Taraji P. Henson
Taraji P. Henson

A Look at Entertainment

by T.J. Moore –

On Empire, Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie Lyons managed recording artists. Now, Henson is living her art.

During a recent appearance on Good Morning, America, Henson shared that she is launching her music career and said that she has a project on the way.

Henson went on to explain that she loved music but the responsibilities of becoming a young mother steered her away from that career path. In addition to her role on Empire, Henson got musical gigs in Muppets Haunted Mansion and played Miss Hannigan in NBC’s Annie Live, all of which reinvigorated her love for music. But this time, Henson is seizing the opportunity to sing.

“I’m just working on some really good, feel-good music,” Henson said. “I’m not trying to toot my own horn here, but it was time for a pivot because I’ve done so many iconic roles, you know what I mean? It’s like I can’t just, you know… Acting has to be something that excites and challenges me. Like, Miss Hannigan in Annie challenges me. That’s musical theatre, taking me back to my roots. So, it’s about just continuing to challenge myself. I kept saying that music, I might have missed it because I became a mother so early on in college, but God has other plans for me because the music is just really falling in my lap. Like, it started with The Muppets, and through the Muppets, I booked Miss Hannigan, and it just keeps coming. So, I’m gon’ ride the wave. Why Not?”

Nick Cannon; inset, Wendy Williams
Nick Cannon; inset, Wendy Williams

Due to Wendy Williams’s health issues, the premiere date of her daytime talk show has been pushed back for the third time amid talks that she might not want to return. Recently, a source has come forward and said that network execs are already putting together a backup plan just in case Williams doesn’t return.

Nick Cannon has entered the chat.

According to Page Six, Cannon’s new daytime talk show, The Nick Cannon Show, could replace The Wendy Williams Show.

“The executives have been talking,” the anonymous source said. “They are keeping a close eye on Williams’s recovery and hoping for the best. But they have pushed back her show premiere several times, so they are already thinking of a backup plan. It would not be a far stretch for Nick to take her time slot. Debmar-Mercury (which produces both shows) is really pushing to make Nick Cannon’s show a huge success. He already has a major platform with a huge fan base, so it’s an easy win. So if Wendy’s show ends up being a no-go, their backup plan is already set.”

The premiere date was pushed back to Oct. 18 due to Williams still battling health issues.

Emma Grede
Emma Grede. Photo: ABC/Christopher Willard

Shark Tank returned for its 13th season on ABC on Oct. 8, and the long-running series kicked off the season by making history. Good American and SKIMS co-founder Emma Grede will join Sharks Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’ Leary, and Lori Greiner as a guest host. Grede became the first Black woman entrepreneur to serve as a guest host on the show.

The entrepreneur is a founding partner in Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line SKIMS, and she co-founded the all-inclusive denim brand Good American in 2016 alongside Khloe Kardashian.

The London native is also a board member and ambassador for the feminist nonprofit Women for Women International, which helps to empower women in conflict-affected countries.