essence

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Essence Music Festival is dropping the music - from its name, that is. The festival held in New Orleans every July 4th weekend for the past 18 years has rebranded itself The Essence Festival. Organizers say the change is designed to showcase the event as more than a music festival...

Kelly Rowland attended the 3rd annual Essence Black Women in Music event, presented by the Lincoln MKX Crossover, Wednesday night (Feb. 8) in Hollywood and was honored for her achievements in the music industry alongside record label veteran Sylvia Rhone...

Beyonce brings it back to her Texan roots with a country-themed cover shoot for the July issue of Essence magazine. In the behind-the-scenes video of the shoot, the Houston-born superstar, whose upcoming album '4' just leaked onto the Internet two weeks ahead of schedule, is one sexy cowgirl...

Kanye West and Mary J. Blige have been announced as the headliners of the 17th Annual Essence Music Festival in New Orleans this July. The R&B/Soul festival, which takes place July 1-3 at the Louisiana Superdome, will also feature performances by Jill Scott, Trey Songz, Fantasia, Charlie Wilson and Boyz II Men on the main stage, while legendary artists like George Clinton and Parliament Funkad