Week’s End Digest: GRAMMY Nominations, Aretha Franklin, Nicki Minaj, Susan Boyle, Keri Hilson

Posted December 3, 2010 by J Matthew Cobb in Features

News you can really use. This ‘Week’s End Digest’ features reports on Aretha’s prayer vigil, Nicki Minaj’s rubdown by Regis, Susan Boyle’s vocal mishap and Keri Hilson’s racy vid

So much can happen in a week. So we’ve decided to give you the rundown on the lowdown…in one digestible digest.

‘Say a Little Prayer’ for Aretha

On Wednesday, residents of Detroit gathered together for a special prayer vigil for the ailing 68-year old Aretha Franklin. City councilwoman JoAnn Watson led the gathering in Detroit’s downtown honoring the Queen of Soul, who is reportedly having a surgical procedure today. Watson spoke with Franklin before the vigil and welcomed the “prayerful” gesture from her supporters and well-wishers.

In November, Franklin was ordered by her doctor to cancel all of her tour dates and personal appearances for the next couple of months until spring 2011. No word from her publicist on what she is suffering with.

Relief did come to Franklin via the Grammys after she was nominated for her duet with Ron Isley on “You’ve Got a Friend” in the Best R&B Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals category.

Susan Boyle Cuts Performance Short on “The View”

Probably a bad case of cold, flu or the usual grogginess of the throat, but Susan Boyle had to put a stop to her vocal performance on the “The View” before the producers yelled, “CUUUTT!” While performing “O Holy Night,” her throat seemed to experience bad case of phlegm. It was a battle the Brit singer couldn’t win and she ultimately cut it short while trying to reach the high notes towards the end of the verse. Her redemption was delivered by the hands of co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sherri Shepherd, who stepped to console her with questions concerning her new album The Gift and her rare angelic voice. Shh-I meant- things happens. At least she sung the song live.

Nicki Minaj Gets a Rubdown from Regis

After a live performance of “Right Thru Me” during a Monday taping of ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’, the show’s hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa conversed with popular rapper Nicki Minaj about her new CD, her recent crowning by ‘Rolling Stone’ as “the new queen of hip-hop” and then Regis gets a bit trigger-happy when he goes for the classic “pat on the ass” trick.

A dirty joke even keeps the laughs coming. When Kelly asked Minaj about any advice her mentor Lil Wayne gave her, she said he only told her to “go hard.”

“Go hard? Wish I could,” Philbin responded.

Um, more events like this and ‘Live With Regis and Kelly’ will be coming on after dark.

Keri Hilson Gets Down and Dirty With New Mix, Video

Keri is a beaut, we all know that. And she’s a rising talent in the fast evolution of urban R&B divas. But her risque’ music video for her latest single “The Way You Love Me” is getting major buzz…and for all the wrong reasons. Let’s just say that the entertainment value went from PG-13 to XXX. She spoke with Perez Hilton show about the controversial vid, saying:

“I cannot allow other people…or the media to dictate what I can or cannot do. TLC, Josephine Baker, Madonna and Janet didn’t do that. We cannot approach art from the fear perspective. You have to be fearless and stand for what you believe in.”

She went on the record to label herself a “freak” and goes into detail to talk about her love for sex: “I don’t want to be held and caressed every night Sometimes I wanna be f**ked. You want it good sometimes…I’m not talking about being a slut or a hoar, but it is racy.” The video seems like it channels the spirit of a Christian Aguilera Durty persona while exercising Ciara’s stripper moves. As for the song, it takes Cee Lo Green’s “F*** You” to a whole different level. Not sure if this is going to wow the voting body of the Grammys are going to approve this come nomination time come 2011.

WATCH KERI HILSON TALK IT UP WITH PEREZ ABOUT RACY VIDEO

…Speaking of Grammy Nominations

On ___ night, the nominations for the 53rd annual Grammy Awards (to be held at the L.A.’s STAPLES Center on Feb. 13, 2011) were announced. Surprises were definitely made: Katy Perry nabbed a Record of the Year nod for her sophomore project, Teenage Dream. And some puzzling: Train’s pop smash hit “Hey, Soul Sister” was nominated for Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals. The album version was too old to make the ballot, but a-ha…we have a recent live version that saved the day. And even some to easy to perdict: Justin Bieber is up for Best New Artist.

Leading the pack of nominations, with ten nods, was Eminem, followed by singer-songwriter Bruno Mars came in with seven nods. Lady Antebellum, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, B.o.B. and John Legend also received multiple nominations.

Grammy Nominations Announced: Eminem, Bruno Mars and Lady Antebellum Leads Nominees

WEEK’S END DIGEST is a weekly roundup of current events and headlines that involves the music industry. Although HiFi Magazine reports news throughout the week, the summaries compiled for the Week’s End Digest column are usually deemed as being stories “bubbling under the radar.”