Stars Share Their Holiday Wishes

Jet, Dec 25, 2000

Christmas is a season that always holds fond and lasting memories of family and friends. It is a season of gift sharing and merriment.

And everyone has a special gift that he or she received on Christmas that seems to live on year after year. The very thought of the gift and the person who gave it--still brings a warm smile and a special memory.

Celebrities are no different. They, too, hold a special place in their hearts for the warmth, joy and peace of the holiday season and the gift that it brings.

On the following pages, celebrities share their holiday wishes as they reveal all they want for Christmas this year. They also look back and recall the best gift they have ever received.

PATTI LABELLE, Soulful singer Patti LaBelle says all she wants for Christmas is: "To see people treating each other with love and respect."

Best gift: My favorite all time gift was when I helped out a needy family. At that time I was a struggling artist and did not have much money, but my family decided instead of buying each other gifts we would share it with others and buy presents for a family that was less fortunate than we were.

LIL' BOW WOW, teen rap sensation, says, "I want a puppy--a Boxer."

Best gift: A diamond Mickey Mouse chain that JD (Jermaine Dupri) gave me last Christmas.

QUEEN LATIFAH, talk show host, rap star and actress, is wishing for: "A Mercedes Benz 700."

Best gift: A 64-inch TV last year from Telepictures, which produces "Queen Latifah Show."

THE ROCK, superstar wrestler, reveals his holiday wish list: "Two chilled Grand Marnier, one Joe CD and mistletoe. Maybe one more Atari...."

Best gift: When I was 8 years old, I came home from school and told my mom there was no Santa Claus and to please stop saying that Santa was real. `I'm a big boy now and I don't believe in Santa.' On Christmas Eve she hired a Santa to come to the house, complete with reindeer footsteps on the roof and loud sleigh bells. Needless to say, I was now convinced that Santa really did exist! He even brought with him exactly what I wanted for Christmas, Atari! It was the extra effort on this special holiday that made this gift the best one I've ever received.

KELLY PRICE, hit singer: "All I want for Christmas is to celebrate quietly and privately with my kids, my family and my closest friends, so we can share the warmth of the holiday together as I open my diamond studs and new fur jacket."

Best gift: My best Christmas ever was Christmas '98. I brought all of my family members to New York and for the first time in my adult life we were all together. Mommy, both my sisters, their spouses and kids, my grandparents, my mother's siblings, great aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, everyone from both sides of the family. We even had friends over that we hadn't seen in years.... There was enough food to feed everyone and presents were lined from the tree to the front door.... I am forever grateful that we will always have the memory of bringing the Normans. Prices and Rolles together if for that one time.

JAMIE FOXX, famed comedian and star of the hit sitcom "The Jamie Foxx Show": "All I want for Christmas is.... Halle Berry. No disrespect Eric Benet."

Best gift: My all-time favorite Christmas gift was sitting with my mom at the Lakers game.

TAVIS SMILEY, famed TV talk show host, author and commentator on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show": "All I want for Christmas is a day at home with family and no phones ringing."

Best gift: A five-pound tin can of homemade fudge with pecans from my mother.

SHERYL LEE RALPH, co-star of "Moesha": "All I want for Christmas is `a good time.'"

Best gift: My daughter. She was born two days before Christmas.

T.D. JAKES, renowned pastor and author: "All I want for Christmas is the joy of knowing that those who are the nearest and dearest to me are happy, healthy and around me. These things coupled with the peace that comes from knowing who I am in Christ makes Christmas meaningful to me."

Best gift: The first new piano my mother gave me when I was a child. It came after having an old upright that hardly played and it was such an exciting gift given at a time when money was scarce and new pianos were beyond our financial reach. Love found a way then and it still does today. I will never forget the message of the piano. It was an expression of my mother's love for me. Now the piano is gone, my mother is gone, but the memory still lives on today.

DMX, superstar rapper: "All I want for Christmas is initial happiness for the world. That every family receives the blessings of three meals a day, that every family has a roof over their head and clothing on their back."

Best gift: My two sons, Xavier, 8, and Tacoma, 1 1/2.... My wife, Tashera, and I cherish God's blessings of our two bundles of joy.

SHAQUILLE O' NEAL, basketball All-star and MVP of the L.A. Lakers: "All I want for Christmas is a Ferrari."

Best gift: I don't receive gifts ... I'm Santa.

MACY GRAY, hit recording star: "All I want for Christmas is for reporters to stop asking me stupid questions about my hair and my clothes."