Times Square Gossip

Aretha Franklin   I do not know what to say about Aretha Franklin. I photographed her so many times over the years.  I remember her on The Rolonda Watts show. We filmed a cooking segment and drank champagne backstage. We had so much fun. Then there were the parties at Denise Rich's penthouse overlooking Central Park. I remember one night just laughing up a storm with Aretha. I have so many memories and they are good memories. RIP Aretha!

Mariah Carey E! NEWS --  Mariah Carey Jokes That Aretha Franklin Would "Not Approve" of Her New Year's Eve Performance Sometimes you have to power through! Speaking with E! News' Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet at the 2018 Golden Globes, Mariah Carey opened up about her New Year's Rockin' Eve performance. While it was a far cry from the technical difficulties she experienced at the beginning of 2017, she admits that the queen of soul may not have approved. "Let me not get into past moments, but it was a great feeling to be in New York," Mariah explained to Ryan. "I was so happy that we shared that moment together." While she may have made it look like a piece of cake, it's no easy feat to perform in those freezing conditions. "People loved it and it was not easy," Ryan complimented the singer. "I think you said, ‘Aretha would not approve of singing in those temperatures.'" ...

**** THE GLORIOUS CORNER Story By: G. H. HARDING **** Courteney Cox Matthew Perry NO MORE FRIENDS --- Unfortunately, the cast of Friends will not be there for you anymore — Courteney Cox put a blunt end to any dreams of a possible reunion in the near future, telling David Letterman on The Late Show Monday night, "It's not gonna happen." In classic Monica form, Cox said she's been trying to get the cast back together for a dinner, but in the 10 years since the hit show ended, she still hasn't been able to get everyone together. "I can get the girls to come, maybe Matthew Perry. Matt LeBlanc canceled last time, right at the last minute. [David] Schwimmer lives here [New York City], so it's just not going to happen." Even a possible movie seems out of the question; with Cox pointing out that the entire show was shot in the characters' apartments, insinuating no one wants to see a 90-minute episode of that. Letterman did, ...

**** ATLANTIC CITY GOSSIP **** Aretha Franklin Trump Taj Mahal presents Aretha Franklin in the Arena at Trump Taj Mahal on Saturday, October 6, 2012. Show time is at 8pm. Ticket prices are $125, $75 & $60. Tickets can be obtained by either calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or visiting on line at www.ticketmaster.com . For six decades, Aretha Franklin has been a beacon of creative originality. She is revered and loved with a passion reserved only for the immortals. She is considered the great voice of her people. And those people--black and white, European and Asian, Latin and African—all acknowledge her royalty and permanent place in this planet’s cultural history.  Since the moment Aretha stepped to the pulpit at her father’s famed New Bethel Baptist Church as a young girl singing in the great gospel tradition, the world has recognized her as a musical miracle. Her professional career has had three dramatic turning points, one more ex...

Aretha Franklin Author MARK BEGO did an in-store last week at San Francisco’s Alexander Book Company store, for his two current releases, WHITNEY HOUSTON: THE SPECTACULAR RISE AND TRAGIC FALL OF THE WOMAN WHOSE VOICE INSPIRED A GENERATION (Skyhorse Publishing) and ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE QUEEN OF SOUL (Skyhorse Publishing) . Mark was there with Brian Summers, from B.S. Productions (channeling his inner Whitney!)and, Bernard Henderson from the Alexander Book Company. Photo By: RD/Dziekan/Retna  

**** AMERICAN IDOLS ****  THE QUEEN OF SOUL Celebrity-author Mark Bego, who currently has Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul (Skyhorse Publishing), out in the bookstores, commented recently on the possibility of Franklin joining TV’s American Idol: “Aretha Franklin has long been revered as the epitome in the terms of ‘singing icon’ and ‘musical legend,’ so on one hand her volunteering to join the cast of ‘American Idol’ seems to be a brilliant and refreshing idea that would assuredly interpret into ‘press worthiness’ and ‘viewer anticipation.’ 

**** TIMES SQUARE GOSSIP TELEVISION **** Aretha Franklin The “TV Land Awards 2012,” honoring classic television, film and music icons, will return to New York City and be hosted by Kelly Ripa (nationally syndicated talk show “LIVE! With Kelly”), it was announced today by Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. Ripa previously hosted the show in 2007. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the awards show will honor powerhouse songstress Aretha Franklin with the Music Icon Award and will be held at the Lexington Avenue Armory at Gramercy Park on Saturday, April 14th. The “TV Land Awards 2012” will air on Sunday, April 29th at 9:00pm ET/PT. More honorees will be announced in coming weeks. “We are ecstatic to welcome back Kelly as she reprises her role as host of the ‘TV Land Awards’ this year for our 10th annual celebration,” said Jones. “Her energy, enthusiasm and love of television make her the perfect person to lead the evening on the occasion of our 10th Anniversary.” The successf...

**** WALTER MCBRIDE IN WASHINGTON DC **** Aretha Franklin Stevie Wonder Aretha Franklin And William Wilkerson B. Smith Gabrielle Union Debra L. Lee And Montez J. Anderson Paxton Baker And Rachel Baker Michael Eric Dyson Sally Stiebel And Mark Ein Vicki Free Luke James Dhani Jones Ann Jordan And Vernon Jordan Beverly Kearney Erika Liles And Kevin Liles Vincent Orange Demaurice Smith Tonya Lewis Lee And Spike Lee Marilee Fiebig With TJ Holmes TJ Holmes along with Stevie Wonder, Demaurice Smith, Luke James, B. Smith, Aretha Franklin And William Wilkerson, Vicki Free, Spike Lee and others, attended the BET Honors 2012 Pre-Honors dinner at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, in Washington, DC. Photos By: Walter McBride / WM Photography / Retna Ltd.

**** THE WEB GOSSIP **** The guy or girl that writes this column is a very big industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous, but wants to write about all the headlines happening in Hollywood and the Music Industry. **** Al Pacino YOU DON'T KNOW JACK -- HBO's latest movie treatment "You Don't Know Jack", the backstory to Jack Kevorkian is screened tonight at NY's Ziegfeld Theatre. Expect Soprano-Vince Curatola; stars Al Pacino; Susan Sarandon; and, Danny Huston front and center. Levinson, one of my all-time favorite directors (“Diner,” “Rain Man,” "Wag The Dog," "Good Morning Vietnam") has reportedly produced another gripping epic. More on this next week. **** Kevin Eubanks EUBANKS BYE BYE – With Kevin Eubanks exiting Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” on May 28 after 18 years, word is that his replacement will be none other than Rickey Minor from American idol, will be tapped. NBC said today that Minor will make ...

Aretha Franklin Superstars Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson will be inducted into the Apollo Theater’s Hall of Fame in New York City. The late King of Pop and the Queen of Soul will be named Apollo Legends at their gala on June 14th. Jackson launched his career with the Jackson 5 at the Apollo’s Amateur Night in the late 1960s. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony will also be honored at the star studded event for their humanitarian work. Photo By: RD/Dziekan/Retna

Aretha Franklin The Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin performed at the NOKIA Theatre Times Square in New York City last night. The music icon brought down the house, singing her most famous hits. Photo By: RD / Dziekan / Retna Digital

Christie Brinkley Rosie Perez William Wilkerson Jr. And Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin and her boyfriend William Wilkerson Jr. walk to the Ross School to prepare for her concert the other day in East Hampton, New York. Aretha looked smart in a shiny pastel blue skirt suit accessorized with a pearl necklace, and she walked arm in arm with her beau as they headed into the famed school. Also spotted watching the hit concert was actress Rosie Perez who was all smiles for our Buzz Foto photographer. Supermodel Christie Brinkley was also seen dancing the night away and enjoying a nice dinner. Photos By: Iris Zimmerman/BuzzFoto

**** THE HAMPTON'S **** THE ART FOR LIFE GALA **** Aretha Franklin And Katrina Peebles Russell Simmons With Katrina And Don Peebles Real Estate Developer and Author Don Peebles with his wife Katrina, hosted the pre-party for Russell Simmon’s Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” ART FOR LIFE gala at their Bridgehampton estate. Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin was in attendance and danced the night away with hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and guests to her famed songs. Recently Don and Katrina Peebles hosted and underwrote the ART FOR LIFE gala at their ultra luxury development, The Bath Club, in Miami Beach. That evening Peebles Corporation CEO, Don Peebles was honored for his immense efforts and philanthropic work to create entrepreneurial workshops for youth in conjunction with his books entitled, The Peebles Principles and The Peebles Path to Real Estate Wealth, being released this September. Other honorees included, Grammy Award winning artists, John Leg...

The Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin is pissed off at Beyonce for giving Tina Turner her Queen of Soul title at the Grammy Awards last Sunday. The legend, who was honored with the Grammy MusiCares Person of The Year award, was shocked when Beyonce introduced her duet partner as the Queen of Soul. Franklin is known throughout the world at the Queen, and she felt more than a little snubbed. And, in a brief statement, Franklin snaps, "I am not sure of whose toes I may have stepped on or whose ego I may have bruised between the Grammy writers and Beyonce, however I dismissed it as a cheap shot for controversy."

Aretha Franklin Singing legend Aretha Franklin is to become the fourth recipient of the National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People Vanguard prize at the 39th annual Image Awards.The honor is given to stars whose "groundbreaking work" increases "understanding and awareness of social and racial issues". Past recipients are Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kramer and Prince. Franklin will get her award at the Image Awards on February 14th. Photo By: James Edstrom

Andrew Borrok with Michelle Rodriguez Debra Messing with Polo winner Debra Messing and Reggie Jackson with Polo teams Opening day at the Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge at JetOne Jets field was one of the best so far with over 2,300 guests. Host Debra Messing was just one of the many celebrities that attended, including, Aretha Franklin, B Smith, Beth Ostrosky, Emmy winner Rita Cosby, Page Six icon Richard Johnson, Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, Debra Messing, James Lipton, Jeffrey Chodorow, Katie Lee Joel, Kelly Klein, Kim Raver, Leven Rambin, Nacho Figueras, Ralph Lauren, Reggie Jackson, Samantha Cole, Vito Schnabel, and Wilmer Valderrama. Other guests included Michelle Rodriguez with real estate mogul/chef Andrew Borrok, Madame Tongs and Prime 103 restaurant owner Jean-Luc Kleefield, Biba Boutique owner Barbara Blatt, Dr. Andrew Mark Klapper, Celebrity Trainer Radu, Nello Summertimes Nello Balan, and Core Development Group CEO Josh Guberman. Rita Cosby with Richard Johnson and J...