A dynamic duo both in life and work, powerhouse real estate broker and designer Egypt Sherrod and her husband, expert builder Mike Jackson, will return for a new 12-episode season of their HGTV breakout hit series Married to Real Estate on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 9 p.m. ET/PT and available to stream on discovery+.

The compelling couple—who inspired 19 million season one viewers with their positive perspective on running successful property businesses, managing a home and raising three daughters—will help more families buy houses with potential in their ideal Atlanta neighborhoods and transform them into stunning dream homes. Drawing from her experience as the star of HGTV’s Property Virgins and Flipping Virgins, Egypt will employ her knowledge of the real estate market and financial prowess to find their clients affordable houses in desirable locations and manifest her design expertise to reimagine the spaces. Then, Mike will execute the breathtaking renovations that deliver an increased home value and return on investment, finding solutions to any construction problem and staying on budget.

The couple launch their brand-new podcast, Marriage and Money Podcast with Egypt & Mike. On the heels of all their success, fans have requested more access and knowledge to the two as it pertains to their lessons on marriage and relationships as well as wealth building strategies, catalyzing the Marriage and Money Podcast. The weekly podcast is full of humorous stories, valuable life hacks, honest & meaty marriage dilemmas, and wealth & legacy building knowledge. Season one of the podcast will feature special guests, Dr. Contessa and Scott Metcalfe (“Married to Medicine”); singer Montell Jordan and wife, Kristin Jordan; singer/TV Personality Trina Braxton and husband Von Scales; director/actress Terri J. Vaughn and husband, Karon Riley; and more.  Marriage and Money with Egypt & Mike is available now on YouTube, iHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. A sneak preview of season one is available here.

“Mike and I have built a one-stop shop for real estate, renovation and design—and this is only the beginning,” said Egypt. “Our goal for every project is to ensure we embrace the clients’ vision and needs while marrying high design and function, so the end result exceeds their every expectation.”

“Working with your spouse has its challenges, but we wouldn’t trade it for the world,” said Mike. “Egypt and I are all in to give families beautiful homes with added value, and it’s our willingness to compromise along the way that makes us a great team both on the job and at home.”

To start the season, Egypt and Mike will convince a couple to snatch up a Dunwoody property that needs a massive overhaul to create a livable open concept. The new modern farmhouse design will feature a waterfall island and dark green tile backsplash in the kitchen and a must-have home office with a hidden closet and en suite bathroom. On the family front, Egypt and Mike will search for the perfect nursery school for three-year-old Harper and celebrate her milestone first day together. Throughout the episodes, the adventures will continue as they conquer Harper’s potty training, teach older daughter Kendall how to manage money and adjust to living with their new puppy, Serene.

Until the new season premieres, fans of Egypt and Mike can stream the first season of Married to Real Estate, as well as binge watch Egypt’s previous HGTV series, on discovery+. Also on the streaming platform, they can watch the pair go head-to-head against other renovation experts in season three of the mega-hit competition series, Rock the Block.

HGTV’s digital platforms will offer up even more exclusive Married to Real Estate content at HGTV.com and on social media by following @HGTV and #MarriedtoRealEstate on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. In addition, fans can follow Egypt (@egyptsherrod) and Mike (@djfadelf) on Instagram. The new season also will be available on HGTV GO the same day and time as the linear premieres—Thursdays at 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 12.

A former offensive lineman who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars was found dead last week in West Lafayette, Indiana.

According to the Lafayette Journal & Courier, Uche Nwaneri was discovered at his wife’s home last Friday after returning from a trip to Georgia. He drove from the Peach State to see his wife in Indiana. She found him unresponsive in a bedroom at her house when she returned around 1 a.m. When she found him, she called 911.

An autopsy was performed earlier this week on Monday, and there were no indications of foul play, according to Tippecanoe County Coroner Carrie Costello. The results of a toxicology report are pending. It is speculated that he may have died from a possible heart attack.

His former NFL team, the Jaguars, released a statement earlier this week:

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Uche Nwaneri. pic.twitter.com/UstPAT1i6U

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) January 2, 2023

People reported that in 1973, Nwaneri’s parents immigrated to the United States from Nigeria. The 38-year-old former player was born in Dallas in 1984. His parents reportedly named him Uchechukwu Nwaneri, which translates to “God’s wish” in their native language.

After his playing days with the Jaguars, Nwaneri went to play for his hometown football team, the Dallas Cowboys. Although he signed with them in 2014, he was released after not making the final roster cuts that year.

When his football career was over, he started a YouTube channel called The Observant Lineman. He, along with other former NFL players, would analyze recent football games on the program. His most recent show was uploaded two weeks ago, dissecting the onfield play of the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia Eagles. His YouTube channel had 21,400 subscribers.

Marilee Fiebig isn’t biting her tongue regarding her estranged husband T.J. Holmes‘ latest actions with his now-girlfriend and Good Morning America 3 co-host Amy Robach.

Fiebig has released a statement through her divorce attorney following the aftermath of Holmes’ cheating scandal.

For context, Robach and Holmes found themselves in hot water in November after The Daily Mail released photos and videos of the anchors flirting and holding hands during a getaway trip in New York. This incident would ultimately make many believe that a romantic relationship was budding between Robach and Holmes despite being married to other people.

Immediately following the scandal, sources close to the pair confirmed that Robach and Holmes were, in fact, a couple and that both parties had been separated from their respective partners since August 2022. Robach was married to actor Andrew Shue.

Holmes and Fiebig tied the knot in 2010. As more information about Holmes and Robach’s relationship and the father of three’s alleged affair with GMA producer Natasha Singh became public, ABC decided to pull them off the show last month to investigate the situation.

Since then, Holmes has filed for divorce from Fiebig and was seen spending the holidays with Robach.

On January 4, Fiebig’s divorce attorney Stephanie Lehman told People in a statement that despite the turmoil Holmes has caused, her primary focus is to do what’s best for their nine-year-old daughter, Sabine Holmes. 

It read, “During the holiday season, and in light of this challenging time, Marilee’s sole focus has remained on the overall best interests of her nine-year-old daughter.” Further in the statement, Lehman called out Holmes for his “lack of respect and sensitivity” for Fiebig and Sabine. Fiebig’s attorney said while claiming she is working alongside Holmes’ lawyer to “expeditiously and amicably” finalize the divorce. 

“To that end, T.J.’s attorney and I have been working together to move their divorce forward privately, expeditiously, and as amicably as possible. Notwithstanding, we continue to be disappointed by T.J.’s lack of discretion, respect, and sensitivity toward Marilee and the parties’ daughter.”

Lehman wrapped up the statement by sharing that despite Fiebig’s dissolved marriage unfolding publicly, she “has been touched by the outpouring of support” and is hopeful for the future. This comes days after Fiebig showed love to Robach’s estranged husband, Andrew Shue, by liking a post featuring the actor and his sons as they brought in the Christmas holiday in Montana.

Since then, no additional details have been released to the general public.

• News

by Atiya Jordan

January 5, 2023

Two Black Lawmakers Make American History For Their Nominations As House Speaker

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The House of Representatives is witnessing new history unfold as Black political figures step up to take charge in America.

While the House seeks a new leader, Insider reported that two Black lawmakers, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, were nominated simultaneously for the position.

Donalds, who was first elected to a southwest Florida district in 2020, received 20 votes on three different ballots on Wednesday. The House Freedom Caucus member is one of five Black Republicans elected to serve in the 118th Congress.

This support champions Donald’s background and service in the Florida House of Representatives from 2016 to 2020. While serving in the Florida House, Donalds primarily focused on elder affairs, criminal justice reform, and ensuring that each child has access to a world-class education.

Republican Rep. Chip Roy of Texas nominated Donalds on the fourth ballot. He described the Florida candidate as a “dear friend, a solid conservative, but mostly importantly, a family man.”

“Now, here we are, and for the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House,” Roy added.

Jeffries, on the other hand, garnered 212 Democratic votes and, in doing so, became a top choice for majority of the chamber. His fellow Democrats nominated him to serve as speaker following his election as the first Black man to lead a major political party in Congress, according to CNN.

“I just look forward to the opportunity to do the most good for the greatest number of people possible for as long as I have the opportunity to do so and can operate at the highest level,” Jeffries previously told CNN.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jeffries, who has a track record of promoting unity among Democrats, officially became House Democratic leader at the start of the 118th Congress.

After receiving his law degree from New York University School of Law, he was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006, serving in office from 2007 to 2012, and later stepped into his tenure track in the House.

The search for a new presiding officer is still underway, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, after the House held three votes in a row on Tuesday and adjourned without selecting a speaker. No candidate has received the required 218 votes to assume the position.

Amid the chaos, Cheryl Johnson, the second person of color to serve as Clerk of the House, has stepped into her role as the presiding officer until the House resumes regular business.

Don’t worry. Your curls are still safe with Mielle.

Mielle Organics Founder Monique Rodriguez has intervened in the recent controversy surrounding her Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil after concerns were raised about a possible change in the product’s ingredients following the surge of white consumers who have been influenced by TikTokers like Alix Earle, to add the oil to their hair routine.

As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Black women called white consumers out for buying out the Rosemary oil that was initially made for multicultural hair. Additionally, white consumers have been diluting the product to make it more compatible with their hair type.

The Mielle Organics founder addressed the concerns about her product on the company’s Instagram page.

“There have been a few recent comments posted on this topic but I can personally guarantee you that we are not making any ingredient changes,” the founder confirmed on one slide.

“I also wanted to come here first to assure you directly that we have no plans to change the formula for Rosemary Mint Oil or any of our products,” Rodriguez added.

“We’ve been together on this ride for awhile, so you know that my journey with Mielle started from a place of creating the product I wasn’t finding in the marketplace,” Rodriguez wrote in the carousel’s caption. “We remain forever committed to developing quality, efficacious products that address the need states for our customers’ hair types!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mielle Organics LLC (@mielleorganics)

Earle posted her video in December 2022, sharing the Rosemary oil as one of her top Amazon finds, sparking the surge.

https://www.tiktok.com/@alixearle/video/7182013161204174123?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

According to the company’s website, Mielle Organics is one of the fastest-growing haircare brands in the multicultural category.

“As we grow, our ambition is to broaden our vision on how we continue to innovate exciting new products,” the website wrote.

Florida Rep. Byron Donalds made history Wednesday when 20 Republicans opposing Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for House Speaker nominated him for the post.

The New York Times reports when Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) nominated Donalds for House Speaker during the fourth vote for the post on Wednesday; he acknowledged it was the first time two Black candidates have been nominated along with Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-N.Y.), who became the first Black person to lead the Democratic House Caucus.

Donalds, who is still waiting to be sworn in as a second-term House Member, has been a financial adviser at Wells Fargo since 2015. The Brooklyn-born native was elected to the Florida House in 2016 and the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020 when he ran as an ally of former President Donald Trump. Donalds was also one of the 147 Republicans who voted to reject the results of the 2020 Presidential Election.

While Donalds received the 20 votes needed by McCarthy two days into the voting for House Speaker, his chances of actually being voted into the post are slim to none. Even Roy, who nominated Donalds, largely dismissed the historic stance behind his nomination.

“We do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather the content of their character,” Roy said, according to the Times. “Byron Donalds is a good man raised by a single mom who moved past adversity, became a Christian man at the age of 21 and has devoted his life to advancing the cause for his family and his country.”

Trump also largely dismissed Donalds’ nomination calling him a young man with a great future, but adding, “He will have his day, and it will be a big one, but not now,” according to the Washington Examiner.

In an interview with the Times last year, the Black Republican defended the GOP effort to pass voting restrictions in Republican-led states and added that he did not believe that Trump’s words after losing the 2020 Presidential Election led to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.

Donalds supported McCarthy during the first two votes for House Speaker but switched his vote to Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) during the third vote.

“Right now, he doesn’t have a pathway to get there,” Donalds told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins after voting against McCarthy Tuesday. “If that reemerges, yeah, I can be there, that’s fine, but what’s necessary now is that Republicans come together and find a way to elect a speaker.”

T.J. Holmes is apparently a ladies’ man based on recent a recent report that he dated a singer from a popular R&B group before he married his second wife, Marilee Fiebig.

According to TMZ, the currently suspended GMA3 co-host previously dated Rozonda Thomas who is famously known as Chili from TLC. The “No Scrubs” singer is in the news after confirming of her romance with actor Matthew Lawrence.

Holmes and Chili were an item back in 2007 when he was working at CNN, where Chili resides. They reportedly were “super affectionate” in and around the CNN Center.

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

January 5, 2023

Black Millennial Health Coach Creates Global Wellness Ecosystem

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The health and wellness movement is growing in leaps and bounds in both the social and physical spaces.

A new study by global communications firm Ketchum shows that the definition of wellness is equally emotional as it is physical and that today’s wellness influencer is most commonly young, male, and ranks mindfulness and positive relationships among his top goals for well-being. Style Bell, the L.A.-based wellness coach and serial philanthropist is making waves with this new approach and bridging the gap between emotional and physical wellness for people of all backgrounds.

Bell is taking the industry by storm with his multifaceted approach to transforming men’s and women’s mindsets from the inside out. Bell has created an ecosystem of giving by hosting free online and in-person workouts from his Baldwin Hills estate. His online platform boasts a record number of attendees ranging from the Americas to Italy and Africa. His in-person workouts are held weekly at his Baldwin Hills estate, and are appropriately titled “Win it Wednesday.” Participants are encouraged to bring items for the homeless, which Bell personally hands out on skid row weekly.

“Loving people is who I am at my core,” states Bell. “Because of this, I have dedicated some of the most sacred parts of my life (like my home) to create a safe space for my humanitarian efforts of healing and community.”

Bell’s efforts have transformed the lives of thousands around the globe. The loss of his mother due to alcohol abuse at the tender age of nine, followed by physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the foster care system is what fueled Bell’s lifelong mission to give back.

• Politics

by Atiya Jordan

January 5, 2023

A Black Woman Presides Over US House of Representatives for the First Time In History

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Cheryl Johnson, who was sworn in as Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2021, begins a historic term as the House seeks a new leader.

As the Pelosi era comes to a close, the vote to choose a new House Speaker is adamant. The ending of her two-decade reign is required by the Constitution for any new Congress to be selecting the House’s presiding officer, who is simultaneously a party leader, and the institution’s administrative head, among other duties.

The speaker position is traditionally filled on the first day of a new Congress, followed by the swearing-in of members. After Wednesday’s ballots, however, it was revealed that no candidate received the 218 votes required to take the helm, marking a significant time in history, CNBC News reported.

The absence of a leader not only freezes critical business, but the adoption of House rules cannot take place and there could be no legislating without fully functioning committees.

As the second person of color to serve as Clerk of the House, Johnson’s presence is solidified. Now, she serves as the House chair, making her the first Black woman to assume the presiding officer role until a new Speaker is selected, per MSNBC. Her consequential position could take days.

An alumna of Iowa, Howard and Harvard University, the New Orleans native devoted nearly 20 years in the House followed by 10 years at the Smithsonian Institution before her clerkship. She served as Director of the Smithsonian’s Office of Government Relations, where she worked with Smithsonian leadership and the Board of Regents to sustain strong relationships with Congress.

After landing on Capitol Hill, Johnson was the Chief Education and Investigative Counsel for the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and served as Director and Counsel for the Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Libraries and Memorials.

Aaron Hernandez, a former New England Patriots football player, went to jail for killing a man and allegedly committed suicide while in prison. His daughter’s mother has recently been accused of misusing the money Hernandez left in a trust fund for their daughter.

According to The Boston Globe, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, who was engaged to Hernandez before he died, is the mother of their daughter, Avielle. The trustee of the trust fund set up for Avielle, attorney David Schwartz, has accused Jenkins-Hernandez of improperly using funds from her daughter’s account.

The accusation stems from Jenkins-Hernandez saying that she was unable to pay for her daughter’s dance lessons, which amounted to a $10,697 bill. This took place in September. She requested that the court-appointed trustee pay for the dance lessons using money from Avielle’s trust fund.