NEW PICS: THE BITTERSWEET MOVIE PREMIERE OF 'SOUL MEN.'

Samuel L. Jackson walked the red carpet with the cast of Soul Men at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem Tuesday night. While it was a night for celebration the memories of co-stars Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes -- was foremost on people's minds. "This is in my opinion the perfect last film for Bernie," said Sam. "We see him do something we've never seen him do -- sing and dance. I hope everybody's excited about it -- it's such a wonderful film. Getting up every day and seeing Bernie -- he was like the funniest grumpy old man in the world; we loved him." It was definitely a family affair on the red carpet, and relatives of both Bernie Mac and Isaac Hayes came out to support their Soul Men performances. Bernie's wife Rhonda, daughter J'Neice and grandbaby Jasmine came in from Chicago, and J'Neice reflected, "I just remember growing up laughing with [my dad], and just him always being my protector." As for Jennifer Hudson, a fellow Chicagoan, she said, "I reached out to her yesterday to let her know that my prayers are with her."

In theaters November 7, Soul Men finds Sam and Bernie singing and dancing as a pair of backup soul singers who haven't spoken to each other in 20 years. But when they're invited to perform at a tribute concert for their famous former band leader, the two curmudgeons reluctantly agree to travel cross country together for the honor. The film culminates at the Apollo Theater.

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CANDID PICS: JOHN LEGEND IN SOHO WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND; ARETHA FRANKLIN IN NYC; BIRDMAN IN MANHATTAN.

Singer John Legend was spotted shopping with his girlfriend in SoHo yesterday afternoon.

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The paparazzi found Ms. Aretha looking like a human-sized tropical-kiwi flavored Skittle in NYC last week.

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Rapper Bryan 'Birdman' Williams seen leaving his hotel in Manhattan on Friday.

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JOHN LEGEND SHOOTS DOWN RUMORS CLAIMING HE'S CHEATING ON HIS GIRLFRIEND.

R&B singer John Legend has laughed off reports he is having a secret fling with television personality Maria Menounos; insisting he only has eyes for longtime beau Christine Teigen. Legend was rumored to be embroiled in a steamy affair with the Entertainment Tonight star, after the pair was spotted enjoying a seemingly romantic rendezvous earlier this year. But Legend has quashed the speculation, insisting he is simply pals with the Greek beauty and remains blissfully happy with model girlfriend Teigen.

He tells the New York Post's gossip column Page Six, "I am still happily dating my girlfriend, Christine Teigen, and have been for about a year now. Maria Menounos is just an acquaintance and we were having a friendly drink."

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YALL, PLEASE STOP HATING ON JOHN LEGEND'S NEW GIRLRIEND BEFORE HE HAS A CORONARY EPISODE.

R&B crooner John Legend says he's tired of all the hate directed toward his girlfriend, Thai-Norwegian model Christine Teigen. "People are automatically condescending," Legend tells the New York Daily News'Rush & Malloy column. "People are automatically condescending. They expect her to be dumb and say, 'Oh you're just dating a dumb girl because she's hot.' But people judge you either way. If you're dating a girl who's kind of regular, you hear, 'Why are you dating her?' I don't get caught up in it. I'm more concerned with my happiness." Uhhh, **NEWSFLASH N!GGAH** Don't nobody want your pansy ass! I mean, really, dude.

On the flip side, the singer/songwriter also blames his beautiful girlfriend for his failure to pick up any Grammy nominations this year claiming she's so beautiful he's not taken seriously. Legend has won five Grammy Awards, but he insists his penchant for stunning ladies is stopping him from landing any more. Legend and Teigen met while casting his new video Stereo.

Below are several pics of Legend and Teigen at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

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Before dating Teigen, Legend was seen around town with Brazilian model Danielle Abreu. At the time, he dropped hints that he wasn't ready to give up the single life, and all of its perks. "We'll see how it goes," he told the outlet Starpulse in 2006 of his relationship with Abreu. "[As a musician], you have lots of women throwing themselves at you. You have to be disciplined and be with someone who trusts you — and who you don't want to cheat on. But there's always another woman around the corner, so it's hard to settle down because you feel you might be missing out on something. You can be a gentleman and yet still feel that way."

Legend just celebrated his 29th birthday with Teigen in Las Vegas and has a new album, Live From Philadelphia, available exclusively at Target.

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NEW PICS: CELEBS AT THE 1st ANNUAL BET HONORS CEREMONY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Earlier this week, I told you all that the first annual BET Honors Gala would be taped this weekend in at the Time Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. Alicia Keys, Tyra Banks and Stevie Wonder were some of the celebs who were honored. Other celebs in attendance included: Jill Scott with Lamman Rucker, Alicia Keys (with her boyfriend Kerry Brothers and her mother), Tyra Banks, Gladys Knight, Chingy, Keyshia Cole, Hill Harper, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Blair Underwood, Brian McKnight, Idris Elba, Kerry Washington, Raheem Devaughn, Vivica A. Fox, Debra Lee, Dr. Cornell West and more. Peep the pics below. Click on pics to view their full image.

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