10 hottest couples: while pursuing the spotlight, famous twosomes make time for love

Ebony, Jan, 1996 by Lynn Norment

Among the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, and all across America, love is thriving among the rich and famous, and among ordinary working men and women as well. While the divorce rate may still be up among celebrities, love and marriage also are alive and well and spreading throughout the hills and valleys, and spas and audition halls. That is evident in the hoards of paparazzi photographs taken at movie premieres, awards galas and the many charity events that attract the stars.

We see well-known couples holding hands and sometimes even smooching and snuggling in public. And they long for each other's company when absence is necessary due to two superbusy lives. But unlike other couples in love, most cannot walk down the street together without attracting autograph-seekers.

This year's hot couples include romantic duos from television, films, the music industry and sports. And in several cases, both partners are in show business and met their soul mates in the line of duty. Jazz guitarist Kevin Eubanks and actress Tammy Townsend, for example, met at a recording session. Actors Tisha Campbell and Duane Martin met at an audition, and on bent knee he proposed last spring. Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes of TLC and NFL player Andre Rison met at a party and are now planning July nuptials. We also feature several newlyweds, including Glayds Knight and Les Brown, who jumped the broom in August after a three-year romance.

On these pages we present some of the hottest couples in the entertainment business. While they make a name for themselves by recording music, making movies and filming television shows, they also make time for love.

Gladys Knight & Les Brown: Veteran, soulful singer Gladys Knight and motivational speaker and author Les Brown were married in August in a private ceremony in Las Vegas, crowning a romance that started about three years ago. They met in Chicago while Glayds was performing at the Regal Theater. She says there was a "little electrical thing" when he said hello and hugged her in the dressing room after her performance. They stayed in touch and got to know each other via telephone, for both were busy with their careers. But shortly after meeting the second time, Les proposed to Gladys at her home in Las Vegas, offering a huge engagement ring. She accepted. Glayds says Les is the best thing that's ever happened to her, as she sings in the famous song. He says: "She has brought to my life a love of completeness and fulfillment that I did not even know was available."

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett: This Hollywood couple has become a loving twosome on the celebrity circuit in the past year since Will split from his wife, Sheree, last February. (The divorce became final in October.) The Grammy Award-winning rap artist and popular star of NBC's The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air has escorted Jada, considered one of the hottest new actresses, to a number of high-profile events, including the premiere of Devil In A Blue Dress and Mike Tyson's comeback bout in Las Vegas. Will, 27, also has starred in several movies, including Six Degrees of Separation and Bad Boys. Jada, 24, who first hit the limelight with her role as the college student Lena on A Different World, has appeared in the films Menace II Society, The Inkwell, Jason's Lyric, A Low Down Dirty Shame, and The Nutty Professor opposite Eddie Murphy, due out in 1996.

Martin Lawrence & Patricia Southall: In January 1995, the comedian star of the enormously popular Fox comedy, Martin, married Patricia, a former Miss Virginia and first runner-up to Miss USA 1994. More than 600 guests attended the beautiful winter wedding that featured 14 hostesses, 18 grooms and 18 bridesmaids. Brian McKnight sand "I Never Felt This Way," and Richard Smallwood sayd "The Center Of My Joy." The couple met in the summer of 1993 when the bride worked for then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's media office, and Martin was in Richmond performing in a "Def Comedy Jam" concert. The happy couple are expecting their first child in January 1996. While starting a family with his new wife, Martin, 30, continues to succeed in the entertainment business. His television show is in its fifth season, and in the past year, he starred with Will Smith in the action-comedy Bad Boys, and he is directing and starring in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. He also has a comedy album, Funk It, due for release in January.

Chante Moore & Kadeem Hardison: The silky-voiced, romantic singer (left) recalls the night she met actor Kadeem Hardison, but what she'll never forget is the night they fell in love. The show business couple met briefly at a party in 1993, and she recalls telling him how much she enjoyed his role as Dwayne Wayne on A Different World. "He made a strong impression on me," she says. "I didn't want to leave his side for some reason." She says no other words were exchanged that night, but "the impression was made." A few months later, the two were paired to present an award at the NAACP Image Awards. When they went backstage to greet the press, Kadeem, who has appeared in a number of movies, including Vampire In Brooklyn, Panther, Renaissance Man, White Men Can't Jump and Gunmen, took her hand and "never let it go," recalls Chante, whose two gold recordings, Precious and A Love Supreme, are the epitome of romance. "We floated until 5 a.m.," she says. "It was one of the best nights of my life and we haven't come down to earth yet!"