Missy Elliott To Honor Aaliyah During ESSENCE Fest’s Sunday Flowers Tribute

ESSENCE Festival To Honor Aaliyah With a Tribute Curated by Missy Elliott

At this year’sESSENCE Festival of Culture® Presented by Coca-Cola®, you’ll get to bear witness to a celebration of the life, music, and legacy of Aaliyah, with help from her friend and collaborator, Missy Elliott. The Sunday night tribute will mark 30 years since Aaliyah’s landmark One in a Million album was released, and honor the enduring impact of an artist who changed R&B music and the culture. Elliott famously teamed 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 very special place in ESSENCE Festival history. She was a performer at the very first ESSENCE Festival of Culture in 1995. Then a teenager, she held her own on a stacked lineup that included the likes of Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin. And during the event’s 30th anniversary event in 2024, we 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.

What memorable moments will this year’s tribute bring? We can’t wait to find out. And you know if Elliott is involved, it’s sure to be “Hot Like Fire.” Get your tickets to be with us during this unforgettable tribute to “Baby Girl,” brought to you with love from Missy Elliott and featuring performances from some very special guests.

Tickets for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture® presented by Coca-Cola® are available now via Ticketmaster. Hotel packages and travel offerings are also available for attendees planning their stay in New Orleans.

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