We’ve gotten word from BravoTV that it’s given the greenlight to “The Kandi Factory,” a new special following “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star and multi-platinum songwriter Kandi Burruss.

Quoting a Bravo press release,  “Burruss will give two protégés the opportunity to come to Atlanta and learn the fundamentals of pop music success. … Burruss and her team of experts at ‘The Kandi Factory’ will work with the two contestants in order to turn them into music superstars.”

Bravo didn’t release any pesky who-what-when-where info, but it did supply this tasty morsel we can all chew on till that magic moment arrives:

“Ever since Burruss turned Kim Zolciak‘s single ‘Tardy for the Party’ into a digital download phenomenon, she has been bombarded by thousands of wannabe artists desperate for her popstar secrets. Burruss believes she can turn anyone with raw talent and drive into ’something hot’ and wants to give aspiring artists a shot at their dream.”

(The Queen …

Continue reading ‘Housewife’ Kandi Burruss wants to make you (well, maybe not you, but somebody) a star »

Hi everyone, I will be on vacation next week. So, no new blog updates from me until the following week.

I do check in via Twitter even when I am off so if there’s something you’re dying to know you can reach me here.

A number of projects including “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” “Necessary Roughness” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” continue to film here. On deck are “Neighborhood Watch,” “Us and “Them” and “Flight,” so if I hear of any updates you need to know before I am back I’ll tweet them.

By the way this is a photo of my in my natural habitat, trusty iPhone at the ready, poised to update everyone on the latest star sighting. I met a Twitter buddy today and she took the picture on her iPhone.

I wish my hair could have looked a little crazier for the photo. Oh well.

See y’all week after next – Jennifer

Continue reading Tweet you later »

Part-time Atlantan Elton John visited the Georgia Aquarium this week with spouse David Furnish and son Zachary. Taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the new dolphin exhibit, they made a new friend: an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin. Photo courtesy of the Georgia Aquarium.

Continue reading Elton John at the Georgia Aquarium »

A movie called “The Reluctant Fundamentalist,” starring Kiefer Sutherland, Kate Hudson and Liev Schreiber, is going to be shooting in Atlanta on Friday, in Castleberry Hill.

Here’s an excerpt from a notice sent to the folks in that area:  “we will be filming a scene for half of a day at 229 Bradbury St…from approximately 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.” Expect delays if you’re planning to be in that area. They’ll have law enforcement on the scene to direct traffic.

(We spotted the notice on the OLV site, so props to them!)

The New York Times posted this synopsis:

“Changez, a Princeton graduate from Pakistan, succeeds on Wall Street, thriving in his adopted city. But in the wake of September 11, Changez finds his position in his adopted city suddenly overturned and his relationships tested. His involvement with pro-Pakistan demonstrations are called into question as is his connection to a possibly extremist student. After another attack, Changez’s link to the student implicates him …

Continue reading Kiefer Sutherland-Kate Hudson movie filming in Atlanta »

Emily Huff gave Samuel L. Jackson something to "T.H.I.N.K." about before the Georgia Music Hall of Fame awards show Saturday night.

Just before the Georgia Music Hall of Fame awards show got underway  Saturday night, actor Samuel L. Jackson met a group of impressive young ladies.

Jackson was there to introduce honoree Kenny Leon, the actor, playwright and director he’s working with right now in New York. (”The Mountaintop, also starring Angela Bassett, opens on Broadway Oct. 13). Jackson, in other words, is a famous guy used to hanging out with other famous people.

That didn’t stop Emily Huff from marching up to him at the pre-show party.

A Sutton Middle School eighth grader, Emily was there with a group from the organization Girl Talk, a locally based but national non-profit organization that works to encourage leadership and community service among middle school and high school girls. After the group posed for photos with Jackson, Emily presented him with a baby blue …

Continue reading Samuel L. Jackson engages in a little “Girl Talk” »

AJC file photo

It’s the end of the world as we know it.

Athens band R.E.M. is breaking up. The sad news was announced via the R.E.M. web site. It was apparently overloaded because we received error messages when trying to access it.

The Athens Banner Herald posted the news release on its site, though. Here’s what it says:

“To our Fans and Friends:

As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening.”

Response from our Twitter followers ranged from acerbic wit (”REM is still alive?” - Katie Smith) to lamentation (”Crap! And their last album was GREAT!” – Ferrd R.) to lyrical (”Everybody hurts.” – Greg Payne).

The news is burning up music blogs such as the one at Rolling Stone’s site, which notes that “in just over three decades as a band, R.E.M. …

Continue reading R.E.M. breaks up »

People.com

Troy Davis has become a cause celebre.

Reality television personality Kim Kardashian is among those lending their fame to Davis’ case.

“I want to vent about the execution of Troy Davis!” she posted on her Twitter feed Tuesday morning. “He is getting the death penalty tonight but I believe he is innocent!”

“This #TroyDavis execution is very disturbing!” actor LeVar Burton posted about an hour ago.

Tweeted Atlanta music producer Jermaine Dupri on Tuesday: “There is #TooMuchDoubt to kill Troy Davis tomorrow.” CNN commentator Roland Martin and Tameka Raymond, a boutique owner and former wife of R&B artist Usher, tweeted the same thing.

And Atlanta rapper Big Boi traveled to the state prison in Jackson where Davis, convicted in the 1989 shooting death of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

“I’m heading to the rally in Jackson Georgia 40 miles outside of Atlanta,” the artist tweeted this morning. “Time to be seen and heard.” He’s been tweeting updates …

Continue reading Kim Kardashian, Diddy, Big Boi, Indigo Girls and other celebs tweet to protest Troy Davis execution »

Glad you asked. #7 stopped by The Tavern at Phipps to power up before the Sunday game against his former team. Michael Vick dined in party of eight family members including kids, and had the chicken caesar salad. He's something of a Tavern regular when he's here, but usually orders shrimp and fries. AJC photo by Johnny Crawford

Continue reading Where did Michael Vick dine before the game on Sunday? »

Photo from http://www.justinbieberzone.com

Justin Bieber and gal pal Selena Gomez had a sweet little date night Saturday in Midtown.

They were at Hudson Grille’s Midtown location to watch Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz mix it up. Usher was there as well. (Serving as chaperone perhaps? )

Usher and Bieber both performed Saturday at the Georgia Music Hall of Fame awards show at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Selena was ushered in right before her man took the stage with some friends. There’s a photo of the happy trio from the comprehensive Bieber fan site http://www.justinbieberzone.com.

Here’s a very blurry photo of her, in the middle of the three young ladies cheering for the Biebs. Thanks to reader Laura Pitsikoulis for sending this to us!

Submitted to the AJC by reader Laura Pitsikoulis

Oh, speaking of “Money” Mayweather, we once ran into him in the InterContinental Hotel valet line. We were waiting to leave when Mayweather’s entourage pulled up. They were …

Continue reading Star sightings: Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick, and more! »

Ne-Yo and his longtime lady love Monyetta Shaw are expecting a second child and plan to tie the knot, Us magazine reports.

The R&B star and Atlanta boutique owner are the parents of Madilyn Grace, born last November.

Shaw has been making appearances with Ne-Yo in Atlanta for some time now. Last spring, for example, we visited with them at Opera nightclub where Ne-Yo’s foundation was holding a Mother’s Day brunch event to salute foster mothers throughout the state.

Ne-Yo’s mother, Loraine Smith, was there of course, and she seemed to want Monyetta included in all the activities. We recall her saying, “Monyetta, come join us on the red carpet!”

Monyetta Shaw, at the opening night party of her boutique. Photo by David Barrack

Here’s a link to that story.

Earlier this year the couple opened Buckhead boutique Emerlyn & Ester, named after their grandmothers. An opening night party drew a fashionable crowd including Vivica A. Fox, Omar “Slim” White; Elene Cassis, Stacey Weiss, …

Continue reading Ne-Yo and fiancee are expecting again »