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2016 Essence Festival Lineup Announced: Mariah Carey, Maxwell to Headline

essence-festival

The 22nd annual Essence Festival is blending the old and new school with its extensive list of artists scheduled to perform. This year’s headlining acts include Mariah Carey, Maxwell and rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Other artists scheduled to perform at the highly anticipated event include Andra Day, Ciara, BJ The Chicago Kid, Charlie Wilson, Daley, Digable Planets, Faith Evans, Jeremih, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Lalah Hathaway, Leon Bridges, Lion Babe, MC Lyte, New Edition, Robert Glasper Experiment, Tink, The Internet, Tyrese and more. The festival still plans to add even more artists, which will be revealed at a later date.

“The Essence Festival is back in New Orleans with an extraordinary roster of the biggest names and best performers in entertainment—from global music icons to the industry’s rising stars,” said Essence President Michelle Ebanks. “We are welcoming Mariah Carey, Kendrick Lamar and Maxwell to headline the Superdome main stage. In addition, we will be embracing newcomers like Leon Bridges, Jeremih, Lion Babe, Dej Loaf and The Internet, as well as fan favorite Charlie Wilson for the ultimate cultural experience in New Orleans this July 4th weekend.”

The Essence Music Festival will take over the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans beginning June 30th to July 3rd.

Check out essencefestival.com for more information about tickets, performers and travel accommodations.

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Anita Baker to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2018 BET Awards

After more than 30 years of music service, Anita Baker will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2018 BET Awards.

Since releasing her debut album The Songstress in 1983, Baker’s music journey has been incredible to watch. Every time she sings, her warm presence is felt in heartfelt songs like “Angel,” “Body & Soul,” “I Apologize” and “Giving You The Best That I Got.” It’s that same voice that has earned her eight Grammy Awards, multi-platinum success, a string of hits and other much-deserved accolades.

While many previous Lifetime Achievement Award recipients have performed at the ceremony, Baker will not grace the stage due to an upper respiratory infection. Instead, she plans to “simply sit and accept” her honor from BET.

The big question at hand is, who will be performing during the tribute for Ms. Baker?

Hosted by Jamie Fox, the BET Awards will air live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles this Sunday, June 24 at 8 p.m. ET on BET.

Janet Jackson Covers Essence Magazine’s Happiness Issue

Janet covers July/August 2018 issue of Essence Magazine
Photo Credit: Essence

Janet Jackson is all about positivity. The music icon graces the cover of Essence’s July/August issue, which is all about happiness.

Instead of doing a traditional interview as a cover story, Jackson decided to pen a heartfelt essay to black women titled “Letter From My Heart.” In the transparent letter, she reveals herself like never before. She talks about lessons she learned from her childhood to adulthood, including her early struggles with depression, low self-esteem and failed relationships to her eventual growth as an artist, discovery of peace and learning to “fully embrace God’s love.”

Here are excerpts from the letter:

In Her Childhood: “I was happy when my brothers came home from performing on the road. I was happy when my mother lavished me with love. But I wasn’t happy with the way I looked…”

In Her Teens: “Happiness came when people asked me to perform…but I was happiest when I was pleasing others and not myself. An older and wiser Janet might have said, ‘True happiness is knowing you’re doing the best you can…’”

Photo Credit: Essence

In Her Thirties: “These were difficult years, when I struggled with depression. The struggle was intense. I could analyze the source of my depression forever. Low self-esteem might be rooted in childhood feelings of inferiority. It could relate to failing to meet impossibly high standards. And of course there are always the societal issues of racism and sexism. Put it all together and depression is a tenacious and scary condition. Thankfully, I found my way way through it…”

Today, at 52: “Now the height of happiness is holding my baby son in my arms and hearing him coo, or when I look into his smiling eyes and watch him respond to my tenderness. When I kiss him. When I sing him softly to sleep. During those sacred times, happiness is everywhere. Happiness is in gratitude to God…”

The July/August issue is now on newsstands. Next up, Jackson will headline the 2018 Essence Festival on Sunday, July 8 in New Orleans.

Mary J. Blige Lands Leading Role in Horror Thriller ‘Body Cam’

Mary J. Blige plans to take Hollywood by storm in a leading role. The R&B legend will star in Body Cam, a horror thriller slated to be issued by Paramount’s Paramount Players division.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film, which stars Blige as an LAPD police officer, captures several officers being tormented by a malevolent spirit that is connected to the murder of a black youth at the hands of two white cops, all of which are caught on a body cam video that was destroyed in a cover-up. Blige, who is rattled by the nightmares, investigates the cover-up.

Directed by Malik Vitthal and produced by Matt Kaplan, Body Cam is described as a combination of films Get Out and End of Watch. The spec script was written by Richmond Riedel, and rewritten by Nicholas McCarthy and John Ridley.

Aside from preparing for her first major acting part, Blige is filming Netflix’s comic adaptation series The Umbrella Academy.

In March, Blige starred in Sherlock Gnomes as Irene Adler. She received several prestigious accolades and recognition including two Oscar nominations for her role and contribution to Dee Rees’ film adaptation of Mudbound.

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