Thursday 29 March 2001

Dueling divas

As preparations for "Divas 2001: A tribute to Arthea Franklin" is underway, drama queens explode backstage. As of recent, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige were confirmed guest on the VH1 annual special. Artists jumping on the bandwagon were quick to sign up for the popular high-rated cable show, including Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Dionne Warwick. However, the list may be shorter than expected.

During rehearsals earlier in the week, Mariah Carey threw a hissy fit, when she was informed that Madonna refused to be on the same stage with her. Madonna insisted to perform a duet with Donna Summer. Madonna stated, "Summer is a true legendary performer who I grew up with and have always admired... I can not bare or will tolerate the screeching noises that comes out of the lips of Carey". The hurting Mariah burst into tears and ran to Aretha for consolation. Arthea assured her there would be no drama in "her show" and that the divas would have to "get along or get out".

Meanwhile, Whitney Houston also stated that she would not perform with Mariah and secretly told backstage crew that her recorded duet with Carey was "disastrous". Whitney also expressed interest in singing with Summer and Blige. Carey decided to take revenege and in the middle of the night Carey's crew members remove several walls in the other divas dressing rooms to make her area bigger and decreasing the sizes of the other divas dressing quarters.

This did not sit well with Madonna, who had 15 dozen black roses and animal waste delivered to Carey dressing room after this reconstruction incident. Carey was furious and called ex-hubby Mottola for advise, however, he could not be reached for comments. I am sure we haven't heard the end of Carey's explosive actions.

Meanwhile, Whitney almost got into a fist fight with Jill Scott, when she was caught spraying insect replentent over several of the divas wigs. Luckily Bobby Brown was on the set to seperate the two divas from punching each other out. Janet Jackson was in awe when she found out that Mary J.Blige wanted to sing "Natural Woman", which was originally assigned to Jackson. Blige stated "There is nothing natural about the Jackson family". It is also rumoured that Jackson will not be singing at all. Producers of the show have been quoted as saying that this is a show of "true singers", not machinery-pumped vocal perfomers/dancers.

Franklin informed the divas that she was the "queen" and she would decide who would perform with who and what songs they would perform. Warwick and Summer who were the only two remain calm throughtout the storm, expressed they were dropping out of the show. Warwick told Summer that "she knew and felt something like this would happen". Summer had no comment.

In recent years, the drama unveiled at the shows taping, but it appears the drama is in full force weeks before the show. Franklin is now considering that all talent sing solos and that there will be no pairings. Franklin also expressed that only Franklin songs will be sung and that current pop ditties from fellow divas will not be allowed. When asked if Diana Ross would appear, Franklin replied, "You have got to be kiddin". After all she is the queen and deserves "R.E.S.P.E.C.T."

(Page Six Gossip)

Of course, this story is not be taken serious. It's not even sure if Mariah will perform at "Divas 2001". Many thanks to Will from MCWNO.



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