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Paulette McWilliams Guests On Black Muse

Singer-songwriter Paulette McWilliams recently joined the Black Muse podcast to chat about her delightful holiday ballad, “Pink Champagne.”

This song is more than just a tune; it’s a heartfelt tribute to anyone facing the challenges of heartbreak during the holidays.

“Pink Champagne” has been making waves, earning the title of ‘Christmas Song Of The Week’ on UGONE Radio with host Toni B from December 16-21, 2024! It’s also been added to RhythmAndSoul’s festive playlist and will be featured on Steve Quirk’s Christmas Eve show, highlighting its wonderful appeal.

During her conversation with Black Muse host Clarence Waldron, who has a rich history with Jet Magazine and has interviewed Luther Vandross multiple times, Paulette reflected on her incredible journey in music.

She spoke fondly about her collaborations with icons like Bette Midler, Johnny Mathis, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin. To top it all off, she showcased her stunning vocals by performing a few signature riffs that left everyone wanting more. It’s a joyous celebration of talent, resilience, and holiday spirit!

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Frosty The Snow Man Charcuterie Board

I have so much fun creating holiday-themed charcuterie boards! Last year, I made a super fun Bette Midler Hocus Pocus board for Halloween and a cheerful Santa Claus board for Christmas.

This year, my brother Rich asked me to whip up a charcuterie board for his Annual Lighting of the Luminaries party at Lake Davis in Orlando, Florida. I wanted it to be both festive and fun, and I tossed around a couple of ideas: an angel or a snowman.

After checking out Rich’s collection of gorgeous platters, I decided on a large, white one that I thought would be perfect. Rich and I took a quick trip to Publix to gather supplies. I was still on the fence about which design to go for until I spotted some beautiful bags of cranberries. The bright red colors screamed “festive” to me, especially against the white platter!

With the snowman idea cemented in my mind and cranberries in my cart, I raced over to the cheese section. I grabbed some gruyere, cheddar, mozzarella, brie, and goat cheese, picking three different sizes of round cheeses to create the snowman’s body.

Next, I thought I’d need black olives for the buttons and green olives for the eyes. I also wanted a carrot for the nose, so I headed back to the produce section and picked up some peppers.

Initially, I planned to use pretzel sticks for the arms, but they were out of stock, so Rich suggested breadsticks instead—great idea!

Once we got back to his place, I rolled up my sleeves and got to work in Rich’s kitchen. I didn’t second-guess myself, knowing time was short. I dove right into assembling the board, pushing any doubts aside.

I assembled a second charcuterie board with an array of delicious cured meats. I made my salami and pepperoni roses using a shot glass. YouTube offers several tutorial videos . They’re so easy to make and everyone adores them.

When the guests arrived, they absolutely loved the finished boards! It was such a hit and so rewarding to see everyone enjoy it!

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. Tune in to Divabtic’s Christmas Peril podcast.

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Pink Champagne: Christmas Song Of The Week

Fresh off the success of their UK Soul Chart smash hit, Mama’s Kitchen Table, singer-songwriter Paulette McWilliams, multi-Grammy nominated Ivan Hampden Jr., and lyricist Max Szadek present the self empowerment anthem, Pink Champagne — a celebration of overcoming heartache during the holidays!

“This song is a heartfelt shout-out to anyone navigating the tough waters of heartbreak this season,” declares Paulette McWilliams, who powerful vocals have backed up many musical icons such as Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Bette Midler, and Luther Vandross.

The moving tale of resilience in Pink Champagne has captured the attention of UGONE Radio Host Toni B, who proudly named it the ‘Christmas Song Of The Week’ for her show from December 16-21, 2024.

Additionally, Pink Champagne has been added to RhythmAndSoul’s festive holiday playlist, proving its resonance!

Breakups can be challenging, but the holiday season magnifies those feelings of loneliness.

Surrounded by couples at festive gatherings, playing romantic holiday tunes, and reading cheerful family updates, it’s easy to feel isolated. The airwaves are usually filled with upbeat classics, leaving little room for reflection—until now!

“Outside of Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas, I can’t think of any holiday classics that resonate with those of us feeling low,” says the talented Ivan Hampden Jr. “With Pink Champagne, listeners can find solace and realize they’re not alone in their struggles.”

This empowering track narrates a woman’s journey from heartache to triumph at Christmastime. Paulette envisions it as a source of strength for anyone hurting, encouraging them to embrace their feelings and transform them into joy. With inspiration from the vocal greatness of Nancy Wilson, Marlena Shaw, and Eartha Kitt, Pink Champagne is a fresh and vibrant take on the traditional holiday tune.

“You simply can’t savor the joy of the holidays while clinging to painful emotions. It’s time to release them!” she emphasizes. “I truly believe Pink Champagne will help those who are hurting move forward with a brighter outlook.”

Expertly arranged and produced by the gifted Ivan Hampden Jr., known for his work with Luther Vandross, Ashford & Simpson, Roberta Flack, and Eartha Kitt, this track promises to be a new holiday favorite. His previous Christmas classic, Mistletoe Jam, featured on Luther Vandross’s platinum-certified This Is Christmas album, continues to delight fans.

Pink Champagne is poised to follow in its footsteps with joy and assertiveness!

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A Christmas Peril: Divabetic Mysteries Podcast

Enjoy Divabetic’s 8th Annual Mystery podcast, A Christmas Peril, packed with holiday tips for people living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes.

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge named Mr. Pincher, almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic and our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation.

Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie Gentle, Terri Seidman, MaryAnn Nicolay, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford.

Special thanks to the Houdeshell family and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion‘s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons that they teach.

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Max Szadek In PEOPLE Magazine


I came across a Polaroid from my PEOPLE Magazine profile from two decades ago, and it brought back such wonderful memories! Back then, the talented writer Mark Dagostino highlighted my journey of finding Luther Vandross after he faced a tough battle with a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes.

This inspired me to create the national nonprofit Divabetic, aimed at helping Luther’s fans and their families keep their homes joyful and healthy by learning how to prevent diabetes-related complications.

I was so lucky to host free monthly Divabetic support meetings at the McBurney YMCA, and I loved volunteering backstage at the national diabetes TV show, dlife, with my wonderful parents. The exposure from PEOPLE, along with my amazing network of healthcare professionals, helped me land on Novo Nordisk’s shortlist for a trial program.

With a backpack filled with Divabetic and Dude-a-betic t-shirts and a stack of flyers for various diabetes programs, I nervously pitched both myself and Divabetic to the PR team, BioSector. They were a bit puzzled by my unconventional approach, but when they asked which program I wanted Novo Nordisk to produce, I glanced at my flyers and said, “Since our name is Divabetic, people will expect a touch of glamour. I really want to go with our Makeover program!”

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Pink Champagne Pay Homage to Luther Vandross

Toni B. featuring Pink Champagne as her Christmas Song of the Week on her fabulous UGONE radio show is a holiday treat! Paulette McWilliams and Ivan Hampden Jr. are absolutely thrilled!

You can catch all of Toni’s amazing shows on Mixcloud.

Here’s a fun little tidbit about Pink Champagne: my lyrics celebrate our dear friend, the legendary Luther Vandross.

Luther had a passion for Art Deco and Art Nouveau furniture and took great joy in decorating his stunning homes in Beverly Hills, Connecticut, and New York with these exquisite pieces.

Plus, did you know his gorgeous stage costumes designed by Tony Chase and Elizabeth Courtney were also inspired by these beautiful styles? I hosted a Luther Vandross: Music & Style event with my friends, Keith Anthony Fluitt, Christopher Faison and James Ervin this past April in New York City.

You can see Luther’s fantastic costumes, artifacts and memorabilia on display at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles until June 2025. The exhibit offers an intimate glimpse into Luther Vandross’ creative process and showcases his ornate stage wardrobe, exclusive performance footage from his popular tours, and a never-before-heard recording of him in the studio.

I was lucky enough to accompany him on a few trips to auction houses where he searched for these treasures, and that’s where the mention of Christie’s Auction House in the lyrics comes from! Thanks for letting me share my memories of my friendship with Luther!


“Luther: Never Too Much,” the documentary film from award-winning director Dawn Porter, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso will be available on streaming apps in January 2025.

Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson, Seveda Williams, Fonzi Thornton, Robin Clark, Ava Cherry, Kevin Owens, Lisa Fischer, Carlos Alomar, Max Szadek, and Roberta Flack.

The film relives the many stunning moments of Luther’s musical career, while exploring his personal life, health struggles, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved.

Sadly Luther suffered a stroke related to mismanged type 2 diabetes in 2003. The phrase “Every minute counts” is a warning to heed if you suspect someone close to you is having a stroke.

F-A-S-T is an acronym created to teach people how to recognize and remember the most common indicators that someone might be having a stroke. Here is what each of the letters stands for:

T for TIME:  Don’t wait or lay down to see if symptoms disappear. Call 911.

F for FACE: One side of a person’s mouth appears to be drooping or their smile looks lopsided. .

A for ARMS: People who are having a stroke usually have difficulty moving arms and legs.

S for SPEECH: Difficulty talking, slurring words, repeating the same words or phrases, or their conversation doesn’t make sense, it may be a stroke.

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Holiday Podcast With Music From Leona Lewis


We’re talking about coping with diabetes, depression and shame during the holidays on Divabetic’s podcast with musical inspiration from Leona Lewis.

‘Tis the season for family, festivity, and temptations that may disrupt daily diabetes health routines. That means it’s also the season when eating healthy, staying active, and taking medication on schedule is more challenging.  The added stress and anxiety of staying on track with your diabetes self-care may cause even those who are usually content to experience loneliness, anxiety, and a lack of fulfillment.

Several studies show that people with diabetes have a greater risk of depression than people without diabetes.

Just like denial, depression hinders good intentions in self-care. It can even make it harder to do things you enjoy. 

“I have a best friend who has severe depression, who takes medication and still struggles, so I know how bad it can be,” says Leona Lewis.

Leona’s friend describes herself as having “highs and lows” brought on by circumstance, not a clinical illness. 

If you’re feeling down, remember you’re not alone. It’s important to share your feelings with your healthcare team. Seeking help takes courage and can be the first step toward feeling better.

Leona Lewis’ holiday song, One More Sleep, sparks our discussion about how the holidays affect your sleep. Insomnia during the holidays is quite common. The holidays bring parties, overeating, later bedtimes, shopping, overspending, and traveling, which may bring on jet lag. The financial pressures associated with gift-giving can also cause sleep disruption during the holidays.

Changing your behaviors and attitudes and adding more physical activities can go a long way toward eliminating insomnia so you can enjoy a deserved and joyous holiday season.

Traveling or spending time with family can shake up our usual meal routines, too. Megrette Fletcher, a diabetes educator, mentioned in an interview that everything changes and can be quite stimulating when we’re away from home, which might lead us to let our guard down a bit. Common sense says eating too much doesn’t improve the food experience, but when faced with an array of delicious treats, it can be hard to resist. As Megrette says, “Food is part of the enjoyment.” Just because you can’t take the food home with you doesn’t mean you have to eat everything in sight if you’re already full. It’s okay to savor the moment and stop when you’ve had enough!

We also have some fantastic guests on the Divabetic podcast, including experts like Debby Kay and Megrette Fletcher, and inspiring people like singer Leona Lewis, who will be sharing her music from the Christmas, with Love album. Plus, don’t miss our chance to win 6 months of mySugr Pro access in our INSTANT WINNER challenge!

Throughout the podcast, we will feature music from Leona Lewis’s Christmas, with Love album courtesy of SONY Music.

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Pink Champagne Is Toni B.’s Christmas Song Of The Week

I’m thrilled to share that UG-ONE Network radio host, Toni B. chose my Christmas ballad, Pink Champagne, as her Christmas Song of the Week. She’s planning to feature it every day this week on her Sparkle & Shine radio show in between a great mix of old and new R & B songs and holiday tunes.

Today she shared a heartfelt introduction encapsulating the song’s victim to victory mindset that had me smiling from ear to ear!

The inspiration for Pink Champagne came to me while I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie. I thought, “What if the heroine ran into her (future) ex-boyfriend on Christmas Eve and told him she gave his present away?” Something about that idea made me think of Nancy Wilson’s iconic Guess Who I Saw Today? and the lyricist’s brilliant storytelling approach to songwriting.

When it came to selecting a cocktail for this song, I found myself drawn to pink champagne for a variety of reasons. Not only does it evoke a sense of celebration, but it also embodies a spirit of self-empowerment.

There’s something about the effervescence and vibrant color that feels uplifting and invigorating. Pink champagne is often associated with special occasions and moments of joy, making it the perfect choice for someone taking a bold step forward to move on with their life.

In addition to its celebratory nature, pink champagne exudes elegance, class, and sophistication. It can turn an ordinary moment into something truly extraordinary. The way it sparkles in the glass and the delightful bubbles that dance on your palate create an experience that is both luxurious and memorable.

I wonder what other cocktails you might choose. Would you lean towards something equally festive, or perhaps opt for a drink that reflects your personality or mood?

Once I chose my cocktail, the lyrics just flowed out of me like a story. I first reached out to my friend, Ivan Hampden Jr. to see if he’d be interested in working on a Christmas song, but he initially said “no.” Not one to give up, I called my friend, vocalist, Paulette McWilliams next, and she also said “no,” but before hanging up, I asked her if I could share a few lyrics. By the time I finished, she was asking me to send the rest!

A few hours later, Ivan called back and said, “We’re going to do your Christmas song!” From that point, the song blossomed week after week. Ivan layered on beautiful orchestration while Paulette played with the melody and ad-libs and helped fine-tune my lyrics, bringing her insights into the character.

When Ivan sent me the mastered track, I was absolutely blown away by how my words transformed into this lush and elegant Christmas song.

It turned out to be a truly beautiful collaboration! 

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12 DIVAS OF THE HOLIDAYS 2014 Poem by Lorraine Brooks 


12 DIVAS OF THE HOLIDAYS 2014 Poem by Lorraine Brooks 

Our braveness showed amid the snow

In January’s days.

And Sara Bareilles brought us

Happiness and praise.

In February, we discussed

How not to label things

Fantasia’s music filled the air

And gave our spirit wings.

Sometimes, life can throw us curves

And threaten our self-worth,

But March gave us the Sapphires

With models of rebirth.

My favorite radical, Nina Simone,

Was all about the fight.

Her April’s jazzy vocals did

Fill us with much delight.

And then in May, Doris Day did prove

Her unconditional being.

She gave us strength to recognize

The things we weren’t seeing.

A Legend was and legend is

The John of the same name.

In June’s fierce heat he told us how to

Win at our own game.

We looked back at the life we’ve lived

The things that went awry,

But Lisa Stansfield ‘s message was

Reversal, in July.

Miranda Lambert’s Platinum!

She’s like a shooting star.

In August, we did celebrate

How precious we all are.

September’s game was mystery

And mayhem, to be sure.

Pink Panther’s message was to be

More trusting and secure.

Lisa Lisa, Cult Jam too

With Anger we did deal

And in October, we all learned that

It’s OK to feel.

Barbra Streisand, what a voice

And what a partner too.

Our friends and healthcare partnerships

Were in November, true.

And now the holidays approach

December’s faith and hope,

Religions, cultures, and beliefs,

They give us strength to cope.

Kwanzaa celebrates the fruits.

A banquet from the earth.

Channukah’s the feast of lights

And Christmas signals birth.

We flavor life with Seasonings.

Add flavor to the fun.

And so December’s diva is

Anthony Hamilton.

A joyous time to everyone!

May you be energetic!

Let’s join together one and all.

Let’s all stay DIVABETIC!

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Divabetic Podcasts

Divabetic’s podcast series is about energizing and empowering listeners living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes! We provide expert advice, inspiring stories from peers, stylish tips, and even some fun music and games.

We aim to encourage everyone to take charge of their self-care, boost their confidence, and truly embrace wellness. Tune in for a fun and uplifting experience!

Founded in 2005, Divabetic was inspired by music legend Luther Vandross, whose personal battle with diabetes ignited our mission.

We proudly bridge the gap between patients and healthcare providers, translating complicated medical language into accessible knowledge while boosting confidence and hope.

Recognized by leaders like President Obama and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Divabetic champions our “Glam More, Fear Less” philosophy, encouraging women to become wellness ambassadors in their families and communities.

Join us on the journey to glamorize good health! Visit Divabetic.

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