ACTRESS TEYANA TAYLOR TAKES THE "BOSSES CHAIR" AT ESSENCE FEST 2026!

 FRESH FROM THE OSCARS STAGE IN HOLLYWOOD!

(March 20, 2026) Singer, songwriter, actress, and entrepreneur Teyana Taylor sits at the helm of one of the largest music festivals in the country.

Fresh off the Oscars stage in Hollywood, Teyana and her creative company, The Aunties, as Chief Curator for 2026, will change the weekend in ways organizers proclaim you will feel from the first day to the last.

She Is Not Just a Name on a Press Release...

She's more than the entry on an awards ceremony envelope.

The Essence Black Women in Hollywood honoree. Golden Globe winner. Oscar-nominated actress and GRAMMY-nominated singer. We have watched her build The Aunties into one of the most intentional creative companies working right now. What she does, across music, film, fashion, and stage design, is exactly what will shape the full Festival of Culture experience from the moment you walk through the doors on July 3 to the moment the lights come up on July 5.

In her words: "ESSENCE has always been more than a festival — it is a reunion. I'm a true Auntie. The one in your corner, cheering you on, telling you the truth with love, and making sure every room you walk into knows you belong there. That's what I'm bringing to this programming."

That is the energy we are coming with this summer. Teyana and The Aunties work directly with our programming, talent, and community teams, shaping the mainstage, the daytime experiences, and the moments in between so the entire weekend tells one cohesive and uplifting story.

So don't miss the high-energy presence that was the talk of the awards season this year in one of the "sauciest cities in the world," New Orleans.

Teyana Taylor is not new to this; she's "true to this!" This time she's gracing the stage as a "real boss!"

For more ticket information, visit: https://www.essence.com/essencefestival2026/...

LEDISI RELEASES NEW ALBUM-"THE CROWN!"

MEGA STAR LEDISI RELEASES NEW ALBUM: (Los Angeles, CA – March 19, 2025) – Grammy Award-winning artist Ledisi is set to reign supreme with the release of her highly anticipated 12th studio album, The Crown, arriving April 25 via Listen Back Entertainment/BMG.

The Crown features the chart-rising lead single, "Love You Too", a soulful and infectious track that’s quickly becoming a fan favorite. The album also includes the powerful anthem "BLKWMN" which has received widespread praise following Ledisi’s breathtaking performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at Super Bowl LIX.

Ledisi states, “With every album I sing LIFE and write songs geared towards the human experience.” She goes on to say, “The Crown is a metaphor for being in the spotlight and being of service to others. I hope people feel no matter how heavy or challenging life is we always choose to wear our crowns with grace and confidence. Always choosing love and the truth.”

In addition to the new album, Ledisi is gearing up to hit the road for her highly anticipated "Love You Too Tour," which will kick off May 28 in Baltimore, MD. Special guest Marsha Ambrosius will join on select dates. The tour will also make stops in New York, DC, Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, Toronto, and more.

With her unmatched vocals, undeniable stage presence, and a growing collection of powerful anthems, Ledisi is poised to make 2025 a year to remember.

For tour dates, album details, and ticket information, visit www.ledisi.com.

LOVE YOU TOO TOUR – DATES

(* = Marsha Ambrosius will not appear)

DATE CITY VENUE

May 28, 2025 Baltimore, MD Lyric Baltimore
May 30, 2025 Washington, D.C. The Theater at MGM National Harbor
May 31, 2025 Washington, D.C. The Theater at MGM National Harbor
June 1, 2025 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center
June 3, 2025 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome
June 4, 2025 Wilmington, NC Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College
June 6, 2025 Atlantic City, NJ Circus Maximus Theater at Caesars Atlantic City
June 7, 2025 Durham, NC Durham Performing Arts Center
June 8, 2025 Columbia, SC Township Auditorium
June 10, 2025 Louisville, KY The Louisville Palace
June 12, 2025 Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre
June 13, 2025 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater
June 14, 2025 Detroit, MI* Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre (w/ Rahsaan Patterson)
June 16, 2025 Toronto, ON Massey Hall
June 17, 2025 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
June 19, 2025 St. Louis, MO Stifel Theatre
June 20, 2025 Florence, KY Turfway Park Event Center
June 21, 2025 Memphis, TN Orpheum Theatre
June 22, 2025 Huntsville, AL Mark C. Smith Concert Hall
June 24, 2025 Charlotte, NC Ovens Auditorium
June 25, 2025 Greenville, SC Peace Center - Concert Hall
June 27, 2025 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
June 28, 2025 Stockbridge, GA* Stockbridge Amphitheater (w/ Kindred the Family Soul)
June 29, 2025 Savannah, GA Johnny Mercer Theatre

"VisionVoiceVarion" thanks "Strong Arm Media's" Tasha Stout for the information in this press release.

CORONA CHRONICLES--ESSENCE 2020 CANCELLED

NEW ORLEANS MAYOR SUGGESTS NO LARGE EVENTS UNTIL 2021


Its Official, Essence Fest 2020 has been cancelled. 
Here’s the official word from event organizers. 

STATEMENT FROM ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. ON THE 2020 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE

(April 22, 2020)--New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell bravely recommended yesterday that no large events take place in New Orleans in 2020, and ESSENCE fully supports that decision. After continued monitoring of the evolving developments in the COVID-19 global pandemic and remaining in close contact and collaboration with our partners in the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana, we are confirming today that we will no longer move forward with the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture live experience – and look forward to returning to New Orleans in 2021. 

We are excited to now announce that our ‘ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19’ will raise money and provide support for businesses and organizations in Black communities across the country, and that our first-ever ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition taking place over July 4th weekend will be included in this effort as a multi-day experience and benefit celebration. This Festival will be hosted on our new ESSENCE Studios streaming platform, which will extend the experience to communities everywhere providing unfettered access to the power, purpose and party that has made the ESSENCE Festival the largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience in the world. Women across the globe and their families will engage in interactive, live opportunities to be inspired, empowered, entertained and transformed as they enter a new economic, spiritual and wellness journey ahead. The virtual Festival will be a benefit celebration in honor and support of the City of New Orleans, which has been an incredible partner over the Festival’s 26 years and continues to be especially hard hit during this crisis.

From the beginning, we have shared that the health, safety and well-being of our Festival-goers, local citizens and others who contribute to making the Festival such a unique experience were our top concerns and would be the foremost considerations in our decision-making. While we initially hoped that a reschedule from our July 2020 dates to later in the fall would be feasible, current information and projections by public health officials and agencies have made it increasingly clear that any large-scale events this year could potentially and unnecessarily put attendees and surrounding communities at risk. So, what would have typically been a very difficult decision for us was not because people come first, and we will continue to do everything that we can to serve our community during this time. We will honor all tickets sold for the 2020 Festival in 2021 and will also offer full refunds. Ticket holders should visit www.essencefestival.com for further information.

‘ESSENCE and the City of New Orleans have a partnership that thrives in good times and is made even stronger in challenging times,” said Mayor Cantrell. ‘We share an uncompromised commitment to the best interest of our local community and our tourist community, and the priorities right now are providing support to those who have been affected by the disproportionate impact of the pandemic here in New Orleans and ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all. We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our great city in 2021 for the return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture and to once again helping to create such an unmatched and magical experience.”

‘We greatly appreciate the Essence family for working with the City of New Orleans and Louisiana as we face this ongoing public health crisis,’ said Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana. ‘We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the Essence family and look forward to continuing the celebration in 2021.’

We continue to understand that in these times, accurate information and critical resources from trusted sources are vital. So, ESSENCE created the ESSENCE of the Matter: COVID-19’s Impact on Black America digital platform to provide Black women and communities with the tools, information, resources, solutions, inspiration and empowerment needed to address the multitude of issues arising from this pandemic. ESSENCE Studios will deliver these live virtual experiences and produce the content our community needs as we continue to navigate this unprecedented time together and beyond. Experiences to date have included our first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness Houseä and ESSENCE CARES Act information sessions, with the next – the ESSENCE & New Voices Entrepreneur Summit – included in our Benefit Series and scheduled for Friday, April 24. Visit www.essence.com for more information. In addition, our editorial team is producing daily content on our dedicated page to educate our community on the coronavirus, its impact, best practices for prevention and how we can not only survive, but thrive, through this time.’

NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU: REMEMBERING PRINCE

THE DAY THE MUSIC STOPPED!


(New Orleans, LA.)--Few have influenced a generation musically like Prince Rogers Nelson. Live on eternally in Paradise, Prince! This week marks 4 years since your voice was silenced. Time has done little to heal the holes left in our hearts. 

Essence Music Festival 2014

Essence Music Festival 2014

Essence Music Festival 2014

(Photo Credit: Artist Photographer during Essence Music Festival 2014-New Orleans) 




#RememberingAnIcon 
#PrinceRogersNelson 
#4YrsWithoutTheGift 
#EMF2014