Will I Am, Tony Benett, Mary Mary & Others Help Obama Honor Stevie Wonder On Thursday Night Televison

An evening of celebration with President and Mrs. Obama at the White House in honor of musician Stevie Wonder's receipt of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song takes place February 25, 2009. The concert will include performances by Wonder with a cavalcade of popular musicians, performing a selection of Wonder's hit songs. The sixty-minute program airs Thursday, February 26, 2009, at 8 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Check under the hood to see the video promo of this great event.




And On March 2 catch Stevie's first ever Live DVD Release, filmed live at the O2 Theater in London. Go to Screenvision-StevieWonder for more details on what theaters here in the U.S.A. will carry the concert on the big scrrens.

Obama White House Concert And Award For Stevie Wonder

The White House is planning a concert this month to honor Stevie Wonder, whose music provided part of President Obama's campaign soundtrack. The White House says the president and first lady Michelle Obama will present Wonder with a Library of Congress award on Feb. 25. The concert will be broadcast the next day on PBS as part of its Performance at the White House series.

Shaun Robinson Gives The Inside Scoop On The Wonders Of Stevie!

I always put off Christmas shopping until the last minute – I work best under pressure. A few days ago, when I entered Nordstrom’s the music over the speakers wasjoyful:“Sleigh bells riiiing, are you listening?”

Just as I thought of a gift for Heather, my dog sitter, I received a text message on my Blackberry from Kai Milla—an incredible clothing designer, whose dresses have been seen on Eva Mendes and many other Hollywood stars.“You coming tonight?” the message said.OH, that’s right! I quickly remembered the Stevie Wonder concert was that evening.

How could I forget?I love Stevie. I’ve seen him in concert about 15 times and I can never get enough. Kai happens to be married to Stevie and I hadn’t seen her in a while so I was ready to hang.I rushed to Popcornopolis to buy a bag of cheddar cheese popcorn before heading out of the mall, thinking about the long drive home and then to the Nokia Theater where Stevie was performing, hoping the traffic gods would treat me kindly.

I met Karen Gordy, another dear friend, at the Standard Hotel downtown where we parked our cars and “cabbed” it to the theater. We were late. We got to ‘will call’ to pick up the tickets Kai left for us. Anthony Mackie was standing behind me.“Hey babe,” he said, with a hug. I think he is such a good actor. Loved him in “8 Mile.”

Karen and I rushed into the theater just as Stevie was taking to the stage in a black suit and orange turtleneck. Whew!We were just in time to hear him sing, “Ava Maria”.It was beautiful. Stevie made us laugh when he told the audience that he messed up a few notes because he hasn’t performed that song since he was 16.

This was Stevies’ Annual House Full of Toys concert that raises money and toys for children in need. The event is so big that many stars come out to see the legend and the other artists who jam with him – all in the name of charity. This year Ellis Hall, who is also blind, sung, fittingly, “Do You See What I See”? Next, John Mayer (to the ladies’ delight) performed his hit “Waiting on the World to Change” and then rocked with Stevie on “Superstition.”

I turned around briefly and see my Detroit homeboy, BeBe Winans, making his way down the aisle. I waved. After a couple hours, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, John Legend joined Stevin onstage for a duet.Then Kai motioned and told us it’s time to go backstage.We made our way through the crowd, through the exit doors, up the backstairs. My Spelman sister, LaTonya Jackson was walking up the stairs in front of me with her husband, Samuel L. Jackson.

Backstage the room was full. I spotted AJ Johnson, my other Spelman sister, looking fabulous and fit as ever.“Hey baby!” I turn around. It was Chris Tucker. “Hi, sweetheart!” I say. He is one of the sweetest guys I know.Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and have a tremendous amount of fun meeting the people that I do.

But there are a handful of people who get me really excited when I see them like Dr. Cornel West. Need I explain more?When I saw Tavis Smiley who is Dr. West’s good friend, I asked if he could arrange an introduction.Tavis laughed. “Dr. West, this is Shaun Robinson and she would love to take a picture with you.” As Dr. West finished his cookie, he smiled and said,“Certainly.”

CLICK!

My dad is going to love this. A few minutes later Stevie entered the room to greet everyone. He had just given an amazing three-hour show and still had boundless energy.I am so proud of this Detroit homeboy of mine. There are celebrities and there are STARS. And Stevie’s light still shines brightly.

Shaun Robinson is the weekend co-host of the nationally syndicated entertainment show, Access Hollywood and the host of TV One Access.

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Stevie Wonder, Jack Nicholson--Stars Like Us

Quite often there is the perception that a huge ocean-size gap exists between the common man and the "stars." They have their glitzy glamorous lives and we have, well, our lives and ne'er the twain do meet.

That's why it's refreshing and enlightening whenever we hear stories of the mega-stars genuinely embracing their fans.

A couple of years ago, while filming a movie in Georgia, Jack Nicholson, after a day of shooting, asked his driver to pull over so he could go to the liquor store. "But, um, in this neighborhood?" the driver stammered. They were passing through the hood. "Sure, why the hell not?" smilin' Jack replied.

So the limo driver pulled into a liquor store in a strip mall. A few of the locals recognizing Jack were surprised and thrilled he was in their neck of the woods. And guess what Jack did? He shared a drink with them, a pint, right there in the strip mall. Great story huh?

Recently another superstar, Stevie Wonder, shared himself with his fans. However, most of these fans were so young that they never even heard of "Talking Book," "Hotter in July" or (gulp!) the great "Songs in the Key of Life." They were young actors of LA's Amazing Grace Conservatory, a theatrical training school founded by Wendy Raquel Robinson and the late Tracy Coley.

Stevie Wonder, at Wendy's invitation earlier that week, has graciously attended a matinee performance of AGC's "The Wiz." Then afterwards, he went backstage and hung out with the cast and crew for quite awhile, patiently taking picture after picture and shaking hand after hand, and at one point even offered his throat healing ointments to a young singer who had gone hoarse.

When stars make themselves available like this, whether they know it or not, it makes their star status shine even brighter because it makes them, well, more human--more like us.