Frances White was treated like a superstar yesterday, even if she didn’t get to sing with one. White, a Mechanicsville resident, was one of four finalists chosen to appear live on the “Today” show for the “Sing in the Spotlight with Jennifer Hudson” contest produced by the NBC morning program. But the longtime gospel singer was bested by 19-year-old Melissa Goscinski from Queens, N.Y., who got to share the stage with Hudson as her prize.

Rarely do I hear from readers with a complaint about an artist.  Complaints about venues. Complaints about reviews. Complaints about sound. Yes, yes and yes.  Bu the day after Sunday’s Jennifer Hudson-Robin Thicke show at the Landmark Theater, my voice mail and e-mail were flooded with queries from concertgoers all wondering the same thing: Why didn’t Hudson perform an encore, and why didn’t she sing the song that helped win her an Oscar, “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,“ as she’s done on other recent tour stops?

Though technically a double bill of two young, respected soul singers, there was little doubt who ruled the Landmark Theater stage last night. Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke are a well-matched touring pair, with each bringing an arsenal of charms—a roaring voice and personable stage demeanor for her, a sweeping falsetto and loverboy charisma for him.

She’s the power-lunged Oscar and Grammy winner who has emerged from a family tragedy with unspeakable grace and class.  He’s the blue-eyed soul man whose sexy tunes have nabbed him an ardent female following and critical respect for his muscular funk. 

Jennifer Hudson, Robin Thicke tickets going on sale Friday   The return of Jennifer Hudson continues with a spring tour on which she’ll be joined by Robin Thicke.  The soulful pair will perform at the Landmark Theater at 7:30 p.m. April 19.  Tickets, priced from $38.50-$58.50, go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow. They can be purchased at the venue box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, http://www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (804) 262-8100.

Days after the Super Bowl, the blogosphere wasn’t overloaded with conversation about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ record sixth championship or the devastation the Arizona Cardinals must feel after   coming within 35 seconds of the team’s first Super Bowl win in 61 seasons.  The chatter wasn’t much about Bruce Springsteen’s unconventional halftime set list or even his wince-inducing knee slide into a camera, either.