HRS News

“Dreamgirls” pulled in a whopping one-day gross of over $8.7 million on Christmas Day as it opened to wide release in 852 theaters across the country.

The flick starring Jennifer Hudson, Eddie Murphy, Beyonce and a seemingly sleepwalking Jamie Foxx ranked as the third-best Christmas Day opener of all time, behind only Will Smith’s “Ali” (2001) and Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Catch Me If You Can” (2002). It also broke the record as the best single day box office numbers ever for a musical. With the addition of its sold-out roadshow from the previous weekend, the film has earned a nice total of $9.6 million.

The screening were so popular many theaters added additional midnight showings to accommodate the lines of people. Once inside audiences across the nation have been reportedly shouting and applauding during and after Hudson’s magnificent solos including “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going.”

In related news, Hudson is scheduled to perform at Manhattan’s famed Hammerstein Ballroom on December 30 for the “Dreamgirls (The Underground Clubmix).” The event starts at 10 p.m., and Hudson will hit the stage at 11:15 p.m. For tickets or more information call visit www.saintatlarge.com.

Lawyers have shut Tomi Rae Hynie out of the home she shared with late legend James Brown, claiming the two were never legally married. Hynie, however, claims otherwise. According to The Associated Press, Hynie says she has documentation proving she is Brown’s legal wife.

Hynie, 36, found the gates to the Beech Island, South Carolina home padlocked the day of Brown’s death (Christmas) and was denied access.

“This is my home,” said the mother of Brown’s 5-year-old son. “I don’t have any money. I don’t have anywhere to go.”

Hynie has reportedly been forced to stay in a Augusta hotel with no change of clothes and no money. She says “James Brown’s wishes” were for her to live in his home with their child as long as she wanted.

Brown’s lawyer, Buddy Dallas, says the decision to lock Hynie out of the house is not personal.

“It’s not a reflection on her as an individual. I have not even been in the house, nor will I until appropriate protocol is followed.”

He then claimed she had her own house to go to.

“Ms. Hynie has a home a few blocks away from Mr. Brown’s home where she resides periodically when she is not with Mr. Brown,” Dallas continued. “She is not without housing or home.”

Dallas would not go into detail regarding Brown’s final instructions, but he did acknowledge the estate was left in trust for his children.

Hynie’s 2001 marriage to Brown was nullified when it was discovered she was already married to a Pakistani polygamist. She eventually annulled the previous marriage but never remarried Brown.

Hynie claims a judge told her she was legally married to Brown.

She had not seen the iconic performer for several weeks before his death, claiming that he’d sent her away to California to relax on the beach.

“My job, marriage was difficult. So he sent me to the beach. He paid $24,000 for me to go.”

The partnership between Brown and Hynie was peppered with domestic abuse charges and other challenges.

“He was a difficult man to live with, but he was a great man,” she said. “I was the only one who could handle James.”

Mr. James Brown, 73, is survived by at least five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

New York radio DJ Carl Blaze has passed away after spending two weeks in critical condition after being shot by unknown assailants in the Bronx.

Blaze, who worked as a weekend host on Power 105.1, was shot a total of thirteen times in Inwood shortly after dropping off friends after dj’ing a party. Blaze’s $20,000 diamond necklace was stolen, but his wallet and other valuables were left alone. The crime remains unsolved.

New York Newsday