Look To The Stars News: Queen Latifah

VH1 Divas Bring Soul To Charity

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:30:00 +0000

VH1’s beloved franchise VH1 Divas paid tribute to the great cities of soul music last night, including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis and Philadelphia.

The all-star diva roster included Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Florence + The Machine, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J and Jill Scott, accompanied by one of the most exciting groups of modern soul, The Roots, with Questlove and Adam Blackstone as musical directors.

In addition to the Divas, the evening included an incredible line-up of performers including Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Boyz II Men, Estelle, Marsha Ambrosius, Travie McCoy, Mavis Staples, Wanda Jackson, Martha Reeves and Ledisi. Presenters were Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah, Terrence Howard, Nas, Common, Sherri Shepherd, La La Anthony, and Archie Panjabi.

VH1 Divas To Pay Tribute To Amy Winehouse

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:05:00 +0000

VH1’s beloved, popular franchise, “VH1 Divas,” has announced a special tribute to Amy Winehouse at this year’s VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul with performances by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine) and Wanda Jackson.

“VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul” premieres Monday, December 19 at 9 PM/8c on VH1.

The tribute will reflect Winehouse’s contribution to modern, London soul music. Some highlights of the tribute will include Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings performing “You Know I’m No Good,” and Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine) and Wanda Jackson will perform her song “Back to Black.” The Dap-Kings contributed a number of tracks for Winehouse’s Grammy Award-winning album “Back to Black.” In addition, Nas, who collaborated with Winehouse on the first single of her current posthumous album, will introduce the tribute medley.

Lady Gaga Honored At Trevor Live Celebrity Charity Event

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 13:30:00 +0000

On Sunday, December 4, 2011, The Trevor Project honored Lady Gaga with the Trevor Hero Award and Google Inc. with the Trevor 2020 Award during “Trevor Live” presented by Audi of America and ING and directed by Adam Shankman.

This high-profile event to benefit the life-saving work of The Trevor Project featured moving performances from Hollywood’s most talented and entertaining performers, including Mary J. Blige, Miley Cyrus, Queen Latifah, LeAnn Rimes, Barrett Foa and the Warblers, Diego Boneta and Julianne Hough, JC Chasez, American Idol contestants Kris Allen and Stefano Langone, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Darren Criss, Step up Dance, and Amber Riley.

Lady Gaga, in a moving speech delivered from the heart shared that, “I want my fans and people all over the world to know that there is always someone who is listening, but I want them to know that they are listening before it gets too late.” She went on to say about The Trevor Project honor, “This award means more to me than any Grammy ever will.”

Lady Gaga To Be Honored At Celebrity Charity Event

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

On Sunday, December 4, 2011, The Trevor Project will honor Lady Gaga with the Trevor Hero Award and Google Inc. with the Trevor 2020 Award during “Trevor Live” at the Hollywood Palladium.

The annual show benefits the life-saving work of The Trevor Project, a recent honoree of the White House as a Champion of Change for leadership and innovation in suicide prevention.

“Our young people are at the center of a health crisis, and vocal leaders like Lady Gaga and technology leaders like Google Inc. have stepped up to help change our culture,” said David McFarland, Interim Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “Our honorees are working with The Trevor Project to make a better today and a brighter tomorrow for youth. We are proud to honor Lady Gaga with the Trevor Hero Award and Google Inc. with the Trevor 2020 award for their work to help young people express their true selves with pride.”

Mary J. Blige To Honor Women At Celebrity Charity Concert

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:00:00 +0000

On May 1, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah and ELLE magazine’s VP, Editor-in-Chief/Brand Content, Robbie Myers, will host FFAWN’s second annual Mary J. Blige Honors Concert. They’ll join close celebrity friends and trailblazers in the entertainment industry, and all will pay tribute to young girls with big dreams of becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

The evening will be held in honor of the 2011 FFAWN scholarship recipients, and proceeds will directly benefit FFAWN’s scholarship fund, which ensures that educational opportunities are made available to young women so that they can get the training needed to be successful. In 2010, FFAWN sent 25 young women to college with full four-year scholarships. All 25 remain enrolled and have maintained GPA scholarship requirements of 3.0; eight of the students made the dean’s list their first semester.

Nine-time Grammy Award–winning artist Blige, who will perform, and FFAWN co-founder Steve Stoute will celebrate the dedication of these special young women and continue to inspire them to achieve greatness. Joining them is a star-studded cast of leading ladies and role models, including Christina Aguilera, Anita Baker, Jennifer Hudson, Corinne Bailey Rae and Jill Scott, among others performing that night.

Party with Jimmy Fallon on Grammy's Eve

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Jimmy Fallon is set to host this year’s Roots Jam Session on Friday, February 12th, benefitting OpportunityNation, and you could be there, too!

Every year, award season brings the usual array of star-studded parties, but rarely do any of these become a celebrated institution. The Legendary Roots Crew, named one of the greatest live bands around by both Spin and Rolling Stone, have created the ticket to one of the most coveted and exclusive experiences of the season, delivering an innovative and unforgettable mix of musicians performing under one roof.

Jimmy Fallon will act as this year’s host, following in the footsteps of Don Cheadle, John Legend, Jada Pinkett Smith and Dave Chappelle, while Hennessy Artistry will serve as presenting partner. The announcement comes on the heels of The Roots’ 6 GRAMMY nominations, which are split between their two 2010 releases, Wake Up! (with John Legend) and How I Got Over.

Darren Criss Busy With Charity Shows

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Glee star Darren Criss spread a little Christmas cheer last month by helping charity at his Los Angeles concerts.

The actor performed sold-out shows at The Roxy in West Hollywood just prior to Christmas, in front of an audience that included stars such as Matthew Morrison. Audience members were encouraged to fill 15 large sacks with toys on behalf of Toys for Tots to be distributed to kids who would otherwise miss out on gifts.

The singer will also donate a portion of ticket sales to the charity.

Celebrities Stand Up Against Bullying

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Bullying. It’s just a part of life, right? Whatever your size, shape or sexuality, chances are you’ve been bullied, or you will be, at some point in your life. Bullying has just been accepted as a rite of passage, until now. Recently, more and more celebrities have been backing anti-bullying campaigns and lending their voices to an important cause.

Bullying can take many forms, but no one form is any less damaging than another. Regardless of the method, it knocks your self-esteem and sends your confidence plummeting. More recently, there has been a spate of children, teenagers and young adults who have felt so low and lost that they have taken their own lives. These deaths have all been caused by bullying, in forms ranging from playground name-calling to cyber-bullying.

Recognizing that this has to stop, action is being taken across the globe. November’s Anti-Bullying Week saw celebrities including Pixie Lott, Justin Bieber, Alesha Dixon and Twiggy take part in various anti-bullying campaigns including “The Big March”, and a six-week long BBC campaign. Jim Carrey has also spoken out after his role in a recent film, which features a convict who finds his same-sex soulmate in jail. Appalled by the growing trend of bullying gay teenagers, he has declared bullying “an old and antiquated way of thinking” that has no place in modern society, and has added his weight to anti-bullying campaigns worldwide by saying that “anyone who bullies anybody for any reason is no friend of [his]”.

Stand Up To Cancer Announces Celebrity Lineup

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:30:00 +0000

An extraordinary line-up of actors, musicians, athletes and journalists have banded together for Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), the groundbreaking initiative aimed at raising funds to accelerate innovative cancer research bringing new therapies to patients quickly that will saves lives now.

Stand Up To Cancer will return to primetime TV on September 10, 2010, at 8PM EST & PST / 7PM CT. The one-hour fundraising event will be simulcast live and commercial-free on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Bio, Discovery Health, E!, G4, HBO, HBO Latino, MLB Network, mun2, Showtime, Smithsonian Channel, The Style Network, TV One, and VH1.

Executive produced by Laura Ziskin, the special will be hosted Katie Couric, Diane Sawyer, and Brian Williams (the anchors, respectively, of the CBS, ABC and NBC evening news programs), and will feature numerous celebrity cancer survivors who exemplify that cancer can affect even the smartest, strongest and toughest people in our lives. Those expected to participate include Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Fran Drescher, Elizabeth Edwards, Delta Goodrem, Michael C. Hall, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sharon Osbourne, Robin Roberts, Maura Tierney, Sofia Vergara, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Ethan Zohn.

Jennifer Lopez Tells Kids To Be Great For Charity

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Jennifer Lopez was in Times Square yesterday, June 10, to unveil a billboard as part of the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Be Great campaign.

The campaign – which was launched in 2008 – features a collection of celebrity alumni from the BGCA who have donated their childhood photos for advertising. Stars such as Denzel Washington, Martin Sheen, Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Cosby, Muhammad Ali, Swin Cash, Bill Clinton, Cuba Gooding Jr., Michael Jordan, Queen Latifah, Mario Lopez, John Mellencamp, Edward James Olmos, Smokey Robinson, John Singleton, Ruben Studdard, Usher, Courtney Vance, Mark Wahlberg, and Kerry Washington have all been part of the campaign.

Generosity Water CD Project Launched At Charity Event

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000

Generosity Water celebrated the 2nd Annual Night of Generosity at Mondrian LA’s SKYBAR on World Water Day, March 22.

The event, hosted by E! personality Jason Kennedy, raised over $30,000.00 towards Generosity Water’s efforts to end the clean water crisis. This unforgettable event included live music, stunning visual art displays from Generosity Water’s work in Africa, and a live auction where guests could sponsor wells to be built in various countries.

Host Jason Kennedy and One Tree Hill’s Robert Buckley came together to bid on and purchase a well in Liberia for $3,000.00, as did Grey’s Anatomy actress and event chairs Chyler Leigh and husband Nathan West. Samantha Mollen and American Idol’s Elliott Yamin entertained guests with special, acoustic performances that were even showcased live, along with the entire event, on Ustream.

Tomiko Fraser Organizes Flash Mob For International Women's Month

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:30:00 +0000

In celebration of International Women’s Month, Supermodel/Host/Actor/Philanthropist Tomiko Fraser Hines is spearheading an all female flash mob awareness dance in conjunction with her organization — Tomiko Fraser Goddess Gathering – and Flash Mob America.

The event will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at 2 p.m. at the popular Universal City Walk in Los Angeles, with an after celebration to take place at 3pm at Falcon in Hollywood.

Flash Mobs are planned, surprise dance celebrations, meant to gain the attention of unsuspecting onlookers. The spontaneous dance celebrations have gained major attention recently after having been featured on shows such as; The Oprah Winfrey Show and more.

More Performers Announced For Keep A Child Alive Black Ball

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:30:00 +0000

Back in July, Look to the Stars brought you a story about this year’s scheduled 6th Annual Keep A Child Alive Black Ball. As the official website promised, more artists have been announced.  

One of the new honorees is Youssou N’Dour. N’Dour is a legendary Senegalese musician and he’s been consistently active in promoting the health and well-being of those in Africa. N’Dour is also scheduled to perform at The Black Ball. To add to the excitement building over this event, two more performers are on the event list: Chris Martin and John Mayer.  

In addition, Queen Latifah is the event’s emcee. Alicia Keys is event host and musical director, and Iman and Padma Lakshmi are the event’s co-hosts. The other two honorees are former President Bill Clinton and Sir Richard Branson.  

Kanye West Takes To Stage At Charity Event

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

The Common Ground Foundation held its second annual “Common & Friends” concert at the famed Hollywood Palladium on Saturday night. The show raised funds for the foundation, created by Grammy-Award winning hip-hop artist and actor, Lonnie Rashid Lynn, best known as Common.

The concert featured live performances from Common, The Roots, Nas, De La Soul, Ludacris, Queen Latifah, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Heavy D, while Freddy Rodriguez, Garth Trinidad, Rasual Butler, Toccara Jones, Serena Williams, Amber Rose, Erica Hubbard, Alyssa Milano, Eva Amurri and Ian Ziering were all in attendance to support the Common Ground Foundation.

“I am very grateful and thankful to all who attended and supported the 2nd annual Common Ground Foundation event. To all the gifted artists that participated – I thank you for giving your time, energy, and creativity,” said Common. “To all the sponsors, thank you for your ongoing commitment to the progress of the future of our youth. God bless… Love.”

Nelson Mandela's 91st Celebrated In Style

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

A galaxy of stars turned out to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday in New York during the weekend, with proceeds going to one of the South African legend’s charities.

Bruce Springsteen, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder and many more appeared at the Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, July 19, with money raised going to 46664, Mandela’s campaign to help raise Global awareness of AIDS/HIV. 46664 aims to highlight the emergency of AIDS/HIV through unique live events and music related initiatives.

Mandela himself was unable to attend the event, but did send a video message in which he said “It is on your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.” President Barack Obama also appeared via video, saying that Mandela’s life “teaches us that the impossible can be done, but only if people have the courage to make change happen.”

2009 Keep A Child Alive Black Ball Details Announced

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Queen Latifah is to emcee this year’s Keep A Child Alive Black Ball.

The sixth annual Black Ball will honor Bill Clinton and Richard Branson for their work in eradicating AIDS in Africa, and will be co-hosted by Iman and Padma Lakshmi and feature music from Alicia Keys. More artists will be announced.

The event, which follows last year’s successful gala, will be held at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom on October 15, and will feature an evening of cocktails, dinner & extraordinary performances to benefit children & families with HIV/AIDS in Africa & India. Alicia Keys helped found Keep A Child Alive after visiting South Africa in 2003 and witnessing the effects of the AIDS pandemic firsthand.

VIP Tickets To Mandela Day Concert Available

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:00 +0000

46664 and the Nelson Mandela Foundation announced this week that a number of extra VIP tickets are available for the Mandela Day concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York. The concert forms part of the celebrations for Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday on July 18, 2009 at 8pm.

Mandela Day serves as a global call for people to recognize their individual power to help change the world for the better.

The concert will feature performances by Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Wyclef Jean and many more. Special guests include Whoopi Goldberg, Forest Whitaker, Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon and Susan Sarandon.

New York To Host First Mandela Day Concert

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:01:00 +0000

New York takes world center-stage next month when the city hosts the inaugural ‘Mandela Day.’

Centered around a massive music headliner concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday, July 18, the event is designed as a call around the world for people to honor Nelson Mandela’s inspiration and values, and observe the day annually as a celebration, not as a holiday, but as a day to opt in.

Usher Urges Youth To Be Great

Mon, 11 May 2009 12:00:00 +0000

As part of Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America’s (BGCA) new advocacy campaign — BE GREAT — five-time Grammy award winner, philanthropist and Boys & Girls Club alumnus Usher has unveiled a new billboard featuring his childhood picture and a call-to-action — BE ICONIC. Usher joins 25 prominent alumni in the new advocacy campaign to help increase public awareness and understanding about the positive impact of Clubs.

From academic failure and gang violence to poverty, drugs and obesity, America’s youth face a daunting array of problems — with serious consequences and fewer safety nets at home and in the community. According to a 2007 BGCA alumni survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 57 percent of alumni reported, “The Club saved my life,” while another 28 percent credited Boys & Girls Clubs with keeping them in school.

“Growing up in the Club, I had the chance to experience a lot of positive things; it helped reinforce the values I learned at home including good character, leadership and giving back to my community, my country and my world,” said Usher. “It’s where I developed my love of singing and performing, received help with my homework, and it’s where I found a safe place to go after school.”

John Mayer To Appear On Sesame Street Special

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +0000

John Mayer is set to join Elmo, Big Bird and the rest of the Sesame Street gang in a TV special raising children’s awareness of the struggles of military families.

“Coming Home: Military Families Cope with Change” will air on PBS on April 1, and tells the stories of U.S. service members who return home with injuries — visible and invisible — and explores the struggles their families face. Produced by Sesame Workshop and David Letterman’s production company Worldwide Pants Inc, the show will also feature other famous faces such as Queen Latifah.

“As America’s public broadcaster, PBS is proud to bring resources and tools to families that help them navigate their way through life,” John F. Wilson, chief TV programming executive for PBS, said in a statement. “These stories of courage and strength from military moms and dads will not only help reach and support families facing similar challenges, but also illustrate to all Americans the extraordinary sacrifices these military families make every day.”

Obama's Inauguration Set To Rock

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Barack Obama’s official inauguration concert this weekend is going to be a who’s who of the music industry, with some of the world’s biggest superstars confirmed to perform or attend.

The lineup for this Night Of Nights includes Bono and U2, Beyoncé Knowles, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, James Taylor, {celerity:Josh Groban}, and Mary J. Blige. Historical passages will be read by Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.

The show will be aired on HBO at 7pm EST on Sunday, January 18, via an open feed, which means cable and satellite viewers will see the show for free.

Denzel Washington Urges Kids To Be Great

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Denzel Washington, Martin Sheen, and Shaquille O’Neal have lent their childhood photos to the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America for a new advertising campaign.

The “BE GREAT” campaign launched last week, and aims to encourage volunteers to work at the clubs.

“What’s going on with children doesn’t worry me,” said the Oscar-winning actor. “What’s going on with adults worries me. If we are not more committed to these young people … they will go as far as we take them, so the onus is on us, not on the children. We’ve created this world for them, we are the ones that fall and we are the ones that can rectify it.”

Keep A Child Alive Announces 2008 Black Ball Details

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Keep A Child Alive’s fifth annual Black Ball Gala, hosted by Ambassadors Alicia Keys and Iman, will take place at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on Thursday, November 13, and will honor the global AIDS work of three remarkable humanitarians.

The event – chaired by Jessica Alba – will begin with a cocktail party followed by a seated dinner with extraordinary live performances by Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Joni Mitchell, Jack White, Jennifer Hudson and more very special guests to be announced.

Keep A Child Alive’s humanitarian honorees are an incredible group of people who have used their will, fame, and courage to change the lives devastated by this pandemic. Guest presenters pay tribute to the work of the honorees through powerful moving footage.

2008 Golden Globes Roundup

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:54:19 +0000

There may have been no red carpet, acceptance speeches, or flash of cameras for the winners of the 2008 Golden Globe Awards, but Look To The Stars takes this golden opportunity to recognize some of those who were honored and nominated.

Johnny Depp won his first Golden Globe after being nominated seven times since his career began, picking up the Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical award for Sweeney Todd. Despite his dark performance, there really is a lighter side to the actor. In the past, Depp’s charitable work garnered him the Courage to Care Award for his contributions to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Celebrity Auctions For Christmas

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:34:00 +0000

As the clock counts down to Christmas, celebrities have been keeping busy and warm by signing as many different items as humanly possible and donating them to a plethora of auctions. The holiday season may be at fever pitch now, but there is certainly a wide range of gift ideas to ease the stress of last minute shopping.

The VH1 Holiday Auction is currently being held at www.vh1auctions.com, and includes a long list of memorabilia from the music industry. All proceeds from the auction will go to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, an initiative dedicated to restoring music programs in schools across the US.

Items up for grabs include a harmonica signed by Alice Cooper (which has already attracted bids of $250), signed photos of Aerosmith and Chris Cornell ($300), and a guitar personally autographed by Ryan Adams ($1500). Signed clothing is also big on the agenda, with a jacket from Snoop Dogg, a vest from Iggy Pop, and sneakers from Amy Winehouse.