Reverend Dr. Della Reese...Ordained Minister,American Actress,Singer,Game Show Panelist of the 1970s,One-Time Talk-Show Hostess

In 1987 Della Reese-Lett, world famous singer, actress and television personality, was ordained as a minister by the Universal Foundation for Better Living, an organization of twenty-two member churches and study groups worldwide, founded by The Reverend Doctor Johnnie Colemon.  Reverend Della, as she is lovingly called, founded Understanding Principles for Better Living Church (UP) in Los Angeles, California in order to provide others with the opportunity to know members of UP Church are able to share the wisdom, revelations, and inspirations of one of this country's great spiritual leaders.  Her lesson/sermons, based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, give all who are seeking practical ways to learn and apply the Principles that will allow them to have a better life. 

Singer and actress Della Reese, was born as as Delloreese Patricia Early in Detroit, Michigan, on July 6, 1931. Reverend Della's walk with God started when she was a child in Detroit, Michigan.  She began singing in church when she was six years old.  Through those formative years she was involved in gospel singing.  At the age of 13, she was hired by the Late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  As Reverend Della recalls, "This opportunity to sing with the 'world's foremost gospel singer' was a thrilling experience." Later, while majoring in psychology at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Della formed her own female gospel group, "The Meditation Singers", which is listed in the "Who's Who of Gospel Music".

While her roots were still in gospel Music, Della developed an individual popular style that took her  to national prominence.  In 1953, she made the move to New York City, became a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.  Her early recordings include:  "In The Still of The Night", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", and "Time After Time". Della had her first major hit with "And That Reminds Me (of you)".  In 1959, Della enjoyed her biggest hit, a tune adapted from puccini's "La Boheme", entitled "Don't You Know?" and was nominated for a Grammy as best female vocalist.  This led to Della performing for the next nine years in Las Vegas on the famed "Strip".  In the thirty years that followed "Don't You Know?" Della Reese has continued her string recordings and was again nominated for a Grammy in 1987 as best female soloist in Gospel.

A generous amount of television exposure followed Della's first recording successes.  In the late '50's and early '60's, she appeared on many television shows that are now considered classics.  She was also the first female to host "The Tonight Show".  She was soon asked to host her own talk show, "Della", (making her the first Black woman to host her own show) which was syndicated nationally in 1969-70. 

Television, which became the major medium of the '70's and '80's, saw a lot of Della.  Later she was to star in her own series, "The Royal Family" with Redd Foxx.  Della's received an Emmy nomination for her work in the television movie "Nightmare in Badham County".

The most recent of her television pursuits is the CBS dramatic series, "Touched By An Angel" which is in it's seventh season, and where her two talents are combined as she also sings the theme song.  Della's television work was honored in 1994, as she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Despite the demands of filming a television series in Salt Lake City, Utah, Rev. Della continues to make the trip to Los Angeles weekly so that she can continue to teach, instruct and inspire.  Through her devotion, dedication and determination, what began with eight (8) people around her dining room table has grown into a Love and Spirit-filled ministry which now has a weekly attendance of close to 300.  Rev. Della's message of Practical Christianity has been an inspiration to so many and the church is growing so rapidly that plans for UP's new church home are underway.

Della Reese is more than an entertainer, more than an actress, more than a minister - Della is living proof that with God as your partner, you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Della_Reese

http://www.upchurch.org/Founder.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/della-reese-9542106

B. Smith...Fashion Model,Iconic Restaurateur, Author,Actress and Pioneering Trans-Cultural Lifestyle Expert

B. Smith was born Barbara Smith on August 24, 1949 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Smith merges cultures through a shared appreciation for style.She has been heralded by The New York Times as “a Renaissance woman,” by Chuck Scarborough as a “domestic goddess,” by The New York Daily News as “one of the most important African-American style mavens of all time,” and honored with a 2012 Silver Spoon Award for sterling performance by Food Arts. A broadcast talent, entrepreneurial spokesperson and multiple award-winning recipient across a wide range of fields, Smith also earned kudos when she returned to the stage in her Off-Broadway debut in “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” the award-winning play by Nora and Delia Ephron. In 2012, Smith was inducted into the American Chef Corps, part of the U.S. Department of State newly-formed Diplomatic Culinary Partnership with the James Beard Foundation. 

SiriusXM Radio Celebrity

Smith has teamed up with husband and business partner Dan Gasby (pictured) for their first-time radio show with the world’s largest radio broadcaster. “The B. Smith and ‘Thank You Dan’ Show” is a daily, three-hour show on SiriusXM’s Urban View station, channel 128. More than 23 million subscribers can join in on their insightful conversations about healthy living, food, entertaining, succeeding in business, as well as sharing their secrets to a successful relationship. 

United States Culinary Ambassador

In September of 2012, the U.S. Department of State and the James Beard Foundation launched the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership, a collaborative initiative to elevate the role of culinary engagement in America’s formal and public diplomacy efforts. As part of this endeavor, B. Smith was inducted into the newly-created American Chef Corps, the official network of chefs from across the country who have agreed to serve as resources to the Department of State. In this position, Smith assists the Department in preparing meals for foreign leaders, and participates in public diplomacy programs that engage foreign audiences abroad as well as those visiting the United States.

Groundbreaking Fashion Model

A native of Pennsylvania, Smith began her career as a fashion model, gracing the covers of 15 magazines and becoming the first African-American woman on Mademoiselle’s cover in July 1976.  Her image can be seen on a line of olive oil, as well as Betty Crocker and Pillsbury products. In addition to TV commercials for Mercedes-Benz, she has served as a spokesperson for Verizon, Colgate Palmolive Oxy and McCormick’s Lawry seasonings products.

Multi-Faceted Media Personality

A respected expert in affordable-yet-elegant living, B. Smith brings style to everything she does. For nearly a decade, Smith hosted the nationally syndicated/cable television show “B. Smith with Style” that aired on NBC stations in more than 90% of U.S. households and in 40 countries.  Her effervescent personality and creative ideas also impact audiences via her appearances on programs such as “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show” and. She and Gasby produced four specials for TV One, the lifestyle cable network for African-Americans. A former columnist for Soap Opera Digest, Smith was the host of the “B. Smart Tips for a Better Life” radio program.

Stage acting

Smith accepted a role in the off Broadway play Love, Loss, and What I Wore for an April 27 through May 29, 2011 run with Conchata Ferrell, AnnaLynne McCord, Anne Meara, and Minka Kelly.

Successful Restaurateur

Smith extends her lifestyle expertise as the owner of three successful B. Smith restaurants. Recognized by Elle Décor as one of America’s ten most outstanding non-professional chefs, she opened her first restaurant in 1986. Her longtime establishments include those on Restaurant Row in New York; in the historic Beaux-Arts Union Station in Washington, D.C.; and the scenic Long Island Hampton village of Sag Harbor.

Transcultural Lifestyle Pioneer

Smith is at the forefront of a trans-cultural movement across all her brand extensions. Her flair for décor, demonstrated in the ambiance of her restaurants, led to the development of her first home collection, which debuted at Bed Bath & Beyond in 2001.  The B. Smith with Style Home Collection is the first line from an African-American woman to be sold at a nationwide retailer and includes bedding, tabletop and bath products. 

From duvets to doormats, Smith’s décor line continues to grow with a variety of pieces for entertaining and home and incorporates her signature “Afrasian” design concept, which merges core African and Asian elements.  Her specialty serve ware, launched in 2004, has expanded to include over 300 sku’s.  In 2009, Smith introduced B. Smith Home featuring home goods; an upholstered furniture line with Miles Talbott; as well as area rugs from Surya, and wall art from Picture Source. Her first foray into food products is a line of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil from Italy that is sold in more than 2,000 stores across the country and online. 

Military Partnership

B. Smith Enterprises joined with the Armed Forces as another way to give back to our country. In a unique partnership with Ready Pac, Smith is bringing delicious meals to our servicemen and women that reflect their true cultural diversity. Among the products Smith serves our troops domestically and abroad are Pablano Corn Chowder, Collard Greens, Maple Honey Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Red Beans & Rice, and Jambalaya.

Distinguished Author

Smith has authored three home entertaining books:  B. Smith’s Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Artisan Press), the first tabletop entertainment and lifestyle book by an African American; B. Smith: Rituals and Celebration (Random House), a James Beard Foundation Award nominee, one of Food & Wine magazine’s best cookbooks of 1999 and an American Library Association Black Caucus Literary Award winner; and B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style (Simon and Schuster), boasting 200 recipes and flavorful tips for reducing calories.

National Spokesperson and Multiple Award Recipient

Smith is a coveted speaker whose accomplishments include a role in the prestigious Harvard Business School’s Dynamic Women in Business Conference and the honor of being a presenter at the American Museum of Natural History’s Global Weekends celebration, Kwanzaa 2012: First Fruits of the Harvest. She has been honored with the Earl Graves Entrepreneurial Award (2008), a BET Honors Award for Entrepreneurship (2009), a Black Enterprise Legacy Award (2010), the Visionary Leader Award from the National Kidney Foundation (2011), the Washington, D.C. Chamber of Commerce (2011) and Amas Musical Theater with its “Rosie Award” (2012) in celebration of her transcultural approach to fashion, food and décor.  Smith is also the national spokesperson for the African American Experience Fund (AAEF) of the National Park Foundation (NPF) to raise awareness of our country’s National Parks and Historic Sites.

A tireless advocate for healthy lifestyle choices, Smith has also been a national spokesperson for Merck’s “Journey for Control” program and addressed the Congressional Black Caucus. Currently along with her husband, they serve as national spokespeople for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Most recently, she was on a White House Minority Health Town Hall panel with Cecilia Munoz, Director of Domestic Policy Council, The White House; Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services; and Dr. Regina Benjamin, Surgeon General, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. 

http://bsmith.com/about/about-b/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._Smith

Wendy Williams is a radio DJ and TV talk show host known for her no-nonsense attitude and brash on-air personality.

Author, television and radio talk show host Wendy Williams was born on July 18, 1964, in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Williams' oversized, brash personality made her a force on the New York City FM airwaves. She is now the host of the BET television program,The Wendy Williams Show.

From an early age, Williams stood out. One of three children born to Thomas and Shirley Williams, she moved with her family at the age of five from Asbury Park to the middle class community of Ocean Township, New Jersey, where she spent the rest of her childhood.

At the outset, Williams says, she "spoke too loud, too fast, and too much," a characteristic that was in sharp contrast to her older, more bookish sister Wanda, a straight-A student who attended Tufts University at the age of 16.

Williams, on the other hand, was not an academic wonder. She was a big girl who, by the sixth grade, already stood 5'7" and wore a size 11 shoe. With her parents pushing her, however, Williams became involved in many extra-curricular activities. She was a girl scout, played clarinet in the marching band, and competed on her high school swimming team. When it came time to select a college, she followed in Wanda's footsteps and relocated to Boston, where she attended Northeastern University and graduated in 1986 with a degree in communications and a minor in journalism.

Prior to achieving success in daytime television, Williams built a devoted audience of fans throughout an enormously successful 23-year career in radio. “The Wendy Williams Experience” was Williams’ top-rated, daily radio show. Syndicated nationally, it aired on WBLS in New York and was listened to by an audience of more than 12 million people. One of the most popular personalities in radio, Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in November of 2009 – one of only a handful of women with that honor.

Williams leveraged her success on the radio into other opportunities, authoring a pair of New York Times bestsellers (Wendy's Got the Heat and the Wendy Willliam Experience); writing a few novels; and landing on television. She hosted her own show on VH1 and, in the fall of 2007, made appearances on NBC's Today Show to dish on the latest celebrity gossip.

In the summer of 2008, her television exposure enhanced significantly with a trial run of BET's The Wendy Williams Show. The program's ratings motivated network executives to greenlight a full-scale run of the show the following summer. In November 2008, while waiting for the premiere of her new program, Williams was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame.

On July 13, 2009, Williams debuted her new television program. The show drew from her radio show's format, mixing in celebrity dirt, celebrity interviews and advice to audience members. Several weeks later, on July 31, 2009, she announced her retirement from radio. On November 19, 2009, Williams' producer announced that the show was confirmed for the 2011-12 season.

Expanding her media footprint, Williams and her husband Kevin launched the non-fiction television programming company Wendy Williams Productions (WWP) in 2013. The joint partnership with Debmar-Mercury, the producers of “The Wendy Williams Show”, sees WWP finding, developing and producing original programming.

2013 also saw the launch of another entrepreneurial endeavor with Wendy’s own line of wigs: Wendy Williams Hair World™ Collection. Having been diagnosed over a decade ago with a thyroid condition that causes thinning hair, Williams has long been a proud and outspoken supporter of hairpieces. Following years of wearing, styling and openly talking about wigs on her show, Wendy is a recognized expert in the field.

With TV, Broadway and film performances to her name, Williams is a seasoned performer, both as herself and in character. Her television credits include an appearance on NBC’s “30 Rock” as herself, competing on Season 12 of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars,” hosting Game Show Network’s original series “Love Triangle,” and appearing as a featured guest on ABC’s “One Life to Live” and Lifetime’s “Drop Dead Diva”. In 2012, she made her major motion picture debut in Steve Harvey’s “Think Like A Man.” More recently, she made her Broadway debut, taking center stage as Mama Morton in the Tony-winning revival of the musical “Chicago”.

Williams is the author of The New York Times best-seller “The Wendy Williams Experience” (Dutton Books), as well as several novels including “Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood.” She contributes a regular celebrity hot topics column to the entertainment magazine Life & Style Weekly.

Williams earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications with a minor degree in Journalism at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Both of her parents were university professors and Williams remains an advocate for education at all levels. Williams credits the start of her career with her decision to take an internship at a radio station on St. Croix, Virgin Islands immediately following her graduation from college.

Williams grew up in Ocean Township, New Jersey and currently lives in Northern New Jersey with her husband and their teenage son Kevin, Jr.

http://www.wendyshow.com/wendy/meet-wendy/

http://www.biography.com/people/wendy-williams-524056?page=1