Songbird Mariah Carey made an appearance in Capri, Italy today. The singer attended the ’14th Annual Capri, Hollywood International Film Festival’ where she was awarded the ‘Capri Award ’09 – Supporting Actress of the Year’ for her role in the critically acclaimed film ‘Precious’. Observe more images of the diva below:

What do you think of the pics?

In news which comes very much as a surprise, supermodel-turned talk-show host Tyra Banks has pulled the plug daytime Emmy award-winning ‘The Tyra Banks Show’ after just five seasons.

Banks, 36, made the announcement exclusively to People.com, confirming that the show, most memorable for its ‘weave-exposing, cellulite-revealing and tear-jerking moments’, will cease production at the end of its current season in Spring 2010.

According to People, Banks will focus on the launch of Bankable Studios, a New York-based film production company currently reviewing possible projects. Sticking to her mission, Banks aims to bring “positive images of women to the big screen”.

“My next huge steps will allow me to reach more women and young girls to help us all feel as fierce as we truly are,” Banks says.

People.com cites an insider as saying: “Tyra is sad because she’ll be missing so much of the daily connection to her viewers, but excited at the same time to be taking on a new challenge.” With encouragement from filmmaker Tyler Perry and longtime mentor Oprah Winfrey, Banks is “redefining beauty for women in film,” adds the source. “With Oprah’s big announcement this year, I think that gave Tyra the confidence to get out there and follow her longtime dream of film producing.”

Those worried about the future of  America’s Next Top Model need not worry, however. The  show slated to return for its 15th season in February.

“There’s a lot cooking right now and a lot of fire burning in my heart,” Banks writes in an open letter on her Web site. “And I salute you my amazing family of viewers; without you there never would have been a Tyra Show. I really love you all.”

It’s great to see Tyra making strides and further etching her name in the history books. However, I must say I would have much preferred if she pulled the plug on America’s Next Top Model, which has long run its course. Just saying…

Your thoughts?

Aspiring singer Rihanna was spotted in Barbados on Saturday. The model spent the Christmas weekend with her family in an effort to escape the cold. Rihanna will be performing in Abu Dhabi on New Year’s Eve for a reported $500, 000. Peep more pictures of the Covergirl representative below:

What do you think of the pics?

Vivacious vixen Shakira took the stage on the BBC’s ‘Top of the Pops’ recently. The singer performed her worldwide hit ‘She Wolf’ for the hyped crowd at the station’s annual Christmas special. ‘She Wolf’ peaked at #4 on the UK Singles Chart.

Although Shakira sang live (a dissimilarity from the show’s tradition of lip-syncing), it’s great to see Shakira do what she does best – dance. While I enjoy her music and her voice, she certainly delivers her strongest performances when  she unleashes her inner ‘she wolf’. Good stuff.

Thoughts?

According to Hits Daily Double, Mary J. Blige‘s latest LP ‘Stronger With Each Tear’ is set to debut on the Billboard 200 with estimated sales of 300,000-320,000. Though not enough to dethrone the force that is Susan Boyle from the top spot (Boyle is set to sell ANOTHER 625,000!), Blige’s numbers are unarguably very impressive. {Source}

It will be interesting to see how the album fares after the Christmas sales surge ends, considering the album has yet to deliver a bonafide chart hit. That said, it’s for this very reason that congrats are in order for Mary. After this long in the game and without majorly successful lead singles, she still manages to pull in such numbers. More power to her!

Your thoughts?

In the latest celebrity Twitter outburst, Bow Wow has taken to his own page to announce that he’s firing his entire management team. The one-time popular rapper, real name Shad Moss, instead believes he himself is capable of managing his own career:

“(I’m) In one of those ‘please don’t f**k with me moods’ today. I’m firing all managers!

I’m managing myself. Who knows me better than me? I know this game very well…”

{Source}

By his management team, I’m assuming Shad means the in-house management over at his new label Cash Money, as well as the teams handling his other ventures. In any case, with this being real life and not fantasy (as some so easily forget), severing ties with management isn’t as simple as ‘I feel like firing them blah blah blah’. There’s much in the way of legalities and other hurdles before any thing becomes final. What’s more, in most cases, BOTH parties usually want out.

Still, best of luck to him; he’s as sure as hell going to need it judging by who is set to manage what’s left of his career.

Your thoughts?

You can now preview Omarion‘s brand new LP ‘Ollusion’ over at Amazon. We’ll reserve judgement until hearing the record in its entirety.

Click here to preview ‘Ollusion’

Hit(s) or Miss(es)?

As diva Kelly Rowland wraps up work on her as-yet-untitled 3rd solo studio album, a new promotional shot of the Destiny’s Child alum has surfaced.

The legs, the pose, the sass, Ms. Kelly looks stunning!

Your thoughts?

Diva-in-training Alexandra Burke performed on Ant and Dec’s ITV Boxing Day special yesterday, giving her own unique spin on Mariah Carey‘s festive classic ‘All I Want For Christmas’. Though not a patch on the original (hell Mariah would struggle to do it justice these days), Alex did her thing. I can honestly say Ms. Burke is one of the most engaging performers to emerge in recent years; she really works it out on stage. Gwan!

Randomness: If you’re wondering why updates on your favourite site and mine, as well as other blogs, has been a little slow…it’s Christmas LOL. However, be sure to keep it locked on That Grape Juice, as if one thing is a certainty, it’s that anything can pop off at any time!

What do you think of the performance?

Acclaimed director Spike Lee has honoured the late, great King of Pop Michael Jackson with this video for his first posthumous single ‘This Is It’.  A visual splicing together of the singer’s home-town Gary, Indiana and shots from his storied career, this video makes for a great tribute.

Michael’s passing is still somewhat surreal to me and I will definitely be looking to exit 2009 (despite it’s many great moments for me) with the swiftness because of it. RIP.

Your thoughts?

This week’s From The Vault video comes in the form of Destiny’s Child’s festive classic ‘8 Days of Christmas’. One of the most recent songs to join an elite list of Holiday classics (2001) and certainly the most Urban, this one is sure to elongate that Christmas feeling well beyond the big day itself. Great song!

Your thoughts?

A very pregnant Keyshia Cole decided to spread some Christmas cheer recently. The singer distributed gifts at the ActsFullGospel Church in East Oakland, California this week. Reportedly, Cole is expected to give birth in Spring 2010. Check out more pics below:

What do you think of the pics?