Yaya DaCosta to portray icon Whitney Houston in Lifetime's biopic

Yaya DaCosta has been tapped to portray the legendary Whitney Houston.

(Photo Credit:  Rommel Demano/Getty Images)

The wait is finally over.  The Huffington Post reports today that model and actress YaYa DaCosta, 31, has been selected to play the role of the late singer Whitney Houston on Lifetime Network’s upcoming biopic.  The movie, as yet untitled, is scheduled to air sometime in 2015 and will be actress Angela Bassett’s first turn at directing.

The choice of DaCosta to star as the beloved Houston is already causing negative backlash and critical questions.  Many on social media are fearful that she won’t be able to do the role justice because she is known more for modeling, rather than acting.  (Continue reading full story here.)

From 'Say My Name' to 'Say Yes'; Destiny's Child reunites on gospel song

Destiny's Child, seen here performing for the 2013 Super Bowl

halftime show, released a gospel song Wednesday.

(Photo Credit:  Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Well Hallelujah, some good news for the ladies of former power group Destiny’s Child.  When Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland joined Beyoncé Knowles onstage for an electric set during the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show, fans were hyped that the group was finally getting back together.  It wasn’t to be at that time; however the divas dropped another tease Wednesday with the release of “Say Yes”.

Don’t grab your miniskirts in glee and dash out to the clubs just yet.  The masters of reinvention have surprised us again.  “Say Yes” is actually a gospel song.  It is a remake of a Nigerian hymn.  This version is a high-energy, drum-filled song that promises to have the church ushers dancing in the aisles. (Continue reading full story here.)

It's no fairytale; Imagine Dragons tie with Lorde for 12 Billboard nominations

First time Billboard nominees Imagine Dragons tied with Lorde for the lead

with 12 nominations each.

(photo credit:  Theo Wargo)

The Billboard Music Awards, set to air May 18 on ABC, broke the names of the 2014 nominated artists just a few hours ago today.  Imagine Dragons and Lorde lead the pack with a whopping 12 nominations each.
Top Artist

• Miley Cyrus
• Imagine Dragons
• Bruno Mars
• Katy Perry
• Justin Timberlake

Another newer, less traditional category which many artists covet is the social media category, indicating how well the performer is reaching out to and interacting with the masses.  Almost better than just straight stats and numbers, this category shows to what extent an artist has become ingrained in the minds of listeners as a relevant part of their personal and social lives.
Top Social Artist

• Justin Bieber
• Miley Cyrus
• One Direction
• Rihanna
• Taylor Swift

Another sign of the changing times is that it’s not just about the amount of albums or CDs sold, but more and more artists are vying for having their music streamed the most.  It is a sure sign of your popularity when fans constantly crave your music and want it streaming through every techie device in their homes and cars.
Top Streaming Song (Audio)

• Daft Punk Featuring Pharrell Williams – “Get Lucky”
• Imagine Dragons – “Radioactive”
• Lorde – “Royals”
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton  - “Can’t Hold Us”
• Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams – “Blurred Lines”

Here’s a fun treat to hold you over until the big show.  Take a quick trip down the musical memory lane and compare the big winners of Billboard Music Awards 2013 with today’s list of nominees.  The big winners and who’s not even nominated this year may just surprise you.

Move over NCAA; Steve Harvey just made the Hall of Fame

Steve Harvey, pictured with wife Marjorie, was inducted today into the NAB Hall of Fame

(photo credit:  Mark Davis/Getty Images)

Next to the late, great James Brown, Steve Harvey may be the hardest working man in show business.  Harvey, who started as a stand-up comedian in the late 1980’s, has gone from playing small-town juke joints where there were more hecklers than audience, to obtaining one of the most coveted honors a broadcaster can achieve.  Congratulations are in order because just a few hours ago today Steve Harvey was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Hall of Fame.

Harvey proved he had that special something when he served as one of the longest running hosts of “Show Time at the Apollo”.  Currently, he is host of one of the most-loved game shows “The Family Feud," has a popular daytime talk show “The Steve Harvey Show," and eases the morning commute for millions with “The Steve Harvey Morning Show”.  In May 2013 Harvey was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Harvey joins some illustrious company with his induction into the NAB Hall of Fame.  Past inductees include Jack Benny, Paul Harvey, Orson Welles, Ronald Regan, Wolfman Jack, Tom Joyner, and Betty White, among many others.  A complete list of past inductees can be found on the NAB website.

And Harvey has no plans to slow down.  Be on the lookout for part II of his hilarious book-turned-move “Think Like a Man II”, scheduled for release June 20, 2014.  You can get a sneak peek at the trailer here.

The Taxman: You Can Run But You Can't Hide

Photo Credit:  Courtesy of Google Images

Mention the word taxes and some people slip into instant disdain mode. Others pop their eyes like a deer caught in headlights, afraid that the tax boogeyman has found them at last. Still others are just fed up with the complex taxation laws of this country.

Count rock star Tina Turner in with this last bunch. Ms. Turner has always been known as a world class jet-setter; hitting far-flung spots on the globe like most of us would hit the corner deli. Well Ms. Turner has finally made it official.

She has lived in Switzerland since 1995, and the U.S. Embassy has confirmed that she has voluntarily given up her U.S. Citizenship and all rights thereto affixed. While love moved her there to be with her then-boyfriend, now husband Erwin Bach; it turned out to be the tax system that is keeping her there.

Not just regular taxes, but the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Enacted by the IRS in 2010, FATCA has been slowly rolling out under the radar and is just now becoming a force to be reckoned with. Read here to see how the feelers FATCA has been putting out are finally coming to fruition and causing a ruckus among many that once placed their security in offshore accounts.

What then shall we say? Good riddance if someone doesn’t want to be a citizen? Bad on the IRS for running people away, including American Icons? We would all escape taxes if we could? Or we are proud to pay our taxes because it keeps the country running? I tend toward the latter group, however I do think the system needs to be revamped because they take entirely too much out of every dollar earned. What say you?

Oprah’s Interview with Bobbi Kristina and Family

I just watched Oprah Winfrey's interview with Bobbi Kristina (Whitney Houston's daughter), Gary Houston (Whitney's brother), and Pat Houston (Whitney's sister-in-law).  It was a very emotional program.  I went into it with a sense of apprehension mixed with "I can't miss this".  I must say that I was very relieved with the outcome.  Here's why.