---JET features Erykah Badu ---
Grammy Award winner Erykah Badu talks about her latest CD, "New Amerykah (Part One: The 4th World War),"  in JET magazine, which is slated for release February 26. In the interview, the outspoken soul artist tells JET why this project was five years in the making. "I'm more like an oven than a microwave," she explains. "I don't quickly serve something up just because people expect me to. I serve it up when it is well done, cooked and ready. I go by the lifeline, not by the deadline. I believe in lifelines not deadlines. I do it when I feel it." Badu, who turns 36 on the day of her CD's release, says foremost in her life are her children, Seven, 10 and Puma, 3. "My first job is being a mother. That comes before anything for me. And that helps me to be as creative as I am."   This issue of JET is on stands Monday, Feb. 25.

Barack Obama

Quincy Jones(right)

Kim Nelson and Elsie Scott

Maxine Waters

Business World Index

---FYI: Barack Obama---
U.S. consumers rate Barack Obama as more appealing, trustworthy, and influential than other presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton and John McCain, according to data released by the Davie Brown Celebrity Index (DBI).According to the DBI, an independent index typically used by brand marketers to determine a celebrity's ability to influence consumer purchase intent, Obama's scores in "appeal" are 15 points higher than those of Clinton and 12 points higher than McCain. The Illinois Senator also scored 12 points better in the DBI's "trust" attribute than Clinton and McCain."  Obama also outscores Clinton -- as well as Republican frontrunner McCain -- in the DBI's influence, endorsement, aspiration, trendsetter, and breakthrough categories.

---Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner---
Recently, Hollywood A-listers celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the movie "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner" at an event held at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, CA.  Karen Sharpe Kramer and Quincy Jones co-hosted the event that was attended by Louis Gossett Jr., Martin Landau, George Chakiris, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner star Katherine Houghton, as well as Dean Devlin, Skip Martin, Michael Feinstein and astronaut Buzz Aldrin, among others. Shown in the photo are: Louis Gossett, Jr., Karen Kramer and Quincy Jones.

----Cheerios Sisters Saving Hearts---
“Cheerios Sisters Saving Hearts” grants recognize heart-inspiring heroes in the Black community. This year, Cheerios is proud to partner with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., to raise awareness for heart disease prevention through the distribution of five $5,000 grants. The Cheerios Sisters Saving Hearts grant initiative is part of the broader Cheerios Circle of Helping Hearts national campaign that kicks off during February’s Heart Health month. Visit www.SistersSavingHearts.com for details on the grant initiative, to meet last year’s heart heroines and learn more about heart disease prevention. Shown in the photo are: Kim Nelson (pictured left) VP, President Snacks Unlimited General Mills, Inc., and Elsie Scott (pictured right) Ph.D, President & CEO Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc.

---BET Honors---
It was an evening full of glamour, hope and inspiration, as BET presented its inaugural celebration of THE BET HONORS. Hosted by the always hilarious and charming Cedric "The Entertainer," the show, which recognizes African American luminaries across a broad range of achievements, kicked off with R&B queen Jill Scott's powerful rendition of "The Real Thing" to honor Dr. Cornel West, University Professor in the Center for African American Studies, who received the Award for Education. The trailblazing media mogul Tyra Banks, who was recognized for her contributions in Media. CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd for the Entrepreneur Award with "Win" and "Back at One." The Entertainment Award was given to honoree Alicia Keys, who was left speechless by Stevie Wonder's jaw-dropping performance of "Ebony Eyes" and "As." Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons was presented with the Corporate Citizen Award by Danny Glover, and John Legend paid tribute to Parsons with crowd favorites "Ordinary People" and "We're a Winner." The legendary Gladys Knight then performed "The Need to Be" and "(Just My) Imagination" to honor The Honorable Maxine Waters (Public Service Award), who was presented with her award by Kerry Washington.

---Alicia Keys tour to feature Jordin Sparks---
Jordin Sparks, who recently performed the national anthem to an audience of nearly 100 million viewers at Super Bowl XLII, announces that she will be the opening act on the upcoming and highly anticipated Alicia Keys "As I Am" tour. The 18-year old star, who just won the Outstanding New Artist award at the 39th NAACP Image Awards, will help kick-off the tour on April 19th in Hampton, VA.In support of her self-titled debut Jordin will open for Alicia Keys through-out the entire 30-date tour, which is scheduled to wrap in New York on June 18th.