Gladys Knight joined the ranks of such luminaries as Frank Sinatra,  Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and Barry Manilow and received the 16t Ella Award (named in honor of Ella Fitzgerald) at the Beverly Hilton.  This honor was bestowed by the Society of Singers, who provides services to professional singers during difficult times, and offer scholarships to promising new musicians.

     Some of her famous friends, who entertained in her honor, included Smokey Robinson, Johnny Mathis (who still looks like a teenager) and Gladys’s brother, Bubba Knight, who sang, “The Lady is a Tramp”.  But the real standout of the evening was Melissa Etherige, whose rendition of “Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First to Say Goodbye”) had everyone mesmerized.  Kudos to Jerry Sharell, President of the SOS and his hardworking committee for scoring another successful evening; or as Steve & Edyie stated: “Pip, Pip, Hooray!”

     Trendsetter and philanthropist Elyse Walker, owner of the hottest boutique in L.A., and Jessica Biel, hosted a Pink Party benefiting Cedars-Sinai Women’s Cancer Research Institute at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica.  Since it was a Pink Party, one would have thought the celebs would have been decked out pretty in pink.  But this wasn’t the case.

     Dazzling in a coffee colored frock, Katherine McPhee proved she may not have won the competition on American Idol, but the charming chanteuse is making waves on the silver screen  With three films in production, and several successful music videos, Katherine is an International Idol, to be sure!

      Speaking of Cedars Sinai Medical Center – the Women’s Guild of this world-renowned institution, turned 50 and Fabulous at the Regent Beverly Wilshire. Appropriately, Billy Crystal, Mr. Fab-u-lus himself, performed.  Among the celebs celebrating were Christina Ricci, and Producer Marc Cherry, with a duo of his Desperate Housewives:  Marcia Cross, looking svelte after birthing two babies, and Dana Delaney, the newest neighbor on Wisteria Lane. 

     To commemorate a half-century of service, renowned artist Robert Graham created an extraordinary sculpture titled “Elisa”, which will help raise funds for their Pulmonary Disease Institute.  Graham and his glamorous wife Anjelica Huston are on the honorary committee, along with Sly Stallone, Gore Vidal, Barbara Walters and Rita Wilson, to name a few.

     The best news of the evening was that over $1.7 million was raised to support their various programs. Kudos to Wendy Goldberg, Judy Briskn and their hard working committee for an evening of elegance and elation.  Here’s to 50 more successful years.

     We were invited to the Ninth Annual Praise Brunch by Pastor Bob Rieth, Founder of Media Fellowship International at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  Master of Ceremonies, Mark Larson presided over the event at which Jennifer O’Neil (Summer of 42) received the Ambassador Award for her role in the Pro Life Movement.  Shirley and Pat Boone gave moving testimonies of their lives as Christians in Hollywood.  The attractive couple celebrated 50 years of marriage, and Boone just released Pat Boone’s America – a pop culture journey through the last five decades.

     Joining in a sensational spiritual sing-a-long were Grammy Nominated singer Aisha Morris, and Soldiers for the Second Coming with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. (Fifth Dimension), who have received seven Grammy Awards, and earned 15 gold, and three platinum records.

     We were pleased to be seated with Dr. Susan Stafford (original Hostess of Wheel of Fortune) who is excited about the upcoming Starfair in Palm Springs. This event takes place December 7,8, and 9th  at the Palm Springs Convention Center, and will allow fans to meet and greet stars of film, stage and TV.  The Palm Springs Walk of Stars will also be presenting a Classic Film Festiva,l where 26 classic films will be shown.  Some of the stars in attendance and films being screened include Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot), Rhonda Fleming (Connecticut Yankee), Tab Hunter (Polyester) and Tippi Hedron (The Birds). 

For further info please check out their website www.pswalkofstars.com.  Hope to see you there.