By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — After departing NPR, former Nashville-based, award-winning journalist Audie Cornish will be among the hosts featured on CNN’s new streaming service CNN Plus, which debuts March 29. She will be hosting a weekly program, a new podcast, and also is expected to appear on CNN covering national, political and breaking news. “I am very excited to join CNN and the CNN Plus team. There are fresh stories to be told and new ways to tell them,” said Cornish, who was a co-host of NPR’s popular “All Things Considered,” in a prepared statement. “CNN has a…
Author: Ron Wynn
When Tennessee State University joined the Ohio Valley Conference in 1988, it was widely hailed as a breakthrough and positive step for an HBCU. The Tigers had been an independent between 1916 and 1987, but the move was seen by many as a smart strategic one because it provided a way for the Tigers to compete for an NCAA Tournament berth in basketball, challenge for a national title in football on a lower level, and save money on transportation costs because the trips were predominantly either local or regional. But there’s now widespread discussion and sentiment that it’s time for…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The Vanderbilt Commodores ended the regular season with a victory Saturday, defeating Ole Miss 63-61 in Oxford to even their season record at 15-15 (7-11 in the SEC). Despite going for a long stretch without scoring, Scotty Pippen Jr. still led the way for Vanderbilt with 22 points and six assists. But the Commodores’ win wasn’t secured until James White missed a runner at the buzzer for Ole Miss that would have sent the game into overtime. Pippen got help from Jordan Wright, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Liam Robbins came…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Kool and the Gang have been a musical mainstay since their1969 self-titled debut album. They have skillfully explored and played many musical styles throughout their lengthy career, from jazz and soul to funk, even pop and rock. Their list of honors and awards include two Grammys, seven American Music Awards, and a 2006 Music Business Association Chairman’s Award, as well as induction into the New Jersey and Vocal Group Halls of Fame, A Soul Train Legend and Marian Anderson Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But they’re far from ready…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Despite some initial fears. Zoe Kravitz is getting rave reviews for her role as Selina Kyle and her Catwoman alter ego in Matt Reeves’s “The Batman,” which opened last week to a $112 million plus debut. But the actress acknowledges that her DC debut came about a decade later than anticipated. She told the British publication The Observer that she was passed over for a role in 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises,” the final installment in director Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Kravitz, who is biracial, said she was turned down for an audition because…
Sometimes institutions can be saved from themselves and errors corrected before any serious harm is done. That’s been the case at Grambling State, which last week was being universally criticized for its new head football coach Hue Jackson’s decision to hire former and disgraced Baylor head coach Art Briles as his offensive coordinator. Briles had left Baylor after an ugly series of events at Baylor concerning his mishandling of multiple sexual assault allegations and incidents. Jackson had seemed oblivious to the national wave of criticism aimed at both him and Grambling State, but Monday he was taken off the hook.…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — The regular season finale didn’t end well for either of the Tennessee State teams at Belmont Saturday, but both headed into the OVCTournament hoping to surprise some teams. The Tigers had a great start, establishing a quick nine-point lead at 12-3. But that was the high point as Belmont then went on a 24-3 run to take a 12-point lead. The Tigers got within four late in the first half, but Belmont re-established control, building a 15-point halftime lead and ultimately winning 87-67. Kassim Nicholson got his 11th double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN — Among modern jazz pianists, Oscar Peterson ranks near the top. His facility, speed, harmonic flair and rhythmic imagination astonished both musicians and fans throughout his extensive career. Now the documentary “Oscar Peterson: Black + White” on Hulu offers a portrait of Peterson’s musical brilliance while also spotlighting his personal and political life. It was filmed by Barry Avrich and released last week to Hulu as part of their Black History Month Celebration. Among the many interesting elements of Peterson’s life was the fact though he was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Peterson composed…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN —Jennifer Hudson was the big winner Saturday night at the 2022 NAACP Image Awards. These annual awards honor achievement by people of color in culture and entertainment. The ceremony aired on BET and was hosted by Anthony Anderson, currently starring in “Law & Order” and “Black-ish,” as well as hosting “To Tell The Truth.” Hudson earned Entertainer of the Year and Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her performance as Aretha Franklin in the film “Respect.” Saturday’s honorees were the last among winners in 80 categories. Other winners had previously been announced during virtual…
By Ron Wynn NASHVILLE, TN —The latest “Law & Order” spinoff, “Law & Order; Organized Crime” will take a new, totally different direction starting March 10 with the introduction of a storyline featuring Black characters. The final eight episodes will spotlight the “Marcy Killers,” featuring a fresh central villain and another prominent cast addition. But it’s main stars remain Chris Meloni, Danielle Moné Truitt And Ainsley Seiger. They are excited about the show’s latest turn, which comes one week after they complete the Richard Wheatley story Thursday. “Well, for me, it’s a more satisfying way to tell a story because…