The best of the best hit the stage at the 15th annual Essence Music Festival July 3-5 in New Orleans. Check out shots of Beyonce, Ne-Yo, John Legend, Maxwell, Al Green, Salt-N-Pepa, Lionel Richie and many more, as they rock the Essence festival.

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Essence Festival 2009
Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Maxwell, John Legend, Jazmine Sullivan, Al Green and many more took the stage at the 2009 Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

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Sean Gardner, Getty Images

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