Hip Hop vet Jay Z celebrates his 44th birthday today.  Find out what new lifestyle change he and Beyonce are embracing during his next phase of life inside....

Jay Z (shown above with Beyonce during a shopping trip to Barneys in Bevery Hills yesterday) turns 44 today, and he announced on his Life + Times site that he'll be spending the next 22 days embracing a plant-diet in celebration of the next phase of his life.  We all know "4" is he and Beyonce's fave number for SEVERAL reasons, so this year extra significant.

Psychologists have said it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. On the 22nd day, you’ve found the way.

On December 3rd, one day before my 44th birthday I will embark on a 22 Days challenge to go completely vegan, or as I prefer to call it, plant-based!! This all began a few months back when a good friend and vegan challenged me to embrace a “plant-based breakfast” everyday. It was surprisingly easier on me than I thought…

Why now? There’s something spiritual to me about it being my 44th birthday and the serendipity behind the number of days in this challenge; 22 (2+2=4) coupled with the fact that the challenge ends on Christmas day…It just feels right!

So you can call it a spiritual and physical cleanse. I will post my progress… Any professional vegans out there that have any great food spots please help out! Please ha. I don’t know what happens after Christmas. A semi-vegan, a full plant-based diet? Or just a spiritual and physical challenge? We’ll see…

Best of luck and health!

P.S. B is also joining me.

Her bod is already in tip top shape, so it'll be interesting to see how Mrs. C pulls off this diet:

The gorgeous gal rocked her fave Alaia booties, cheetah socks and leather short shorts for the shopping trip.

Happy birthday Hov and good luck on your journey.  We're sure Bey is going to miss that Popeye's Chicken she so loves!

Check out the birthday gallery below.

Photos: WENN.COM

For its January 2014 issue, ELLE magazine is pulling out all the supermodel stops.  Joan Smalls is dripping in gold Givenchy for the cover, and it's her first American ELLE cover to boot.

Check out the spread inside, plus what Joan has to say about designers and their excuses for the lack of diversity on the runways...

How absolutely stunning is this chick?!  25-year-old Puerto Rican beauty Joan Smalls is the January 2014 ELLE cover girl.  And she's showing why supermodels have indeed made a major comeback.

For her first American ELLE cover, the Victoria's Secret model was shot by Michael Thompson and sexes up the pages of the fashion mag effortlessly.  And she's talking about everything from fashion's lack of diversity, how her career started, and becoming an actress.

On the fashion industry’s lack of diversity: "People hide behind the word aesthetic. They say, ‘Well, it’s just that designer’s aesthetic.’ But when you see 18 seasons in a row and not one single model outside a certain skin color…? There are people in the industry who are advocates, who support diversity. And there are people who do not. I don’t get it. Beauty is universal. These doors have to open.”

How her modeling career started: "I came to New York with a dream. I came to do what I saw girls doing in campaigns, in editorials—great things, challenging things."

Her motivations to eventually get into acting: "I want to be clear that I don't want to act just because it's the typical move for a model. My desire comes from a place of wanting to entertain people on a different level."

Estée Lauder's Richard Ferretti on Smalls: “The word supermodel is overused, but if there is any woman of our generation who deserves the title, it’s Joan. She has the perfect face.”

Check out the hot designer breakdown of everything Joan wore for the shoot over at ELLE.

And don't forget to check out what Joan does best when he Victoria's Secret Fashion Show airs December 10th on CBS.

Photos: ELLE/Getty

Sources close to Best Man Holiday star Terrence Howard are reporting that he recently wed his Canadian girlfriend of one month!  Story inside....

Terrence Howard is a married man once again.....at least that's what his friends are reporting.  According to Radar Online, Terrence (who's currently filming Macbeth with Sanaa Lathan and Evan Ross), has very quietly moved onto his FOURTH wife. 

The under-the-radar marriage was confirmed by friends who say Terrence wifed up Canadian girlfriend Miranda, who he's known for all of 30 days!  Suspicions were first raised when Terrence and Miranda walked the red carpet at Best Man Holidaywearing matching wedding bands (see Miranda's pic here).  And in a few Best Man Holiday interviews, we heard Terrence oddly referencing his "wife". 

Now.....if marrying someone you've known for less than a month sounds messy, Terrence's friends weren't surprised. 

One told Radar,“It’s another one of his outlandish moves… he only knew and/or dated her for about a month!”  The friend also said Terrence called up wife #3 he's been having all those domestic violence issues with, Michelle Ghent, to taunt her about his new wife!

SMH.....we'd like to wish Miranda good luck on her marriage.  We'd also invite her to do quick tour of TheYBF.com so she knows exactly what she just signed up for.  She's the fourth wife, a stepmother to three kids and is now legally tied to a man who's third wife put out a restraining order and claimed her kicked her, gave her a black eye and threatened to kill her. 

Miranda.....you (may be) in danger girl.   

Photos via Getty

Zoe Saldana's been a busy lady lately.  She's promoting her upcoming movie Out Of The Furnace on both coasts (and talking about her wedding for the first time) and still taking time for date night with her husband Marco Perego.

Candids of the couples inside, plus her brand new cover & spread for Ocean Drive magazine....

Zoe and Marco made their way to the Staples Center last night to catch the Mrs. Carter Show as it rolled through L.A.  And it was likely a welcomed date night as Zoe's been super busy promoting her new project, Out of the Furnace (out today in some theaters).

And her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel just aired:

For the first time, she openly discussed being a newly married woman and her wedding.  It probably helped that Jimmy recently got hitched as well.

She confirmed that she got married in England (this past June). And she went on about why the story of Santa Claus doesn't make sense and how different Christmas is in the Dominican Republic. Oh, that Zoe...

She's also putting her fabness to use by covering the pages of Ocean Drive magazine:

Gorgeous pics!

The Randomness:

1. Eddie Murphy's ex-girlfriend and baby mama Tamara Johnson claims producers stole HER idea for "Hollywood Exes"...and cast his ex-wife Nicole Murphy, instead.  STORY

2.  Bill Bellamy has revealed there will be a sequel for the movie TheBrothers.  STORY

Drake is the newest member of the Team Jordan family.  Check out a preview of his new sneakers as he brings Team OVO to one of the most iconic sports brands in the game. 

Plus, Pharrell is letting filks know about his next big moves....

Out with the Yeezys, in with the OVO.  Drake just signed a deal to design sneakers (and possibly other athletic gear) for the Jordan Brand.  He joins Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin , Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, DJ Quick and plenty more.

After braving a 28 hour ride through a snowstorm just to make sure he arrived to his Portland 'Would You Like A Tour' show on time, Drizzy gave fans a big announcement as he kicked off his concert.

He told the crowd:

"Today also happens to be one of the best days of my life. Growing up, we all idolized this guy, who goes by the name of Michael Jordan. So today, I came to Portland and I officially became inducted into the Team Jordan family. And it is a family, and I don't take that word lightly. "

And the love is mutual. The Jordan Brand tweeted words of welcome:

He's home. Welcome the newest member of #TeamJordan: @Drake

— Jordan (@Jumpman23) December 4, 2013

Congrats Drizzy!  Peep the shoes he already has on deck below:

In other rapper news, Pharrell revealed in his new COMPLEX magazine cover story that he's working on Usher's upcoming album.  And he's also gto a solo project on deck.

 

"Over the next 45 minutes, a gospel-flavored vocal line, some electronic guitar riffs, and an unexplainable horse sound are added to the beat. The people in the room chuckle, including Pharrell’s soon-to-be wife, Helen, who’s clad in a Billionaire Girls Club hoodie. P goes on about his business," reports Complex writer Joe La Puma. "Ten minutes later, Usher walks in the room, running a pick through his well-shaped afro. Pharrell plays the Timbo x Gospel x Horse beat for him and the megastars begin to dance in unison. When Usher hears the horse sound for the first time, he falls out. It’s only after someone on Pharrell’s team tells the room, “Bet you didn’t know, Usher was born in the year of the horse,” that the meaning behind the equine sonic reference comes into focus."

........

 

In related news, Pharrell is also focused on his own solo album, which will be his first in over five years.
"It’s focused. Like I told you, that’s the difference between 30 and 40. ’Cause I was 30, now I’m 40 -- and I’m not rapping," Pharrell says of the album, due in 2014. "It’s always going to be different, because the artists are different. There isn’t a set formula for anything. I don’t paint the Mona Lisa, I just build the backdrops for the painting. I don’t make Jay Z."

Check out the full Complex cover story and the fabulous layout.

EXTRAS:

1. Paul Walker's autopsy report lists thermal injuries and and trauma as the official cause of death.  STORY

2.  The cultural phenomenon that is R.Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" is coming back to IFC with more chapters in 2014 on IFC.

Kevin Hart is a damn riot!  He made his way to Beyonce's Mrs. Carter Show World Tour stop at the Staples center last night. Find out how Kevin reacted when she threw her sweat-towel at him stage side, plus Alicia Keys' newest unreleased song "I'd Die Without You"...

Not sure how Bey kept a straight face through all of this, but Kevin Hart had everybody cracking up during her show last night.  He and girlfriend Eniko (and Christina Milian) were at Bey's feet at her second stage during "Irreplaceable".  And when Bey spotted the comedian in the audience, she had him sing and he acted the fool:

Kevin posted pics saying:

This is the face that THUGS make when they catch Beyonce's towel at her concert #DblockNi$$as #Thuggin #BeeHive #RealRapRaw #BestConcertEver

That moment when you realize that you know the words to all of Beyonce's songs.... #iFainted #iWasInTheBeeHive #iThinkiTwerkedLastNight #iWasLostInTheMoment #FuckYall #ShowWasTheShit

Ha!  Check out video of the moment below:

Kevin is starring in the upcoming comedy flick Ride Along, out January 17th.

Alicia Keys went and covered one of our fave songs of all time, P.M. Dawn's "I'd Die Without You". As part of her new AK Vault website release, the singer/actress/movie producer posted the unreleased cover she recorded back in 2007.

Check out Alicia's sultry version below:

And congrats to Mrs. Keys Beats for crossing the 30 million fans mark this week on Facebook!

Photos: Kevin's IG/Alicia's FB

Lupita Nyong'o covers DUJOUR Magazine where she talks about fame and Oscar-buzz while Zoe Saldana discusses vulnerability in FLARE Magazine.  Read highlights inside and see the super fab cover spreads...

In the new issue of DUJOUR, Hollywood Film Award winner Lupita Nyong'o discusses the Oscar-buzz she's generating for 12 Years A Slave and how her life has changed dramatically. 

While on a break from her next role in Non-Stop, a thriller also starring Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore,  she also discussed the role Yale Drama School plays in her auditions and casting choices.  Here are the highlights:  

On the importances of drama school on her career:

“What validated my three years there was that I was able to put all of that training to work immediately and so relevantly. I know I wouldn’t have been able to play Patsey had I not gone through three years of school. I wouldn’t have had the elasticity or the confidence to take it on. I don’t think I would have known I could do it.”

On the career she envisions for herself:

“I would love to have a career that’s governed by the material; I always want to be part of stories that I feel are worthwhile. And they don’t all have to be as heavy as 12 Years a Slave. I do my best work when I feel conviction to say something through the character I play. Always I want to have integrity and not compromise that.”

More of her stunning pics:

On the value of failure:

"That’s one of the concerns when you get lauded for something—can I do it again?” she says. “One thing I learned at school was the value of failure, because once you fail you can get up and do it again.”

On the possibility of winning an Oscar:

“I’m definitely forced to think about it, but there’s nothing to do with the thought because it’s totally out of my hands. I’m really fulfilled right now by the traction this film is getting. It was made to be seen, and that’s what’s happening—America is engaging with it and being moved and changed by it. It’s really rewarding to be a part of that. That’s more important to me than any award.”

Read the full interview here.

And watch BTS video here.

Also in new magazines......

As she gears up for her starring role in director Scott Cooper's Out of the Furnace, the follow-up to the Oscar-winning film Crazy Heart, Zoe Saldana (raised by her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother) opened up to FLARE Magazine about finding success in a male-dominated field.

On playing strong female characters:

Women aren’t wimpy. They don’t complain all the time. They can open up jars! They can fucking save the day! They can support their whole family. They can support their men. Half of my friends make more money than their male partners.

On her disdain for mediocore women:

Women who are very whiny annoy the fucking crap out of me. It’s impossible for my sisters and me to hold a conversation with a woman who is incompetent. It’s one thing to be uncertain, a little insecure and scared, and another thing to be lazy. I can’t deal with mediocrity and incompetence. And you see it in people’s eyes.

On her secret soft side:

The characters I played in Columbiana and Avatar, on the surface, there’s what appears to be strength, but it’s sugarcoating an immense vulnerability. I am tough, but I’m also a very vulnerable person. I trust everyone. For many years, I thought, I need to stop being this way, but no, I just need to learn from it.

On the challenge of male-dominated sets:

You have to learn from your experiences. I’ve been in compromising circumstances, and I wish I’d had the strength that I have now because I would have protected myself better. I would have stood up for myself better. Women are challenged every day and are sometimes encouraged to objectify themselves. And it hurts.

Loves this shoot!  Read the full article here.

Photos via James White/FLARE/Steven Pan/DuJour

The Carters are living it up these days in places like Jamaica, and we've got pics from their recent time in Costa Rica (plus a super cute new pic of Blue Ivy).  And since they're both going vegan for a few weeks in honor of Hov's 44th birthday, Beyonce gave folks a sneak peek of what they ate on Day 1.  Plus, her response to all the questions about where her new single is...

After hearing so many fans asking where that new single is...Beyonce finally has a response.  She released new merchandise for last night's MCSWT stop at the Staples Center, and one shirt said, "Keep Calm, Beyonce Makes Albums".

Slight shade....and we love it.

Bey also posted a new pic of baby Blue wearing her own tour jacket:

Adorbs!

And the "Diva" chick went on a posting spree today showing off the first day of her and Jay's new 22-day vegan diet:

And she also revealed some super sexy pics from her stop in Costa Rica:

Serving up curves and abs all day.

Looks like she went the adventurous route again and did a little ziplining.

And soaked up some sun in her bikini.  Cute!

BONUS: Jay re-teams with his late friend Pimp C for the "Tom Ford" remix.  He used an unreleased verse from the UGK rapper to add on to his single from the Magna Carta Holy Grail album.  Check it:

Photos: Bey's Tumblr

Don Cheadle's"House Of Lies" is heading back to Showtime in early 2014.  See the new poster and trailer inside and Luke James'"Strawberry Vapor" video....

Golden Globe winner Don Cheadle returns to Showtime in Season 3 of House Of Lies on January 12th. This year, he'll be joined by Mekhi Phifer who plays Dre, a successful business mogul and clothing company founder who hires Marty (Don Cheadle) to help expand his empire.

Watch Don get frisky with Kristen Bell in the new trailer above.

In new music videos....

Luke James has released the visuals for "Strawberry Vapor" off his  ‘Whispers In The Dark’ mixtape.

Sarah McColgan, who directed the clip, spoke about the new video saying, "I wanted to create a video that had a surreal quality with a slightly dark undertone. Luke is such a great inspiration to me, so I imagined a slightly esoteric visual that would really emphasize the dreamlike quality of the song."

In other news, the Soul Train award winner is currently starring in the holiday musical film, Black Nativity, and his debut album is slated for release in 2014 via N.A.R.S. Records / Island Def Jam.
 

Did Teyana Taylor lose her Adidas deal because of her public Twitter beef with Rihanna?  Her rep says no, but Adidas allegedly says YES.  Deets inside, plus Cassie looking fab at Art Basel's VIP kickoff....

Twitter beefs rarely lead to anything good.  Your fans may gas your head up that you punked somebody....but the corporate folks you get checks from just may punk you in return.

When Teyana Taylor's new Adidas shoes never came out on the slated Black Friday date....folks started talking.  Rumor had it she got dropped from the sneaker deal because of her bad behavior on Twitter.  (Remember when she posted up Rihanna's battered face photo after they started beefing over Rih's hairstylist supposedly making fun of Teyanas singing?)

Teyana's rep put out a statement days ago saying:

Teyana has not been dropped, the sneaker is on hold, no other comments or statement is ready to be issued at this time.

But not so fast.  a Senior VP at Adidas reportedly gave a website today an (unofficial?) statement as well.  And THEY are saying they have indeed ended their partnership with TT...and they don't condone violence.

“We have ended our relationship with Teyana Taylor and do not have any upcoming product launches with her.  All I can say is that adidas partners with athletes and artists who blend well with our brand values. We evaluate our relationships with partners based on the values we hold at adidas and we don’t condone violence of any kind.”

 

Womp womp wooooomp.  Messing up coins over an unnecessary Twitter beef?  Social media aint for everybody.  Teyana responded to today's development saying:

Oh.

In other news, Cassie is looking her usual fabulous self at the Art Basel Miami Beach 2013 VIP Preview this week:

Effortlessly flawless.  We'll try not to hate her for it.

Photos: Cassie-Ventura.com/Cassie's IG/Teyana's IG

Tamar Braxton pulled double duty on"106 & Park" tonight. She dropped her videos for her newest singles "All the Way Home" & "She Can Have You." Check out both inside....

In her brand new video for her latest single "All The Way Home", Tamar is giving folks a peek into her and Vince's almost-breakups to makeups.  Tamar keeps sexy lingerie at their actual home in L.A. as she contemplates what they were fighting about in the first place.  And a blowup on Vince's birthday brings them closer in the end.

Check out how the Braxton-Herberts fight hard and love hard all day everyday above.  The song is her newest single off her Love & War album.

And from Tamar's new Winter Loverland Christmas album, she dropped the video for "She Can Have You."  Tamar is sulking in a beautifully decorated living room in her place in Manhattan during the Christmas Holiday after a recent breakup with a boyfriend.  And when a friend finally gets her out of the house for some shopping, she runs into the man who broke her heart....and he's with another woman.

Check out the video above.

Tamar just wrapped the North American leg of the Made To Love tour with John Legend, and is starring in "Braxton Family Values" on WeTV with all of her sisters and MaMa Evelyn.

Work!

Kanye West appeared on The Rickey Smiley Show this morning where he discussed being a parent and living without his mother Donda.  Also, he shared a few thoughts on "for-profit" prisons.  Watch the interview inside and see how Sway responded to Kanye's infamous interview rant.  

Kanye West appeared on the Rickey Smiley Show this morning where he spoke freely about becoming a parent and the sense of loss he's felt since the passing of his mother Donda West in 2007.  He told Rickey that he knows that he's mother is watching over him but some of his moments with North are bittersweet because he can't share them with his mom.  

Arouund the 5:50 mark, he went into an interesting conversation he had with her father about music and its connection to violence and crime in Black communities.  He explained that the same music corporations who promote violent music also also invest their money into privatized prisons.  He drew the conclusion that corporations have figured out how to profit from crimes committed against Black people and by Black people.  

Watch the Rickey Smiley interview here:

Kanye calls Kim Kardashian one of the most beautiful women of all time, says he hopes Lamar Odom returns to the NBA:

Kanye discusses prisons built for profit here: 

In new business deals.....

Though Kanye announced the deal a few days ago, ADIDAS released an official statement confirming their partnership.

"For 2014, we welcome to the adidas family one of the most influential cultural icons of this generation, Kanye West. Well known for breaking boundaries across music, film and design and partnering with our history in street wear culture and leading innovations in sport, we look forward to creating a new chapter. Details to follow."

 

BONUS:

It turns out that Sway really does have the answers!  On today's episode of RapFix Live, Sway debuted his new line of t-shirts (available on his website) where he took a jab at the interview heard around the world.  

Watch the "Trap" remix of "You Ain't Got The Answers Sway":

Photo via Darnelle Dunham/Sway's Twitter

Actress Paula Patton turns 38-years-old today. Celebrate with the Baggage Claim star inside...

One of our favorite party mamas, Paula Patton, is turning 38-years-old today. Paula, who was recently added to the cast of Warcraft and Mission:  Impossible 5, had a great year at the box office withBaggage Claim and 2 Guns and even shared in the glow of hubby Robin Thicke's"Blurred Lines" success. 

Happy birthday Paula!

Check out some of Paula's most fabulous looks in the gallery....

Photo: Paula's IG

Miami Heat MVP LeBron James is set to star in his first feature film, "Ballers", with funnyman Kevin Hart.  Get movie deets inside....

LeBron James is coming to Hollywood.  Deadline reports that LeBron James has been cast in "Ballers", a new basketball comedy being written by Kevin Hart and his writing partners Joey Wells, Chris Spencer and Harry Ratchford. 

Here's the synopsis:  Kevin stars as a man who lives in the shadow of his NBA superstar brother (James), but gets a chance to prove himself when he and some pals attend a weekend fantasy basketball camp in Miami.

With Kevin standing at 5'3" and LeBron towering over him at 6'8", some insiders are joking that this is as close as we'll get to a sequel of the 1988 classic comedy Twins starring Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

For now, the plan for Ballers is for Hart & Co. to write the script and find a director before filming starts next summer.  In the meantime, Kevin will be starring alongside Ice Cube in Ride Along (in theaters January 2014).  And THAT is already in talks for a sequel!

He's also set to star in About Last Night (February 14th) and Grudge Match (Christmas Day), Think Like A Man Too (June 20th) and is shooting Finally Famous and The Wedding Ringer.  Dude is CAKING right now.

Congrats Kevin!

Photo via Getty Images

Talk about kicking off your 44th birthday with a vegan BANG.  The Carters showed they're extra serious about this 22-Day vegan challenge that Jay Z said he and wife Beyonce were embarking on starting December 4th.

Beyonce and her fruity ensemble gorged on nuts, berries and more for her hubby Jay's 44th birthday lunch.  The couple was spotted at Gratitude Cafe yesterday in L.A.  And apparently it's extremely popular....because actress Anne Hathaway and singer Ariana Grande were spotted eating there at the same time.

The superstar couple ordered a variety of organic vegan menu items, according to TMZ.    They ordered drinks made of apples, beets, lemon and ginger.  And noshed on entrees including marinated kale salad, Indian curried lentils and corn tacos with chipotle butternut squash.  Sounds like chicken & waffles are officially on the backburner for the next few weeks...

More pics of the two kicking off their "plant based spiritual journey" HERE.

Also, for you hip hop heads, to celebrate his b-day Jay ranked all 12 of his studio albums:

He posted:

1. Reasonable Doubt (Classic)

2. The Blueprint (Classic)

3. The Black Album (Classic)

4. Vol. 2 (Classic)

5. American Gangster (4 1/2, cohesive)

6. Magna Carta (Fuckwit, Tom Ford, Oceans, Beach, On the Run, Grail)

7. Vol. 1 (Sunshine kills this album…fuck… Streets, Where I’m from, You Must Love Me…)

8. BP3 (Sorry critics, it’s good. Empire (Gave Frank a run for his money))

9. Dynasty (Intro alone…)

10. Vol. 3 (Pimp C verse alone… oh, So Ghetto)

11. BP2 (Too many songs. Fucking Guru and Hip Hop, ha)

12. Kingdom Come (First game back, don’t shoot me)

Do you agree?

Photos: Splash/Life+Times

Celebs flocked to Miami this week for Art Basel 2013, which officially kicks off today.  But some folks couldn't wait to get the party going so a few events went down last night.  Check out Kanye West, Angela Simmons and Kendrick Lamar inside...

Art Basel Miami Beach presents premier artwork from across the globe, and folks go to party, view & buy art, and talk about art.

So Kanye West was front and center with his chick at Surface Magazine's DesignDialogues No. 6 With Hans Ulrich Obrist, Kanye West And Jacques Herzog at the Moore Building yesterday.  And it was 'Ye's time (finally) to talk shop about art. 

We wonder if he addressed the meager turnout at his concert tuesday night in Kansas City.  The official newspaper, the Kansas City Star, reported that less than 4,500 people showed up in the 19,000 seat arena.

'Ye's homie Raekwon was there at the Art Basel event to support.

And afterwards, Kanye made his way to DuJour Magazine's event to honor artist Marc Quinn at Delano Beach Club.  Of course, he had his fiancee' Kim dressed in white and on his arm for the evening.

And Angela Simmons, who treats Miami like a second home looked fab at the party:

Fab.

Also last night, Kendrick Lamar kicked off Art Basel at Mana Wynwood with a concert, all hosted by Flaunt Magazine and 3p Productions:

In between sips of Belvedere, Kendrick rocked the mic and had TDE's newest artist, Sza, there too. Nice!

Photos: ExclusiveAccess.net/Wireimage

Taj, Coko & LeLee recently reunited as one of our fave 90's R&B groups, SWV.  And now, the ladies' WeTV reality show is giving us a front row seat into how their comeback finally came together...girl group drama and all!

TheYBF.com has the exclusive first look at the premiere of "SWV: Sisters With Voices" inside....

Premiering Thursday, January 23 at 10PM E/P, "SWV: Sisters With Voices" follows the Grammy® nominated group during their make-it-or-break-it comeback tour.  And we're totally here for it.

SWV seemed unstoppable back in the 90's with over 15 million albums sold (not many can say that). And those the songs we knew EVERY single word to like “I’m So Into You,” “Right Here,” “Downtown,” and “Weak,”  But while they seemed to have it all, the drama behind the scenes tore the group apart.  And apparently, ish ended badly.

So after going their separate ways in 1998, Cheryl “Coko” Clemons, Leanne “Lelee” Lyons and Tamara “Taj” George are now back.  After marriages, children, divorces (our fingers are crossed about whether Taj & Eddie George will show their shady alleged cheating drama ), the strong New York ladies are back to reclaim the fame. 

In the premiere episode, we see the first stop of the comeback tour at Wembley Stadium in London.  But new secrets about Coko’s health threatens the rehabilitated bond of the group. And the group is learning how to be together both on stage and off again. Which means, the inevitable girl group drama surfaces.

According to the press release:

Throughout the season, SWV fans will get to see the ladies in action during high profile performances in Atlanta, New York, L.A. and D.C. Coko, Lelee and Taj not only address old wounds but face new challenges including health scares, family issues and management drama. Can the ladies finally come to terms with the issues that ended their friendship and career once before? Will they be able to put differences aside to recapture fame?

Check out our exclusive first look of the "SWV" show below:

Who else is here for it?!  Check out more about the show HERE.

Photos: Courtesy of WeTV

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson covers the January issue of ESSENCE Magazine (for the third or fourth time) in a shaggy winter look.  She reflects on the challenging silver screen characters she portrayed in 2013, and she reveals how she built up her confidence.  More inside....

While we're pretty sure that 2014 will mark Jennifer Hudson's return to the music charts (we're actually digging her single "I Can't Describe"), in the January issue of ESSENCE, the Golden Globe-winner superstars reflects on the major moves she made on the silver screen.  With Winnie, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete and Black Nativity, Jen recounted how each film brought forth their own set of challenges that built her confidence. 

Namely, having to jet to South Africa when her baby boy was still just a baby:

"I was like, 'Oh, my God—You want me to leave my baby and my man?"

Here are the highlights:

On why she loves her man:

“I just love being with him. We have so much fun. We’ve shared so many special moments, like when we flew down to Key West last summer for a friend’s wedding. I’m on the road so much for work that I didn’t even want to go…but David persuaded me to go and it was just the two of us. We’re usually surrounded by so many people that it’s tough to have privacy. But on this trip we could party with our friends, then just disappear for hours…it was so freaking fun.”

On Winnie:

I was so nervous about doing a good job that I started working on the accent a couple of months before I even got there. So much was done to suppress Winnie's voice, to keep her quiet. Winnie's story needed to be told."

On The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete:

"It was a huge stretch for me to play Gloria. The drugs, the tattoos, the prostitution—her life is so different from my own."

Black Nativity director Kasi Lemmons on Jen's casting:

"I wrote the role for her. She has such a unique combination of fragility and strength. She really exceeded my expectations."

Jen on finding herself:

"I spent my twenties figuring out what I wanted to do, and trying everything. But by 30, my foundation was set. I became confident and clear about the path I wanted to take...Now I've really settled into myself. And I'm stronger than I've ever been."

Watch Jennifer's BTS chat here:

Jen's ESSENCE cover hits stands on December 6th.

Gabrielle Union has totally stepped her red carpet game up.  And, once again, she looked stunning for a fabulous event in NYC.  Check out her Prada look inside, plus other celebs who came out to support the Alvin Ailey American Dance Troupe....

Well, Hello emerald green Prada dress!  "Being Mary Jane" star Gabby Union put on her best red carpet look for last night's Alvin Ailey Gala and gave a little toned-leg action for the pics.  A different shoe choice would have topped off this look even more, but she looks fab nonetheless.

At the Alvin Ailey Opening Night Gala at the New York City Center, Gabby posed it up with BET's head honcho Debra Lee.  She flew solo as her man Dwyane Wade is busy balling out.  The Miami Heat played in Detroit on Tuesday and they play in Chicago tonight.

And the actress flossed with flawless hair and makeup for the occasion.

She also caught up with supermodel Joan Small.

YBF chick Misty Copeland, the first African American female soloist for the American Ballet Theatre, made her way to support the Alvin Ailey dancers.

Dance & theater lover Taye Diggs hit the carpet solo.

Famed choreographer & Artistic Director Emerita for Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, was there of course.

And Tristan "Mack" Wilds also came out to get a little culture. 

Fab times!

Photos: Wireimage/Gabby's IG

Rocsi Diaz is the latest celeb to join PETA's eye popping vegetarian campaign.  Check out the "Entertainment Tonight" host dressed in nothing but Brussels sprouts inside...

Seems like everybody's all about that plant-based diet these days!  Former "106 & Park" host Rocsi is urging folks to go vegetarian.  And as encouragement, she's starring in a sexy new pro-vegetarian ad for PETA that shows her dressed in a Brussels sprout bikini—complete with a mistletoe embellishment—above the words "Let Vegetarianism Grow on You This Holiday Season."

The ad, which was shot by top celebrity photographer Jack Guy, touts that plant-based meals help human health, the planet, and animals.

She revealed she likes to perform trickery on her friends and make them meals with faux meat.....without telling them until they're happily chomping away.

She said she "physically felt cleaner and lighter" after she went vegetarian in college. And also said:

"Later on, literally I saw somebody eating a chicken wing, and it grossed me out. … My body was, like, 'No more. I don't want it anymore.'"

No Roscoe's for her!  Check out Rosci speaking about the new vegetarian campaign below: