::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

Raphael Saadiq WASHINGTON, DC -- National Geographic, with Fox 21 Studios and Imagine Television Studios, announced today that Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated musician  Raphael Saadiq  has been tapped to serve as an executive music producer on  GENIUS: ARETHA. Saadiq  is responsible for producing, arranging and recording all of the original song element  GENIUS: ARETHA s within the series featuring live performances. The score will be written and produced by multi-Grammy Award-winner and Academy Award nominee  Terence Blanchard   ("Harriet," " BlacKkKlansman"). The third season of the critically acclaimed global anthology series will premiere over four consecutive nights, beginning Memorial Day,  Monday, May 25, at 9/8c .  GENIUS: ARETHA  will be the first-ever, definitive and only authorized scripted series on the life of Aretha Franklin and will chart how gospel prodigy Little Re became the iconic Areth...

By Mona Austin The Aretha Franklin estate has released a statement correcting shady critiques from day-time talk show host Wendy Williams,  who criticized an upcoming movie of the iconic singer's 1972 Gospel concert recording, "Amazing Grace."  The event was a match made in heaven between "The Queen of Soul" and the "King of Gospel," Rev. James Cleveland and his choir. Recorded at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church located in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, this record is the top-selling live gospel recording of all time. The long-delayed documentary film is finally being released on April 19, having been in the vault for 46 years.  Williams showed a clip from Franklin's performance, dissed her appearance and the quality of the footage, assuming Franklin would not have wanted the film to be released. VIEW THE AMAZING GRACE TRAILER The estate said Williams' commentary “indicates that she has neither seen the documentar...

By Mona Austin By Mona Austin At a time when superlatives are tossed around in entertainment like confetti at a New Year's Eve party, the title "Queen of Soul" will rest with its namesake, Aretha Franklin. This undisputed truth should inspire artists to always remain authentic to their natural gifts. The master vocalist once said, "An artist must in some ways be what they sing and play about or at the very least connect to the art in a thoughtful manner. Franklin emerged from a generation singers who crafted their work with their hearts, who were not eager for the assistance of technological advancements to change what flowed from them naturally. That connection can then be transferred to the hearts and minds of those who consume the art whether with their eyes or ears and it settles in their heart and soul. Then and only then can one claim to be an original. Aretha Franklin was such an artist -- the one and only Queen of Soul. As a journalist ...

President Donald Trump acknowledged the passing of Aretha Franklin at a cabinet meeting today. Trump also tweeted, "The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, is dead. She was a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice. She will be missed!"

buzzz worthy. . . First the bad news. . .the special "Divas Classics" album that was to be released by Queen Aretha last week has been delayed.  The good news is that she does not disappoint with the release of a single from the album, a cover of Adele's career-breaking hit "Rolling In the Deep." Aretha brought the house down while singing the song live on David Letterman on September 29.  At 72, the soul legend continues to boast a range that finds her squalling to the heavans and moaning to the nether regions as in the early days of her career.  Of course, "Re Re" puts her own treatment on the classic, adding the Supreme's "Ain't No mountain High Enough" on the end. One of Franklin's former background singers Cissy Houston contributed to BG vocals during the Letterman appearance, but looked like she would rather be anywhere but on that stage.  As the other singers moved in sync, other than rolling her eyes, Houston was near...

buzzz worthy. . . ARETHA FRANKLIN, BERRY GORDY, ICE CUBE, KENNETH CHENAULT, AND CARRIE MAE WEEMS TO BE HONORED MARIAH CAREY, JENNIFER HUDSON, JANELLE MONAE, TAMAR BRAXTON, SMOKEY ROBINSON, KAREN CLARK SHEARD AND WAYNE BRADY ANNOUNCED AS PERFORMERS FOR “BET HONORS” REV. AL SHARPTON, JOE MORTON, LUDACRIS AND MACK WILDS SCHEDULED TO PRESENT BET Networks will record one of the highlights of its black History Month programming, the "BET Honors" tonight at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.  Honors will be presented to  living history makers who have demonstrated excellence in music, art, entertainment, corporate citizenship,  and . The show premieres on Monday, February  24, 2014 at 9:00 pm* ET. Aretha Franklin Berry Gordy As previously announced the honorees are:  The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin (Musical Arts) who has had a remarkable 4 decades in music and still has fans asking for more, Berry Gordy (Visionary) Motown Records Fou...

buzzz worthy. . . Top Entertainers Join VIP Participants to Celebrate the Dream Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Berry Gordy, Jr., George Lucas, Jamie Foxx and Clarence Avant will serve as celebrity co-chairs for the Dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. next month. The Memorial, the first on the National Mall to honor a man of peace, hope, and color, will be dedicated on August 28 in a West Potomac Park ceremony on the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. Members of the King Family, civil rights leaders including Congressman John Lewis, Ambassador Andy Young, Reverend Al Sharpton, Reverend Jesse Jackson, and Reverend Joseph Lowery, and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will play a role in several events in the nation’s capital to celebrate the Memorial’s dedication August 24 through 28. Former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman , General Colin Powell, Tom Brokaw, Maya Angelou, Alpha Phi Al...

Last week Aretha Franklin underwent a surgery, but the type of surgery was not disclosed.  Various reports are now saying the Queen of Soul had an operation for pancreatic cancer.  The Detroit Free Press reports a cousin has stated the singer will be released this weekend.  Debra Corbett said Franklin “has a long life in front of her and will be back in concert, on stage, late spring or early summer.” Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/cousin_aretha_franklin_expects_weekend_qu0QkKDC4fFemELm17W8sK#ixzz17eLYHd2r