T2T ARTS!! ENTERTAINMENT!! EVENTS!!

By Tiffany N. Ramsey

Shirley MacLaine, 76, recently appeared on Oprah and offered a revealing and at times shocking look into her life. MacLaine, who is promoting her twelfth book, I'm Over All That And Other Confessions, was incredibly candid and spoke on a variety of topics that included: love, sex, and why she doesn’t attend funerals.

MacLaine’s Hollywood career has spanned five decades and has given her the opportunity to play a multitude of interesting, comedic, complex, and award winning roles. Some of my favorites include; Terms of Endearment (1983) in which MacLaine played loving mother Aurora Greenway, and later won an Oscar for, the delightfully grumpy Weezer, in Steel Magnolias (1989), Doris Mann, the self absorbed screen star in competition with her daughter (Meryl Streep) in Postcards from the Edge (1990). In addition to film, MacLaine has been very successful as an author. Her previous books have sold more than 20 million copies and often chronicle her beliefs on spirituality and UFO’s.

While Shirley is often criticized for her outspoken, New Age thinking, she has Oprah Winfrey in her corner. "She's been criticized a lot, but I think she has been so misunderstood," Oprah says. "[She is] one of my greatest teachers."

Class was definitely in session on Oprah’s couch. Among her many confessions, Shirley admitted that while she wasn’t into “sexcapades,” she did try it once. "I had three people in one day. It was on a political campaign, where everybody was doing the same thing," she said, laughing. "I just didn't want to be left out." MacLaine, who was married for 30 years before divorcing, stated that she and her husband, businessman Steve Parker, had an open relationship and both were allowed to have affairs. MacLaine said, she has had "an awful lot of lovers.”

MacLaine also told Winfrey that she often fell for the leading men she worked with, although she wasn't attracted to Jack Lemmon, her costar in The Apartment, because he was too nice, or Jack Nicholson, whom she starred opposite in Terms of Endearment, because he was too dangerous. She did however name actor Robert Mitchum and French movie star Yves Montand as men that she had fallen for. These days however, MacLaine would rather live with her dog, Terry. "I'd rather have a good, funny, loyal dog than a man," she wrote in her book.

Another interesting point MacLaine touched on, was that of reincarnation. Shirley believes the soul is everlasting, and says she does not attend funerals—in her belief system, no one ever dies. "Nobody's dead, so why am I going to a funeral?" she says. MacLaine believes that instead of dying, people shed their bodies and literally pass on. "[You] go to another level of understanding until you decide to come back to the schoolroom again—Earth," she says. "It could be that you decide to reincarnate on another planet. That's why we're so interested in star nations and extraterrestrials and so forth, because we probably had experiences there and it's in our memory system."

MacLaine certainly isn’t afraid to give us something to think or talk about and I am defiantly intrigued by her and will be putting this book on my reading list for the summer. Perhaps an editorial review of her latest effort says it best, “An unabashed seeker of truth and unrepentant free spirit, Shirley looks squarely at a world that can irritate, confuse, and provoke her, but that can also delight her with its beauty, humor, and future promise. Reading I’m Over All That will make you feel you have been reunited with an old friend who tells it like it is but never takes herself too seriously. Shirley MacLaine may be over all that, but this irresistible book ensures that we will never get over her.” 

PHOTO SOURCE: passportmagazine.com, borders.com, oprah.com

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     If you haven't experienced Tocarra Hamilton, R&B Singer and Songwriter, then you are truly in for a thrill-ride of soulful music, filled with a touch of hip-hop influences. To say that she is talented is an understatement. This 4’11” woman packs a powerful punch, with both her voice and stunning beauty that stops you in your tracks and makes you look and listen. Tocarra, calls Atlanta, Georgia her home but this Milwaukee born girl, has experienced more than a taste of what the world has to offer.

      A perfectionist of her craft, Tocarra, is an outstanding writer and recently received recognition for her writing abilities by ASCAP (ASCAP Writers Session Live). Top producers like Rico Love (Usher, Marques Houston & Omarion ), Nitti (Yung Joc, T.I. & Bow Wow), and Great Scott (Chris Brown) have all had the pleasure of working with her. Tocarra is that boss chick! With an independent label under her belt, she has managed to make things happen and has used her business savvy and creativity to collaborate with a number of artists to include: Young Dro, Lil' Scrappy, CYHI Da Prynce, Rocko and 8-Ball. Her most recent accomplishment includes her feature on Usher's newest album, Raymond vs. Raymond, the song entitled Daddy's Home (Hey Daddy), which topped the Billboard Charts at number 3. She also collaborated with world renowned rapper Pitbull, and that single is scheduled to hit the streets next month.

      With all of the success that Tocarra, has had – she is particularly proud of her work with young girls. This past Summer Tocarra, traveled to Biloxi, MS to perform and speak to over five thousand teen girls at the annual Saving Our Sisters community event held at the Coast Coliseum. It is an event supporting abstinence, education and positive influences of young girls. Tocarra, also travels to Raleigh, North Carolina in support of the Music 4 Hope Foundation as their Music Ambassador, to give her time and talents to its fundraising efforts in support of families with children facing Cancer and other life-threatening diseases. She works locally in Georgia with the Cobb County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association to support blended families and to show adoption in a positive light. In June, Tocarra will assist in the launch of a local campaign in continued support of foster families.

      Tocarra, manages to position herself well and makes business moves that will not only put her at the top of her game, they will help her create a brand that will make everyone wonder where she came from and where she's been all our lives. Having just completed the recording of her reality show, Make a Way, and helping to create a clothing line for petite women, The House of Van Miller, Tocarra Hamilton is definitely an artist to watch. She says, “My motto is I am Tocarra, and I am music. I feel that because music touches everything that lives and when I sing, I'm living through everything.”

As the co-host of Ion Media Networks television show Inner City Gospel, I had the honor of covering Gospel and Christian Music’s biggest night of the year! On April 20th the 42nd Annual Dove Awards was celebrated at Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox Theater. The Gospel Music Association’s (GMA’s) bold step to hold this year’s Dove Awards outside of Nashville for the very first time, proved to be a huge success. This decision follows a contract renewal with Atlanta-based network, GMC, which has broadcast the Dove Awards for the past four years. The GMA serves as the face and voice for the Gospel/Christian music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more.

Although this year’s Dove Awards was void of the traditional week long series of events known as “Gospel Music Week”, the people of Atlanta stepped in and partnered with the GMA to provide several Dove Awards showcases and parties leading up to the big night. Everyone from “The C-Room” (Forest Park Christian Club) founder & Pastor, Sergio Croom who was honored by the GMA Board, to a myriad of other Christian event promoters out of Nashville, provided a platform for both major and independent artists to share their message of hope and love.

Another first for the GMA was selecting a non-musical act to host this year’s awards show. TV host and Comedienne Sherri Shepherd was chosen for the task and she delivered. Sherri captivated the audience with her charm and quick wit while genuinely appearing to enjoy the performances. Chris Tomlin and the Passion Artists started out the evening with a Praise and Worship sing-a-long of “Our God.” Christian Rock band Third Day performed their single “Children of God,” which represented hope as they were joined by Mark Hall of Casting Crowns and Steven Curtis Chapman to honor Chapman and his wife Mary Beth’s Ministry, SHOW HOPE with the GMC UPLIFT SOMEONE award. The legendary Kenny Rogers and Point Of Grace finished with a standing ovation. This kicked off a night of explosive collaborations with a memorable highlight being “The Singing Pastors.” Bishop Paul S. Morton, Marvin Sapp, Smokey Norful, Deitrick Haddon, Donald Lawrence & Bishop Darrell Hines delivered a moving performance of the song “Undivided” which spoke volumes about the importance of unity and love. However, the most moving moment of the evening was when Marvin Sapp dedicated his award to the memory of his late wife. There was not a dry eye in the house. Kirk Franklin set the Fox Theater on fire with his high energy closing that rounded out an evening of performances that ranged from country to hip-hop to contemporary gospel, rock and pop, all representing the uplifting message of Gospel and Christian music. For a complete listing of this year’s winners visit http://www.gospelmusic.org/files/Doves/dovewinners2011.pdf. The Dove Awards will air throughout the year on GMC or visit www.watchgmctv.com for show times.

by Tiffany N. Ramsey

2011 is turning out to be a great year for Reese Witherspoon, 35, and it’s only the beginning. New film and TV projects, and a new hubby have given this Hollywood Hottie a lot to smile about.

Witherspoon has made it clear that she is proud of her Southern upbringing, and has been quoted as saying that it gave her, “a sense of family and tradition" and taught her about "being conscientious about people's feelings, being polite, being responsible and never taking for granted what you have in your life."

Watching Reese, I always thought that she seemed like the girl you could, just be great friends with, while totally being yourself. Her ability to connect with an audience on such a personal level, has made her one of the highest-paid actresses in the American film industry.

Who can forget her portrayal of the innocent Annette Hargrove, in Cruel Intentions or her hilarious take on the ambitious Elle Woods, in Legally Blonde, the musically inclined, June Carter Cash, in Walk the Line, opposite Joaquin Phoenix, in which she won an Oscar, and let’s not forget her turn as the naive Nicole Walker, in the thriller Fear, alongside Mark Wahlberg.

I was delighted to see that Reese has been making waves lately. Recently, she made a hilarious cameo on After Lately, Chelsea Handler’s new mockumentary based show. Witherspoon guest-starred as herself and after befriending the Lately staff, proves to be a bit too bubbly and perky for them to handle. "We want her gone!" demands one of staffers, to which Chelsea replies, "She makes me happy, and she's nice, something none of us have ever been to each other in the last two years." Much to the dismay of the staff, Witherspoon overhears the entire conversation and as one can imagine, things get pretty heated and hilarious.

If you missed Reese’s comedic appearance Lately, she will be starring in the upcoming movie, Water for Elephants, based on the bestselling, critically acclaimed novel by Sara Gruen. Witherspoon stars opposite Robert Pattinson (Edward Cullen, Twilight Sagas). The movie takes place during the Great Depression and follows Jacob (Pattinson), a veterinary student that joins a traveling circus and cares for the circus “menagerie.” It is there that he meets Marlena (Witherspoon), a charismatic circus trainer and Rosie, an elephant that is thought to be untrainable, until Jacob realizes a way to reach her. The drama is about beating the odds and finding life long love in a world where even love is a luxury. A similar parallel to Witherspoon’s real life, minus the part about luxuries of course. 

On March 26th, Reese wed CAA agent and beau Jim Toth, 40, in an intimate “country-elegant” ceremony. According to People magazine, Witherspoon wore a custom-designed Monique Lhuillier blush-hued gown with a Chantilly lace corset bodice and full tulle A-line skirt. The gown was adorned with a double-face silk satin ribbon with cascading silk flowers, which matched the dress of Witherspoon's daughter Ava, 11, who served as maid of honor in her own custom Lhuillier. Witherspoon "wowed," says a guest. "She took your breath away." In attendance were; Witherspoon's children, Ava and Deacon, Renée Zellweger, Salma Hayek, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr. and his wife Susan and Alyssa Milano and her husband David Bugliari. The gorgeous wedding photographs will be featured in the April issue of People magazine.

Recently, the newlywed gushed about her new relationship, "It’s an exciting feeling," Reese told Elle magazine. "[Somebody saying], 'You’re the one.' And it's a surprise."

It’s no surprise why we love Reese Witherspoon, a certified Trendsetter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6b2XhXkPpg&feature=youtube_gdata_player