Los Angeles, January 29, 2009 – We’re happy to hear that Jennifer Hudson is now back at work following the family tragedy she suffered last fall.  Hudson, who has not performed publicly since the October murders of her mother, brother and nephew, will sing the National Anthem at Sunday’s Super Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

And the folks at RCA Records let us know that Hudson is also back at work behind the scenes, and kindly sent these photos of the Oscar winner in L.A., shooting the video for her hit single If This Isn’t Love. The video will be out the week of Feb. 9. 

The Sex and the City star’s debut album, Jennifer Hudson, has been nominated for four Grammy Awards.

We wish the talented Ms. Hudson all the best. 

Photos: Annamaria DiSanto, courtesy RCA Records

New York, January 28, 2009 – The Bryant Park Hotel conveniently hosted two celebrity press conferences on Wednesday morning, so we were able to just ride the elevator and avoid the snowy mess outside. 

First, entrepreneur Russell Simmons announced his new role as editor-in-chief of hip-hop Web site globalgrind.com, in which he has invested, and for which he blogs.  Simmons called the job “another chance for me further to serve the interests of the hip-hop community.”  LL Cool J accompanied Simmons at the press conference.

Then, we followed the smell of chocolate up to the hotel’s 21st floor, where Brooke Shields unveiled the second annual Godiva Decadence Suite, designed by Jonathan Adler.  And decadent it was, with actual furniture, including a headboard and a dining table made from Godiva chocolate. 

“It’s been so fun for me to work in a new medium, to see my designs rendered in chocolate,” Adler said.  “It’s completely mind-expanding; it’s been a little bit waist-expanding, too.”  Shields noted that a grand prize winner would get to stay in the Godiva suite, and added, “It is true that chocolate, laughter and sex all release the same endorphins, so just imagine what’s going to be going on in this suite with the winner.” 

Park City, UT, January 15-16, 2009 – Hollywood must be empty this week, with stars split between the nation’s capital for Barack Obama’s inauguration, and the Sundance Film Festival. Our spies at the Tao Lounge in the Sundance Lift sent news of the first few nights in Park City. 

First of all, heiress Casey Johnson must have a nice new set of extensions, because she sported shoulder-length locks, and was back with girlfriend Courtenay Semel, who had reportedly burned Johnson’s hair off.  The hair fire is apparently out, as the two were making out furiously at the Sundance Lift.  Another, longer-term couple, Sting and Trudie Styler, were also kissing the other night at the venue.  Must be all that fresh mountain air. 

Also spotted at the Sundance Lift was Robin Thicke and his wife Paula Patton, Amy Poehler, Rachel Dratch, Ashton Kutcher, Christie Brinkley and, of course, Sundance founder Robert Redford.

New York, January 14, 2009 – At the National Board of Review awards gala to accept the best supporting actress award for her pal, Penelope Cruz, who could not be there, Salma Hayek revealed a delicious tidbit about the gorgeous Vicky Cristina Barcelona star: “Woody Allen – when I found out that they were going to be working together, I knew that was a match made in heaven, because he is the only person that I know that is almost as hypochondriac as Penelope.”

The evening’s big champ was Slumdog Millionaire, with several awards including best picture.  The movie’s young star, Dev Patel, said that being at the Golden Globes among Hollywood royalty was overwhelming.  “These people that had been winning Oscars before I even contemplated acting or touched my first script, up onstage in front of them, accepting an award was just…it’s a blessing,” Patel said.  His big thrill Wednesday night at the NBR gala?  “I just met Anne Hathaway and she loved the film!” he gushed.

Best supporting actor Josh Brolin cracked a lot of jokes at the NBR dinner, but then had this to say about the expletive-laden speeches he’s been making on the awards circuit for his performance in Milk: “At these awards shows I try to come across as an irreverent guy who tries to mix things up and all that, but in all honesty, I’m so humbled, I’m so afraid to do this kind of stuff because I like to just be on the set, and I love to be in theater and work with incredible people.  And these incredible people now have given me these accolades, so I thank you very much.”

Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, Amy Adams, Alec Baldwin, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Tim Robbins were among the high profile attendess at the NBR awards gala.

New York, January 14, 2009 - While accepting his Best Actor award for Gran Torino at the National Board of Review Awards gala on Wednesday, Clint Eastwood told the crowd how he got into the acting game:

“I’m embarrassed to say how I got into the acting business, but I, uh, was going to college about 56, 57 years ago, and I was on the GI Bill, and a friend of mine in my Psych class said, ‘Why don’t you come do an acting class with me?’ He said it’s great."

"I said, ‘Why would I want to do that?’  He said, ‘Well, we have a lot of good looking girls in the class.’  So I said, ‘Well, maybe I should come down and check it out’  And I did.  It was interesting.  I got there, and everybody was playing chickens and walking around the room and improvising a lot of things, but there were about thirty great looking girls and about five guys, and I said, ‘You know, this class needs me.’”

“You’ve got to be inspired by something,” Clint added with a shrug.