Home • Photos Star Gazing: ESSENCE Music Festival 2012 Star Gazing: ESSENCE Music Festival 2012 By Essence · Updated October 28, 2020 01 Headliner ESSENCE Music Festival headliner Charlie Wilson signs autographs for fans at the Convention Center. 02 Sisterly Love Gospel duo Mary Mary receive their award at the ESSENCE Empowerment Experience at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 03 Happy Couple Kirk Franklin and wife, Tammy, enjoy the sights and sounds of ESSENCE Music Festival. 04 Sunday Best Sunday Best winner Amber Bullock enjoys the ESSENCE Music Festival. 05 Gospel Star Gospel star VaShawn Mitchell at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 06 Picture Perfect Steve and Marjorie Harvey attend the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 07 All Smiles ESSENCE Communications President Michelle Ebanks, Aretha Franklin and Trey Songz share a happy moment backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 08 Top Talent ESSENCE Communications President Michelle Ebanks, Aretha Franklin and Kevin Hart meet backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 09 Reigning Queen New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and ESSENCE Communications President Michelle Ebanks present Aretha Franklin with several awards. 10 Model Smile Eva Marcille and ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks poses for a picture backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 11 Photo Opp Rev. Al Sharpton meets with ESSENCE President Michelle Ebanks. 12 Gold Star Estelle enjoys the atmosphere backstage in VIP at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 13 1377863 14 Reality Check Shaunie O’Neal and Evelyn Lozada enjoy the VIP lounge at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 15 Fierce Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada poses for the camera at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 16 Grunge Glam Pharrell Williams at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans. 17 Dem Guns Luke James flaunts his muscles at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 18 Motherly Glow Tina Campbell of Mary Mary was all smiles showing off her baby bump at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images 19 Golden Girl Michelle Williams strikes a pose at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 20 Mr. Goodbar Celebrity trainer and Biggest Loser star Dolvett Quince visits the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 21 Music Man Anthony Hamilton takes a minute to answer media questions at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 22 1376303 23 Sparkle & Shine Estelle rocked the house in her performance at the Superlounge. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images 24 She’s Every Woman Chaka Khan closed out the ESSENCE Music Festival in a stellar performance at the Superdome. Skip Bolen/Getty Images 25 Printed Diva Evelyn Lozada stops by the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 26 Queen of the Night Chaka Khan looked radiant in her hip shaking performance at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Skip Bolen/Getty Images 27 Glowing Smile Eva Marcille is looking casual and cute for Sunday night’s ESSENCE Music Festival concerts. Michael Rowe 28 Shake It! Eve was all hands and having fun in her performance at the Superlounge. Erika Goldring/Getty Images 29 Singing Beauty Bridget Kelly sang beautifully during her performance at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Erika Goldring/Getty Images 30 1375803 31 1374613 32 Purple Beauty Melissa Harris Perry rocks a fierce purple dress at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 33 Duet Eric Benet and Marsha Ambrosius pose backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. 34 Denim Dude Kirk Franklin attends the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 35 Fan Favorites Lance Gross, Keshia Knight-Pulliam and Michelle Williams enjoy the perks of the ESSENCE Luxe Lounge. 36 Aqua-Beauty Michelle Williams enjoys the Luxe Lounge at ESSENCE Music Festival. 37 Camera Ready Doug E. Fresh and Janelle Snowden take a quick photo backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. 38 DJ- Love DJ-Nice and MC Lyte share a sweet moment together backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. 39 Friends Forever Kendu Issac and Shaunie O’Neal grab a drink backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival VIP lounge. 40 Beautiful People Eva Marcille and Malik Yoba enjoy the VIP lounge at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 41 Brotherly Love Trey Songz says hello to Kevin Hart before he go goes on stage. 42 Silky Smooth Raheem DaVaughn stops by the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 43 Eric Roberson Eric Roberson performed at ESSENCE Festival in 2012 and 2015. 44 Ageless Beauty Vanessa L. Williams opens up about her relationship with her mother on the ESSENCE Empowerment Stage. 45 Braxton Sisters Trina Braxton and Tamar Braxton enjoy the VIP lounge at ESSENCE Music Festival. 46 Destiny’s Child Michelle Williams poses for the cameras at ESSENCE Music Festival. 47 Gospel Greats Mary Mary takes the Empowerment Stage by storm at ESSENCE Music Festival. 48 Family Feud Steve Harvey plays an amazing game of Family Feud. 49 British Butterfly Marsha Ambrosius hangs out with friends backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 50 R&B Front Man Kenny Lattimore was all smiles backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 51 TV Veteran Tempestt Bledsoe enjoys the concert from VIP at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 52 Georgia Love Cynthia Bailey and husband Peter Thomas share an intimate moment backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 53 Life Coach Iyanla Vanzant enjoys the ESSENCE Music Festival from backstage. Michael Rowe 54 Beautiful Vision June Ambrose looks beautiful backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 55 Luxe Lounge S. Epatha Merkerson enjoys the sights and sounds of ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 56 Wihte Hot Russell Hornsby watches the concerts backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 57 Sister-Sister Tasha Smith and her twin sister Sidra Smith enjoy the Festival backstage. Michael Rowe 58 Hairstyle Diva Ursula Stephens, hairstylist to the stars, enjoys VIP at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 59 Reunited Former Destiny’s Child band members Michelle Williams and Letoya Luckett were all hugs at the 2012 Essence Music Festival. Johnny Nunez/Getty Images 60 Dancing Queen Ledisi dances onstage during Saturday night’s ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 61 Red Hot Eva Marcille enjoys the Saturday night lineup at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 62 Bedazzled Tamar Braxton flashes her pearly whites for the cameras backstage at the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 63 Funny Man ESSENCE Music Festival host Nephew Tommy signs autographs for fans at the Convention Center. Michael Rowe 64 Serious Business Tyrese is all business as he arrives to the Convention Center of the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 65 TV Couple Anthony Anderson and Tempestt Bledsoe, stars of NBC’s newest show Guys with Kids, enjoy the sights and sounds of the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 66 Powerful Women ESSENCE editor-in-chief Constance C.R. White and Congresswoman Maxine Waters at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 67 Beautiful Author ESSENCE Music Festival performer Ledisi signs copies of her book Better Than Alright for fans. Michael Rowe 68 Free Voice ESSENCE.com Live Stage host Free takes a quick photo before hopping on stage. Michael Rowe 69 Baby Blue Michael Jai White backstage at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 70 Coupled Up NFL star Devin Thomas and Porshia Pryor enjoy a cute moment in VIP at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 71 Hot Chocolate Malik Yoba poses for the cameras backstage at the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 72 The MF Life EMF performer Melanie Fiona sings at the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 73 Power House Tamia serenades the McDonald’s 365Black Award-goers. 74 Funky Fresh Doug E. Fresh performs for McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 75 British Beauty Marsha Ambrosious attends the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 76 Pretty Boy Laz Alonso attends the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 77 Funny Couple Tamia and Grant Hill present at the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 78 Solid Words Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a quick speech at the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 79 Smooth Man EMF performer Tank takes the stage at the McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 80 Honoree T.D. Jakes was honored at the McDonalds 365Black Awards. 81 Blue Crush Eric Benet performs for McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 82 Happy Day EMF performer Chaka Khan performs for McDonald’s 365Black Awards. 83 1371893 84 Night Time Fun NFL star Devin Thomas, his fianceé Porshia Pryor, along with LaToya Luckett enjoy the sights and sounds of the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 85 1370813 86 Beautiful Ladies Sidra Smith, Tasha Smith and S. Epatha Merkerson were spotted backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 87 Backstage Cutie Terrell Tilford enjoys VIP backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 88 Printed Beauty Basketball Wives star Shaunie O’Neal enjoys the VIP lounge of the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 89 Looking Good Girlfriend Confidential star Denyce Lawton enjoys the fun and food backstage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 90 Sexy in Black Single Ladies star Denise Vasi lounges backstage at ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 91 Music Men ESSENCE Music Festival stars Q Parker and Luke James pose for the camera at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 92 Friendly Love Tisha Campbell-Martin and Yo-Yo enjoy the VIP lounge at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 93 Disney Smile ESSENCE Music Festival ‘New & Next’ star CoCo Jones poses for the cameras. Michael Rowe 94 1370293 95 Heavenly Glow LisaRaye McCoy enjoys the VIP lounge at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 96 Million-Dollar Smile Cynthia Bailey chills in the VIP area at the Friday night EMF 2012 concert. Michael Rowe 97 Isn’t She Lovely? Bevy Smith looks lovely at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 98 1369613 99 Eye Candy D.B. Woodside at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 100 Fab Family The cast of Single Ladies at the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 101 Short Shorts Keshia Knight-Pulliams relaxes at the Luxe Lounge at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 102 TV Star Finding Our Missing host S. Epatha Merkerson visits the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 103 Pretty in Patterns Tanika Ray at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans. Michael Rowe 104 Soul Sister Goapele at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival in New Orleans. Michael Rowe 105 Motherly Love Vanessa L. Williams and her mother, Helen relax in the ESSENCE Music Festival Luxe Lounge. Michael Rowe 106 Looking Fresh Devin Thomas gets a touch up at the Luxe Lounge at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 107 Ladies First Eva Marcille and Beverly Johnson speak at the Love at Any Age seminar. 108 Smize Eva Marcille on the Empowerment Experience stage at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 109 Talented Trio Tisha Campbell-Martin, Lance Gross and Keshia Knight Pulliam backstage at the celebrity suite at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 110 Mr. Beautiful Lance Gross flashes his pearly whites at the the Convention Center at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 111 White Hot Single Ladies stars D.B. Woodside and LisRaye McCoy pose for the cameras at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 112 All Game, No Play Actor Pooch Hall poses for the camera at the Luxe Lounge at the ESSENCE Music Festival. 113 1368653 114 Shining Stars Steve Harvey and his wife, Marjorie, pose for the camera backstage at the ESSENCE.com Live Stage. Michael Rowe 115 Style Maven Stylist to the stars, June Ambrose, attends an event at the ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 116 Single Lady Single Ladies star Denise Vasi attends an event at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. Michael Rowe 117 Star Studded Tempestt Bledsoe and Anthony Anderson attend an ESSENCE.com Live Stage event. Michael Rowe 118 Disney Kid Disney star Roshon Fegan lights up the Convention Center at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival. 119 Purple Haze Access Hollywood anchor Shaun Robinson interviews Disney star Roshon Fegan at the Convention Center at the 2012 ESSENCE Music Festival.