When the call came to host the 2009 'Soul Train Awards,' Taraji P. Henson didn't believe the show's producers had the right person.
"I wasn't sure that it was correct and that they were actually calling me," she confessed to BV Newswire. "They had the idea of Terrence [Howard]and then I was like, 'That works.' I just liked the feeling from the beginning."
The 'Soul Train Awards' marks the first time the 'Hustle and Flow' duo have teamed up since filming the John Singleton-helmed 'Four Brothers' back in 2005 in Toronto, but the two have remained close over the years, Henson said.
"He came to my [Academy Award nominee] dinner to show support. Terrence and I have such a beautiful relationship anyway. We have sister-and-brother banter, but it works, so you can totally see us doing a romantic comedy together. We play off of each other really, really well."
The Washington, D.C., native says the legendary award show, which celebrates achievements in black music, "represents a huge chunk of my life."
Though details on the winners and the show's biggest moments have already leaked since its Atlanta taping last month, Henson weighed in on which tribute performance was her favorite.
"My favorite was the Chaka Khan tribute with Ledisi, Erykah Badu, Fantasia and Angie Stone – four of my favorites. I love a lot of the Rufus stuff and 'I'm Every Woman.' I love her rendition of 'My Funny Valentine' and 'A Night in Tunisia.' I'm just a Chaka fan," she laughed.
As for her greatest Soul Train memory, Henson says, "I could not keep my eyes off of the Asian woman with the long hair. I said, 'I'm doing long hair,' when they first called me. I said this on 'The Mo'Nique Show.'"
The 'I Can Do Bad By Myself' star was recently in Beijing for three months filming the highly anticipated 'Karate Kid' remake, which is being produced by Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and stars their son Jaden, of 'The Pursuit of Happyness' fame. The new movie is being called 'Kung Fu Kid,' and Henson nailed the role of the title character's mother, Sherry. The Howard University alum believes the timing for a black martial arts hero-of-sorts is perfect."I'm just excited that we have a black kung fu king. We have images that our kids can look up to, even the 'Princess and the Frog.' Growing up, I never saw myself as a cartoon, and with the old 'Karate Kid,' you don't think about us, so it's just beautiful to have these images for these kids."
As for how life's been since earning a best supporting actress nomination for her portrayal of Brad Pitt's adoptive mother, Queenie, in 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' earlier this year, the 39-year-old single mother of one noted that her life as a Hollywood actress is certainly improving.
"It's always on the up and up, even before the Oscar nomination. Ad has the Oscar nomination helped? Yes. My name is coming up in meetings more often, and I'm being considered on a serious high level," she explained.
The NAACP Image Award winner says the first call she got the day after the 2009 Academy Awards was from Tyler Perry for the lead role in 'I Can Do Bad By Myself.' She has since wrapped production on 'Kung Fu Kid' and the Steve Carrell/Tina Fey comedy 'Date Night,' for which she did not have to audition.
But Henson makes no bones about where her priorities are.
"I'm a mother first, so everything else just falls into place," she said. For the rest of the year, she plans to just enjoy being a mommy and looking for a new house.
'Centric Presents: 2009 Soul Train Awards Show,' will premiere Nov. 29 at 9 p.m. ET. The event will be broadcast simultaneously on the new BET spin-off channel, Centric, and BET.
2009 Soul Train Awards
Estell walks down the red carpet during the 2009 Soul Train Awards taping at the Georgia World Congress Center, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Gregory Smith)
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Zen Q arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zen Q
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Zen Q arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zen Q
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Singer Keri Hilson arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Keri Hilson
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Sean Paul arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Paul
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Claudia Jordan arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Fonzworth Bentley,Claudia Jordan
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Sean Paul arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Paul
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Sean Paul arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Paul
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kim Zolciak arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kim Zolciak
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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 3: Real Housewives of Atlanta cast member Kim Zolciak arrives at the 2009 Soul Train Awards at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia on November 3, 2009. The show will air on Centric on November 29. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kim Zolciak
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Comments: (11)
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By: RENE on 11/23/2009 12:23PM
I loved her preformance in "Not Easily Broken
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By: oldwoman001 on 12/12/2009 11:23AM
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By: airmanchairman on 11/25/2009 12:13PM
No performance can be fiercer than her gun totin' "Smoking Aces" badass-ness!
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By: "DimePiece" on 11/27/2009 12:03PM
I'm sorry, don't care too much for her now a days. She to me, seems to arrogant and an embarrassment to be on TV. Remember the BET Awards? Ever since she won for her part in "Benjamin Button" or somethin like that, her attitude has CHANGED. No, I won't be watching the Soul Train Awards on BET. BET is a inappropriate and disrespectful network PERIOD!
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By: HERNOT VERSAINT on 11/28/2009 11:03AM
Folks! Do not try to judge somebody just on the futilities or personal choices and even manners. Instead of seeing what she can do on the social plat-form for a better judgement. In fact, everyone has also a way to be judged by another one around; The importance is always try to give a second chance to the wiseness!!!
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By: "DimePiece" on 11/30/2009 12:15PM
HERNOT VERSAINT
It's called an opinion not hate. What I said, is how I C it. Again, this is Entertainment.
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By: nea on 11/28/2009 2:47PM
Never ceases to amaze me, that regardless of ones accomplishments, there will always be haters. People who wish they could do what they see others do, but can't or are too coward to try. Which is why its so easy to blog about folks you don't know personally and say some of the most awful stuff. I am sure that when they go to the bank, they could care less about their haters. I believe that if you have a gift of whatever kind that can be used to better your life and the life of others. Have at it.... never hate on anyone's gift. What God has for you is for you. So no matter how others feel, when it is your time and season, all the haters can do is HATE....
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By: "DimePiece" on 11/30/2009 12:03PM
Nea,
It's called an OPINION not HATE. And by the way, I am the only person up on here in YOUR EYES say I'm hating ? Why don't you say "DimePiece"? Makes sense? This is just ENTERTAINMENT, please don't take PERSONAL?
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By: MylaBaby on 11/28/2009 7:54PM
I became a fan of Taraji when she guest starred on Half & Half as Spencer's crazy girlfriend. She is a wonderful actor and I have been enjoying the promos she and Terrence did for the Soul Train Awards. Funny! I love them dancing down the Soul Train line.
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By: Oneil on 11/30/2009 5:12PM
The Soul Train awards were pretty good all things considered, ofcourse it could have been better but at least its back on the air. Taraji was cool, I think some sistas hate not realizing why they do. Her role in Baby Boy is what got most of our attention and many young black women identified with the character;so much that now they view any departure from it (the character) as selling out, so to speak. Taraji is a good actress, maybe even great, but she is indeed an actress- who she is -is not who she portrays. So to say that she is "acting fake" or anything remotely like that is stupid, remember believe none of what you here and only some of what you see.
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