Earth Wind and Fire is back with a brand new single called “Guiding Light”.  The new album is called Now Then & Forever.  It will be in store in  June.  Take a listen to “Guiding Light” (below).  Give us your thoughts on it. The new single also features a guest appearance by original Earth Wind and Fire member Larry Dunn.

City of Columbus March and Celebration

The City of Columbus; Community Relations Commission proudly invites you to take part in the 2012 Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 16th.

It will be a monumental day filled with remembrance and celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Our theme is Celebrate the Legacy: A voice in the crowd.

The celebration will kick off with the annual Martin Luther King Day March which will begin from City Hall at 4:45 p.m. Participants of the march are encouraged to wear warm clothing and bring banners representative of their school, organization or city department. Banners and signs are also encouraged. Music will be provided along the march and donated hot drinks and cookies will be available prior to the march.

Then we encourage everyone to join us for the free Martin Luther King Jr. Day program at Veteran’s Memorial from 6-7 p.m. Attendants of the program will be delighted and amazed by the actor’s rendition of fundamental figures in Columbus’ history, and vignettes of fundamental figures in Columbus’ history, musical performances by the the Jazz Arts Academy and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mass Children’s Choir and dances performed by Ballet Met.

Actor/ singer Nick Cannon has landed in the hospital after suffering from “mild kidney failure.”

Nick’s wife Mariah Carey broke the news Wednesday morning, writing, “Please pray for Nick as he’s fighting to recover from a mild kidney failure.”

“This is us in the hospital – role reversal; Last year it was me attached to the machines (after having dembabies) and Nick was there with me through it, and now here we are,” she posted a photo of herself with Nick in his hospital bed in Aspen.

“We’re trying to be as festive as possible under the circumstances but please keep Nick in your thoughts because this is very painful. They tried to kick me out of the hospital but here I am pon de bed with Mr. C.,” she added.

Aretha Franklin announced her engagement  to longtime friend William “Willie” Wilkerson. The Queen of Soul told The Associated Press in a statement Monday that she and Wilkerson are considering a summer wedding, perhaps in Miami Beach, Fla. She wants to follow the ceremony with a reception on a private yacht. The 69-year-old jokes: “No, I’m not pregnant.”Franklin and Wilkerson became engaged over the holidays. This will be Franklin’s third marriage.

Multiple sources are reporting that the Ohio State football Buckeyes will receive the following is conjunction with recent rules violation incidents associated with the football program.

*Ban from post season play next season

*Loss of up to 9 scholarships

*3 years probation

*Jim Tressel to receive a 5 year “show cause” penalty which will prohibit him from coaching college football for 5 years

UPDATE

Statement from Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer:

“I agreed to become the Head Football Coach at The Ohio State University because Shelley and I are Ohio natives, I am a graduate of this wonderful institution and served in this program under a great coach. I understand the academic and athletic traditions here and will give great effort to continue those traditions.

“It is still my goal to hire excellent coaches, recruit great student-athletes who want to be a part of this program and to win on and off the field. The NCAA penalties will serve as a reminder that the college experience does not include the behavior that led to these penalties. I expect all of us to work hard to teach and develop young student-athletes to grow responsibly and to become productive citizens in their communities upon graduation.”

Statement from Ohio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith

“We are surprised and disappointed with the NCAA’s decision. However, we have decided not to appeal the decision because we need to move forward as an institution. We recognize that this is a challenging time in intercollegiate athletics. Institutions of higher education must move to higher ground, and Ohio State embraces its leadership responsibilities and affirms its long-standing commitment to excellence in education and integrity in all it does.

“My primary concern, as always, is for our students, and this decision punishes future students for the actions of others in the past. Knowing our student-athletes, however, I have no doubt in their capacity to turn this into something positive — for themselves and for the institution. I am grateful to our entire Buckeye community for their continued support.

“All of us at Ohio State are determined to ensure that our compliance programs and protocols are best in class. We will assume a leadership role in representing our university and its values.

“It is important to remember that Ohio State has one of the nation’s largest self supporting athletics programs, with students succeeding both in competition and in the classroom. We have more than 1,000 students who compete in 36 intercollegiate sports, and the overall grade-point average of our student-athletes is just over 3.0. During the last two years, the University has had more student-athletes named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team than any other school. Further, Ohio State finished second in last year’s Directors’ Cup, which recognizes the best athletics programs in the country.”

Singer R. Kelly has put up his Chicago area mansion for sale.  It has 16 rooms, 6 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, 4 fireplaces, an indoor pool and theatre room.  The R&B singer bought the mega-mansion in 1997 and the estate became the subject of a $2.9 million foreclosure lawsuit last summer when he failed to meet his payments for more than a year, which was rumored to be a tactical move to make his lender renegotiate his loan.  He’s only asking $1.595 million for it.  Take a quick tour in the above gallery.

Robin Thicke recently stopped by The Today Show for a quick chat and a live performance of his hit single “Love After War”.  Thicke’s new album “Love After War” is online and in stores now.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul recently payed tribute to our troops with a live peformance in association with WWE at Fort Bragg recently.  The performance was taped live.  She peformed during  the fourth annual holiday “WWE Tribute to the Troops” at Fort Bragg . She sang “Need Someone” and one of her classics “Family Affair.” The holiday telecast will air on NBC on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 9:00 p.m. on NBC.

American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino gave birth to a boy in North Carolina on Tuesday December 13,  2011 according to her public relations representative . Dallas Xavier Barrino, weighing 7 lbs 9 ounces and measuring 21 inches, was born at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, according Sherlen Archibald.

“I feel so blessed that my son Dallas Xavier was born healthy, and is a wonderful new addition to our family,” Barrino said, who also has a 10-year-old daughter. “I thank all my fans for their well wishes and continued support.”

Coming to theatres nationwide this spring don’t miss “Think Like A Man”.  It’s based on the based selling book by Steve Harvey “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man.  The cast includes singer Chris Brown, comedians Kevin Hart and Gary Owen.  Get a first look sneak preview above.