Rihanna (in Jasmine Di Milo and Giuseppe Zanotti heels) attended RIAA’s Inauguration Charity Ball that took place yesterday in Washington DC. Rihanna was banned from a future concert gig in Malysian due to her revealing tour outfits according to SingersRoom.



Also at the event were couple T.I. and Tiny as well as Shakira. On Tiny's feet are gold metallic plaform Christian Louboutin sandals.



Kerry Washington (a fellow Jason Wu supporter), Alfre Woodward, Anne Hathaway, and Lynn Whitfield attended the Creative Coalition's Inaugural Ball.



Michelle Obama wore a floral print Tracy Feith on her first day as the new First Day, reports MRSO.ORG. President Barack Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Vice President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Service. Soon after Michelle and Barack greeted the public in the blue Room of the White House. Do you like Michelle's throwback '50s inspired dress or not?



Dr. Jill Biden (in a strapless red Reem Acra dress) and Vice President Joe Biden had their first dance at the Neighborhood Ball.



Ashanti rocked another lace dress at the BET Inaugural Ball. No signs of boyfriend Nelly or her momanger Tina Douglas.


Also at BET Inaugural Ball 2009 were Debra Lee (of course), Mary J Blige, Wyclef Jean, and Colin Powell.



Jazmine Sullivan performed her new single, "Lions, Tears and Bears" - a personal favorite off her debut album Fearless. She nailed it as usually.


Kanye West, Rosario Dawson, Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, and Usher took quick photo snapshots at the MTV Special "Be The Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball."

Labels: Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Jazmine Sullivan, Kanye West, Kerry Washington, Lynn Whitfield, Political Hoopla, Rihanna, T.I, TV Hoopla, Usher

Tyler Perry held a huge celebration for the historic opening of his independent Film & TV studio in Atlanta, Georgia. Tyler made history because his studio is the first ever African-American owned. In attendance were Sidney Poitier, Cicely Tyson, Star Jones, Oprah Winfrey, Stedman Graham, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Lynn Whitfield, Eva Pigford, Lance Gross, John Legend, Tracey Edmonds, Holly Robinson Peete, Tasha Smith, Star Jones and Patti LaBelle. Clearly the dress code was black while the man of the moment rock a white suit.



According to Tyler, there are five sound stages after named Quincy Jones, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, and Cicely Tyson. The fifth sound stage has yet to be named.

Labels: black star power, Boris Kodjoe, Box Office Hoopla, Eva Pigford, Lance Gross, Lynn Whitfield, Nicole Ari Parker, Oprah, Patti LaBelle, Will Smith

John Legend and his girlfriend Christine were seen outside the STK steakhouse in matching black and white outfits. John's first signed successful Homeschool Records artist Estelle recently released her American debut album, "Shine".



Looking chic in pair of bright blue skinny jeans, Kelly Rowland launched the opening of St. Aubyn's Holistic Centre in London. Kelly (mid-way into her "Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe Edition" promotion) even dished out style tips to a few lucky patients.



Jennifer Hudson of the upcoming "Sex & The City: The Movie" struck a pose outside her Mid-town Manhattan hotel. JHud has a new song on the "SATC" film soundtrack called "All Dressed Up in Love". Word has it that her Cee-Lo written song will be played during the film's ending credits.



Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon attended the 15th Annual Race to Erase MS event at the Hyatt Regency. The never-aging new mom switch her up look twice - from a strapless red to a couture blue ruffled ensemble.



Keisha Whitaker (a former model and wife of Forest Whitaker) was also at the event -rocking two black fashion-forward outfits. (She wore a black strapless Tommy Hilfiger for the charity foundation's fashion show.)



Gabrielle Union and Lynn Whitfield went for a classy Southern Belle look at the 134th Kentucky Derby.

Labels: Gabrielle Union, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Keisha Whitaker, Kelly Rowland, Lynn Whitfield, New Couple, Out and About

Actress Lynn Whitfield is on the April/May cover of "Heart & Soul" magazine.

Shot by Bobby Quillard, Lynn (in a white Michele Jonos sweater) candidly discussed with Sherri McGee McCovey about raising her 16-year-old Grace, battling divorces, and her film career.

Below are a few highlights from the interview that I typed up for URBAN-HOOPLA.COM readers...

On raising her teenage daughter Grace as a single parent:

I have an important charge to raise a strong woman who has a sense of self, and who will survive no matter what happens to me. It's a funny, odd, isolated feeling when you're the single parent. I try not to override Grace's vision for her life.

On seeking professional help and spiritual guidance to help her handle the two divorces she had from Brian Gibson and Van Whitfield:

We have no problem searching until we find the right hairdresser who can give us that perfect perm and sitting for hours waiting to get our hair done but when it comes to sorting thought what's in our hears, we don't take the time. Man will disappoint you. That's why the God relationship is so important. I'm not very much good without Him in my life.

On her dating experience after two divorces:

Dating is something that's been hard for me. I've always been a one-man type woman. Until someone stops me in my tracks with the romance,the honor, and all that comes with falling in love, I'm excited to date and have fun.

On working with Tyler Perry on the film, "Madea's Family Reunion":

Tyler is wonderful. Every black actress should adore him. He has a respect and regard for our history and tradition, the issues that we face. I love what he's doing. He's a real lover of black women. He honors us and wants to build us up.

Lynn Whitfield's upcoming films include "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II" and "Mama I Want To Sing".




Photos: HEART & SOUL, Bobby Quillard

Labels: Lynn Whitfield, Newsstand Snapshots

Tichina Arnold and her four-year-old daughter Alijah Haggins pose a glossy photo editorial as seen in the May edition of "Essensce" magazine.

Photographed by Sinden Collier, Tichina and Ajiah are featured in the urban publication's intimate portrait of mothers and daughters.

Excerpts from Tichina & Alijah:

Arnold says she's 'got it good.'" She gets by with a little help from her mother (not to mention her sister, aunt, uncle, friends, a "gay husband" named Gregg, and Arnold's new beau, who works for the NBA.) "God placed the right people in my life," she says. "And he gave me the perfect daughter for me". [ESSENCE.COM]

Because Sunday May 11th is the day mothers are honored, "Essence" also included Grace Gibson's mother Lynn Whitfield, Robin Roberts' mother Lucimarian Roberts, and Laila Ali's mom Veronica Porche.



Lynn & Grace:

As actress Lynn Whitfield, 55, waxes philosophical about what it's like raising a teenage daughter ("The labor pains I went through at the beginning of her life are nothing compared to the labor pains you feel when you are birthing someone from teen years into womanhood"), Grace Gibson, 16, can't resist taking a playful swipe at her mother's sentimentality: "What a metaphor, Mother". [ESSENCE.COM]

Robin & Lucimarian:

...That truth was poignantly illustrated when Robin took off her wig during the ESSENCE photo shoot, and her mother's body language immediately changed. "She clutched me, and I was like, "Mama, what's wrong?" Roberts recalls. Her mother's response? "I just want to protect you". [ESSENCE.COM]

Laila & Veronica:

Laila Ali and her mother don't often see eye to eye, but they agree on one subject: Laila is the overprotective one. "If we go out or leave Laila's house, she always says, "Call me when you get home!" says Veronica Porche, Psy.D, Ali's mother. "I'm overprotective of anyone I care about," explains Ali, 30, in her defense. [ESSENCE.COM]

Photography: Sinden Collier, ESSENCE.COM

Labels: Laila Ali, Lynn Whitfield, Newsstand Snapshots, Tichina Arnold