::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . .  By Mona Austin In 2008, I had the privilege of tapping into the wisdom of  CeCe Winans. Mrs. Winans will be releasing new music this year, so I thought it fitting to reprint our "conversation" as there are tie-ins to current events, such as a comment about the late Whitey Houston's daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown. So much has changed since this interview. Winans' close friend Whitney passed away and her daughter is currently fighting for her life in an Atlanta hospital.   The interview preceded Winans performance at an AARP event. Really, the article is about her mass appeal, but the reader will glean so much more.  Each time I am in the presence of greatness, I try to ask a question that will enrich all our lives.  For me, the greatest piece of food for thought Winans shared was the idea of living a full life to  "die empty," which she learned from the teachings of the late Dr. Myles Munroe. I'm sure you'll find  points t...

buzzz worthy. . . Yesterday, February 11, was the third anniversary of the death of Whitney Houston. Her only daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown remains  in an Atlanta hospital as a criminal investigation is underway to uncover how she ended up non-responsive in the bath tub of her home on Jan. 31.  Conflicting reports  about her condition  have been rampant. Her father, Bobby Brown, briefly spoke to media out side of the hospital last week saying his daughter "is good." The Brown family attorney has released an official  statement threatening future legal action, in hopes of quieting false reports once and for all, the most recent being that the family was preparing to release the 21-year-old from life support so she could die on the same day as her mother. News outlets TMZ, The National Enquirer, The Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Daily Mail (UK) were specifically named for reporting on Bobbi Kris using unnamed sources. No additional information ab...

buzzz worthy. . . In the last 72 hours, details that have emerged about the health status of Bobbi Kristina Brown are somewhat vague, amid conflicting reports.  Some say the prognosis is grim, while others say she is showing small signs of improvement.  For certain, family members continue to hold out hope while her life hangs in the balance. As of press time, Brown, the daughter of the late Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, is hospitalized in Atlanta, having been transported from a North Georgia hospital where she was initially admitted after a death scare over the weekend.  Her father  and other immediate family members are said to have been by her beside this entire time. Ms. Brown was pulled from a tub in her North Georgia home on Saturday, January 31 in a scene that ominously mirrored her mother's death nearly three years ago. She had drowned, face down, left without the flow of Oxygen to her brain for minutes.  N...

buzzz worthy. . .                                                      New Compilation Album Features Holiday Music from Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Whitney Houston, Donnie McClurkin, Marvin Sapp, Hezekiah Walker and More   NEW YORK—October 28, 2014 —RCA Inspiration has announced the release of its new holiday compilation album, Gotta Have Gospel! Christmas… O Holy Night . The album became available in stores and via all digital music providers on October 21, 2014.   The 15-song collection boasts some of the most beloved and recognizable voices in both popular and inspirational music performing holiday classics and modern worship songs. The award-winning artists featured on Gotta Have Gospel! Christmas…O...

Early buzzz . . . Whitney Houston became a multi-hyphenate when she showed off her skills as both a singer and actress in "Body Gaurd"  and retuned to the big screen in "Preacher's Wife" 15 years ago.  The iconic vocalist is set to lgiht up the screen once again in a lead role in "Sparkle."  Jordan Sparks of American Idol fame will play Houston's daghter, making her acting debut in the title roll.  Directed by Salim Akil (The Game, Jumping the Broom) "Sparkle"  is based loosely on the tory of the Supremes and is set to be release in 2014. 

GOSPEL AND R&B MUSIC SENSATIONS SHARE THE STAGE  FOR AN EMOTIONAL ‘ CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL ’, PREMIERING SUNDAY, JANUARY 30 AT 8:00 P.M .* Legendary Vocalist Whitney Houston Joins Friend Kim Burrell for an Awe-Inspiring Performance of 'I Look to You '  Kirk Franklin , Mary Mary , Chaka Khan , El DeBarge , Howard Hewett , Angela Bassett , Israel Houghton , The Rance Allen Group and More Unite to ' Keep the Faith ' NEW YORK—January 25, 2011— The night was filled with inspired performances as audience members rejoiced at the 11 th Annual CELEBRATION OF GOSPEL .  The two-hour special, premiering Sunday, January 30 at 8:00 p.m.* , pays tribute to the rich history of gospel music in a unique format that combines today’s leading gospel and secular artists. Year after year, BET creates the perfect platform for superstar secular artists to return to their gospel roots and reveal through music their personal journeys while showcasing compelling per...