(more…)

Many may only know her for her portrayal of R&B diva Brandy‘s mother on the hit series ‘Moesha’, but most know that actress Sheryl Lee Ralph prints her name atop a resume of accolades and accomplishments that only seems to grow as each year passes.

The Tony-award nominated veteran’s four decade-long career has featured work spanning across television and film to Broadway stages – highlighted by the original 1982 musical ‘Dreamgirls’.   Accented by the Jamaica bred beauty’s philanthropic efforts, now Ralph’s newest effort will see her join ‘Dreamgirl’ progeny Jennifer Hudson aboard NBC’s hit musical drama ‘Smash’.

Chatting exclusively with That Grape Juice, Ralph dishes on her role opposite J.Hud, rumors that she and Brandy are beefing, working with Beyonce, and so much more! You won’t want to miss this:

Sheryl Lee Ralph Shouts Out That Grape Juice!

Click here to read the interview!

Click here to read the interview!

The entertainment industry showed up and showed last night at the annual Clive Davis Pre-Grammy Gala.

Boasting a more upbeat mood than last year’s sombre affair (see: Whitney Houston’s passing), the likes of  Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Brandy, Usher, and Tyra Banks were among the many stars in attendance to pay homage to this year’s honoree L.A. Reid.

Peep pics from The Beverly Hilton event below..

Your thoughts?

Despite the addition of Grammy-winner Jennifer Hudson and a host of promotion, it appears the second season of its forethought hit ‘Smash’ was no smash at all.  For, after much hype, last night’s debut came in with a 60% drop from the show’s 1st season premiere.

Via E! Online:

“Smash‘s season-two premiere seriously underperformed in the ratings last night, bringing in a series-low average of 4.5 million viewers and a 1.1 demo rating. Smash‘s season-one finale drew 6 million viewers, meaning last night’s premiere saw a 25 percent drop. And if you compare it to the series debut last year (11.4 million), the season two opener plummeted a whopping 60 percent.”

**********

What this spells for the show is uncertain.  But, given the costliness of the show, we’re sure NBC is going to pull out all of the stops to ensure their prized musical is a hit…somewhere…somehow.

Your thoughts?

Shortly after Jennifer Hudson got the Obama’s grooving to Al Green‘s hit ‘Let’s Stay Together’, her ‘Dreamgirls’ co-star Jamie Foxx brought down the house for the Bidens’ first dance.

Lending his vocals to idol Ray Charles‘ hit ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You’, the crooner certainly reminded viewers that his talents certainly do not end on the big screen. See what we mean below:

(more…)

(Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Adele)

We asked…and boy did you answer!  With a whopping total of over 12,000 votes, the faithful fans of Adele, Beyonce, Brandy, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson, Jazmine Sullivan, and Rihanna more replied in droves to support their favorites in this vocal contest.

One of our best yet, we asked ‘Who is the Vocal Bible of this generation’?  Who is, so to speak, the textbook of vocal prowess for this generation and those after it to follow?

Trailing the steps of legends Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and more, the divas selected for this showdown have proven themselves to be at the top of their respective games – showing off a range, power, and control absent from many of their chart competitors.

Without further adieu, your choice for vocal supremacy awaits:

(more…)

They’re the girls who keep the industry afloat with their catchy tunes and lucrative endeavors, and now- just hours into the New Year- Facebook has named its highest ranking ‘Global Top Female Divas’.

Compiled by counting the Facebook fans of each lady, the list goes some way to explain the ‘reach & pull’ of their individual brands when targeting consumers on the social network.

Check it out below…

(more…)

Oh how time flies.

Though it may be hard to believe, only four weeks separate ‘American Idol’ fans for its hotly anticipated new season, starring Pop treasure Mariah Carey and Rap superstar Nicki Minaj.

Now watch as the ladies open up on what these fans can expect from the new season, and how they feel about the show’s oft underrated ‘record’, which has seen them responsible for Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

Watch below….

(more…)

Fresh from wrapping The X Factor UK, the show’s “winning judge” Nicole Scheringer jetted out to Jakarta to flaunt her own talents at a private gig.

Backed by famed composer David Foster, the singer’s Indonesian set included a unique take on Jennifer Holliday’s ‘And I Am Telling You’ – a song  more recently popularised by Jennifer Hudson in 2006’s ‘Dreamgirls’.

How did the former Pussycat Doll fare? Find out below…

(more…)

Over the past year, we at That Grape Juice have turned to the readers for their thoughts on the roles age, race, and even sexuality play in one’s success in the music industry.  Now, let’s weigh in on a heavier topic – weight.

Our culture is collectively becoming more stylized, making substance a thing of the past.  As image drives the culture, often filling media with airbrushed or digitally altered representations of “beautiful”, the standard of beauty has never been more sought.  An anomaly indeed given that statistics have proven most of the people subscribing to those very standards oft do not meet them.

So, what’s the big deal?

(more…)

The stars united to pay tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston in this Grammy organized special ‘We Will Always Love You’.

Featuring moving performances from Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Yolanda Adams, Cece Winans, Celine Dion, and more, the salute also saw spoken tributes from Halle Berry, Britney Spears, and LL Cool J.

Set at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, see all the action below (as they become available):

(more…)

In honor of her celebrated life and lasting legacy, CBS will present the Whitney Houston ‘Grammy Salute’  November 13th.

Boasting tributes and performances by Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson, Halle Berry and LL Cool J, today saw footage from Ushers tribute to the icon surface online.

A performance,  which both showcases Usher’s skill as a vocalist and conviction as an entertainer- serving justice to Houston’s take on ‘I Believe In You & Me’, originally released by The Four Tops in 1983.

Enjoy below…

(more…)