Source: Getty Images

Even though the YBF reported at the end of last month that Keke Wyatt would be coming back for the second season of R&B Divas, the diva herself is neglecting to confirm those rumors. In fact, in a recent interview with Sister 2 Sister, she said:  “I don’t know if I want to do season 2.”

The singer didn’t quite explain her hesitation to return but she did say that she’d miss everybody if she turned down the next season:

“I love all of them like they’re family even though sometimes they’re b!tc#e$,” she said. “Every woman could be a b!tc# at times. It’s just a natural born thing. Tell me one woman you don’t know who could be a b!tc#.”

‘Tis true. We didn’t see too much b***hiness on the first season, although many viewers felt Keke, Syleena, and Nicci all had their moments. So far though, the story is that Nicci Gilbert won’t be returning for a second season and neither will Faith Evans, but Monifah and Syleena seem to be in, along with Sunshine Anderson and Angie Stone.

Regardless of her pending return, Keke said she knows the show will continue to be a success, just like it was in it’s premiere season.

“Everybody done sold a million or more records a piece. So, if all of our fans watch, we’re good,” she said. “I’m grateful that it did what it did ‘cause I am, but I’m not surprised ‘cause God is good.”

Would you miss Keke Wyatt if she didn’t come back to R&B Divas?

Source: WENN

We already knew R&B Divas was slated to get a mini-facelift after news hit that Brownstone singer Nicci Gilbert was given the axe. At the time, Kelly Price was rumored to be her replacement, but TV One has taken that option and one-upped it by adding not one but two new divas to the cast. According to the YBF, Angie Stone and Sunshine Anderson will now be joining the network’s latest reality hit.

So why two new ladies? Well according to the site’s sources, Nicci Gilbert isn’t the only diva bouncing on the show. Faith Evans, who appeared to be the glue holding the bunch together, is also reportedly walking away from the series. That leaves Syleena Johnson, KeKe Wyatt and Monifah who are all expected to return.

There’s no word on what may have prompted Faith to leave — or whether her decision was by choice — but since the ladies are probably the least drama-filled group on TV, aside from Hollywood Exes, it would be surprising if she was kicked off the show for problems or for being too boring. Maybe she just decided reality TV wasn’t for her. Plus it seemed Faith’s main focus was to release an album featuring the five singers and since that hasn’t happened, I’m sure she figured, what’s the point? Nicci, on the other hand, who had no desire to sing anyway, likely isn’t too broken up over that news I’m sure.

But back to Angie and Sunshine. These are two divas we definitely haven’t heard enough or seen enough of in recent years to I will be anxious to see what’s going on in their lives these days. And if Syleena, Keke, Monifah, and these two end up being the ones to actually put out an album together, I’m sure no fans would be mad at that.

Are you excited to see these two on the next season of R&B Divas?

For many Americans, we’ve pretty much counted reality TV out where wholesome, life-affirming television is concerned. It found its place in the “strictly for entertainment” pile. And it’s understandable considering the mindless stereotype-perpetuating drivel that most reality television churns out. We get a good laugh, a good face palm, a good shaking of the head from it. That’s all. So, it’s almost surprising when a gem like “Save My Son” comes along.

Having been introduced to Dr. Steve Perry’s passionate and tireless work with the children of Hartford, Connecticut’s Capital Prep on Soledad O’Brien’s “Education In America” specials, I was intrigued by this black man striving not only to make a difference in the these kids’ lives during the school day, but going out of his way to see to their well-being even after school hours. We see these unsung heroes in our own home towns and admire their work, but sometimes, deep inside we fear that their work will never reach far enough, root deep enough into the lives that most need them. So, I applauded Dr. Perry and eagerly tuned in to “Save My Son” to see Black young men unfold from a life cramped with worries, low self-esteem and unchecked anger and begin to exercise their freedom to be more, to be better, to be fully functioning members of society and their own families. Dr. Perry’s process is more than effective. It’s brilliant.

He first familiarizes himself with the home, school and social lives of each of the young men he has been summoned to help. He finds out the facts – good or bad. We don’t see him jumping into a situation, only taking a parent/guardian or teacher’s word for it. He looks at the young man’s track record and the course of events in his life and lets the facts speak to him. After which, he opens a dialogue about the reasoning and the temperament of the young man he wants to help. He isn’t judgmental or overbearing. Dr. Perry provides them with a safe space to speak their peace – a safe space that  perhaps they felt they did not have prior to “Save My Son” stepping into their lives.

What I also love about the show is that Dr. Perry holds these young men accountable for their behavior and their attitudes. He does not let them off the hook or encourage them to explain away their behavior. He presents them with their own actions – holding up a mirror so they can clearly see who they are – with no mother to protect them from consequences and no system or “The Man” to blame for their downfalls. Dr. Perry also begins the process of equipping them to deal with whatever issues they are brave enough to open up about. As is revealed through each episode, many of these young men just want to be loved and as one young man stated, he wanted to know that he was the reason someone smiled. They want to belong to something, to know that they matter. The street life gives them that illusion. “Save My Son” seems to be giving them the real thing, which might be the antidote for the poison that the streets, misplaced anger or feelings of abandonment have poisoned them with.

The show brings in as many men to help get the job done as are willing to be of service. Dr. Perry does not try to save all of these young men alone. He calls upon the life experiences and expertise of seasoned vets of sports, radio, television, education, music, etc. to reach out to these young men and deliver a wake-up call to them that they haven’t effectively received in their neighborhoods, homes or schools. Having had guest mentors such as CNN and TV One’s own Roland S. Martin, Pooch Hall of “The Game,” Steve Harvey, NBA legend Charles Barkley, music producers and athletes, “Save My Son” definitely allows these broken young men a chance to see the bigger picture, what their lives COULD be if only they stand up and begin the process. I’m sold on this show because it presents these young men with positive alternatives instead of just trying to scare them straight. There is a message of hope in each phase of each episode and it is an amazing (and sometimes tear-jerking) transformation to watch.

Have you seen “Save My Son”? What are your thoughts on its work and message?

ELa Truly is a late-blooming Aries whose writing is powered by a lifetime of anecdotal proof that awkward can transform to awesome and fear can cast its crown before courage. La seeks to encourage thought, discussion and change. Her blog: www.hersoulinc.com and Twitter: @AshleyLaTruly. 

Source: AP Images

A couple of months ago, rumors were spreading that Nicci Gilbert’s time as an “R&B Diva” was rapidly coming to a close as her real-life diva attitude was proving to be too much for her fellow producers and castmates. Now The YBF is claiming to have confirmation that those rumors are true and Nicci has officially been nixed from the cast.

Though ”R&B Divas” has become a success for TV ONE, TheYBF.com has learned that former Brownstone member and show co-creator, Nicci Gilbert, was given the axe.  A source from the show’s executive production team told us that market research they conducted showed that viewers just didn’t connect to Nicci.  In fact, we were told that 95% of those polled said that Nicci was their LEAST favorite diva.  WOMP.

Apparently the production team doesn’t want to publicly announce the firing until Nicci’s replacement — which has been rumored to be singer Kelly Price — has already been put in place. Though that news hasn’t been confirmed yet, what does seem to be set in stone is an L.A. spinoff of “R&B Divas” whose cast is said to be announced soon.

As for Nicci’s fate, I imagine the creative team will do what was expected when this rumor first hit the web — pay her a producer credit and cancel her talent contract. From her twitter timeline, you wouldn’t guess she’d just been fired though. The singer has been tweeting all sorts of pro-”R&B Divas” messages all day. Guess she didn’t see the writing on the wall.

Is/was Nicci your least favorite diva on the show?

Source: Brown Girl Next Door

Apparently there’s a limit on just how much of a diva one can be to maintain a spot on TV One’s new hit reality show, “R&B Divas,” and according to RadarOnline, Nicci Gilbert has just about reached her max.

The former Brownstone singer stars on the show alongside Faith Evans, Keke Wyatt, Monifah Carter, and Syleena Johnson and though she’s appeared to be sensible from the first two episodes, word is she’s something of a mess off-camera. That’s why she may be getting a pink slip if and when the show returns for a second season. A source told RadarOnline:

“Despite doing interviews with her whole message of positivity, Nicci was a terror to work with on the show. Publicly, she says she wanted this show to be the anti- Housewives, but privately her actions made her a fit for Oxygen’s Bad Girls Club.”

That’s pretty harsh. I honestly would have expected that type of behavior from Syleena just because of the way she comes off on camera, but Nicci was ready to rip that seamstress a new one when she didn’t show up for her fashion show on time on the last episode. Maybe that’s her real persona.

Rumor has it producers already have a replacement in mind too, singer Kelly Price, and they’ve already met to discuss the possibility. While this all sounds like a done deal, there is the issue of Nicci being one of the co-executive producers of the show. The anonymous source says that’s not as big of a deal as it may seem though, saying producers will  ”just pay her a producer credit and cancel her talent contract.”

She better get it together quick — if it’s not already too late.

What do you think about Kelly Price replacing Nicci Gilbert on “R&B Divas?” Have you been watching?

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Source: raycornelius.com

TV One’s new reality show “R&B Divas” looks like it might be the perfect mix between “Real Housewives” and “Hollywood Exes” with women grown enough not to throw fists or drinks at one another but entertaining enough to keep our attention. The show will make it’s season debut August 20 and the trailer foreshadows good reality TV in the making.

Episodes follow R&B singers Faith Evans, Nicci Gilbert, Syleena Johnson, Monifah and KeKe Wyatt’s professional lives as well as their personal relationships. From the promo, it seems KeKe may have some trouble balancing her marriage with her career, not unlike Rasheeda and Kirk on LHHATL perhaps. Monifah also makes a surprising revelation that she’s in a relationship with another woman and struggles with her daughter Akemi’s lack of acceptance of her sexual orientation. Though for most of us, we’ll see this exposure as her “coming out” so to speak, the “Touch It” singer told Essence in it’s September issue she doesn’t see it that way.

“I hate the term,” she says, “because I’ve never been anything but who I am and I’ve lived my authentic life.”

It’ll be cool to see how that authenticity plays out in front of the cameras. Check out the season trailer here. Will you watch the debut August 20th on TV One?

Brande Victorian is the news and operations editor for madamenoire.com. Follow her on twitter @Be_Vic.

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Nicci Gilbert Photo: CurvatoClothing.com

You might remember Nicci Gilbert from back in the 90’s when she started the R&B group Brownstone, the first artists to be signed to Michael Jackson’s label. Her passion and soul came through in her vocals yet the pain of her struggles with her weight ultimately led her to pursue other avenues.

Years later, happily married and following in her mother’s footsteps as an entrepreneur, she’s mastering reality TV as co-executive producer of R&B Divas (premiering August 20^th at 10pm on TV One) and launching a “big girls” clothing line, Curvato Clothing.

MN: Who introduced you to entrepreneurship?

NG: My mother was the first entrepreneur that I knew. Not only was she a jazz singer but she owned five or six houses and two buildings. My childhood was filled with going to these houses that my mother would buy and cleaning them out, painting and getting them ready to rent. I remember sitting in the car most days watching my mom go to collect rent from her tenants. I didn’t know it at the time but she was instilling that constant Detroit hustle and grind in me.

I was the older of two younger sisters and it was my job to make sure they were ready for school. Most times my mom would work at the clubs as a singer at night and she opened a resale shop so we’d go to the shop and work after school. As it pertains to business and my hustle, everything that I know and learned was from my mother.

MN: What does hustle mean to you?

NG: Beyonce said it best: “A diva is a female version of a hustler.” In my opinion, it just means going for something with everything that you have and to not limit what you have to do temporarily to reach that passion. Hustling means to never give up. With me, I always have a few balls in the air.

MN: What’s “the Octopus theory”?

NG: “The Octopus theory” means there’s one head controlling all of these arms, fully aware of what each of these arms is doing. [At times] some of the arms might be a little limp, which means the other arms have to take the slack.

MN: What did you learn about business from being a part of the R&B group Brownstone?

NG: I saw the movie Dead Poets Society and I was just moved by this whole “carpe diem” theory (“Seize the day”). So I went out to LA and placed ads in the paper, auditioned girls and started a female group. What I realized is that not everybody takes kindly to direction and from the beginning I was very much the direction girl. I like to control as many aspects of my life as I can.

MN: What were your struggles with Brownstone?

NG: When I started the group, I wanted us to be singers. It wasn’t about fashion or being the cutest. We were to be the best singers out there, the best writers, have the best songs and give great voice. But later on, the label just wanted to figure out how to market up to a mass audience. By then, I was the chubby girl and when it came time for the second album, I was being told to starve myself, get plastic surgery or do whatever I had to do to fit into this other mode.

It was then that I just started to see that maybe this wasn’t the train that I was suppose to be on. I found myself changing from this bubbling Detroit hustler girl into the girl looking in the mirror every five minutes because I was constantly told that I was just too big. So that kinda started to diminish my passion for music.

Michelle Singletary Photo: LancasterOnline.com

Tomorrow at 9 a.m. ET and 9 a.m. CT, One Solution (comprised of Radio One, News One and Interactive One) will air Aspirations: Helping You Empower Your Financial Future, an hour-long roundtable about credit, money management, and building wealth.

The panel will include author and Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary; financial adviser and author Gail Perry Mason; Michelle Thornhill, SVP and African American segment manager at Wells Fargo; and Wells Fargo SVP Jeff Cosby. Wells Fargo is also sponsoring the event.

Radio One stations including WDMK-FM in Detroit, KMJQ-FM in Houston, and WTLC-FM in Indianapolis will broadcast the show. You can also catch it online and on TV One at different points this month and in August.

Madame Noire caught up with some of the strongest voices in the game recently at the Essence Music Festival. Nicci Gilbert-Daniels, formerly of the group Brownstone, Syleena Johnson, Faith Evans, KeKe Wyatt, and Monifah are now known as the R&B Divas. And they plan to star in a new reality show bearing the same name. We spoke with the ladies about reservations of being in reality tv, being real life friends and who’s the crazy one in the group.

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