THE QUEEN OF SOUL TO MARRY HER KING

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, recently confirmed stories that she plans to marry her longtime friend William “Willie Wilkerson.” And it’s not because she’s pregnant she jokingly said. Franklin who has been married before to Ted White and actor Glynn Turman (A different World, The Wire) has said in previous interviews that she believes in the institution of marriage. This third marriage could be the charm for the powerhouse vocalist from Detroit.

No date for the nuptial has been set. However, Franklin said she is leaning toward a Miami summer wedding in June or July.Franklin who has won 18 Grammys and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2009 is 69 years-old. She has recorded such hits as Respect, Natural Woman, Dr. Feelgood, Chain of Fools and a two gospel albums One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism and Amazing Grace.

She is considering Donna Karan, Valentino and Vera Wang as possible designer of her wedding gown.The Queen of Soul is also an adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock singer. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her a top its "100 Greatest Singers of All

Time" list, as well as the ninth greatest artist of all time. In addition to her competitive Grammys won, she has won two honorary Grammys. She has 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100: "Respect"  (1967) and "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987), a duet with George Michael.

Since 1961, she has scored a total of 45 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Between 1967 and 1982 she had 10 No.1 R&B albums—more than any other female artist. In 1987, Franklin became the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Franklin performed for President Barack Obama during his inauguration, when the hat she wore received more attention than her singing. Following the inauguration, the Smithsonian Institution requested the Queen of Soul allow them to add the hat to their collection of iconic pieces.

NO BABY FOR BEYONCE ...YET

Contrary to rumours running around the Internet, Beyonce has NOT given birth to her baby. Beyonce and husband Jay-Z were seen at Buttermilk Channel – a restaurant in Brooklyn – on New Year’s Eve. A source told “Us Weekly” that the couple “shared a cozy meal for two”, eating fried chicken and oysters.

Over the past week numerous rumours have been circulating stating that the 30 year old mom to be had reserved a floor at the hospital for the birth and that Beyonce had already given birth to a little girl.

Beyonce revealed that she was pregnant during the “American Music Awards” last November by showing off her small “baby bump”. When the announcement was made official, Beyonce and Jay-Z would only announce that the baby was due “in the spring”.

TOP-FORM SERENA WILLIAM OUT OF LOVE WITH TENNIS

Serena Williams admitted she has fallen out of love with tennis but she recorded a spectacular comeback win over Chanelle Scheepers in the first round of the Brisbane International on Monday scoring 6-2,6-3..

Williams fought hard at times with her first serve but overwhelmed the South African with her dominant firepower smashing down seven aces in the 68-minute victory. The 30-year-old Williams told the media that she was cutting back her schedule in 2012 for she would be preparing for life after tennis.

The reason was she just wants to be able to do other things that she wanted to do and expand over it. With this in mind it would help her keep motivated.She said it’s not that she had fallen out of love with tennis, in fact she can’t live without it. She explained that there is a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it. Actually she never like sports she said, and never understood how she became an athlete.

Source: MSN

RICK ROSS TO RELEASE "RICH FOREVER MIXTAPE" ON FRIDAY

The Bawse impacts this Friday. Rick Ross is back to releasing new material, as the Maybach Music Group head has revealed that his upcoming mixtape, Rich Forever, will drop on Friday (January 6) at 3:05 PM EST.

The Bawse originally announced the title of the mixtape last week via his Twitter account.

In light of his health complications last year, Ross was forced to delay the release of his highly-anticipated upcoming studio album, God Forgives, I Don't.

The mixtape's official cover is pictured above.

KATE AND WILLIAM SPEND NEW YEARS IN A LAP REINDEER TEPEE

According to British tabloids, newly married Prince William and Kate spent their first New Years celebration together as husband and wife with the Middletons in a tent used by the reindeer herders of Lapland. Their reindeer skin teepee called a Kata was rented by Kate’s sister Pippa from an upscale events planning company for the New Year’s Eve party she hosted in the backyard of her family home in Berkshire.

Earlier, the young couple’s New Year’s plans were disclosed as being a quiet weekend with William’s father, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla in Scotland. However, Wills and Kate were instead spotted earlier in the day by locals and were playing with the dog belonging to Kate's parents in their garden in Berkshire, in the village of Bucklebury.

But back to the Kata tent, it looks a lot like a Native American tepee and has an opening at the top as a vent to let out smoke. Traditionally, Katas are used by the semi-nomadic Sami of Lapland as portable homes, and also for specialized uses such as smoking fish. The Kata rented by Pippa, who has some experience as a party planner, was probably a man-made version that offers seating for more than 100 people and cost around £3,000 for the occasion.

PHOTOS: NIGERIANS PROTEST FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL

KATY PERRY IN A BIKINI IN HAWAII, AND SINGLE

Singer Katy Perry spent a Christmas single in Hawaii, where she did not fail to show off her hot body in bikini. Without her husband, British actor Russell Brand, the interpreter is relaxed in the North Pacific waters.

Apparently, marriage is wrong: according to published Hollywood Life, while Katy is on the island, the British comedian would have been discovered in a pub in southern

England with her friend David Baddiel.

Moreover, the singer would come to Kauai in the private plane of the two but left home wedding ring, and a person close to the couple said "Katy is a person bubbly and happy while Russell is not so happy in life real, is not so happy or lucky and is running with it, is too negative. "

Trouble in paradise?

NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS CONDEMNED TO HANGING FOR HOMICIDE ESCAPES FROM PRISON

Actress Rabi Ismail who was condemned to hanging for homicide has escaped from a prison in Hadejia, Jigawa State where she was awaiting her sentence. The popular actress in Kannywood, which is the hausa version of Nollywood was convicted for manslaughter in July of her boyfriend and fellow artiste and was sentenced to death by hanging by Kano high court .

A senior prison officer in Jigawa confirmed Ismail’s escape to newsmen , said that the actress was awaiting execution when she was found missing and the State Prison Service has issued a search order for her capture.

The Comptroller of Prisons in the state also disclosed, “The escapee was accused of murder and a high court in Kano ruled that she was guilty and sentenced her accordingly, Six people including three female wardens have been arrested and are being investigated for the mysterious disappearance of the convict.”

Rabi Ismail was said to have drowned her boyfriend at the Bagauda Lake Resort in Kano state

TOP ACTOR EMEKA IKE HONOURED WITH CHIEFTANCY TITLE

Emeka Ike, is arguably one of the best actors in the Nollywood industry and has no doubt carved a nitche for himself having featured in over 100 movies and playing lead roles.

The talented actor was on Wednesday 28, December 2011 honored with a Chieftaincy title, at his home town by the traditional ruler of Egbonike, in Anambra State.

Still basking in the euphoria of the honour, Emeka said; “ I was given a Chieftancy title on December 28, by the people of Egbonike, in Anambra State. This is one honour

I cherish so much.”

Congrats Man !

LADY GAGA TO JOIN REVELERS RINGING IN NEW YEAR IN TIMES SQUARE

Lady Gaga (25) got the most important task in New York's New Year's Eve transmitted. You should set in Times Square by pressing a button the crystal ball in motion."What an honor for a New Yorker," the singer was happy late Thursday at the Short message service Twitter.

Lady Gaga follows in the footsteps of former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary and boxing legend Muhammad Ali.The New Year's party in Times Square is traditionally attended by more than one million people. In addition, hundreds of millions to watch on TV. The music channel MTV, according to Lady Gaga is not too long after New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to stay in the stands. They have a commitment to continued performances New Year's Eve in their hometown, they said.

The glittering ball that descends in traditionally the last 60 seconds of the year over the lights of Times Square, is this year even richer, even more difficult than in the past. According to the city she was equipped with 288 new crystals, which represent a human chain around the globe, symbolic of global friendship. With the recent addition to decorating the 5.4-ton crystal ball now with 2688 triangles. They are lit by 32 256 LED lights.