movies are generally squeamish, sugary, bland, embarrassed, apologetic, or ironic when it comes to depicting modern religious observance?

Or am I wrong? Are there a whole bunch of titles I can’t think of?

Reviewed By: Lisa Schwarzbaum – Entertainment Weekly

The Hardest Working Woman in Gospel – Vickie Winans – has been working overtime for the last month preparing for the release of her new CD "How I Got Over" that is in stores now. The title song is spinning heavy on gospel radio stations where it just hit #20 on the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs chart after only four weeks in release. The CD of the same name has just debuted at #3 on the Billboard gospel album sales chart.

The song is based on a hymn Mahalia Jackson used to sing. Winans added new verses and segues from a traditional gospel tune to a jazzy funk number featuring her nephew Tim Bowman Jr. scatting. This past Sunday, she debuted the song and concept music video at the Motor City’s posh Seldom Blues club where Winans treated her fans to a free dinner and concert. "We had to turn almost 250 people away," Winans says. "The fire marshal kept threatening to close us down because we had wall to wall people but everything worked out. We had a great time and I was able to say thank you to some of my most loyal fans."

Tickets were given away on a first come first serve basis at Winans’ Accents By Vickie Winans gift shop in Lathrup Village, MI. "The tickets were gone in an hour and a half," Winans says in disbelief. In fact, fans were lined up and sitting in lawn chairs wrapped around the block three hours before the store opened on the day the tickets were first made available. The Detroit News reporter Kimberly Hayes Taylor recently wrote a glowing article on Winans’ enduring appeal and notes that "She’s a personable shopkeeper who greets visitors with hugs, kisses and her big warm smile."

Behind that smile, Winans has shed plenty of tears. In the last three years, Winans beloved mother Mattie Bowman passed away. She also left Verity Records and went through the trials and tribulations of launching her Destiny Joy record label that was named for the baby girl she miscarried 28 years ago. Her triumphs led her to name the CD "How I Got Over." She says, "God has been good to me. I give Him all the praise. He’s stayed with me and held me up when I couldn’t hold up myself. There are so many great things happening that I just have to say that it’s because of God that I made it over."

Media Contact: Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or carpenterbill@mac.com

Bookings: www.VickieWinans.com

Record label entrepreneur, family man, choirmaster, singer and Little League coach, Troy Sneed wears many hats in his every day life. But, when it comes to his music, he doesn’t veer far from the pulpit. His new CD, In Due Season (Emtro Gospel/Taesis), is his highest charting project yet. The album has debuted at #11 on Billboard’s gospel album sales chart. When asked to comment on this achievement, Sneed smiled and said, " All I can say is "It will come to pass in due season!"

The project features a mix of warm inspirational tunes like the jazzy "It’s My Season" and the soulful "You Remain Faithful." There’s old school churchy tracks like the up-tempo "New Day" and the ballad "Somewhere Listening." The project also includes Sneed’s Top Ten smash "work it Out" and his current single "With You Always" that has broken into the Billboard Hot Gospel Songs Top 20 chart. Then, of course, Sneed rounds the project out with his trademark praise and worship sound on "My Light" and "You remain faithful." Sneed says, "Praise and worship is a big part of my ministry. I think that’s where we are in the body of Christ right now. Those kinds of songs minister to me first. This record is real praise and worship but it’s got that contemporary edge that makes it accessible to people of all ages."

25 years after they first started making music together, brother/sister duo BeBe & CeCe Winans, part of the gospel singing Winans family and one of the most successful gospel-based acts of all time, are joining forces again for their first new music and tours in over a decade.

Check out the new video from the lead single "Close To You".

"Christian" leader, Pastor Steven Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church, called for the death of President Obama in a sermon he gave on August 16. Pastor Steven Anderson’s hateful sermon was in reaction to the President’s position on abortion and in it he suggests that “Obama ought to be aborted.”

The very next day a black man (of all people) from Pastor Anderson’s church, shows up to an Obama event with an AR 15 assault rifle.  Later the man said that he’s proud to be a member of Pastor Anderson’s church.  Watch the video clip below, and listen to Pastors statements about 3 minutes into it.

During the highly anticipated Whitney Houston comeback concert that aired today on Good Morning America (GMA), reporter Robin Roberts shouted "she’s back and better than ever!" Whitney credited her return to her faith in God and her mother.

Many fans kept saying the pop star "never left."

One fan described Houston’s singing as "manna from heaven."

Based on Whitney’s performance today, those statements are debatable.

In the free, standing-room-only concert held in Central Park to promote her new CD, "I Look To You" Whitney was like a soldier returning from battle.  Loved ones and fans greeted her with open arms, ignoring the most obvious scars because they were just happy to see her.

Played out in front of the country in the reality show "Being Bobby Brown," Whitney’s personal war was a battle with drugs and a dysfunctional marriage to ex-husband, R&B singer Bobby Brown that was intimately explored in an exclusive Diane Sawyer interview  in which Whitney talked about drug use and  declared the often joked about phrase "crack is whack."

"I was worried for you," Sawyer who co-hosted the concert with Roberts, told Whitney about their time together seven years ago when the multi-Grammy award winning singer appeared to be at rock bottom.

"Don’t be worried anymore. If you know God then don’t be worried," promptly replied Houston.

When Sawyer asked how she got through the difficult days since the interview, Whitney responded, "My faith, the love of my family, friends, people who care about you."

She said "I Look to You," the title ballad is about her fans and God.

Her voice was strongest, with hints of the young Whitney shining through her vibrato as she belted the song in tribute to her mom Cicey Houston.

"I owe all this to my mom," Houston said of the woman who instilled a strong spiritual foundation in her.

Winded and hoarse for most of the set, in sing-along fashion, she presented a combination of classics and new cuts and her fans appeared to love every less-than-optimal minute of it even though she did not attempt the vocal ascent the she once mastered in hit songs like "Dance with Somebody" or "I Will Always Love You."

An attractive, high-energy, healthy looking 46-year-old, Whitney was present in mind, body, heart and soul, but her vocal range has all but vanished.  Traces of a voice that once belted powerfully spine tingling high notes are gone.

Houston owes her return in part to her fans’ undying loyalty.

"I’m overwhelmed.  Your love, support and prayers meant so much to me," Houston told the adoring crowd about their excitement.

In an impromptu performance of "My Love is your Love" her 16-year-old daughter Bobby Christina came on stage and demonstrated her singing potential.

Before she left the stage, Sawyer and Roberts sang and danced with Houston on "I’m Every Woman."

Whitney is back. Maybe not "better than ever," but certainly better than she has been in recent years.

Today was a preview of Whitney, the artist. On September 14 and 15 in an exclusive unrestricted interview Oprah gets up close with Whitney, the person.  The show is being billed as too big for one hour.

     "I Look to You" is available in stores and online.

When Madea catches sixteen-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home, she decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have: their aunt April. A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off of Raymond, her married boyfriend, April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino, a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April’s basement room. Making amends for his own troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Raymond and the new possibilities of family, faith … and even true love.

A heart lifting piece mixed with Perry’s signature formula of feistiness, love and heart. I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF stars Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Brian White, Hope Olaide Wilson, Adam Rodriguez, Kwesi Nii-Lante Boakye and Frederick Siglar, and features dramatic and musical performances by Gladys Knight, Marvin Winans and Mary J. Blige, who performs an original song penned by chart-topping R&B writer/performer/producer, Ne-Yo.  Due out later this year from Tyler is Why Did I Get Married Part 2.

Copy & Paste Link to View Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHJTHAbTKkw

Gospel legend Albertina Walker will be celebrating her 80th birthday with a two-day gala. A scholarship foundation named in Walker’s honor is hosting the event on August 29th in Chicago at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Special guests will include Yolanda Adams, Tramaine Hawkins, The Caravans, Joe Ligon, Amy Rush and Joshua’s Troop.

A second celebration concert is slated to honor the gospel legend at the Apostolic Church of God, also in Chicago, hosted by Dr. Bobby Jones and Pam Morris. That event will feature gospel icons Revs. Shirley Caesar and Donnie McClurkin with the Clark sisters, to name a few.

“Making His Band” is Sean “Puff Daddy” “Diddy” Combs latest reality show. In this spin-off of Making the Band, Diddy is looking for musicians and singers for his new album. The album is set to be different as Puff Daddy attempts to sing using talk boxes.

I found it interesting that 3 of the final contestants are strongly rooted in the Gospel community. Beginning with Chris Kee who competes for the drummer position. Chris Kee is the Son of Gospel Star John P. Kee. Mike Moore who plays keys/drums, son of the late James Moore. Also making an appearance is Gospel Producer Gerald “Rick” Robinson, who competes for the keyboard position in the band. Rick along with Gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell recently produced Bishop Larry Trotter’s new CD project.

This report broke by Path MEGAzine comes on the heels of CNN’s interview with P.J. Morton, who argues there’s nothing wrong with Gospel artists singing about love. I wonder what Puff Daddy is going to be singing about?   Making His Band airs Mondays at 10est. on MTV.  

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins, has broken her silence about his assault case, and spoken for the first time since her son left Rihanna battered and bruised in February. She speaks openly about the goodness of God, and the promises she made to God concerning her son.  Chris Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation, 6 months community service, anger management classes, and ordered to stay away from singer Rihanna for 5 years.

Chris Brown’s mother Joyce Hawkins Statement:

         I just want to say from the bottom of my heart thank you for your continued support. I’m sorry I wasn’t allowed to speak to anyone as this case was on going. I can now say this has been the most painful moment in my entire life, but knowing that you were still standing by Chris’ side in his time of need made this a little easier for us. Because of all your prayers God brought him through. I just want to say God has never failed me and never will. All moms and dads please stand by your children and pray for their goodness each and everyday. Chris and I love you so much, as the tears fall from my eyes and the pain lingers in my heart I still say thank you God, thank you thank you almighty God. If any of you wonder why I continue to speak of God it’s because I know no other way. I made a promise to him I would never be ashamed of him no matter where I am or who I talk to. You see this whole thing isn’t about Chris it’s about God. He wants to show all of you the goodness of him through Chris. Chris will be addressing all of his fans very soon. We love you so much and so does God. "

Thank you.