Entertainment Wire Online

Confessions of a Former Celebrity Wife By ETEditor
Many people wouldn’t be surprised to hear that a celebrity marriage ended after the famous spouse is caught cheating but it’s not often that you’re able to see how the jilted member of the union recovers from it. In her book “The Other Side of Through,” Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders sheds some light on the life behind the picture smiles and award shows. After a painful 14-year marriage and a bitter divorce with 90’s R&B singer Keith Washington (remember “Kissing You”?), the now remarried Detroit native has healed from her experiences and is sharing them with others. The author talked to Entertainment Wire about the biggest misconceptions of celebrity marriage and the betrayal that made her fall apart. Entertainment Wire: Why did you decide to become an author? Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders: After penning my thoughts in a journal for years to heal from my broken marriage, I realized what I had written was a story that needed to be told. ETW: How long did it take you to write “The Other Side of Through”? MDJS: I began to convert my journal entries in 1999 and incorporated the final changes in January 2005, after seven rewrites. ETW: How close are you to turning the book into a movie? MDJS: The script is in production as we speak. Terri Coffey, one of the music producers who worked on Keith's freshman and sophomore projects has been writing and producing movies for several years, and is currently working on it. After a script is available, we are shopping a movie deal, which should not be difficult---a couple entities have already expressed interests. ETW: What other ventures are you involved in besides writing books? MDJS: As Katlyn did in the book, I design and manufacture one of a kind Austrian Crystal jewelry and accessories. I am also using my book as a platform to motivate and encourage women. My mess is in my message and my misery has become my ministry! ETW: Do you still write songs for artists? If so, who? MDJS: No, I have not written any songs for anyone in years. I wrote a few gospel songs after our divorce but chose not to shop them. One of those gospel songs crosses secular and I hope to have it included on the movie sound track. ETW: Are you currently working on another book? MDJS: Yes, I have already submitted book two, Jealousy: A Strange Company Keeper, which is also based on real life drama. Book three is underway, God's Loudest Whisper, and is a sequel to book two. Book four is a demand from readers and will sequel The Other Side of Through. Book five, They call me Fish Lips, is a children's book about teasing and bullying. ETW: What was your career path before your marriage to Keith? MDJS: Katlyn's career path is really my career path. I graduated college and worked as a Marketing Rep for a computer company. That company folded and I accepted the same position in Atlanta with my former employers competition. Shortly after settling into Atlanta, I left my marketing position and became a Flight Attendant. After years with Piedmont airlines/US Airways, I accepted a Marketing Rep position and remained in that status until I became a "leisure princess." ETW: Sister 2 Sister briefly mentioned an issue with having printed the ending of your marriage before it actually happened and having to print a correction. Why did you initially decide to talk about your marital situation in that (being bible study) environment, as opposed to talking to a trusted friend/relative? MDJS: My intention was to keep it to myself because it was merely a thought. Nothing I planned to act on. Everyone knew Keith was out there, including me, and I was frustrated, hurt, embarrassed, and afraid of contracting an STD that was not curable. Magic Johnson had recently announced he was HIV positive so that was fresh on my mind. It was a private bible study with very prominent women who had as much to lose from loose lips as I did . We had been meeting over a year when this occurred and it had never happened before. I trusted everyone in the room and felt comfortable broaching the subject. ETW: How did you find out that your situation was made public? Did you actually read the Sister 2 Sister issue or did someone tell you? MDJS: I received a phone call from one of his [Keith's] record label executives who respected me informing me it was in print. I read the actual article and fell apart. ETW: Did you ever figure out who talked to the media or industry about your marriage? MDJS: Yes, I know how it all unfolded. One of the members spoke to a friend she trusted-gossiping, I suppose-and that friend told someone at Sister 2 Sister. It was printed just a month after I revealed my thoughts. ETW: Why do you believe it can be so difficult for an entertainer to sustain a marriage? MDJS: Women (groupies) and lack of focus. The entertainment industry is a powerful entity. Fame can be very alluring. Women and admirers in general can give you a false sense of power and security. However, you are only as great as your last hit. Many fail to approach this 15 minutes of fame as a business with a real business plan, and get lost in the hype and accolades. The women are distractions that can be fatal to the marriage. ETW: What are the two biggest misconceptions people have about being married to an entertainer? MDJS: That he sings to you all day, every day (if he is a singer), and that your life is fulfilled. Women especially seem to think if they marry a man "with a name" their cares (financial especially) will end. Perhaps, but will you be happy with all the trapping and accoutrements that come with that wealth? ETW: Does it make a positive difference for both people to be involved in the entertainment industry? MDJS: Although I was not initially a part of the entertainment industry, eventually I wrote "Kissing You", Keith's biggest hit. That success propelled me into the industry. We both were in it and it did not help our situation. However, if one individual is not in the industry, it is imperative that person become a fast learner about that genre. Some positive things may come from having something in common and a working knowledge of what the other person is dealing with. ETW: I've noticed that some women opt to just jave children with celebrities without a formal marriage. Do you think this helps the longevity of a relationship with an entertainer? MDJS: I have seen many women go the "heir and the spare" WITHOUT THE RING route, and are still with the same man. I know a few who have never gotten the ring and seem to be happy with that. Personally, the commitment of marriage is more important to me. That he cares enough about me to make it legal brings a sense of respect and comfort. I am not interested in getting a hefty monthly check for my child. I want it all! ETW: What advice would you give to someone marrying an entertainer?MDJS: READ THE OTHER SIDE OF THROUGH! For more information on Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders, visit http://marshajenkinssanders.homestead.com.

Confessions of a Former Celebrity Wife
By ETEditor

Many people wouldn’t be surprised to hear that a celebrity marriage ended after the famous spouse is caught cheating but it’s not often that you’re able to see how the jilted member of the union recovers from it. In her book “The Other Side of Through,” Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders sheds some light on the life behind the picture smiles and award shows. After a painful 14-year marriage and a bitter divorce with 90’s R&B singer Keith Washington (remember “Kissing You”?), the now remarried Detroit native has healed from her experiences and is sharing them with others. The author talked to Entertainment Wire about the biggest misconceptions of celebrity marriage and the betrayal that made her fall apart.

Entertainment Wire: Why did you decide to become an author?
Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders: After penning my thoughts in a journal for years to heal from my broken marriage, I realized what I had written was a story that needed to be told.

ETW: How long did it take you to write “The Other Side of Through”?
MDJS: I began to convert my journal entries in 1999 and incorporated the final changes in January 2005, after seven rewrites.

ETW: How close are you to turning the book into a movie?
MDJS: The script is in production as we speak. Terri Coffey, one of the music producers who worked on Keith's freshman and sophomore projects has been writing and producing movies for several years, and is currently working on it. After a script is available, we are shopping a movie deal, which should not be difficult---a couple entities have already expressed interests.

ETW: What other ventures are you involved in besides writing books?
MDJS: As Katlyn did in the book, I design and manufacture one of a kind Austrian Crystal jewelry and accessories. I am also using my book as a platform to motivate and encourage women. My mess is in my message and my misery has become my ministry!

ETW: Do you still write songs for artists? If so, who?
MDJS: No, I have not written any songs for anyone in years. I wrote a few gospel songs after our divorce but chose not to shop them. One of those gospel songs crosses secular and I hope to have it included on the movie sound track.

ETW: Are you currently working on another book?
MDJS: Yes, I have already submitted book two, Jealousy: A Strange Company Keeper, which is also based on real life drama. Book three is underway, God's Loudest Whisper, and is a sequel to book two. Book four is a demand from readers and will sequel The Other Side of Through. Book five, They call me Fish Lips, is a children's book about teasing and bullying.

ETW: What was your career path before your marriage to Keith?
MDJS: Katlyn's career path is really my career path. I graduated college and worked as a Marketing Rep for a computer company. That company folded and I accepted the same position in Atlanta with my former employers competition. Shortly after settling into Atlanta, I left my marketing position and became a Flight Attendant. After years with Piedmont airlines/US Airways, I accepted a Marketing Rep position and remained in that status until I became a "leisure princess."

ETW: Sister 2 Sister briefly mentioned an issue with having printed the ending of your marriage before it actually happened and having to print a correction. Why did you initially decide to talk about your marital situation in that (being bible study) environment, as opposed to talking to a trusted friend/relative?
MDJS: My intention was to keep it to myself because it was merely a thought. Nothing I planned to act on. Everyone knew Keith was out there, including me, and I was frustrated, hurt, embarrassed, and afraid of contracting an STD that was not curable. Magic Johnson had recently announced he was HIV positive so that was fresh on my mind. It was a private bible study with very prominent women who had as much to lose from loose lips as I did . We had been meeting over a year when this occurred and it had never happened before. I trusted everyone in the room and felt comfortable broaching the subject.

ETW: How did you find out that your situation was made public? Did you actually read the Sister 2 Sister issue or did someone tell you?
MDJS: I received a phone call from one of his [Keith's] record label executives who respected me informing me it was in print. I read the actual article and fell apart.

ETW: Did you ever figure out who talked to the media or industry about your marriage?
MDJS: Yes, I know how it all unfolded. One of the members spoke to a friend she trusted-gossiping, I suppose-and that friend told someone at Sister 2 Sister. It was printed just a month after I revealed my thoughts.

ETW: Why do you believe it can be so difficult for an entertainer to sustain a marriage?
MDJS: Women (groupies) and lack of focus. The entertainment industry is a powerful entity. Fame can be very alluring. Women and admirers in general can give you a false sense of power and security. However, you are only as great as your last hit. Many fail to approach this 15 minutes of fame as a business with a real business plan, and get lost in the hype and accolades. The women are distractions that can be fatal to the marriage.

ETW: What are the two biggest misconceptions people have about being married to an entertainer?
MDJS: That he sings to you all day, every day (if he is a singer), and that your life is fulfilled. Women especially seem to think if they marry a man "with a name" their cares (financial especially) will end. Perhaps, but will you be happy with all the trapping and accoutrements that come with that wealth?

ETW: Does it make a positive difference for both people to be involved in the entertainment industry?
MDJS: Although I was not initially a part of the entertainment industry, eventually I wrote "Kissing You", Keith's biggest hit. That success propelled me into the industry. We both were in it and it did not help our situation. However, if one individual is not in the industry, it is imperative that person become a fast learner about that genre. Some positive things may come from having something in common and a working knowledge of what the other person is dealing with.

ETW: I've noticed that some women opt to just jave children with celebrities without a formal marriage. Do you think this helps the longevity of a relationship with an entertainer?
MDJS: I have seen many women go the "heir and the spare" WITHOUT THE RING route, and are still with the same man. I know a few who have never gotten the ring and seem to be happy with that. Personally, the commitment of marriage is more important to me. That he cares enough about me to make it legal brings a sense of respect and comfort. I am not interested in getting a hefty monthly check for my child. I want it all!

ETW: What advice would you give to someone marrying an entertainer?MDJS: READ THE OTHER SIDE OF THROUGH!

For more information on Marsha D. Jenkins-Sanders, visit http://marshajenkinssanders.homestead.com.

Hairspray By ETWire Editor
☺☺ ½ Trip Down Memory Lane Those of us that remember the musical by the same name may appreciate the memories of this movie but that’s where the joy stops. Although the movie mustered all the love and support one movie could have, it still falls short of a masterpiece. The best it offers is a 2007 rendition of the 1988 movie version of the play. In case you’re not familiar with the plot, Hairspray is a coming of age story about teens and America in the 1960s. Issues of race and acceptance are brought to the forefront through music, dance and a little after-school production called The Corny Collins Show. Nikki Blonsky plays Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly, plump teenager who’s waiting for her chance to be in the spotlight and become a star. True to the history of the play, you can’t help but admire Tracy ’s likeability and spunk. She makes it onto the show as a regular and inadvertently helps to racially integrate the production. The movie has a nice message but it unfolds so dull and expectedly that even seeing John Travolta (who plays Edna Turnblad, Tracy ’s mother) in a dress doesn’t help. In fact, it’s almost embarrassing to watch. You really don’t know whether to laugh or feel bad for him. Queen Latifah plays a tamer, gentler rendition of Motormouth Maybelle. This is the second motion picture version of Hairspray and, with any luck, it’ll be the last.

Hairspray
By ETWire Editor

☺☺ ½ Trip Down Memory Lane
Those of us that remember the musical by the same name may appreciate the memories of this movie but that’s where the joy stops. Although the movie mustered all the love and support one movie could have, it still falls short of a masterpiece. The best it offers is a 2007 rendition of the 1988 movie version of the play.

In case you’re not familiar with the plot, Hairspray is a coming of age story about teens and America in the 1960s. Issues of race and acceptance are brought to the forefront through music, dance and a little after-school production called The Corny Collins Show. Nikki Blonsky plays Tracy Turnblad, a bubbly, plump teenager who’s waiting for her chance to be in the spotlight and become a star. True to the history of the play, you can’t help but admire Tracy ’s likeability and spunk. She makes it onto the show as a regular and inadvertently helps to racially integrate the production.

The movie has a nice message but it unfolds so dull and expectedly that even seeing John Travolta (who plays Edna Turnblad, Tracy ’s mother) in a dress doesn’t help. In fact, it’s almost embarrassing to watch. You really don’t know whether to laugh or feel bad for him. Queen Latifah plays a tamer, gentler rendition of Motormouth Maybelle. This is the second motion picture version of Hairspray and, with any luck, it’ll be the last.