Missy Elliott won a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video this year, which surprised the hip-hop superstar. “I wasn’t even expecting it,” Elliott told Black Voices about winning her sixth award. “I’m still trying to figure it out… maybe because I don’t be into all that pre-Grammy, or pre-any awards stuff. I just go, so I don’t even be knowing what’s going on. I barely watch TV or listen to the radio, so I’m a little lost sometimes.”

This time last year, the Portsmouth, VA, native was thrust into the reality TV craze with UPN’s ‘Road To Stardom’ (a hip-hop hybrid of ‘The Apprentice,’ ‘American Idol’ and ‘America’s Next Top Model), which she and business manager Mona Scott helmed. The buzz from the show served as a prelude for Elliott’s sixth chart-topping opus, 'The Cookbook,' which was released last summer, and garnered critical acclaim, two American Music Awards, and four Grammy nods.

Music and television aren’t the only genres where the sought after singer/songwriter and producer is making strides. She joined Madonna as a spokesperson for Gap clothing, created a line for Adidas, and served as a spokesmodel for MAC Cosmetics. This spring, Elliott will be heard in the Disney movie ‘Stick It,’ which she scored. “It’s a great opportunity, I think, for anybody that can do it,” she said. “But when you definitely have to commit all your time to that, it’s almost like you’re acting in a movie, and it’s hard to do a bunch of other stuff.”

While she did reveal scoring the project wound up being the “wrong timing” for her, Elliott said she did contribute music to be used for the film and its soundtrack. In other movie news, a biopic project is in the pipeline. But Missy is debating who should play the lead. “A lot of these movie people want me to [play myself] but I don’t know, I think it’s a little too emotional for me to play myself,” she said. “I would like to see Fantasia play me actually.” She added that a greatest hits package featuring three new tracks is also on tap, along with collaborations for new discs by Monica, Fantasia and ‘Road To Stardom’ winner Jessica Betts. And maybe a touring jaunt with Mary J. Blige. “Me and Mary are like family and we go way back, so a tour with her would be crazy.”

Billy Dee Williams will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the 16th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards, taking place Feb. 20 at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles. His close friend and fellow legendary actor Diahann Carroll is confirmed to present the award. Both starred on the hit prime-time soap, ‘Dynasty,’ in the 1980s. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual who has made numerous contributions to the entertainment industry, says a rep for the event. Williams, with an illustrious acting career on the silver screen, stage and television, is best remembered for performances in the original run of August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ and his Broadway musical debut in “Hallelujah, Baby!” His films include “Lady Sings the Blues,” “Mahogany” and a pair of “Star Wars” movies. Gabrielle Union, Flex Alexander, Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon, LisaRaye McCoy, James Avery, Malinda Williams, Obba Babatunde, Monica Calhoun, Leon and Anne-Marie Johnson are among those expected to attend the awards presentation.

Rap vixen turned urban literary personality Queen Pen has signed a deal with Simon & Schuster to release her sophomore novel, ‘Blossom,’ May 23 via the publisher’s Atria imprint. The Brooklyn native and mother of two teenage sons (nee Lynise Walters) is the former protégé of hip-hop/R&B producer Teddy Riley, and released her debut album ‘My Melody’ in 1997. Pen, 31, appeared on the hit track ‘No Diggitty’ and also collaborated with Jay-Z, Mr. Cheeks, Cam’ron, DJ Clue, Miss Jones, Junior “Gong” Marley and Bryce Wilson. In 2001, a follow-up set, ‘Conversations With Queen,’ surfaced but didn’t cause a spark. However, with her turn as an author (the independently released page-turner ‘Situations’ in 2002, which reportedly sold 75,000 copies), she flourished. According to a Simon & Schuster rep, ‘Blossom’ will reveal the inner workings of a New York City hustler’s life and the women who can’t get enough of him. “Blossom is an unvarnished, candied portrait of life in urban black America where tomorrows are never guaranteed and drama and danger is always near,” the rep maintains.

Jeffrey Wright, currently appearing in the Oscar nominated ‘Syriana,’ has joined the cast of the forthcoming James Bond movie ‘Casino Royale.’ Martin Campbell, who directed the 1995 blockbuster ‘Goldeneye,’ will helm the new production, which will be the 21st Bond film. With plans for release on Nov. 17, ‘Royale’ will be shot on location in the Czech Republic, the Bahamas, Italy and the United Kingdom. The Washington DC native, who first came to film audiences' attention as the troubled artist Jean Michel Basquiat in ‘Basquiat,’ has subsequently garnered critical praise for his Emmy-winning performance in HBO's ‘Angels in America,’ and in such films as "Shaft,’ ‘Ali,’ ‘The Manchurian Candidate,’ and ‘Lackawanna Blues.’ On the Broadway stage, Wright, 41, has starred in ‘Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk,’ and ‘Topdog/Underdog.’ In July, the Tony Award winner will be seen in the Warner Bros. drama ‘Lady in the Water,’ written and directed by M. Night Shayamalan and starring Paul Giamatti and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Eric Jerome Dickey’s first issue of his six part Storm series for Marvel Comics arrives in stores Feb. 22. ‘The best-selling novelist has created a gritty and epic story arc revealing the untold love story of the world's two most popular African American Superheroes, Ororo (also known as Storm of the X-Men) and T'Challa (a.k.a. The Black Panther -- the world's first African American Superhero). Marking Dickey's first comic book writing effort, the series blends romance and adventure against the backdrop of Africa. Emerging artist David Yardin (Black Panther, District X) will illustrate the books. Subsequent issues will be released every month through July. Dickey, who has two new book offerings (‘Chasing Destiny,’ ‘Voices from the Other Side’) arriving in April, was recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Literary Fiction.