National

*In a long overdue move, the Recording Academy has announced it will honor legendary singer Nina Simone with a posthumous lifetime achievement award during its 2017 Special Merit Awards ceremony. Gospel great Shirley Caesar, jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal, experimental rockers the Velvet Underground, funk icon Sly Stone, country superstar Charley Pride, and seminal country singer […]

News One Exclusives

During Thursday's edition of NewsOne Now, Roland Martin and his panel of guests discussed the backlash over Saldana's portrayal of Simone and the subsequent discussion of colorism within the African-American community.

National

In response to the recent controversy regarding Zoe Saldana’s portrayal of Nina Simone in the biopic ‘Nina’ Judge Greg Mathis has released the following statement The recent controversy involving Zoe Saldana’s altered appearance in her portrayal of Nina Simone for the upcoming biopic Nina provides a teachable moment on the interracial divisions that have plagued […]

Entertainment

The first trailer for the long-awaited Nina Simone biopic Nina has finally arrived, following the controversial release of the film’s first poster. The film focuses on the iconic singer’s life and career, and her relationship with her former nurse-turned-manager Clifton Henderson. ZoĂ« Saldana stars as Simone, while David Oyelowo plays Henderson. In the trailer, Simone […]

Nina Simone (pictured) is one of American music’s most-celebrated figures as well as a legendary icon of artistic expression and empowerment. Known as the “High Priestess…

Entertainment

  For years, filmmaker Cynthia Mort sought to bring Nina Simone’s story to the screen, yet when the door finally opened, a wave of anticipation and controversy mounted before production even began. The upcoming film Nina, aimed for release this year, will be Mort’s first feature length film project, and the first narrative centered on the […]

Entertainment

Zoe Saldana has been cast to play the leading role in Nina Simone’s biopic. The casting wasn’t met without some disdain and a bit of protest, some saying that she just can’t be Nina and that she is too light-skinned for the role. Writer and director Cynthia Mort notes that the film will simply be […]

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige spoke with BlackTreeTV on the meaning of love and forgiveness to her, new movie The Help, her forthcoming role as Nina Simone in the legendary singers biopic and what she hopes to accomplish in her burgeoning acting career. Mary is working hard at acting but as we await her upcoming […]

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige spoke with BlackTreeTV on the meaning of love and forgiveness to her, new movie The Help, her forthcoming role as Nina Simone in the legendary singers biopic and what she hopes to accomplish in her burgeoning acting career. Mary is working hard at acting but as we await her upcoming […]