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Michael Bialas: A Winter Sugarland: Country's Merry (Christmas) Melodies

2009-12-22T14:35:26Z

Do you hear what I hear?

All that clatter must have something to do with last-minute packing by Santa and his elves. If there's a chance they forgot about the iPod-wielding, country-music loving member of your household, consider picking up these stocking stuffers worthy of some Christmas cheer. And you'll bring joy to their world without even needing to spike the eggnog.

Whether you want more Country in your Christmas, or more Christmas in your Country, here are three 'tis the season reasons to get into a festive mood.

Walking in a Winter Sugarland
Sugarland has reason to celebrate, and not just because it's the holiday season. The dynamic duo of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush spent the year touring the country, often supporting Keith Urban on the "Escape Together World Tour" as one of the most impressive warm-up acts in country music.

Carol call: Gold And Green, Sugarland's first holiday album (Mercury Nashville), includes five original songs among the 10 selections that total 36 minutes.

Yule play it because ... Visions of Sugarland are still dancing in your head, so this goes to the top of your holiday wish list. Nettles and Bush have fun with a jaunty "Winter Wonderland" (including a honky-tonk piano played by Bush's brother Brandon) and faithfully cover traditional Christmas spirituals like "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Silent Night," with Nettles even singing a verse in Spanish. But new numbers like the opening "City Of Silver Dreams" and the gospel-infused "Coming Home" are what bring a fresh scent to this seasonal ritual. While appearances by members of their touring band (including Brandon on keyboards and Annie Clements on background vocals) and formidable Nashville session players (guitarist Dan Dugmore, bassist Glenn Worf) deliver a fair country flair, Sugarland continues to expand. So does their audience, thanks to this genre-bending sound. Even Bush, often the figurative second fiddle to Nettles' charismatic presence and throaty vocals, gets a chance to break out in song on "Holly Jolly Christmas" and a folkie "Maybe Baby (New Year's Day)." There are also some bonus goodies for album buyers throughout the rest of the month.

Ring in the new: Even with a slot in this summer's Lilith Fair, it might be impossible for Sugarland to top 2009. They became a force with Live On The Inside, a CD/DVD set of live tracks that was bolstered by the group's first network television special. A performance on TNT's Christmas in Washington, two appearances on Oprah (the November 30 holiday extravaganza with Jennifer Hudson has an encore showing December 23) and Nettles' salute to Bruce Springsteen on The 32nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors (December 29, CBS) are among the holiday highlights that can only lead to a Happy New Year for this solid Gold (And Green) pairing. Meanwhile, Nettles gives a shout-out and sends "traveling mercies" on the album's liner notes to her brother Seth, who is deployed to Afghanistan during the holidays.

Sara's Southern Comfort and Joy
Sexy Sara Evans continues to tour, but her life is much less hectic since the days she rivaled Shania Twain and Faith Hill as one of country's hottest female stars. The RCA Nashville platinum-selling artist seems more comfortable singing God Bless America at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game than she does attempting the Paso Doble on Dancing With The Stars.

After going through a messy public divorce, the Missouri-born Evans has settled down in Birmingham with second husband Jay Barker, a former Alabama quarterback, and their Brady Bunch-like family. Evans just completed the "Celebrate the Season" tour, giving her a chance to bring Christmas music, along with a few of her country hits, to casino crowds and smaller arenas throughout the West.

Carol call: I'll be Home For Christmas is a digital collection of four tracks previously heard on other artist projects that's available at online sites such as iTunes and amazon.com for $3.99.

Yule play it because ... Evans has always been a music traditionalist and, although she no longer lives in Nashville, her sound continues to capture the down-homeyness of a woman seemingly devoted to the Southern way of life. The title track and "O Come All Ye Faithful" are treated with the proper respect and solemn dignity they deserve, while she kicks it up a notch for the Bible-toting "Go Tell It On the Mountain" before closing it out with the lone original. "New Again," a reverential hymn she co-wrote and performs with Brad Paisley, profoundly puts the meaning of Christmas in the proper perspective.

Ring in the new: Although Evans cowrote and recorded a new single in 2009, "Feels Just Like a Love Song," there's no word yet on when her first studio album since 2005 will be released. But after writing her first novel, The Sweet By and By (Thomas Nelson), she's likely to be on the promotional trail a lot in 2010, beginning with book signings in Nashville and New York, then a scheduled appearance with the women of The View on January 13.

Equal time for Joey+Rory
As a musical team, husband/wife duo Joey+Rory are relatively new to the Nashville scene. The couple auditioned for Can You Duet on Country Music Television in early 2008 en route to placing third in the finals. After signing a record deal with Vanguard/Sugar Hill and releasing their debut album, The Life Of A Song later that year, they held on to their day jobs. Joey Martin, left, is a co-owner and waitress at Marcy Jo's Mealhouse, a restaurant about 45 minutes south of Nashville that she runs with her sister-in-law; Rory Feek, right, is an award-winning songwriter on Music Row (Blake Shelton's "Some Beach," Clay Walker's "The Chain of Love" are among several hits) and founder of Giantslayer Records. The pair were nominated in 2009 as Top Vocal Duo by the Academy of Country Music and Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association.

Carol call: "It's Christmas Time" is a single the couple made available for 99 cents on iTunes and amazon.com. The mid-tempo song is filled with fiddles and guitars, along with simple but relatable lyrics about the holidays: "... Can't believe it's already here / ain't bought a single thing, Oh dear / I'm so far behind." During a visit with Martin's family in Indiana, it was written by Feek, a Marine Corps veteran who asks to "say a prayer for all the soldiers over there."

Joey+Rory also teamed up with The Song Trust, a collaborative group founded in Nashville that emphasizes the songwriter instead of the singer, to put together a 12-song children's album called Merry Kidsmas. The project, produced by Feek and Tim Johnson, developed out of the successful 2007 release of a weeper sung by an anonymous 6-year-old girl. Called "Bring Him Home Santa," the little letter writer tells St. Nick that she would gladly give up the Barbie doll and soccer ball on her Christmas list to see her military dad home for the holidays.

Yule play it because ... If you're thinking like Scrooge and aren't ready to hear the precocious sounds of little angels singing, at least buy Merry Kidsmas ($9.99 on iTunes, $9.49 on amazon.com) for your young children. Surely, they'll enjoy the too-cute "Box of Rocks," about a tattletale who recommends to Santa the perfect gift for her brother who's been "bad a lots." Along with nine original songs written by The Song Trust, there are new takes on "(All I Want For Christmas is My) Two Front Teeth," "Wudolph (the Red Nosed Reindeer)" and the "Little Drummer Boy." Portions of the sales go to charity, including the USO, and you'll benefit by staying in a benevolent mood ... at least for the rest of the year.

Ring in the new: Joey+Rory, who have two daughters (Heidi and Hopie), will celebrate their eighth anniversary on June 15. Expect more accolades for the happy couple, who have been named one of 2009's top 10 new artists by CMT. Thus far, there are only a couple of appearances scheduled for early 2010, including January 23 at Marcy Jo's anniversary party, where one lucky contestant+1 can attend if chosen in a sweepstakes drawing sponsored by cmt.com.

Extras
• Check out Denver concert photos of Sugarland's opening, Keith Urban's headline performance and Sara Evans' summer set at Elitch Arena.
Read more: Joey+Rory, Jennifer Hudson, Concerts, Joey Martin, Keith Urban, Rory Feek, Christmas, Cd, Kristian Bush, Denver, Jennifer Nettles, Country, Oprah Winfrey, Santa Claus, Sara Evans, Sugarland, Bruce Springsteen, Entertainment News

Tiger Woods Oprah Interview May Be In The Works

2009-12-17T12:42:26Z
A Tiger Woods Oprah interview could be the talk show host's biggest get in some time -- maybe even deliver ratings higher than the Sarah Palin interview. Harpo Studios has confirmed Oprah is trying to land the golf star on her show.

A Harpo Studios representative told the Chicago Tribune, "We have reached out to Tiger Woods' representatives, but nothing is confirmed."

The last time Woods was on The Oprah Winfrey Show was in 1998, an emotional show with his father. He shed tears during the appearance and if he could do so again -- perhaps in 2010 -- he could gain public support, says Andrew Greiner of NBC Chicago.

For now, it's nothing more than a possibility, but Oprah's folks are indeed trying to land Tiger Woods, who has been embattled by an affairs scandal recently and is apparently pending a divorce with his wife Elin.
Read more: Tiger Woods Oprah Interview, Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods on Oprah, Oprah Winfrey Show, Tiger Woods Interview, Tiger Woods, Oprah Tiger Woods, Chicago News

Oprah Winfrey Donates $1.5 Million To Atlanta's Ron Clark Academy

2009-12-17T10:33:56Z
ATLANTA — A private middle school in inner-city Atlanta has received $1.5 million from Oprah Winfrey.

The Ron Clark Academy announced the donation Thursday. The innovative school has struggled to raise money this year amid the sagging economy to pay for its $2.8 million operating budget, which is bankrolled almost entirely by donors.
Read more: Oprah, Ron Clark Academy, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Ron Clark Academy, Media News

Trish Kinney: Oprah and the Obamas Hit the Wrong Note at Christmas

2009-12-17T09:57:20Z
Do you think it is a sign of the times, or a sign of the administration, that Oprah hosted the White House Christmas television special this year? It is enough to make you long for the good ole days when Jackie Kennedy gave the American people a tour of the White House in black and white on CBS with Chris Collingwood. That was 1961, pre-social networking, pre-we have to know everything about everyone's life. Jackie's idea of the "people's house" was to preserve its history by acquiring objects and works that were historically significant funded by private donations at the direction of a Fine Arts Committee. She did a lovely voice over in the program using archival photographs and wonderful stories of the evolution of the White House before she appeared to speak about her restoration efforts and the magnificence of the building she and her family temporarily called home for such a brief time.

Fast forward to 2009 and you have Oprah hanging out with her pals chatting them up about whether they can really believe they get to live there. Greeting the first couple with a kiss and a hug, the three of them seemed almost giddy. Bo made an appearance that made us regular dog owners green with envy. Perfectly groomed, shiny coat, with holiday bells on, and oh so well trained. He gave two high fives to the First Lady and then Oprah wanted one for herself. As the owner of an 8 month old puppy, let's just say I couldn't relate.

There were a few segments about certain rooms and why they were decorated as they were. And we got a quick peek at how the huge gingerbread house was made and a very quick look at the older couple who provided the national tree. How interesting it would have been to find out how they felt about being selected for that honor. I actually thought the show was going to be about the White House and its Christmas traditions. But that took a back seat to the personal angle, Oprah's trademark.

I know they have made a decision not to parade the kids around on camera after they made that mistake once during the campaign. But I, for one, am tired of hearing about how smart and beautiful and healthy and happy they are. I'm sure they are all those things but I don't want to know about their sleepovers with Secret Service close by and I sure didn't want to know what I recently read about Sasha flying friends in to visit since the family doesn't get back to Chicago all that often. It just makes me think about all the children in this country who are poor and hungry, who are abused and neglected, and whose parents are out of work.

And we could have done without the gift giving chat where the President claimed to give better gifts than he receives. The First Lady objected but then had to admit that the spectacular pearl necklace she was wearing with the diamond clasp, an anniversary gift from her husband, wasn't bad at all, urging him to keep up the good work. And as to the Christmas season in the White House, the First Lady said there were a lot of parties.

A more formal look at the White House itself, its Christmas traditions and its breathtaking history would have been more appropriate at this time, more patriotic. And a little journalistic decorum never hurt anyone. But to throw a limited amount of serious political talk, almost token talk, into such a personal format felt off. A little touch of war, a little touch of peace prize, and a little grading of his own performance so far was just too lightweight, considering our current national circumstance.

President Obama is in danger of being overexposed on television and it would do him good to remember what we used to love about him during the campaign. His sweeping rhetoric, the way he could make us believe in things that have always seemed just out of reach, the way he gave us hope in the midst of our collective despair. Frankly, I don't want to know what it is like for him to live in the White House and look out his window at the girls' swing set from the Oval Office or that his wife occasionally looks at him sitting behind the presidential desk and wonders what he's doing there. I would rather imagine what all that is like for him. What we need from him is seriousness, earnest contemplation, and reassurance that everything is going to be ok.

A little less "Baby It's Cold Outside" and a little more "O Christmas Tree". Maybe next year ABC could get Arianna.

Read more: Oprah, First Lady, White House Christmas, President Obama, Obamas, Media News

Kate Hudson Gets Awkward Talking A-Rod On Oprah (VIDEO)

2009-12-16T17:00:24Z
The cast of "Nine" was on Oprah on Wednesday, and Kate Hudson got awkward and stuttery when Oprah asked about now-ex boyfriend Alex Rodriguez.

On Wednesday People.com reported Hudson and A-Rod split a few weeks ago. Watch below as Kate ducks and weaves around the subject of her boyfriend, who, unbeknown to Oprah, she was probably breaking up with at the time the episode filmed. It originally aired several weeks ago.

In the clip below, Oprah has just shown a photo of the two kissing and asked Kate how they met.

WATCH:

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Read more: Celebrity Splits, Kate Hudson, Oprah Winfrey, Alex Rodriguez, A-Rod, Entertainment News

Hermene Hartman: Viva Oprah!

2009-12-16T13:31:33Z
As we wind down 2009, I have a few words to say about Oprah.

Oprah Winfrey announced she would be leaving the small screen in September of 2011. Her twenty-five years as the Queen of Daytime TV has changed the face of media and celebrity. She showed us a thing or two about how to live and what to read; she has taken us to the doctor, and she has discussed our finances. She has shared fashion, weight-loss and make-up tips, and she has given us fabulous gifts.

Oprah has become everyone's girlfriend. She is the girl next door that you would like to know, that you would listen to. I was so happy when she broadcast her show on late nights because I could watch the show with regularity. I am better for watching some of her programs. I got a greater sense of giving and humanity. I have become healthier and more money-savvy. And I am appreciative of all of the tips across the board; I have even read a couple of the book recommendations, and bought some of the CDs and even seen a few of the movies.

Oprah has introduced us to a host of people from the weird to the wonderful; and she took us behind the scenes on movies sets and inside the homes of the movie stars. She has made everyday people rich by mentioning their names, products or businesses.

She has become America's angel as we have watched her -- up-close and personal -- live her incredible life; she has talked to us about friendship with Gayle and we have even heard about her love life with Mr. Stedman Graham and the love of her dogs.

The Oprah Winfrey story is one that we all must admire. Her story is logically impossible and has demonstrated the fullness of the positive spirit and possibilities.

We have watched her onscreen grow into glamor; we have watched her love as she has shared her problems. We have watched her become rich in more ways than one.

Oprah: The Business Model

Oprah is a phenomenon and someone may be anointed or appointed to fill her time slot, but there simply is no replacing Oprah Winfrey. Her business acumen and sense of timing in most of her endeavors has been exquisite. She knows who she is; she knows her power and what her medium can do. For the first time in her career, she endorsed a political candidate, Barack Obama and perhaps she helped propel him into the White House win. She even went on the campaign trail, taking a risk with her own career.

Oprah has done it right.

She turned her show into a marketing machine. Oprah's recommendation or appearance has meaning and makes money. The thousands of interviews will run as reruns for the next 25 years and she will make another fortune. She revolutionized TV and will probably go on to do some great things behind the scenes as she runs her very own network. She took the idea of a TV show host to another level and has made life better for many.

Her philanthropic deeds are legendary. I think one of her most significant accomplishments has been the building of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. She will take another generation to another place and improve the quality of their lives forever. Oprah has been impactful and we will miss her. We have watched her live daily in front of the camera. We have watched her grow as we ourselves have grown. I'm glad I got a chance to watch the girl from Mississippi live an amazing story in public.

I wish she would have gotten more involved in Chicago life and I wish we could have seen her about town more. I wish she would have considered Chicago a major city and attended our events and become more involved in civic life. But you don't have time for everything and her choices have been excellent. Oprah has been a terrific Chicago citizen and if she moves we will feel her absence.

Thanks, Oprah, for making Chicago your home and for showing us some of the many levels of how to do it.

We will miss you.
Read more: Oprah Winfrey, Television, Oprah Obama, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Chicago, Chicago News

Nate Berkus Show: Oprah's Latest Protege To Get Own Show

2009-12-16T09:19:01Z
Harpo Productions, the producing arm of Ms. Winfrey's television empire, will introduce, probably in the fall, the next Oprah-originated daytime talk host in Nate Berkus, the decorator and design expert who has been a staple on Ms. Winfrey's show for the last six years.
Read more: Harpo, Oprah, Nate Berkus Show, Nate Berkus, Oprah Nate Berkus, Media News

Catie Lazarus: The Year of the Man-Child

2009-12-15T19:41:23Z
What Did You Learn in 2009? Test your knowledge by answering these objectively scientific questions about the celebrities, politicians and fifteen minute famers who made headlines.

You would describe 2009: "THE YEAR OF
A) Undermining Uninsured, Unemployed, and Underrepresented Minorities.
B) The Man-Child
C) Hope in a Bottle
(You can answer differently than the scorekeeper)

If a female celebrity accepts an award for her work, a male peer should:
A) Corner her with an unsolicited kiss, you'll never get the chance again and not just because she is married!
B) Interrupt her speech to say she didn't deserve to win.
C) Promote a political cause, even if he can't pronounce Ahmadinejad.

When exploiting children for commercial gain:
A) Buy them matching uniforms.
B) Never read them books, it sends subliminal message to viewers.
C) Keep copies of the footage for their future shrink appointments.

If a male physically abuses his girlfriend or female colleague, he might:
A) Ditch her in their shared office, McMansion, or rental car.
B) Blame the media.
C) Apologize via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or a YouTube video; someone else can forward her the link.

If a married politician or celebrity cheats, he ought to:
A) Engage in unprotected sex with as many people as possible, because if she takes you back, you may be stuck with her.
B) Do a prostitute or escort, she won't get how to sexually exploit someone for money.
C) Invent an original alibi, as coming out of the closet, hiking, and a fetish for S & M in trouser socks is already taken.
D) Hide any athletic gear or sharp objects from his spurned wife.

When gunning for your fifteen minutes of fame from infidelity:
A) Swipe toiletries from the hotel for proof of your lover's lust and hygiene practices.
B) Keep receipts of your rendezvous for taxes.
C) You want to hone your reality show pitch, like Skanks Doing Pranks or Males Are Hos Too.

After a failed Presidential campaign, politicians will:
A) Serve boxed wine in exchange for donors buying your memoir at full price.
B) Decry reform as socialism, while collecting government subsidized health care.
C) Consult on national security, when your international experience consists of finding a parking spot near the U.N.

If after skipping out on bail, you should:
A) Find a spokesperson whose own biological son is his brother-in-law, ex is his mother-in-law to stump on your behalf.
B) Describe his admitted drugging and raping a minor as not "rape rape."
C) Move to Europe where sexual assault is a poet's personal beeswax.

Say you carry a weapon, you want to:
A) Wear sweatpants without pockets.
B) Test it out on college campus, military bases, or crowded piazza, and then run!
C) Deploy to Afghanistan, apparently we need more armed bodies there.

For religious reasons, people will:
A) Veto gays and lesbian's liberal causes like marriage and the military.
B) Kill other humans, especially over holy land.
C) Practice polygamy, but only if the women dress in corduroy prairie dresses.

To win a US political election, a candidate should:
A) Spend $200 on behalf of voters in lieu of giving them cash during a recession.
B) Rant about immigrants, even if he's not Native-American.
C) Invest hundreds of dollars in hair care (true for tennis players too).

The Banking industry needs to:
A) Build sturdier pyramids.
B) Merge with the other conglomerates to form all we need: US Treasury-Google-Apple-Twitter-HBO-Netflix-H&M-CVS-Ikea-Trader Joe's-US Government.
C) Be paid more than less intelligent peers, like rocket scientists, doctors, teachers, professors, public servants, therapists, engineers, and nurses.

To ring in 2010, US Citizens will:
A) Blog, text, drink red wine, call their congressman, exercise more, eat less, take a second job, sanitize their hands, vote for viral videos, all while driving.
B) Crash a political function, just remember C-Spanners tuck in before the ball drops.
C) Fist bump.
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Danny Groner: Barack Obama Learning Work Ethic From His Daughter Malia

2009-12-15T19:30:48Z
In an interview that aired on Sunday night, Barack Obama told Oprah that he deserves a B+ for his work in his first year as President. If health care passes, it'll rise to an A-. Both Republicans and Democrats were left scratching their heads over the self-appointed grade, as there's little progress and surefire numbers to prove that this high mark is justified. Some wonder what ratings system Obama was using to make his judgment. See video of the interview below:

While watching Obama give himself such a stellar grade, I was reminded of a statement he made last month about education. His daughter, Malia brought home an 80-something on an assignment, which she was proud of, and Obama told her that they shoot for As, not Bs. See that video below:

When Obama was questioned about his performance, he couldn't very well give himself a low mark for his first year in office. That would come across as weak to the American people, although they might have appreciated what they recognized as a more honest approach and answer. But, moreover, it would have sent a bad message to Obama's daughters after he publicly chastised them for going for silver instead of gold.

The problem that Obama has run into in his own professional - and strikingly educational in its humbling message - aspirations is that when going for gold you could also come up shorter than just a silver medal. If Obama were to have gone below a B+ with his response, he would have faced a tougher critic than the American people: his loving daughter at home waiting to say "I told you so."
Read more: Oprah Winfrey, Oprah, Obama Presidency, President Obama, Obama, First Family, Presidency, Barack Obama, Grades, Malia Obama, Media News

Oprah's Obama Christmas Special Draws Big Ratings For ABC

2009-12-15T09:32:13Z
For ABC, Oprah plus Obama equals ratings.

Sunday night's "Christmas at the White House" special, in which Oprah interviewed the president and first lady and showed off the holiday decorations at the White House, drew 11.8 million total viewers.

That wasn't nearly enough to knock NBC's "Sunday Night Football" out of the top slot (the Eagles-Giants game averaged 21.9 million viewers overall and around 18 million viewers during the 10PM hour), but it was enough to qualify as ABC's best 10PM ratings since Adam Lambert's infamous American Music Awards performance last month, according to the New York Post.
Read more: Christmas at the White House Ratings, Oprah, Abc, Oprah Obama, Oprah Obama Ratings, Christmas at the White House, Media News

"Christmas At The White House": Bo Obama Gives Oprah A "High Five" (VIDEO)

2009-12-14T01:23:47Z
Cuteness alert! When Oprah arrives at the White House for her Christmas at the White House special, First Lady Michelle Obama leads her on a tour around the premises where the two ladies run into Bo Obama, the First Dog.

"Hey," Michelle shouts and claps her hands.

"Oh my," Oprah calls out. "Bo!!!!!"

The First Dog is wearing a Christmas collar with bells. Bo shows off some of his training: he lays down, he stays. Then, the grand finale: Bo high fives the First Lady and Oprah.

"That's great," Oprah declares. "I'm going to get little bells for my dogs."

Despite the excellence of training, Michelle assures Oprah that Bo will not be getting a playmate any time soon.

WATCH IT

More from Christmas at the White House here: Obama tells Oprah he'd give himself a B plus grade for his first year in office.

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President Obama To Oprah: I Give Myself A Solid B+ (VIDEO)

2009-12-13T23:45:10Z
On Sunday night, Oprah's Christmas at the White House special aired; during her one-on-one conversation with the president, Oprah asked Obama what grade he would give himself for his first year in office.

"A good solid B-plus," Obama answered, and went on to explain how he arrived at this mark. "I think we have inherited the biggest set of challenges of any president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We stabilized the economy... We are on our way out of Iraq. I think we've got the best possible plan for Afghanistan. We have reset our image around the world."

"And" Obama concluded, "I think that we're going to pass the most significant piece of social legislation since social security, and that's health insurance for every America."

So, Oprah pressed, why only B-plus?

"B-plus because of the things that are undone. Health care is not yet signed." The president smiled, "if I get health care passed we tip into A minus."

Read more: Obama Oprah Interview, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah, Oprah Christmas Special, Obama B, Oprah White House, Oprah Obama Grade, Obama, Obama Oprah, Oprah White House Christmas Special, Obama B Plus, Politics News

Oprah, Obamas Talk Christmas Gifts In "Christmas At The White House" Special

2009-12-09T22:38:35Z
CHICAGO — President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama talked holiday gifts when Oprah Winfrey went to the White House to film a Christmas special.

In quotes released Wednesday by Harpo Productions, President Obama tells Winfrey that as a rule he gives "nicer stuff than I get." Michelle Obama responds, "No way, I gave you good gifts last year."
Read more: Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah, Barack Obama Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Obama, Obama Oprah, Obamas Christmas Gifts, Christmas at the White House, Barack Obama, Media News

Lucia Brawley: Oprah and the Voice of a New Generation

2009-12-09T21:01:33Z

"You work and work and fight and struggle and all the time, you're dreaming of this moment when it's all going to happen, when people will listen to your opinions and team up to make your ideas happen. I'm in that moment right now and it's unbelievable. Everything I've worked so hard for is coming together right now," says Derrick Ashong, activist, social entrepreneur, and front man to the band Soulfege - who has recently caught the eye of Oprah Winfrey .

A couple of years ago, things looked a bit more challenging for Ashong. He'd organized a record deal and international tour for Soulfege. All eight bandmates had let go of their apartments and day jobs. And a week before they were supposed to go on tour, the venture fell through. "So it looked like my whole band, including me, had to start from scratch and it was all my fault because I'd pulled the plug at the last minute after realizing the record company wasn't living up to their end of the bargain. I felt so bad," says Derrick.

Exacerbating his frustration was the fact that Derrick was a 33-year-old Harvard graduate, who had immigrated to this country from Ghana at four years old with his parents and younger sister. He had defied the traditional expectations of what he calls an "F.O.B." (Fresh Off the Boat), by daring to enter into the arts, rather than going into a more stable profession. The stakes were high for him to prove the validity of his unconventional choice. Furthermore, he placed upon himself the added pressure to succeed at a very high level, in order to help the rest of his family back in Ghana - and indeed, to help transform the nation of Ghana itself.

Fortunately, Mr. Ashong has no dearth of faith, pluck, intelligence or drive. As an undergraduate, on the first professional audition of his life, he won a stand-out role in Steven Spielberg's Amistad. He shares a speaking agent with Nobel-Prize-winning luminaries, such as Mikhail Gorbachev and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Derrick is in demand around the world to speak, ex tempore, about how to empower disenfranchised communities and young people. He helped found the Harvard Black Men's Forum and Harvard Black Alumni Society. He worked for a time for Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, helping him run his media venture. He's played guitar with Gilberto Gil. And a cutting-edge documentary about a global shift in consciousness, aptly called The Shift (not to be confused with self-help guru Wayne Dyer's The Shift), features Derrick prominently amidst the likes of Tutu, Richard Branson, Bono, Deepak Chopra, Mohammed Yunus, Fatima Gailani, Marianne Williamson and Al Gore. And, even though he did not naturalize as an American citizen until he was 25 years old, he knows every intricacy of United States politics, rendering "news junkee" a polite euphemism.

The latter skill unexpectedly gave him his big break when, during the last presidential primaries, an older white gentleman with a video camera approached Derrick outside an Obama-Clinton debate in Hollywood. Looking much younger than his age already, Derrick could have passed for a high school or college student, wearing a baseball cap, hoody sweatshirt and Ghanaian caori shell necklace, carrying a backpack and a "Si, Se Puede!" Obama poster. The citizen journalist asked Derrick why he supported Obama's health care plan and when Derrick began to respond, the interviewer snapped, "Do you have any specifics? Do you have any technical versus emotional specifics?! What are their policies? Do you know?" Respectfully and cheerfully, the seeming kid launched into an expert health care policy analysis, eventually wearing down his crochety interrogator's defenses and preconceptions, until at the end, the two men were slapping each other five.

Uploaded onto YouTube, the video received well over a million hits, becoming one of the most viewed online videos of 2008. Suddenly, CNN, BET and other major media outlets were contacting Derrick, asking him to blog and report for them. Even The Economist, not particularly known for its progressive sympathies, wrote about him. Next thing he knew, he was receiving enticing phone calls from Hollywood mega-agencies. Vanity Fair's Editor of Creative Development, David Friend, wrote a piece about the new YouTube phenom and Soulfège.

Eventually, Oprah's "BFF," Gayle King, interviewed Derrick several times on her radio show, calling him "the voice of a generation". And, ultimately, about a month ago, Oprah Radio the Grande Dame of all media herself interviewed Ashong for her Soul Series. She introduced him to the world this way:

I really don't believe...in coincidences. But I believe that everything is interconnected and everything happens for a reason. So...I know it's a sign...I first heard the name Derrick Ashong when the head of my development suggested, 'You know there's this guy we ran into. His name's Derrick Ashong. You should meet him.' Then at a west coast meeting for my new television network OWN, the name Derrick Ashong was broached again by a few West Coast executives at this meeting. And then, one day, out of the blue, Gayle King had interviewed Derrick Ashong on her radio show and Gayle insisted that Derrick Ashong...So when you hear a name like, any kind of name shows up in your life more than one time and you keep hearing that, that means something's going on with that person. So, lo and behold, I present you today, musician and activist and social entrepreneur, Derrick Ashong. Finally, we get to meet.

And, without missing a beat, Derrick responded warmly, "Finally."

On Wednesday, December 16, at a live interactive concert at TheRoomLive.com and Oprah.com, Soulfege announced that Derrick will have his own show on Oprah Radio beginning in January 2010.

(Reprinted from my original piece at The Community Marketing Blog-Off)
Read more: The Shift, Derrick Ashong, Oprah Winfrey, The Economist, Steven Spielberg, Vanity Fair, Bono, Harpo Productions, Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey Network, Soulfege, Community Marketing Blog-Off, Media News

Mike Robbins: Give The Best Gift Of All This Holiday Season

2009-12-09T13:01:00Z
During one of her shows a few years back, Oprah Winfrey made a profound and beautiful statement that I appreciated very much. She said, "We do shows about lots of 'stuff' and my 'favorite things,' but what people want more than anything else is to know that they're appreciated...that's the best gift of all."

At this time of year it's easy for us to get caught up in the stress of getting everything on our "list" crossed off, preparing for parties and events, and rushing around to buy gifts. And, with money tight for many of us this year, there's added stress as we think about what gifts to get for our family members, friends, co-workers, and others.

Instead of just giving "stuff" for the holidays this year, what if we gave the people in our life the most meaningful gift of all; our appreciation? Let the people around you know what you appreciate about them and why.

What do you value most about your best friend? What is it about your kids that you really appreciate? What do you love best about your spouse? How does your co-worker or your boss make your job easier and more fun?

Expressing our heartfelt and genuine appreciation for the important people in our life is magical and it's essential to our ability to create happiness, fulfillment, loving relationships, healthy families, successful teams, and productive communities. Appreciation is also an important element of effectively dealing with the stress of challenges and uncertainty that so many of us are facing these days.

This year, our holiday gifts can be expressions of true appreciation which will have real impact on our relationships and make our holiday season one to remember. And, with things the way they are financially for many people these days, taking time to appreciate others and life is so important this year.

Here are three simple suggestions to make your holiday gifts and your holiday season special and meaningful:

1) In addition to (or instead of) giving gifts, take time to write heartfelt thank you cards. Write cards of gratitude - letting the people around you know what you appreciate about them and how they have impacted your life in a positive way. Express your appreciation genuinely, specifically, and personally - in a heartfelt way.

2) Ask people what they really want. Giving something specific that someone really wants will have them feel appreciated and valued. It doesn't have to be expensive, as long as it's personal to them. And, if you ask them directly you may find out that what they really want is something simple that can't be bought or doesn't cost money.

3) Give the gift of your time or service - Make a list of a few important people in your life and instead of buying them something, call and ask each them if there is some project they've been putting off or procrastinating that you might be able to help them with. Schedule time to come over to their house or support them specifically in getting that task or project accomplished.

Remember what most people want, more than almost anything else, is to know that they are loved, valued, and appreciated. Appreciation truly is the best gift we can give to the people in our lives (for the holidays and at any time of the year).

Mike Robbins is a sought-after motivational keynote speaker, coach, and the bestselling author of Focus on the Good Stuff (Wiley) and Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken (Wiley). More info - www.Mike-Robbins.com
Read more: Stress, Holidays, Motivational Speaker, Money, Honesty, Mike Robbins, Oprah, Presents, Authenticity, Anxiety, Appreciation, Gratitude, Self-Help, The Balanced Life, Living News

2morrowknight: Tiger Woods Needs to Step Forward... And Tell it to Oprah

2009-12-09T08:43:34Z
I don't get any satisfaction in seeing the unraveling of Tiger Wood's personal and professional lives. The nonstop parade of sordid and salacious tidbits about alleged mistresses is disgusting. But this is the reality he's staring at because he didn't get out in front of the story early.

By granting a one-on-one interview with Oprah Winfrey, Tiger would effectively slow down the daily feeding frenzy. Over 85% of Oprah's viewership is female. An appearance on her show undoubtedly helped Arnold Schwarzenegger in his 2003 run for California Governor. If you'll recall, Schwarzenegger's poll numbers among women voters was terrible, which were fueled in part from rumors of infidelity as well as his own admission of having been on rowdy movie sets. Oprah's interview made the difference. And it is no reason to believe that an appearance wouldn't also benefit Tiger, and help him to stop the bleeding.

Tiger needs to steer clear of the writers who are currently claiming they have a right know what he's doing at 2am every morning, who he's in the shower with, and the name and zodiac sign of every single contact in his iPhone. Give that crowd the cold shoulder. This is a nightmare, and a circus. The last thing he needs is a Q&A with someone looking to extend the controversy, and someone who gleefully and intentionally defines alleged mistresses to mean confirmed mistresses.

I know Tiger is a notoriously private person, but conversations about his "transgressions" have become an unwanted volleyball. The human costs to his family and himself are more important to me than the financial costs associated with his endorsements and billionaire status. With so many unanswered questions, an Oprah interview is indeed his best bet. He can deny what's false, confirm what's true, and talk about his life going forward before what would be a massive TV audience. A highly recommended scenario for sure. I hope this happens, and happens soon.
Read more: Oprah Winfrey, Tiger Woods News, Sports News, Tiger Woods, Sports Marketing, Tiger Woods Endorsements, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods Scandal, Oprah Interview, Media News

Oprah Leaving Chicago, But Harpo Productions Will Stay

2009-12-08T09:36:52Z
For all the changes that Oprah Winfrey set in motion with her announcement last month that she will be ending her syndicated daytime talk show in 21 months, at least one thing looks to remain the same: Her Harpo Productions is going to remain right here in Chicago.
Read more: Oprah Moving, Oprah Winfrey, Harpo Chicago, Oprah to Los Angeles, Oprah, Chicago, Oprah Chicago, Harpo Productions, Harpo Studios, Chicago News

Margaret Aguirre: Oprah and the Power of 10

2009-12-04T15:31:14Z
Ten dollars.

It's not a large sum of money. In this country, 10 bucks doesn't really buy that much -- maybe a decent glass of wine, a previously viewed DVD, a couple cans of tennis balls.

In the humanitarian world we go to great lengths to describe in simple terms for donors, the media, the public in general, how the smallest amounts, the smallest interventions can save lives.

How many times have I watched a parent arrive at one of our nutrition centers in Chad, or Ethiopia, or the Democratic Republic of Congo carrying a severely malnourished, limp, unresponsive child -- a child whose time left on earth may be fewer than 24 hours? And then, a week later, the child is reversing course after receiving the proper therapeutic food. Ten bucks can do that.

How many times did I meet a new mother who faced a one in 22 chance of dying due to complications in childbirth -- but because she had appropriate pre- and postnatal care from one of our trained midwives, she was alive and healthy, lying in a recovery room, gazing into the eyes of her beautiful newborn. Ten bucks can do that too.

In volatile, fragile environments in the developing world, the margins separating life from death can be razor thin.

This past week, International Medical Corps and Oprah teamed up once again to tackle some of the gravest threats to the health of women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oprah made a powerful appeal on her show and online that we join her "For All Women" campaign and give something, anything back. Thousands upon thousands of her viewers answered her rallying cry and have donated $10, $50, $100 to International Medical Corps.

I suspect those viewers cannot truly picture the enormity of the impact they're making with even a modest donation. I suspect that's true of most people who want to give to charity and make a difference -- particularly at this time of year when we are all trying to keep perspective on what matters most to us.

But I can attest that small sums do have an enormous impact. I think back to one father in eastern Congo who was transported to our clinic, along with about 30 other parents and kids from a displacement camp. All the children were severely malnourished and needed immediate attention. As he cradled the daughter he knew was slipping toward death, he looked at me and our staff with eyes that said, "You're my last hope." He handed her off to our chief nutritionist. Within a few weeks that little girl had made a full recovery.

When we say that $10 can save a life, we mean it.

If you want to learn more or to donate to the For All Women campaign, go to International Medical Corps' site directly or www.oprah.com/forallwomen.

Read more: For All Women, Humanitarian Aid, Save Lives, International Medical Corps, Congo, Oprah, Impact News

Sophia A. Nelson: Oprah & Tyler Perry Should Be Applauded

2009-12-04T10:14:02Z

After seeing the movie with the same title, I will never think of Chante Moore's chart topping 1990's song, "Precious," quite the same, ever again. The movie Precious left me feeling deeply wounded, confused and horrified that there are actually fellow citizens among us who live lives similar to the film, every day of their lives. It was as if someone took a fist and hit me square in the jaw--I have never left a movie feeling quite so stunned.

While we all know that Claireece "Precious" Jones was a "composite character" made up of various young women that the author Sapphire knew, the impact of wrapping it all in to one powerful movie was more than most of us could handle. I attended the movie with my mother (a survivor of childhood abuse) and six other girlfriends whose ages ranged from 23 to 62. All of us wept, gasped, and lamented about how far we as a people have seemingly fallen.

Although, I DO NOT think that this kind of sexual abuse and incest goes on all the time--I do think that people live in the horrific hell of poverty, abuse and anger ALL the time. This movie was meant to shock us into being mortified: this does happen here in America.

This movie was a lot to handle--a lot. The incest scenes which involved her father and sometimes her own mother still has me messed up four days later. I think the point is that too much anger is going on with us as black people, and it shows every day.

I heard someone say "Oprah was incest obsessed". Wow! Oprah & Tyler Perry are to be applauded for their courage in producing this movie--my own mother was the victim of childhood rape by her mother's boyfriend; he also molested her younger brother. Trust me, the scars last forever. It took my mom and her brother 50+ years to speak of what happened to them and when they did, they got clobbered by their so-called family.

I suppose if I were raped as a child, or was the victim of incest by an elder member of my family, I too would be obsessed with making sure no-one else suffered my fate. I am still disturbed by the trend I see with how we as black folks are still living in America 400 years after slavery began--and DON'T fool yourselves folks--there is still a HUGE emotional connection to that history and it affects where we are right now. My hope is that this movie will encourage more women and men to share their stories and work to break the systemic emotional chains that have crippled us as black men and women for generations.

Cross-posted from Race-Talk.
Read more: Oprah Winfrey, Precious, Tyler Perry, Entertainment News

OJ Simpson Naked, Oprah Singing, Dolly Parton Primping, Beatles Pillow Fight: Sneak Peek At Harry Benson Photos

2009-12-03T16:20:45Z
Harry [Benson] has brought out another book of his legendary work titled simply "Harry Benson: Photographs". On every page, a Benson icon, a Benson moment, a Benson epic of rock stars, movie stars, kings, queens, jacks and aces, champs and chumps, presidents and peers, politicians and pop persons and their names are legion.
Read more: Oprah, OJ Simpson, Caroline Kennedy, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Frank Sinatra, Jackie Kennedy, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Liz Smith, OJ Naked, Naked Celebrities, Naked Oprah, Books News