Grapevine: Michael Strahan reflects on ‘Live’ departure

Correction: The story has been corrected to say Detroit native Sophia Urista made it through the first round of NBC’S “The Voice” and is a member of Miley Cyrus’ team instead of Adam Levine’s team. 

Monica Conyers joins 910 AM Superstation as host

Controversial former Detroit City Council President Monica Conyers is joining WFDF-AM (910) as a host from 1-2 p.m. Sundays, starting Sunday. Her weekly show on 910AM Superstation will include guests of her choice who will discuss a variety of topics related to Detroit and issues in the news. “She’s going to really cover the gamut — social issues, political issues and we’ll be answering listener phone calls,” says 910 AM Superstation spokesman Mort Meisner. “Obviously some people are going to ask her about her time as a councilperson, her time married to Congressman Conyers, obviously her legal challenges that she’s putting in the rear view mirror.” Monica Conyers, 51, was elected to the Detroit City Council in 2005. She faced a 37-month federal prison sentence for accepting financial bribes, after she pleaded guilty to city hall corruption charges in 2010. She was released from probation early in August 2014.

Eminem pays to tribute to ‘8 Mile’ director

Marshall Mathers, aka Eminem, is paying tribute to his “8 Mile” director Curtis Hanson, who died of natural causes at age 71 on Tuesday, according to a Los Angeles police spokeswoman. “Curtis Hanson believed in me and our crazy idea to make a rap battle movie set in Detroit,” Eminem said in a statement Wednesday. “He basically made me into an actor for ‘8 Mile.’ I'm lucky I got to know him.” Hanson won an Oscar for screenwriting for 1997’s “L.A. Confidential,” which he also directed. His other films included “Wonder Boys,” with Michael Douglas and Tobey Maguire, “The River Wild” with Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep and “In Her Shoes” with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette. His biggest commercial hit came with “8 Mile,” which in 2002 grossed $116 million. At the time, its $51 million opening marked the second biggest opening of all-time for an R-rated movie.

Michael Strahan reflects on ‘Live’ departure

In Friday’s issue of People, “Good Morning America” co-host Michael Strahan opens up about his controversial departure from “Live.” If you recall, co-host Kelly Ripa was unhappy that she was not told of Strahan’s decision to leave the show in May. In protest, she did not appear on air the day after the announcement. “I wasn’t surprised by her reaction at all, but I can’t control somebody else’s actions,” Strahan told People. “I was there four years, and it’s about more than just being in front of the camera.” Strahan began co-hosting the talk show in September 2012 when he replaced Regis Philbin.

Rapper Shawty Lo dies in car crash

Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo was killed in a fiery car crash on a freeway near southwest Atlanta, reports the Associated Press. Authorities say a 2016 Audi struck a couple of trees, overturned and burst into flames before dawn Wednesday on Interstate 285 near the exit to Cascade Road. No other vehicles were involved. The driver was thrown from the car and killed, confirmed Fulton County Police Cpl. Maureen Smith. The driver was later identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office as 40-year-old Carlos Walker, who was known by the stage name Shawty Lo.

Also …

■Detroit native Sophia Urista made it through the first round of blind auditions Tuesday of season 5 of NBC’s “The Voice.” Adam Levine chose her for his team after she sang “Come Together” by the Beatles.

Compiled by Stephanie Steinberg

ssteinberg@detroitnews.com

Thursday’s birthdays

Joan Jett, 58

Bonnie Hunt, 55

Scott Baio, 56

Tom Felton, 29