NEW ORLEANS – At this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture Presented by Coca-Cola, Missy Elliott will curate a celebration of the life, music and legacy of Aaliyah, marking 30 years since her landmark “One in a Million” album, and celebrating the enduring impact of an artist who changed R&B music and the culture. Elliott famously collaborated with Aaliyah to help create some of her most timeless hits on the album, including “One in a Million” and “If Your Girl Only Knew.”
Aaliyah holds a special place in ESSENCE Festival history. She was a performer at the very first ESSENCE Festival of Culture in 1995. And during the event’s 30th anniversary event in 2024, the festival paid tribute to the artist with a special performance of “One in a Million” by actress and singer Serayah, who sported a vintage Karl Kani jacket originally worn by the late starlet.
“In 1995, my sister performed at the inaugural ESSENCE festival alongside an impressive line-up of legendary performers,” said her brother, Rashad Haughton. “It was so successful that it became a yearly celebration of our culture, and an illumination of the power of Black women’s voices within it. Thirty-one years later, I am overcome with gratitude to the founders, artists, and the inimitable Missy Elliott for honoring my sister with this tribute, celebrating her life, art, and ongoing legacy.”
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