Martha Reeves, Lead Singer of Martha and the Vandellas, Launches Fundraiser for Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Courtesy Photo 

Motown icon Martha Reeves is making a final push to get her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame after her former manager failed to follow through on a promise to cover the costs.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Reeves was nominated for the honor in 2021, but her ex-manager's pledge to cover the installation and maintenance costs fell through.

With just a few months remaining before the June deadline, Reeves' current manager, Chris Roe, has established a fundraiser to raise the $55,000 required to secure her spot for next year.

"Martha's former representation got in over their heads on this," Roe explained. "They didn't realize how hard it would be and wasted a year of fundraising time. Now we're down to the wire."

Despite the setback, Reeves, who led the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas to fame with hits like "Dancing in the Street" and "Heat Wave," is determined to see her dream come true.

"My wildest dreams are coming true, and I hope to continue inspiring others with my music," she stated.

Reeves, who has had a storied career spanning over six decades, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and this year marks her 60th anniversary in Motown. Nevertheless, with no record label or movie production studio to support her, Reeves' team is asking the public for assistance.

"If we do not make a sizeable indentation to our goal, it is likely that Martha's Hollywood Star selection will be withdrawn, and we will have to start the nomination process all over again (which could take several years)," Roe stated on the fundraising page.

Reeves is not the first celebrity to rely on crowdfunding to achieve the Hollywood Walk of Fame honor. In 2020, actor Daniel Dae Kim raised the funds to get James Hong a star, while the Motown music group The Funk Brothers obtained their sidewalk star in 2013 via public fundraising.

'99 Problems' But Money Ain't One: Jay-Z Doubles Net Worth in Record Time

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs

Jay-Z is pictured on the far right with Diddy, a current member, and Ye, a former member, of hip-hop's three-comma club.

Hip-hop impresario Jay-Z has once again proven that he's not just a businessman; he's a business, man.

The "99 Problems" artist has surpassed other notable billionaires, such as former NBA icon Michael Jordan ($2 billion) and Apple CEO Tim Cook ($1.8 billion), having doubled his net worth in record time over just a few short years.

According to Forbes, the Brooklyn-born rapper's net worth has reached a staggering $2.5 billion, placing him at No. 1,209 on the list of the world's wealthiest individuals. He's rubbing shoulders with media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey, who shares the same net worth and comes in at No. 1,204.

.@Forbes updates Jay-Z's net worth pic.twitter.com/nN5OYD6bVX

— JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) March 23, 2023

In 2020, Forbes estimated Jay-Z's net worth to be $1 billion, which increased to $1.4 billion in 2022. During that same year, Jay-Z was named the third highest-paid entertainer after he sold his stakes in the music streaming platform Tidal and the champagne brand Armand de Brignac.

The Grammy winner's latest increase in net worth is largely due to his February deal with Bacardi over the D'ussé cognac brand. Bacardi acquired a majority stake in Jay-Z's stake in the brand, leaving the rapper with a "significant ownership role."

In addition to profits from his music, Jay-Z's fortune is the result of his successful business ventures, which have included investments in real estate, art, and spirits. In 2019, he was hailed as the first hip-hop billionaire, surpassing his former protege Kanye West.

Jay-Z's wife, Beyoncé, who has been married to the rapper since 2008, also has a significant net worth of $450 million, according to Forbes.

Watch: New Trailer for 'Dear Mama' Docuseries Offers Intimate Look into Tupac Shakur's Life with Mother Afeni

Screengrab YouTube/FX

FX has unveiled the official trailer for "Dear Mama: The Saga of Afeni & Tupac Shakur," a new
docuseries that delves into the intricate bond between rapper Tupac Shakur and his mother, Afeni.

Directed by Allen Hughes, the five-part series promises to provide an intimate, behind-the-scenes look into the lives of Tupac and Afeni through the eyes of those who knew them best.

The show is scheduled to debut on April 21st and features never-before-seen footage of the late rapper, as well as rare audio and vocals. Hulu describes the series as an "intimate wide-angle portrait of the most inspiring and dangerous mother-son duo (Tupac and Afeni Shakur) in American history, whose unified message of freedom, equality, persecution and justice are more relevant today than ever."

Afeni, a Black Panther and political activist who instilled her values of freedom, power, and revolution into her son, speaks about her philosophy of motherhood in the trailer. "It was my responsibility to teach Tupac how to survive his reality," she says.

The docuseries will air episodes 1 and 2 on FX on April 21st at 10 p.m. ET/PT, followed by a new episode every Friday until the series concludes on May 12th, just two days before Mother's Day.

In addition to the series, fans can look forward to the upcoming release of the first and only Estate-authorized biography of Tupac Shakur, written by author Staci Robinson. While the book is set for a fall 2023 release, it is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

Check out the trailer below: