Jennifer Hudson News

The morning after the most anticipated finale in daytime history, Gayle King will host 'The Gayle King Show: Oprah Finale After Party,' a special send-off celebration live from Harpo Studios in Chicago on Thursday, May 26 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network and the Oprah Radio channel on SiriusXM Radio.

ESSENCE is proud to announce that multi-platinum selling, chart- topping, Grammy award-winning powerhouse USHER will headline the 2011 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL being held July 1, 2, and 3 in New Orleans.

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced that actor/comedian Kevin Hart has been tapped to host this year's BET AWARDS, ranked among the Top 5 Cable Award Shows every year among total viewers. The brightest night in music will broadcast LIVE from the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 8:00 p.m.* on BET.

Diane Warren, considered the most prolific and successful songwriter of our time, will present Due Voci: The Music of Diane Warren on interactive, multichannel retailer HSN during a LIVE one-hour primetime special of her greatest hits on HSN on Thursday, June 2 at 11p.m. (EDT).

Freedom will ring, thunder and boom this summer as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks®, the nation's largest display of patriotic firepower returns to celebrate Independence Day. An awe-inspiring spectacle of color, light and sound will rumble over New York City on Monday, July 4th at 9:00 pm, as Macy's dazzling celebration ends the holiday with a bang. With more than 3 million live spectators and millions tuned in nationwide, the Hudson River will be the showcase for more than 40,000 fireworks that together will ignite the sky for the nation's 235th birthday party.

'Good Morning America' today announced its sizzling 2011 Summer Concert Series lineup with the hottest chart-topping acts in the country and the biggest names in music, a mix of the best pop, country and nostalgia acts around. There is something for everyone-from mega-watt stars including Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson; to pop sensations Selena Gomez, Nicki Minaj, all Top 11 American Idol contestants, Taio Cruz, Florence and The Machine, and The Goo Goo Dolls; to country superstars Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert; plus the best nostalgia with The GO-GO's in their final television performance, and Debbie Gibson and Tiffany on stage together for the first time.

Broadway favorite Brent Barrett and Jenn Harris are set to head the cast of SILENCE! The Musical, the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli.

Talk show listings for Wednesday, May 11

Talk show listings for Wednesday, May 11

Talk show listings for Thursday, May 5

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce that New Season Subscriptions go on-sale Monday, May 2nd, for the 2011-2012 season.

Talk show listings for Thursday, May 5

This morning, the legendary Aretha Franklin appeared on The View to promote her new album, A Woman Falling Out of Love, discuss her dramatic weight loss as a result of surgery and the new biopic of her life, now in the works, among other topics. While reporting on the status of the film based on her life, the songbird revealed that in addition to picks such as Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson, SISTER ACT's Patina Miller is now being considered to channel her.

Reviews likes hers last week usually only come once in a lifetime and there is no question whatsoever that the brightest new star on Broadway is none other than SISTER ACT's own Patina Miller. She is a superstar of the highest order singing one of the strongest scores on Broadway in years - from the gifted, gilded pen of six-time Oscar-winner Alan Menken. In this extensive, exclusive conversation we discuss her long history with the role, her recent performance in the Encores! staging of Weill's LOST IN THE STARS, as well as her work with Henry Krieger on both his recent musical ROMANTIC POETRY and being a runner-up on the DREAMGIRLS movie when the role of Effie White went to Jennifer Hudson. Additionally, we discuss HAIR, working with Sondheim on BEING ALIVE, her own favorite recent shows, her close friendship with fellow West End/Broadway criss-crosser Jonathan Groff, her soap stint on ALL MY CHILDREN, what her solo album would sound like, and much, much more!

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is will soon open CURTAINS, directed by Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Curtains will run at the Millburn theater from April 27 through May 22, 2011. Family Week is April 27 through May 1 and during this period, children 18 and under receive half off the regular ticket price (certain restrictions apply). In Additio to previously announced cast members, the show will also feature Daniel Marcus in the role of Sidney Bernstein.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce casting for Curtains. Directed by Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, Curtains will run at the Millburn theater from April 27 through May 22, 2011. Family Week is April 27 through May 1 and during this period, children 18 and under receive half off the regular ticket price (certain restrictions apply). Curtains is generously supported by a gift from Allen and Joan Bildner. Curtains is a co-production with Theatre Under The Stars in Houston, Texas.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is proud to announce that New Season Subscriptions go on-sale Monday, May 2nd, for the 2011-2012 season.

Today we are talking to the internationally renowned recording superstar who is also known to theatre fans for her stint onstage in JEKYLL & HYDE - and for her brilliantly big Broadway belt - with a fantastic new album out now on Sony re-teaming with her frequent collaborator/composer/producer, Frank Wildhorn - the talented and alluring Ms. Linda Eder. In this all-encompassing conversation we discuss her many studio albums recorded over the last two decades, as well as her demo work on the countless Wildhorn musicals over the years and the future of those shows (HAVANA is coming!). We also look ahead to her own future and discuss what can be expected in her upcoming concert series promoting the new album NOW, which she will be performing songs from in her upcoming concert at Town Hall. A truly theatrical album featuring a spellbinding title song with lyrics by Tony-winner Maury Yeston, NOW is Eder at her best. Linda also shares the inspiration behind the new album and what the music of Wildhorn means to her - plus, of course, her favorite tracks and recollections of the studio sessions - plus, her equestrian endeavors and much, much more. NOW is available in stories, on Amazon and on iTunes, and further information about Linda's concert appearances - including her Town Hall concert - can be found at her official site here.

After the great Pia Toscano debacle of 2011, last week's elimination of Paul McDonald was refreshing to say the least. Though I can't deny that I already miss his uncomfortably white teeth and the kooky way he pranced around the Idol stage, it was his time to go.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is will soon open CURTAINS, directed by Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Curtains will run at the Millburn theater from April 27 through May 22, 2011. Family Week is April 27 through May 1 and during this period, children 18 and under receive half off the regular ticket price (certain restrictions apply). In Additio to previously announced cast members, the show will also feature Daniel Marcus in the role of Sidney Bernstein.