Good News for Donald Trump and Jennifer Hudson

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Dec 2008 09:16 AM

The good news for Donald Trump: He actually convinced Hollywood-types to appear on the next installment of "Celebrity Apprentice."

The bad news: "Celebrity" is a relative term and some of the individuals cast in the new season of Trump's reality TV show will not be recognized by half the audience.

Even more bad news: The pathetic state of the economy is forcing NBC to cut the cost of its primetime schedule, which means viewers will have to suffer through two hours per week of "Celebrity Apprentice."

So who are the "celebrities" The Donald talked into competing for their charities of choice this season?

Take a look:

Dennis Rodman, Andrew Dice Clay, Tom Green, Clint Black, Annie Duke, "Deal or No Deal" model Claudia Jordan, Brian McKnight, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins of TLC, former NFL player Herschel Walker, LPGA Golfer Natalie Gulbis, former skating champ Scott Hamilton, Khloe Kardashian, Joan Rivers and her daughter Melissa Rivers, plus actress Brande Roderick.

Who?

I know.

Moving on to a star that won't be appearing on this season's "Celebrity Apprentice"--Jennifer Hudson.

The singer, who tragically lost her mother, brother and nephew at the hands of a horrific killer a couple months ago, is finally speaking out.

The 27-year-old released a public statement yesterday expressing gratitude for her four Grammy nominations for her debut album.

"It's been a childhood dream of mine to release an album," Hudson said in the statement, "so to receive four Grammy nominations is truly a blessing. I'm extremely honored and humbled by the nominations."

The former "American Idol" star was nominated for best R&B album for her self-titled album, best female R&B vocal performance, best R&B song for "Spotlight" and best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals for her duet with Fantasia, "I'm His Only Woman."

The news of Hudson's nominations was announced on the same day her estranged brother-in-law, William Balfour, was ordered to remain in jail without bail in the shooting deaths of the singer/actress' family members, 57-year-old Darnell Donerson, 29-year-old Jason Hudson, and 7-year-old Julian King.

Prosecutors maintain that jealousy was a possible motive in the slayings. According to the Chicago Tribune, Balfour had threatened Hudson's family with harm if his estranged wife Julia Hudson - Jennifer's sister - continued to date another man.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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