The Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized James in a rousing speech, describing her remarkable rise from poverty and pain to become a woman whose music became an enduring anthem for weddings and commercials.

Perhaps most famously, President Barack Obama and the first lady shared their first inaugural ball dance to a version of the song sung by Beyonce. Sharpton on Saturday opened his remarks by reading a statement from the president.

“Etta will be remembered for her legendary voice and her contributions to our nation’s musical heritage,” Obama’s statement read.

The Grammy-winning singer died Jan. 20 after battling leukemia and other ailments, including dementia. She had retreated from public life in recent years, but on Saturday her legacy was on display as mourners of all ages and races converged on the City of Refuge church in Gardena, south of downtown Los Angeles.

Among the stars performing tributes to James were Stevie Wonder and Christina Aguilera, who told the gathering that she has included “At Last” in every concert she’s performed as a tribute to her musical inspiration.

Wonder performed three songs, including “Shelter In the Rain” and a harmonica solo. James’ rose-draped casket was on display, surrounded by wreaths and floral arrangements and pictures of the singer.

Sharpton, who met James when he was an up-and-coming preacher, credited her with helping break down racial barriers through her music.

“She was able to get us on the same rhythms and humming the same ballads and understanding each other’s melodies way before we could even use the same hotels,” Sharpton said.

He said James’ fame and influence would have been unthinkable to a woman with James’ background – growing up in a broken home during segregation and at times battling her own demons.

“The genius of Etta James is she flipped the script,” Sharpton said, alluding to her struggles with addiction, which she eventually overcame.

“She waited until she turned her pain into power,” he said, adding that it turned her story away from being a tragic one into one of triumph.

“You beat `em Etta,” Sharpton said in concluding his eulogy. “At last. At last. At last!”

The assembly roared to their feet, and would again stand to applaud performances by Wonder and Aguilera, who filled the sanctuary with their voices.

“Etta is special to me and for me, because she represents the life, the triumphs, the tribulations of a lot of black women all over this world,” said U.S. Rep Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

“It does not matter who sang `At Last’ before or after Etta. It does not matter when it was sung, or where it was sung. `At Last’ was branded by Etta, the raunchy diva – that’s her signature and we will always remember her.”

James won four Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement honor and was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In her decades-long career, she became revered for her passionate, soulful singing voice.

She scored her first hit when she was just a teenager with the suggestive “Roll With Me, Henry,” which had to be changed to “The Wallflower” in order to get airplay. Her 1967 album, “Tell Mama,” became one of the most highly regarded soul albums of all time, a mix of rock and gospel music.

She rebounded from a heroin addiction to see her career surge after performing the national anthem at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She won her first Grammy Award a decade later, and two more in 2003 and 2004.

James is survived by her husband of 42 years, Artis Mills and two sons, Donto and Sametto James.

“Mom, I love you,” Donto James said during brief remarks. “When I get to the gates, can you please be there for me?”

His family released a statement that reads, “He died as he lived. He fought hard until the end, stayed positive, thought only of others and constantly reminded everyone of how blessed his life had been. His ambitions were far reaching, but he never believed he had to leave this Happy Valley to achieve them. He was a man devoted to his family, his university, his players and his community.”

Paterno was the coach at Penn State for 46 years, until he was famously fired by the school last November following the sexual abuse allegations against his former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky.

In November 2011, his son Scott announced Paterno had a treatable form of lung cancer.

JoePa, as he was known, holds the record for most victories by a Division I football coach with 405.

Tune-Up Man sat down with R&B favorite, Will Downing to discuss his new album, ‘Yesterday’ along with other new projects and the upcoming ‘Make The BIG Switch’ concert with 105.9 Kiss.

 
Will discussed the concept behind his new albums projects, ‘Yesterday’, ‘Today’ and ‘Tomorrow’ and his love for Detroit audiences. Check out the video and leave your comments below!

The US tennis diva, who dated film director Brett Ratner back in 2005 and has also been linked to rappers Common and Drake, says she has been too picky when it comes to men and struggles to find the time to meet them.

“I haven’t been on a date in forever,” Williams told reporters Down Under on Thursday, ahead of next week’s Australian Open in Melbourne.

“I can be super picky, never satisfied. It’s a little crazy right now because there’s so much going on that when I’m not playing tennis I don’t sleep because I’m always doing something.”

Still, when asked what her criteria were for picking a potential boyfriend, Williams joked that she was willing to try different options.

“Anywhere between 18 and 80, blond, purple or green,” she said.

Brees burned the Lions for 342 yards and three TDs in a 31-17 win in New Orleans in Game 12.

Q. What made the biggest statement in Sunday’s game?

A. Nothing defined the outcome more than the answer coach Jim Schwartz gave in his postgame radio interview when he was asked if he was disappointed.

“I’m not disappointed,” Schwartz said. “I’m angry.”

His answer said more than the stats, penalties or missed plays on offense, defense or special teams.

Q. Why would Schwartz be angry?

A. A better question to ask is why wouldn’t he be angry? Just a week earlier, the Lions shut down the Chargers and perennial Pro Bowl quarterback Philip Rivers in a 38-10 victory that clinched a playoff spot.

On Sunday, second-string quarterback Matt Flynn burned them for 480 yards and six touchdowns.

Schwartz cut his postgame radio interview short, but before he departed he listed a litany of areas where he said the defense fell short.

Coverage, man-to-man coverage, blitzing, tackling and rushing the passer were all on the list.

Schwartz didn’t mention penalties (11 for 101 yards), but that was only because he ended the interview before he got to it.

Q. Does the loss spoil the Lions’ season, or the performance of Matthew Stafford and the offense Sunday?

A. It doesn’t spoil the season, but it takes away the glow of the ending.

Making the playoffs with a 10-6 record exceeded the expectations most people had for the Lions at the start of the season. But by the end of the season, expectations have changed, and so have the stakes.

According to The New York Post, the R&B legend will earn $1 million to play the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas on Dec. 31, as the resort celebrates its first year in business. But Wonder’s big-ticket payday looks like a bargain compared to last year when the Cosmopolitan shelled out a reported $1 million each for Coldplay and Jay-Z to play.

The casino hotel spent up to $25 million for its New Year’s Eve opening weekend bash overall.

Elsewhere on the Strip, “Modern Family” actress Sofia Vergara will host a countdown at Hyde Las Vegas, marking the opening for the nightclub at the Bellagio. Vergara steps in after organizers were in talks with Sean “Diddy” Combs and Justin Timberlake to host the event, but couldn’t reach an agreement.

Logan died Wednesday at his home in Detroit and a cause of death hasn’t yet been determined, the newspaper’s Senior Editor Bankole Thompson said in an email Thursday.

“He was a pioneer in black journalism and the great history that gave birth to the black press in America. … He was very keen about the public’s right to know,” Thompson said.

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing said Logan was a loyal friend who will be deeply missed.

“Sam Logan was more than a Detroit icon, he was a respected pioneer in black journalism who championed the need for coverage of a community not totally served by the mainstream media,” Bing said in a statement.

Logan’s career at the Chronicle spanned a half-century, and he rose through a variety of advertising and marketing jobs. He served as publisher for several years until 2000. He then founded the black newspaper Michigan Front Page before returning in 2003 as the Chronicle’s publisher.

“Sam Logan and the Michigan Chronicle have been responsible for empowering a community that often times viewed itself as without power,” Detroit NAACP president Wendell Anthony said in a statement. “Sam was not only publisher of the Michigan Chronicle he was reporter, salesman, editor, promoter, marketer and the very spirit of … the Michigan Chronicle.”

Logan drew criticism in 1994 when the Chronicle, which is based in heavily Democratic Detroit, endorsed Republican Gov. John Engler for re-election. The endorsement drew pickets and boycotts by black leaders.

In a statement posted on the Chronicle’s website, Logan’s family said he “lived a fulfilled life of service to Detroit and this nation.”

Gov. Rick Snyder said Logan was “courageous advocate for Michigan’s African-American community” whose leadership transcended politics and race.

American Idol” sensation Fantasia Barrino is thrilled with the recent birth of her baby Dallas Xavier, but friends say she’s now facing a painful dilemma.

The 27-year-old singer needs to work to support her children but hates the prospect of being separated from her precious new son.

Fantasia, who’s also mom to a 10-year-old daughter, delivered her son on Dec. 13, two weeks ahead of her due date.

The dad is her boyfriend Antwaun Cook, who is stilled married to his estranged wife Paula, say insiders.

“Fantasia has a lot of people to support,” explained a source close to the Season 3 winner of the popular FOX program.

“A few years ago, she dug herself into a deep financial hole that took her a long time to get out of. She’s still financing an expensive lifestyle and touring constantly to pay for it.

“She needs to work – but her baby needs her too!”

Meantime, Fantasia and Antwaun are not living together, say sources.

“What Fantasia really hopes is that he will step up now, marry her and help with the care of their family,” a friend noted.

“She’s tired of carrying the whole load by herself!”

Sears Holdings on Tuesday reported a sharp drop in holiday sales compared to a year ago, and said the results will force it to close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores.

The company said the stores to be closed have yet to be identified.

Given our performance and the difficult economic environment, especially for big-ticket items, we intend to implement a series of actions to reduce on-going expenses,” said Lou D’Ambrosio, CEO of the company.

Shares of Sears Holdings rose 75 cents, or 1.6%, in pre-market trading following the announcement.

The Sears and Kmart sales results were in contrast to the broader industry. The National Retail Federation forecast before the start of the year that holiday sales would be up 2.3% this year, a target that was helped by record Black Friday sales following Thanksgiving. Final sales figures are not yet available.

Sears Holdings signaled that additional store closings may lay ahead for poor performing stores.