Whitney Houston to perform in Russia

Behind the Scenes

By Antracia Merrill-Moorings

She’s Back: Whitney Houston will headline a pair of concerts in Russia in December, the Russian Entertainment Academy announced. While the singer’s label, Arista, could not confirm the dates, Houston’s official website has listed the two engagements as the kickoff to a tour of Europe and Asia: Dec. 9 at the Olympisky Stadium in Moscow, followed by an appearance Dec. 12 at the Ice Palace in St. Petersburg. The concerts are the first ones scheduled by Houston since the Aug. 31 release of her first studio recording in seven years, “I Look to You.” The Europe-Asia dates rep the first tour for Houston in 11 years, according to PMK HBH. Thrush, who was scheduled to promote the album overseas in December, has apparently parlayed the trip into a testing ground for a possible U.S. tour; her more recent appearances were for a studio audience on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and a Central Park set for “Good Morning America.” Following the dates in Moscow, Houston’s website lists five nights of performances in Japan. She’ll then jet over to Europe for five dates in the U.K. beginning April 8 before playing in eight cities in Germany. Houston disc “I Look to You” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard current-album chart with a first-week tally of 305,000 units. Sales have reached 750,000 to date, according to Nielsen Sound- Scan.

Breaking and Entering?: Comedian Katt Williams was released from jail on $40,000 bond after being arrested and accused of breaking into a rural Georgia home with a crowbar. Williams, 38, was released from the Coweta County, Ga., jail his attorney, William Briggs, told CNN. The house, on a horse farm in west Georgia, is owned by record producer Barry Hankerson, according to a police report of the incident. But, Briggs said Williams was a guest at the home, and has been living there for nearly a month while filming a movie produced by Hankerson. Williams was arrested after an employee of Hankerson’s—Daniel Paul Broach—called police and reported Williams had broken into the home with a crowbar, the police report said. A county magistrate set bail at $40,000 in a hearing. The police report said about $3,500 in jewelry and collectible coins had been stolen. Williams’ lawyer said “we absolutely deny” involvement in any theft. “Mr. Williams wears more than that in jewelry on his person,” Briggs said. Briggs said that Williams had argued with the employee, prompting the burglary report. Hankerson spoke with investigators Monday afternoon to assure them that Williams had his permission to stay indefinitely in the home he was accused of burglarizing, Briggs said. “The community and law enforcement have been very welcoming and kind to him,” said Alan Clarke, a Georgia attorney who represented Williams in court Monday. “This is a misunderstanding which will work out quickly.”

Briefly, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and his wife, singer/actress Joy Enriquez are the proud parents of a new daughter. Daughter Heavenly Joy Jerkins was born at 9:58 a.m., Nov. 17 at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. The baby girl weighed in at 8 lbs., and joins big brother Rodney David Jr., 18 months. “We never find out the sex of our babies,” Jerkins, 32, said. “It helps Joy push them out better because she wants to know what it is so bad!”… Oprah Winfrey will interview President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle for a primetime special. The network has announced that it will air “Christmas at the White House: An Oprah Primetime Special” at 10 p.m., Dec. 13.

Finally, So much for Shemar Moore ever reprising his role of Malcolm Winters on “The Young and the Restless.” Beginning next month, the character will be played by former “Family Matters” star Darius McCrary, according to EW.com.

This is part of the December 9, 2009 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

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