This week may as well be “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” week on That Black Girl Site. Yesterday, I wrote about the force that is Anika Noni Rose and today well we’ve got to talk about Jill Scott. That’s because on Monday she officially started work on her next role, mother. I’m so excited for her. Read the full story

On Easter Sunday, folks gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate what happened at that very location 70 years ago. That’s when opera singer Marian Anderson decided that if she wasn’t allowed to sing at Constitution Hall (or a nearby school) she’d give her concert on the aforementioned steps. That day she sang in front of a mixed crowd of 75,000 people. Sometimes, we forget just how significant (and gutsy) that move was. I know the Daughters of the American Revolution won’t soon forget it. Read the full story

Gliding on the dance floor like a modern day fairy tale, Lil’ Kim delighted the judges and audiences with her Viennese Waltz. Read the full story

During Motown’s 50th Anniversary year there has been lots of attention on founder Berry Gordon and some of the legendary acts that were on his label. But let’s not forget about Suzanne De Passe. She may have started out crafting The Jackson 5 into a worldwide phenomenon but this sister has done so much more. Read the full story

When Vanessa Williams was stripped of her 1984 Miss America title back in the day, she rose from the ashes and successfully reinvented herself as a pop songstress (with the help of then manager turned first husband Ramon Hervey). Her songs where both infectious (”The Right Stuff”) and smooth (”Comfort Zone” and “Save The Best To Last”). But then Broadway came calling and she wowed audiences in “Kiss Of The Spiderwoman” . That prompted Hollywood to offer our girl more meaty roles like “Eraser” and her unforgettable turn in “Soul Food”.  As the years went on, singing sort of took a back seat because she was getting paid to act.  Read the full story

We thought that we might get some answers yesterday on what really happened between Chris Brown and Rihanna on the night before the Grammy Awards.  But we’ll have to wait yet another month for that (at the very least.) Sure Brown showed up at the appointed time but TMZ reported that his court appearance was over in 4 minutes and 20 seconds—just long enough to get a one month delay. Plus he didn’t even enter a plea. Rihanna wasn’t there (no surprise) but was it disheartening to hear that although an Emergency Order of Protection was issued in the wake of the incident, her lawyer stated that she had no Protection Order in place now. Yeah, I know they are back together (engaged or even married according to some reports) but it is still sobering to watch this turn of events. It’s also quite sad. Read the full story

Artists like Beyonce get a whole lot of attention but we all know that R&B  isn’t the only kind of music we can make. For that matter neither is hip-hop. But we don’t think enough about jazz and the sisters that make it—especially if they’re not singing a tune. But Regina Carter will not be dismissed so easily.  Just like Diana Ross and all of the other Motown greats, Carter hails from the Motor City.  She began and was trained as a classical violinist but got her first exposure and appreciation for jazz while still in high school. Read the full story

When I think of this year’s Grammy Awards I can’t help thinking of that Frankie Beverly & Maze classic “Joy & Pain.” Because it was certainly a night of mixed emotions when it comes to the sisters. Let’s start with the glaringly obvious one: the reason Rihanna may not have been there. First we heard that she had been in a car accident. But as the night wore on rumors began to speculate that something went on between the singer who was set to perform at the award show and her boyfriend, singer Chris Brown. TMZ reported that the young R&B singer turned himself in to police before the show wrapped. I am sure the truth about what really happened to them will materialize bit by bit. I will say however, if this is a case of domestic violence than this kid’s squeaky clean image should be over. Read the full story

The web is abuzz with the news that blues singer Etta James blasted Beyonce for singing her singing her signature song “At Last” at The Neighborhood Inagural Ball last month. TMZ has the audio tape in which she also takes a swipe at our new President as well. Well, I don’t know about you but something seems strange about all this. Didn’t her son say that she wasn’t well enough to attend the Inauguration? Wasn’t it something about her gastric bypass surgery? Well I guess he didn’t check with his mother. before he issued that statement. Now comes the news that the singer was ‘just joking’. Read the full story

I don’t feel a particular need to do anything special for Black History Month. After all at That Black Girl Site, we are news 365 days a year. But I do think it is a great time to start a new feature called That Black Girl of The Week. Because sometimes the sisters, we love, admire or want to know more about aren’t front and center in the news. Hell, sometimes they’re off everyone’s radar altogether. Such is the case with Florence Ballard, whose contribution to Motown has been reduced to a tragic footnote. Or wishful thinking if you watched Diana Ross discussing Florence’s departure from the group on “Inside The Actor’s Studio” a couple of years ago. Read the full story