After the recent tragedies with her family, Academy Award winning actress and recording artist Jennifer Hudson is finally making her way back to the spotlight.

It has been reported that she will shot a new music video next week for her second single, “If This Isn’t Love,” from her self-titled debut. She was originally slated to shoot the clip for the video before the murders of her mother, brother and nephew.

I had thought that the promotional trail for Jennifer had come to an end, and understandably so, but I’m glad to see that she’s decided to not stop working on the album.

Jennifer also was nominated for 4 Grammy’s this year, for best R&B album, best female R&B vocal performance, best R&B song for “Spotlight” and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for her duet with Fantasia, “I’m His Only Woman.” Here’s what she had to say about the nominations:

“It’s been a childhood dream of mine to release an album,” she said in a statement, “so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I’m extremely honored and humbled by the nominations.

Good for Jennifer.

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Beyonce was spotted going out of hotel Meurice in Paris, protected by two very aggressive bodyguards. She is in Paris to tape a musical reality show “Star Academy”.

In related news, the singer recently announced the dates for her European tour. Look out for the upcoming music news post with that info. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe for the song, “Once In A Lifetime” which she co-wrote for the Cadillac Records album.

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SISTER ROSETTA THARPE (1915-1973) was one of gospel music’s first superstars, the first gospel performer to record for a major record label and an early crossover from gospel to secular music.

Tharpe became known as the “original soul sister” of recorded music and has been cited as an influence by Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash and Little Richard.

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Rihanna shows off her smiley face nails backstage at Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball held at the 02 Arena Docklands on Wednesday in London, England.

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Teyana Taylor holds up one of her cupcakes during her 18th bday party at the Kush Lounge on Tuesday in NYC.

The Star Trak signee, is ready to kick off ‘09 with a new single entitled, “I Feel Alive (Spinnin’)” ft. Pharrell. Her debut album “From A Planet Called Harlem” will hit stores in March.

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Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith pose with children Willow Smith and Jaden Smith at ‘The Day The Earth Stood Still’ Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on Tuesday in New York City. Little Jaden has a pretty big co-starring role in the film, which hits theaters on Friday.

R&B crooner Avant is back with his fifth album released on his new label, Capitol Records, which hit stores yesterday, December 9th.

Avant acknowledges the singer’s established track record. He says, “I’ve proved my point. The album reflects who I am. I think one of the reasons I’ve been able to enjoy the kind of longevity I’ve had, is that I write songs that are about real-life situations.”

The album’s kick-off single, “♫ When It Hurts” is an impassioned and irresistible plea about the true meaning of unconditional love, produced by the Anonymous Entertainment team of Eric Dawkins and Tony Dixon.

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♫ Brandy - Easy (full) - listen
Just a couple of days after the release of Brandy’s new album, Human, more material from the studio sessions have leaked. Although this song doesn’t really fit in with the overall direction of the new album, I actually like the sound of this. To me, it really doesn’t sound like Brandy on some parts, but there some runs where it reassures me that, “Yeah, only Brandy…”

NOTE: Correction have been made - my initial hunch was right, and it’s not Brandy after all. Thanks guys!

♫ Sophia Fresh - Elevator Music (full) - REMOVED
Not too long ago, we did a hot or not selection about this new group, Sophia Fresh. Check out this new track, “Elevator Music,” which isn’t as impressive as the Kanye single. The track finds the girls singing in auto-tune. I must admit, from the few songs that I’ve heard from them, I’m a little confused as to what their music direction is. I hope their single with Kanye gets some promo, ’cause it’s not that bad of a song.

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Guess who was spotted lunching with Ivana Trump on Madison Ave. Tuesday afternoon? Hint: She filed for divorce earlier this year.

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Oprah Winfrey speaks on on her new weight issues in the Januaray issue of O magazine. According to the article, she is now 200lbs, a 40 pound weight gain from just 3 years ago.

“I’m embarrassed … I can’t believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I’m still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, ‘How did I let this happen again? I didn’t just fall of the wagon. I let the wagon fall on me.”

Oprah’s current BMI — a measure of body fat based on height and weight — of 31.8, puts her in the obese category. Obesity increases your risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes and many other serious health problems.

For Oprah, who ran a marathon in 1994 and co-authored the 1996 best-seller “Make the Connection: Ten Steps To A Better Body — And A Better Life” with fitness and health guru Bob Greene, the battle of the bulge is one of frustration.

“I definitely wasn’t setting an example,” she says in her article. “I was talking the talk, but I wasn’t walking the walk.”