REUNITED: Beyonce and dad Mathew Knowles pictured sharing a hug at Formation concert in home town

Her fans worried lyrics to her Lemonade track Daddy Lessons implied she'd been beaten by her father when she was young.

But Mathew Knowles vehemently denied any suggestion his famous daughter Beyonce had ever felt 'the back of his hand.'

And clearly all is well between the two as, on Wednesday, the pop superstar's mom Tina posted a photo on Instagram showing father and daughter sharing a hug and a smile backstage at Beyonce's Formation concert in Houston, Texas.

Still daddy's girl: Beyonce's mom Tina shared this photo on her Instagram Wednesday showing Beyonce and her father Mathew sharing a smile and a hug backstage at the pop star's Houston concert on May 7

Tina captioned the lovely photo with: 'Houston Concert proud dad!!!!'
The 62-year-old, who remarried to Richard Lawson last year, took the photo a week ago when Beyonce rocked her home town.

HE WON! CIARA LOSES CUSTODY BATTLE AGAINST FUTURE

Ciara and Future’s ongoing legal drama continues.

On Monday (May 16), a Los Angeles judge sided with the “Jumpman” rapper, granting joint custody of the former couple’s two-year-old son, baby Future.

CiCi lost her fight for sole custody while reportedly claiming that her ex is a bad person, according to TMZ. The report also claims that California courts, in general, favor joint custody.

The legal issues continue for the exes, however. Earlier this year, Ciara filed a $15 million defamation lawsuit against Future and last month, he countersued.

On his end, Future has been crafting several projects, including EVOL and Purple Reign, which dropped earlier this year. Meanwhile, Ciara recently signed a deal with IMG Models and is set to host the Billboard Music Awards with Ludacris this Sunday (May 22).

KELLY ROWLAND’S GIRL GROUP ’CHASING DESTINY’ COVERS DRAKE’S ‘HOTLINE BLING’

Kelly Rowland has made the band. During last night’s episode of her BET docu-series “Chasing Destiny,” five girls—Ashley, Brienna, Gabby, Kristal, and Shyann—were selected and today, the newly-formed group debuts its “Hotline Bling” cover.

The a cappella rendition of Drake’s Views bonus cut allows each of the “Chasing Destiny” stars to flex their vocal chops.

Listen to their angelic version below.



Rowland also presented the winners on Chicago’s “You & Me This Morning” today. “I’m very proud,” she said. “These ladies are very talented and they’re very, very ambitious, and excited, and I’m ready for the world to hear them.”

During the interview, the girls also shared that they’ve been recording new music and that their journey will continue on “Chasing Destiny.”

Watch that Q&A take place below.

FIRST LOOK: ESSENCE ATKINS TO STAR IN NEW NBC COMEDY ‘MARLON’

Actress Essence Atkins is set to star opposite Marlon Wayans in the upcoming NBC family comedy, Marlon. The show is loosely based on the actor/comedian’s life and is expected to debut sometime this summer.

NBC describes Marlon (the character) as an “inappropriate, but loving father” who is committed to successfully co-parenting with his polar opposite wife, Angie, played by Essence. Angie is described as being a “type-a personality interior designer with control issues,” who did one spontaneous thing in life- fell in love with Marlon. The two eventually separate and Angie finds herself having to raise three children- the two she had and the one she divorced.

FIRS LOOK: THE TRAILER FOR MARIAH CAREY’S DOCU-SERIES ‘MARIAH’S WORLD’

Welcome to “Mariah’s World.” The iconic singer’s E! docu-series that was announced back in March now has an official trailer.

Soundtracked by 1991’s “Emotions” and 2009’s “Obsessed,” MC welcomes fans into her crib in the teaser for the 8-part event. “I don’t think anyone knows anything about me,” she says in the clip.

Mariah’s hard work ethic takes center stage in the series, which bills her as a “misunderstood” “legend.” It’s set to document her “Sweet Sweet Fantasy” European tour and her upcoming wedding to billionaire James Packer.

No release date has been confirmed as of yet. The trailer, which can be seen below, simply says it’s “coming soon.”

NEWLY ENGAGED CIARA SIGNS WITH IMG MODELS

Ciara is bringing her “Goodies” to IMG. After stunning fans at the Met Gala earlier this month, the singer has signed a new deal with the famed modeling agency.

“I’m super thrilled about partnering with IMG Models,” Ciara told The Hollywood Reporter. “I have always had a strong love for fashion, and I’m grateful to be surrounded by so many great friends that are the best at what they do in this industry. This partnership will give me an opportunity to grow and experiment as an artist. I truly look forward to all the amazing things we have planned ahead.”

She also celebrated the news on Instagram today. “Excited To Join The @IMGmodels Family,” she wrote. “Looking Forward To The Journey Ahead.”

CiCi is currently represented by IMG’s sister agency WME for other aspects of her career, including music.

The “Body Party” songstress is no stranger to the fashion world, of course. She’s worked closely with brands including Roberto Cavalli, Givenchy, Coach, and Ralph Lauren in the past. Plus, she was named Topshop’s first U.S. brand ambassador.

Beyond music and fashion, Ciara is also gearing up for May 22, when she’s slated to co-host the Billboard Music Awards with Ludacris.

WORK ...WORK..RIHANNA ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Rihanna recognizes hard work, work, work, work, work, and she’s about to reward it, too.

Through the Clara Lionel Foundation that she founded in 2012 as a tribute to her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite, RiRi has launched a global scholarship program, which sets to reward students from different countries who are going to college in the U.S.

“To be able to give the gift of an education is actually an honor,” said Rihanna, whose album ANTI remains in the top 5 on the Billboard 200 this week. “Higher education will help provide perspective, opportunities, and learning to a group of kids who really deserve it. I am thrilled to be able to do this.”

Students from Barbados, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, Guyana, and Jamaica are eligible for the award if they’ve earned acceptance “into a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the 2016-2017 year,” according to USA Today.



Scholarships will vary, ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, based on criteria that a committee has put forth. That same team will screen all applicants and come up with a list of 50 finalists. Winners will be revealed by August.

The awards can also be renewed, according to the foundation’s website. “Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years or until a bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first,” reads a stipulation. “Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent) each semester.”

For more on Rihanna’s Clara Lionel Foundation, see the informative video below, where she speaks about why she’s decided to help students from around the globe. To sign up for a scholarship, visit the foundation’s website.

SHE WON! BLAC CHYNA PREGNANT BY ROB KARDASHIAN..."ULTIMATE COME UP"

This my friends is what you would want to be if your purpose in life Is to be a gold digger. I mean let's just analyze this. "Stripper-turned Rappers girlfriend-Turned baby mama-Turned girlfriend to Rob Kardashian "millionaire boyfriend"- Turn baby mama again Cha Ching$$

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna have announced they are expecting a baby by posting an emoji. The couple have been dating since January and recently announced their engagement. The two stars announced the happy news at the same time on Friday by posting an emoji of a pregnant Blac Chyna to Instagram.

Blac Chyna's former fiancé Tyga has been dating Rob's half-sister Kylie Jenner since last year, leading to a feud between the model and the Kardashian-Jenner family. Blac and Tyga have a three-year-old son together, King Cairo.

We are sure that the rest of the Kardashian klan are losing there mind.  Because she will be the only one who has a true "Kardashian baby". The self-absorbed family are currently in Havana Cuba filming "keeping up with the kardashian".

Now to make this even more interesting all we need is Tyga to get Kylie Jenner pregnant?   Gold diggers stand up! Today you get to do a victory dance...one of yours has won! To be continued.

UNBREAKABLE...JANET JACKSON PREGNANT AT 49!

Janet Jackson is pregnant with her 1st child, a source confirmed to ET.

And since we know that a 49-year-old woman isn’t likely to get pregnant without medical assistance, that means the pop icon is following the trend of middle aged celebrities who conceived their babies via In vitro fertilization.

Jackson celebrates her 50th birthday in 2 weeks.

ET Online — The baby news comes after the 49-year-old singer — who will turn 50 on May 16 — announced last month that she will be postponing her tour to start a family with husband Wissam Al Mana. “We’re in the second leg of the tour and there actually has been a sudden change,” Jackson explained in a video posted to Twitter on April 6. “I thought it was important that you be the first to know. My husband and I are planning our family, so I’m going to have to delay the tour.”

“Please, if you could try and understand that it’s important that I do this now,” Jackson asked of her fans. “I have to rest up, doctor’s orders. But I have not forgotten about you. I will continue the tour as soon as I possibly can.”

VH1 OFFERS AMBER ROSE HER OWN TALK SHOW!

 



I know what you are thinking? Talk about what? Amber Rose is coming to VH1 with her very own talk show...

VH1 honchos announced yesterday that Amber Rose would be hosting a weekly talk show featuring pop culture topics and celebrity interviews.

The untitled show is produced by Dr. Phil and premiers sometime this summer.

Will you be watching?

PICS: DIDDY HOST FORMATION TOUR AFTER PARTY IN ATLANTA

 After the party....there's the after party!  Sean Combs throws the hottest parties. It was only fitting that the music mogul hosted Beyonce‘s Formation World Tour After Party at XS Lounge in Atlanta on Sunday. Combs’ was accompanied by his longtime concubine, Cassie Ventura

Throw your rollie in the sky!



Special invited guests included singer Monica and her husband Shannon Brown; his former choreographer Laurieann Gibson; music mogul Jermaine Dupri and his girlfriend Kimmy Maxx, and more



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