WHITNEY HOUSTON DOCUMENTARY COMMING SOON

Official Whitney Houston Documentary Coming Soon

Kevin MacDonald, who won an Oscar for his film One Day in September, is set to direct the theatrical feature documentary about the life of singer Whitney Houston. It is the first such project to be officially authorized by the singer’s estate since her death in 2012.

Whitney Houston is joining the growing ranks of late entertainers to get the documentary treatment, with the British banner behind the acclaimed Oscar-winning Amy set to introduce the film to buyers in Cannes next month.

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter had long been working on a project centered around the singer known to many simply as "The Voice" — will helm the as-yet-untitled "official" film, which was announced Thursday.

Macdonald won an Oscar in 2000 for One Day in September, directed The Last King of Scotland and underlined his music-doc credentials with 2012's critically acclaimed Marley. He is working on the Houston project with fellow Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn, behind both Man on Wire and Searching for Sugar Man. 

ANGELA SIMMONS JUST GOT ENGAGED TO A TYCOON!

No it's not "Young Gotti" ...lol! After dating an African oil tycoon for at least 2 years, reality TV star Angela Simmons is ready to make it official. The 28-year-old socialite announced her engagement on her Instagram page Tuesday.

“YES! I couldn’t be more excited,” she wrote in the caption under a video of her dazzling diamond ring. She added: “This is something I could of only dreamed of, I’m over the moon and feeling so blessed to be able to share my life with the one I truly love.”

Simmons is reportedly engaged to her daddy...no we kid..we kid! He's actually a 40-year-old oil tycoon Knowledge Katti, founder and CEO of Kunene Energy, an oil and gas drilling company based in his native Namibia.

Even though Simmons did everything right by waiting the requisite 2 years to get engaged, her African lover boy has an Instagram account.

Like most men with coins, Katti posts endless photos of his toys and material wealth on Instagram to impress the world. That’s not always a good sign.

Sources are saying that Katti travels everywhere with Simmons. He must run his oil business from his private jet?...lol!

JENNIFER HUDSON TO STAR IN NBC HAIRSPRAY LIVE

Jennifer Hudson STAYS booked.  She's set to star in the next NBC live production. Fresh off the news she will be wrapping up her stint as Shug Avery on the Broadway adaptation of The Color Purple, Jennifer Hudson isn't taking anybody's break.  Chick is already booked.

It was just announced today that she will star in NBC's upcoming production of "Hairspray Live!"  The Oscar winner will headline the cast as Motormouth Maybelle for the network's next Broadway musical holiday event following the huge success of “The Wiz Live!”

NBC Chair Robert Greenblatt said today in a statement:

“Harvey Fierstein created the role of Edna Turnblad on Broadway in an indelible Tony-winning performancethat demanded to be memorialized on film, and we’re happy he wanted to step into her shoes one last, unforgettable time. We’re also so grateful that the incomparable Jennifer Hudson will play Motormouth Maybelle and we know her rendition of ‘I Know Where I’ve Been’ will literally stop the show.”

Harvey will also write the teleplay, and here's the synopsis:

“Hairspray Live!” takes place in 1962 Baltimore. Teenager Tracy Turnblad’s dream is to dance on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local TV program. When, against all odds, Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight and meets a colorful array of characters, including the resident dreamboat, Link; the ambitious mean girl, Amber; an African-American boy she meets in detention, Seaweed; and his mother, Motormouth Maybelle, the owner of a local record store. Tracy’s mother is the indomitable Edna Turnblad, and she eventually encourages Tracy on her campaign to integrate the all-white “Corny Collins Show.”

By the way, she reunited with her Secret Life of Bees co-star Alicia Keys over the weekend.  Cute!


“Hairspray Live!” will air Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT and will originate from Los Angeles.  Congrats Jennifer!

PRINCE HAS BEEN CREMATED .... FIRST AUTOPSY COMPLETED, RESULTS INCONCLUSIVE

When Doves Cry.. Prince was secretly cremated on Friday at the First Memorial Waterston Chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota

His body was released to his sister Tyka around 1pm on Friday and brought to First Memorial Waterston Chapel

About an hour later, the cremation service began, which according to a price list, cost just $1,645. Because Prince was a Jehovah's Witness, his faith dictated that he be cremated within a week of his death.

Prince's confirmed his body has been cremated and that his final resting place will remain private. Then on Saturday, close friends and family gathered for a private memorial service at his Paisely Park home.

Hundreds of fans gathered outside to pay their own tribute to 'The Purple One' during the private service. The singer spent his final hours alone inside his vast $10million compound before collapsing inside an elevator.

Music icon, 57, was last seen entering his estate at around 8pm on Wednesday but was not found until 9.43am. Prince was taken to a Twin Cities hospital on Wednesday and was seen by a doctor, a report has revealed.

Sources said Prince overdosed on highly addictive opiate painkiller Percocet just six days before he died.

He was said to be taking the drug to help tackle chronic hip and ankle pain that he had suffered for many years  

A statement from Yvette Noel-Schure reads,

"A few hours ago, Prince was celebrated by a small group of his most beloved: family, friends and his musicians, in a private, beautiful ceremony to say a loving goodbye."

"Prince's remains have been cremated and their final storage will remain private. We ask for your blessings and prayers of comfort for his family and close friends at this time."

"The cause of death remains unknown and it will be at least four weeks before we receive the results of the autopsy. An announcement will be made at a future date for a musical celebration."

#RIP LEGEND