He won’t be returning next season but CB Rashean Mathis is taking his leave from the Jacksonville Jaguars like a gentleman.

After the news was official last week, he stated: “I can only praise God. He allowed me

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Cissy Houston tears up as her son Michael admits to Oprah that he feels responsible for the iconic singer’s death.

By Arthia Nixon
Florida/Georgia Star

Viewers of Oprah’s Next Chapter on OWN who expected to get a glimpse of Cissy Houston’s book chronicling her life with her late daughter were floored when her son Michael joined the interview and confessed to being the one who introduced his sister to drugs back in the 80’s.
After giving Oprah Winfrey a tour of her New Jersey home, discussing Whitney’s childhood and what getting the call that she died was like and even touching on her estranged relationship with Whitney’s daughter, Houston’s smiles turned to tears when Michael came on the set and stated that

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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to President Barack Obama during the official swearing-in ceremony in the Blue Room of the White House on Inauguration Day, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. First Lady Michelle Obama, holding the Robinson family Bible, along with daughters Malia and Sasha, stand with the President. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Today, in two separate, private ceremonies, President Obama and Vice President Biden were officially sworn into office, marking the start of the second term. (The Constitution mandates that the President takes the oath on January 20. Since that date falls on a Sunday this year, the public inauguration ceremony and festivities will take place tomorrow, January 21) Continue Reading

LEFT:The real Tammi Chase-Wright with actress Michael Hyatt who plays Congresswoman Brown in Left To Die film. RIGHT: Congresswoman Corrine Brown

By Florida Star Staff

(Jacksonville, Florida) Congresswoman Corrine Brown is coming to the small screen. Jacksonville’s leading lady in politics will be portrayed by Michael Hyatt, an actress known for appearances on HBO series and her performance in Broadway’s Ragtime will play Corrine Brown in Left to Die.

The movie is set to debut on Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) this weekend.

Academy Award® and Screen Actors Guild® nominee and Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning actress Barbara Hershey (“Once Upon a Time”, “Black Swan”) stars in the Lifetime Original Movie “Left to Die” as Sandra Chase, an American mother of two wrongly sent to an

Ecuadorian prison for Continue Reading

Highlights of our Georgia Star 2012 year in review

Who made this year’s list of what was most talked about in Georgia for 2012? Our team highlights some of our more memorable stories.
When our paper hits newstands, you’ll see who broke a traditon at a church that stood for well over 100 years. You’ll also see who went from mom to momprenuer. You’ll recall which official got caught in scandal and what senior citizens did to fight back.
From Oprah to open house at the first female owned tertiary level institution, the NAACP to the RYCA’s, you’ll learn who gave south Georgia something to talk about this weekend in The Star!

DJ Dr. Doom, R&B princess Elle and Kevin Bodie keep the crowd hyped. (Photo by Luke Engram)

Fresh from her stellar performance of her hit Refill at the 2012 Soul Train Awards, Best New Artist winner Elle Varner joined DJ Dr. Doom in Jacksonville, Florida to celebrate the one year anniversary of Club Rush Street. Georgians crossed the border and took time out to raise their glasses to toast the milestone. Continue Reading

DRUMLine Live, the show-stopping attraction created by the music team behind 20th Century Fox’s hit movie Drumline, will parade on to the Times-Union Center Moran Theater stage on January 22 at 8 p.m.

Complete with dazzling choreography and explosive percussion, DRUMLine Live is a thrilling spectacle that pays homage to the show-style marching popularized at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, the staged show is a synchronized musical showcase of the HBCU experience.

“We’ve taken the excitement of an HBCU football game halftime show, increased the intensity by a thousand watts, and created a musical journey that will touch every emotion,” says Don P. Roberts, DRUMLine Live’s creator and director. “DRUMLine Live is a highoctane musical roller coaster ride that will keep the entire family cheering for more.”

The legendary HBCU band experience comes alive with DRUMLine Live’s world-class cast of percussionists, musicians and dancers. The 39-member cast of performers honed its unrivaled talent with years of training in marching band programs across the United States such as Florida A&M, Tennessee State, and Clark Atlanta University, just to name a few.

Incorporating original compositions and soul-infused interpretations of top 40 hits, DRUMLine’s musical journey infuses colorful, choreographed routines with vibrant costumes and heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences. Audiences across the globe have been brought to their feet by the stirring sound of trumpets and incredible feats of athleticism; and have been astonished by the precision, creativity, and pulsing force in the climatic percussion battle. With musical highlights from hip-hop, American soul, gospel, jazz and other music genres, DRUMLine Live brings a unique style of drumming, mesmerizing musicianship, and lively choreography never seen on stage before.

Roberts was inspired to create DRUMLine Live after serving as executive band consultant for the 2002 movie Drumline starring Nick Cannon. Drumline was one of the first major motion pictures to capture the electricity of the black college marching band experience. DRUMLine Live had a successful 70-performance international tour in 2008-2009 with sold-out shows throughout Asia.

For those who attended HBCUs, and for those who have never had a chance to catch black college football games, the energy and the talent in DRUMLine Live are simply going to blow you away.”

DRUMLine Live is co-produced by Halftime Live, LLC, and Columbia Artists Management, Inc (CAMI). CAMI is an internationally producer of live entertainment including many award winning Broadway and Off- Broadway productions such as FELA, Chicago and Blue Man Group.

Tickets for DRUMLine Live at the Times-Union Center Moran Theater are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.artistseriesjax.org or www.ticketmaster.com.

Story by Clara McLaughlin

December 31, 2010 ended the decade that started with fear. Many were worried about what 2000 would bring, the changes in life as well as scientific changes. When 2000 arrived, the clocks and the computer systems all continued to work. Some were surprised but there were changes – good and bad. So, the best way to end and start another decade is rejoicing in music and love.

Brookhollow Baptist Church, affectionately known as the Church Without Walls, offered their members and the public an open door with the church’s mass choir and world renowned Kirk Franklin performing and their pastor, Dr. Ralph D. West, providing a sermon focusing on the First Psalms, explaining the tree and the roots. The Berry Center had standing room only with more than three fourth of the audience being members of the church that has three Houston locations, and two services every Sunday at two locations and one at the other.

The music and the sermon left everyone feeling very positive about the next decade. In fact, more than 100 came forward, as the pastor opened the doors of the church, making a pledge to join the 21,625 members (14,778 families) already a part of The Church Without Walls.

Dr. West is the founder and pastor of Brookhollow Baptist Church which started with 32 members at their first service on November 8, 1987 in a ballroom at the Brookhollow Marriott Hotel, Houston.

Jacksonville residents will have the opportunity to meet and hear Dr. West on January 19-21, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. at Zion Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 2803 W. Edgewood Avenue as he leads East Florida and Bethany Baptist Association Convention Revival Service.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Little Richard, who was 77 S a t u r d a y , December 12, is recovering following hip surgery. Even while in pain, it is told that he continued his tour until surgery last week. His plan is to get back to his rigorous performing schedule ‘very soon.’

Tyler Perry’s mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died Tuesday. She was 64 years of age.

Perry said that his mother was very loving and provided the inspiration for his famous character, Madea. Ms. Perry was a pre-school teacher and worked at the New Orleans Jewish Community Center.

Rapper Plies, has been sued by five men from Gainesville, along with his record label, Sli-N-Slide
Records, Inc. and the night club where Plies was performing, 238 West on West University Avenue.
The attorney handling the suit, is Christopher Chestnut who has offices in Gainesville, Jacksonville
and other Florida cities. Mr. Chestnut is handling the suit on behalf of Billy Dee Williams, Michael L. Daymon, Edwin D. Faircloth, Steve Jean-Jacquesss and Dorian S. Johnson, who were shot during the concert in 2006.

According to reports, Plies was performing when his microphone was cut off at the club. He
became angry and a fistfight started. His bodyguards, Troy D. Carnegie and Ronnell L. Lavatte, as well as his security guard, all pulled out guns and began firing. The victims were all shot in different parts of their body.