Check out Ms. Whitney Houston’s new album cover.  Let me be one of the first to say, “It’s about time!”  Whitney Houston is my favorite female singer of all time.  Can I just say, “I love me some Whitney!”  Talk about a woman with an amazing voice!  Oh my goodness!  I am so excited that she is getting ready to release her new album.  And let’s not forget to mention how great she looks!  Okay, the album cover may be a little airbrushed (her thighs are not that thick), but nevertheless, she looks healthy and great.  I am not one who advocates divorce, but it seems that her divorce from Bobby Brown was for her good.  I can’t wait to hear her new album (I guess I’m showing my age by saying album instead of CD, but WHATEVER!).

Okay, I’m gushing just like a fan, but so what!  Oh, what wonderful news this is!  I won’t even delve into her past crack habit because you know what?  It doesn’t matter!  I always knew she would make a comeback simply because this lady has more talent on her worst day than alot of the other well-known singers have on their best day (e.g. Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilara, etc.)  Don’t get mad at me for telling the truth!  Join me in my celebration of the return of Whitney Houston!  Can’t you just feel my joy?!!!!  I would love to hear how you feel about Whitney.

It took six years for R. Kelly to “clear” his name.  On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, he chose to sit down with BET and discuss his trial and his acquittal.  Kelly said he is relieved that the trial is over and that his upcoming album would feature less of the sexually charged material that has come to define his multi-platinum career.  Kelly states, “I’m really trying to make this album a little bit different.” he said. “Take a little bit of the edge off, you know? And you know, clean up a few lyrics if I can, you know?

The 40-year-old performer was acquitted in Chicago in June of multiple child pornography charges. The verdict ended a six-year saga that began when a videotape surfaced of a man looking like Kelly having sex with a girl believed to be as young as 13. Kelly denied he was the man in the videotape, and the girl in the video never testified.  When asked if he likes teenage girls, Kelly replied, “When you say teenage, how -how old are we talkin’ …19?” “I have some 19-year-old friends,” he added. “But I don’t like anybody illegal, if that’s what we’re talking about …underage.”

Kelly said he was worried that he might be convicted.  “But at the same time I was very prayerful,” he said. “Verdict day …I couldn’t describe it and I wouldn’t wish it on …if I had a worst enemy, which I don’t.” When the innocent verdicts were announced, Kelly said he felt relieved that he would be able to see his three children -two daughters and a son- once again.

Despite the charges Kelly faced, he still managed to maintain one of the most successful careers of any artist, notching several platinum albums and hits during that period. His album, 12 Play 4th Quarter is scheduled for the fall.

Saturday is entertainment day on 7DayBuzz, and typically I’d highlight one specific person who’s in the entertainment business.  However, today I am going to deviate a little bit.  I love music and so does my husband Tom.  And because of our love for music, we get into these discussions about who we think is the best female singer.  Typically, we only discuss R&B female singers who are still living.  But, in this post, I will discuss those who are living as well as those who have passed way.  In addition, I am going to expand the category to include not only the best R&B female singers, but the best gospel female singers, the best pop female singers, the best R&B female groups, and if we have any readers who are rock fans, the best rock female singers.

Below, I’ve listed who I think is the best in each category.  To make this interesting and debatable, I am asking you to share with me who you think is the best in the categories.  We just may agree on some them.  Or, maybe not. :–)

Okay, here goes:

Best R&B Female Singers
1. Whitney Houston (Hands down, the best!  I look past her troubles – can’t take away her talent)
2. Jill Scott (She’s very close to my number one spot – I just couldn’t dethrone Whitney)
3. Heather Headley (Wonderful voice.  Very underrated)
4. Minnie Riperton (Talk about a woman with a range.  She can sing circles around Mariah Carey)
5. Patti LaBelle
6. Aretha Franklin (I only listed her because her older stuff is really good.  The newer stuff is questionable)
7. Stephanie Mills
8. Anita Baker
9. Gladys Knight
10. Mary J. Blige (Say what you want, she’s come a long way and has earned the title of being one of the best R&B female singers)

Best Gospel Female Singers
1. Mahalia Jackson
2. Yolanda Adams
3. Vanessa Bell Armstrong  (This woman’s voice is truly amazing)
4. Karen Clark-Sheard
5. Kim Burrell
6. Dorinda Clark Cole
7. Cece Winans

Best R&B Female Group
1. En Vogue (No other girl group will ever be better!)
2. Diana Ross & the Supremes
3. Destiny’s Child
4. The Emotions (If any of you remember the songs ‘Best of My Love’ and ‘Don’t Ask My Neighbors,’ you know why they’re on the list)
5. SWV

Best Pop Female Singers
1. Mariah Carey (Yep, she’s a better singer than Beyonce)
2. Beyonce (She is not R&B!)
3. Taylor Dane
4. Lisa Stansfield
5. Tina Turner (When she left Ike, she went totally Pop.  That’s why I didn’t list her under R&B)
6. Madonna
7. Joss Stone
8. Christina Aguilera

Best Rock Female Singers
1. Pat Benatar (‘Love is a Battlefield.’  Need I say more?)
2. Gwen Stafani
3. Annie Lennox
4. Stevie Nicks
5. Pink
6. Janis Joplin
7. Alanis Morissette
8. Debbie Harry