Entertainment 4-1-1 7/10/08

Jennifer Hudson's family is pleading with the Oscar winner to slow down in her current relationship. For the past few months, Hudson has been dating reality TV contestant David Otunga a.k.a. Punk from the VH1 reality show I Love New York. Otunga wants to make Hudson his wife, but to her family, this is all too soon. Hudson just got out of a relationship with childhood sweetheart James Peyton, and her family wants her to take her time. Hudson is under Otunga's spell with his curly hair and light eyes. She loves the attention he is giving her, but can she trust him? Does she know enough about him? Let's face it. Just a few months ago, he was on TV claiming his love for Tiffany Pollard a.k.a. New York. Was he just doing it to be on TV? Does he really love Hudson? Will he be a good husband? Hudson has a new album out in September and three new movies over the next year.

Mom! Can You Hear Me! I Need Your Help! Usher had an a-ha moment after The BET Awards. He thought his opening performance would be the show stopper. The one that everybody would talk about the next day, but the exact opposite happened. Everybody was buzzing about Chris Brown and Ne-Yo. Sales for Usher's CD have yet to reach a million copies, and the public relations fiasco following his recent marriage has not helped him. Usher has been reaching out to his mom, Johnetta Patton, who he fired last year. Usher claimed he wanted her to concentrate on being a grandmother to his son, but now he realizes he needs his momma to get his career back on track. So where does Tameka fit in? Homegirl is going to have to fall back and let Momma Patton do her thing. Check out Usher and his son on the new issue of Essence magazine.

Nick Cannon, a.k.a Mr. Mariah Carey, has a message for the haters. He says his marriage to Mariah Carey is the best thing that has ever happened to him. Cannon realizes that he is seen as a flunky who just spends her money, but he says it's his duty to make his wife happy. Carey's friends don't care for Cannon whose nickname is Whipped Nick.

Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry in Rome!!? Hmmmmmmmm! Winfrey is on vacation with longtime friend Gayle King and new found friend Tyler Perry. Stedman is nowhere to be found. Is Perry taking his place? In photos, Perry has been right by Winfrey's side and they appear to be happy. Tyler Perry's new movie, The Family That Preys, comes out September 12th. Oscar Winner Kathy Bates leads an all-star cast that includes Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Robin Givens and Perry himself. At this point in his career, Tyler wants more mainstream acceptance. Next year, he will be co-starring in the new Star Trek movie. Hanging out with Oprah Winfrey is a good way for Perry to achieve his goal.

Wesley Snipes is being allowed to leave the country. Despite his recent tax evasion conviction, a judge has ruled that actor can film two new movies in London and Thailand. Snipes faces a three year prison sentence. He is currently appealing the sentence.

Aretha Franklin's new autobiography, From These Roots, reveals all about the world famous singer. In the book, she talks about her long standing feud with Singer Gladys Knight. The Queen of Soul claims Knight spread lies about her mother leaving the Franklin family. Franklin talks about her love life. She says she knows she's a good catch, but she focused too much on her career to have a successful relationship. She also says she wishes she had a mentor like Berry Gordy to guide her career.

Now that he's a married man, it's time to lose weight. The honeymoon is over and it's time to cut the cards. American Idol Winner Ruben Studdard has gotten his marching orders from his new bride Surata. Mrs. Studdard wants to start a family, and she needs her husband healthy. Studdard currently weights 349 pounds. At his heaviest, he weighed 429 pounds. The Mrs. has put her hubby on a high protein-low carb diet.

Oscar-winning Actor Morgan Freeman is pleading with his wife of 24 years to take him back. The 71-year old actor says he was stunned when his wife confronted him accusing him of having an affair with one of her close friends. Freeman is currently promoting the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight, and he is finding the controversy regarding his marriage distracting. In the new batman movie, Morgan plays the faithful assistant to Batman, played by Actor Christian Bale. There is a lot of anticipation regarding this movie because it is the final film appearance of actor Heath Ledger. He plays "The Joker," and he died of an overdose earlier this year. Freeman can't believe his marriage has fallen apart, and that his wife has chosen to listen to lies over him.

Actress Tasha Smith stole the show in the Tyler Perry movie Why Did I Get Married, and now she is stepping behind the camera to direct her first movie. The movie, Family, will star Bow Wow and Sharon Leal.

The wedding date is set for Actress Malinda Williams ("Bird" from TV's Soul Food) and Rapper D-Nice. The date is Saturday, August 23rd. Williams was most recently seen in the movie First Sunday. She says she has found her soul mate in D-Nice, a.k.a. Derrick Jones. She is ready to be Mrs. Jones. After a tumultuous relationship with actor Mekhi Phifer (they have a young son), her family says they are happy she has found true love.

Will Smith is truly the box office king for the Fourth of July holiday. His latest movie Hancock, where he plays a flawed superhero, took in over $185 million worldwide in box office receipts.

Ebony magazine has unveiled the 25 coolest brothers of all time. The August edition has eight different covers featuring Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama, Denzel Washington, Marvin Gaye, Billy Dee Williams, Jay-Z and Muhammad Ali. Some of the other featured include Don Cheadle, Sidney Poitier, Prince, LL Cool J, Samuel L. Jackson and Gordon Parks, to name a few. The issue is on newsstands now. Al Green and New Edition are going to be profiled in future issues of Jet magazine.

Evander Holyfield is being hauled back into court again. His finances are a mess. He saved his $10 million home from going into foreclosure, but he is still having problems with his child support payments. He has nine children, and one of his baby mommas is claiming that she is owed $9,000 in back child support. She also says payment has stopped on her child's school tuition and their health insurance has been cut off. Holyfield's baby mommas were warned not to expect payments for up to three months as he sorted out his financial problems. But, some of the ladies depended on his money for their livelihood, and now they face evictions from their homes.

Lenny Kravitz says he is no home wrecker. Kravitz says rumors of him having an affair with Alex Rodriguez's wife Cynthia are not true. Kravitz and Rodriguez share the same manager, and he has been friends with Cynthia for years. Kravitz is currently on tour. He says he has worked to rebuild his image, and he doesn't need a scandal like this. Kravitz feels betrayed by his manger, and word has it he is seeking new management. Kravitz says the Rodriguez marriage may be having problems, but he is not the cause of it. Alex Rodriguez stands to lose millions in a divorce from his long suffering wife. Cynthia Rodriguez recently gave birth to their second child, a daughter, and she has accused the Yankee slugger of having an affair with pop star Madonna. Madonna has denied having an affair with the baseball star. Friends of Cynthia Rodriguez believe it was an affair of the heart that led the baseball star to the Kabbalah religion. The Kabbalah religion is known for their famous followers, and word has it they are on the hunt for their next big time donor. Either way A-Rod needs to watch his wallet.

Singer Sisqo of Dru Hill and The Thong Song fame is currently on probation following an arrest for D.U.I. The incident happened late last year in Baltimore, and he also has to pay up to $1,700 in fines.

Victor Willis, the original policeman for the disco group The Village People and co-writer of the classic songs Macho Man and Y.M.C.A. is recovering from vocal chord surgery. Willis has been having vocal problems for most of the year, and he is finally getting help. He hopes to continue touring later this year.

Beyonce will be headlining the 2009 Essence Music Festival next year. Look for a new Beyonce album later this year and a new movie with Idris Elba next February.

Chris Rock is teaming up with Hallmark Cards. Rock will be the voice for a new line of greeting cards that will deal with age, finances, and relationships.

At the movies, it's Meet Dave with Eddie Murphy and Gabrielle Union. In the movie, Murphy plays a spaceship with people living inside his head.

WHAT'S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Sports Wife is desperate to hang onto the celebrity spotlight. She doesn't care how many jump offs her husband has, as long as he takes cares of her and their kids. She loves her lifestyle, and she is refusing to give it up no matter how silly she looks trying to hold on.

This victim of domestic abuse is beginning to realize her earning potential since the unfortunate incident. She was famous before, but now she is world renowned. In addition to helping other battered women, she has seen her earnings triple.

India.Arie is gearing up for her Broadway debut in a revival of the Ntozake Shange classic For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enough. Whoopi Goldberg is producing and opening night is September 8th.

The 5th Annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors takes place in October.