Usher gets ready to take the stage for the MTV & ServiceNation: Live From the Youth Inaugural Ball at the Hilton Washington on January 20.
The First Lady, Michelle Obama, and daughters, Malia (left) and Sasha (right), strike a quick pose with Keke Palmer, Nickolodeon’s “Tru Jackson, VP” star and co-host of the Kid’s Inaugural Ball: “We Are The Future,” at the Historical Society of Washington, DC. The concert payed homage to military families, a cause that Mrs. Obama has expressed interest.
Bill Bellamy, Usher and Sway work the room at the MTV and ServiceNation’s Be the Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball.
Sharp-dressed men Usher and Kanye West give the camera their best mug backstage at the MTV and ServiceNation’s Be the Change: Live From The Inaugural Ball.
Kanye West helps young supporters celebrate the inauguration of President Obama during MTV & ServiceNation’s Inaugural Ball in Washington, D.C.
Entrepreneur B. Smith greets a guest at her pre-inauguration party in Washington, D.C.
Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis and ESSENCE’s Associate Editor Demetria Lucas attend Stevie Wonder’s pre-inauguration ball.
Al Sharpton looks dapper at B. Smith’s pre-inauguration gala.
Ed Lover stands out in the crowd at Stevie Wonder’s pre-inaugural bash.
Beyoncé gives a soulful rendition of the Etta James classic “At Last” for President Barack and Mrs. Obama’s first dance.
Nia Long and Chris Rock take a break from movie screenings at the MySpace Cafe during Sundance.
Oprah Winfrey glows as she attends the inauguration of dear friend President Obama.
Magic Johnson laughs as he settles into his seat at the inauguration of President Obama on the West Front of the Capitol.
Happy couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z join the hundreds of thousands of Americans on the National Mall to witness the inauguration of President Obama. Beyoncé will serenade the nation’s new President and First Lady for their first dance as the First Couple.
Diddy, Beyoncé and Jay-Z enjoy the historic moment as they witness President Obama be sworn into office.
Former Vice-President Al Gore and artist will.i.am catch up at the Green Inaugural Ball on January 19 in Washington, D.C.
Beyoncé sings “America the Beauiful” at the opening celebration for President Obama’s inauguration at the Lincoln Memorial on January 18.
Singers Jon Bon Jovi and Bettye LaVette belt out a duet of “A Change is Gonna Come” during the We Are One concert.
Actor Jamie Foxx makes President Barack Obama laugh with his impersonation of the 44th President during the ‘We Are One’ concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Stevie Wonder, center, rocks the crowd with Usher, right, and Shakira during the concert celebrating President Obama’s inauguration.
President Barack Obama greets Shakira and Bono at the close of the “We Are One” concert.
Herbie Hancock works the crowd at the Feeding America rally on January 19, in Washington, D.C.
Queen Latifah is regal while performing at the 2nd Annual BET Honors at the Warner Theatre on January 17.
Whitney Houston is breathtaking at the BET Honors and proves she’s back and better than ever.
Gabrielle Union packs both beauty and brains as she warms up the crowd at the BET Honors in Washington, D.C.
Kerry Washington gave her support to President Barack Obama throughout the campaign and celebrates his victory at The Creative Coalition’s VIP pre-inauguration dinner at Teatro Goldoni on January 19.
Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige reunite for the In Concert On The Eve Of Change special show at The Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the night before President Obama’s inauguration.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z upgrade Young Jeezy’s Presidential Status Inauguration Ball in Washington, D.C.
Jay-Z hypes the crowd at Young Jeezy’s Presidential Status Inauguration Ball at D.C. hotspot Love on January 18.
Usher visits Simon Elementary School on MLK Day in Washington, D.C, where he led a group of 200 young volunteers in a makeover project. The singer also performed at an inauguration concert over the weekend.
Former ESSENCE Fashion and Beauty Director Michaela Angela Davis poses with Sheryl Lee Ralph at Stevie Wonder’s pre-inaugural celebration.
The host of the evening, Stevie Wonder, says a few words to the crowd.
Honoree and cohost LL Cool J arrives at the Hip Hop Summit Action Network Inaugural Ball in D.C.
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph looks regal as she makes her rounds at the pre-inaugural festivities.
Tyler Perry makes his way inside the BET Honors event in Washington, D.C. Perry was honored with a media award for his achievements with films and playwriting.
Queen Latifah lights up the red carpet at the BET Honors on January 17, in Washington, D.C.
Alonzo Mourning and wife Tracy only have eyes for each other at an event in Washington, D.C.
Jamie Foxx styles and profiles with Jessica Alba at a pre-inauguration party hosted by Tropicana at the Renaissance Washington Hotel on January 18, in Washington , D.C.
Actress Gabrielle Union turns heads on the red carpet at the 2009 BET Honors at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. on January 17 during inauguration weekend.
Singer and songwriter Ne-Yo attends the Artists & Athletes For a Cause Inauguration Celebration at the House of Sweden on January 16 in Washington, D.C.
Mariah Carey is sexy in army green while leaving her hotel in Utah on January 16, during the Sundance Film Festival.
Russell Simmons rises and shines for breakfast during the Sundance Film Festival.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. grabs his bags at the Salt Lake City airport before heading to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Actor Derek Luke takes questions at the Film Independent’s screening of “Notorious” in Los Angeles. He plays Sean “Diddy” Combs in the film on rapper Biggie Smalls’s life.
Newlyweds Malinda Williams and Derrick “D-Nice” Jones leave the Thompson Hotel in style after a photo shoot in New York City.
Malinda shines as she strolls with her best friend and husband D-Nice. ESSENCE.com exclusively covered their summer wedding last year, and the lovely bride gave us all the details in her bridal blog.
Megan Good and her boyfriend, NFL player Thomas Jones, enjoy a night out in Los Angeles.
Actor Mekhi Phifer is snapped out and about at Tao Lounge during the Sundance Film Festival.
Halle Berry shopped till she dropped in New York’s West Village.
ATL stunner Ciara escorted her canine through LAX in style with her Louis Vuitton pooch carrier in Los Angeles.
Academy Award nominee Djimon Hounsou was spotted lunching at Il Pastaio in Beverly Hills.
Actor Richard Roundtree, stars in “Diary of a Single Mom,” which tells the stories of three mothers. Many like Ovie, have been fans of the actor since his days as Shaft in the 70s.
ESSENCE Do Right Man and Atlanta Falcons star Ovie Mughelli, right, helps director Robert Townsend celebrate the premiere of his new television series “Diary of a Single Mom.”
Tina Turner begins the European leg of her tour with a bang in Cologne, Germany on January 14.
Chris Rock jams to his iPod while strolling in Beverly Hills.
Actor Don Cheadle heads to the dentist office in Brentwood, California.
Actor Will Smith gets a big welcome in London at the UK Premiere of “Seven Pounds” on January 14.
Boxing champ Laila Ali kicks off a game of softball with local Los Angeles teens as part of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s Title IX campaign.
Whoopi Goldberg is comfy and cool at the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS kickoff in New York.
Will Smith, here saluting fans in Madrid, Spain, continues to travel the globe in support of his new film “Seven Pounds.”
Jermaine Dupri joins girlfriend Janet Jackson for dinner at Mr. Chow in Los Angeles, after sharing exclusively with ESSENCE.com his optimism for the future following his departure from Island Def Jam Records.
Tyra Banks is taking her midas touch to the Oxygen network, as the channel celebrated “America’s Next Top Model: OBSESSED” in New York City.
Will Smith continues to turn on the charm in Madrid, Spain, while promoting “Seven Pounds.”
Tristan Wilds gives his best vampire grin at the HBO Luxury Lounge while holding a shirt for the network’s show “True Blood.” The young actor got his start on “The Wire” and now stars on the new “90210.”
“Making the Band” stars and couple Dawn Richard and Que Mosely, left, greet “Top Model” winner Danielle Evans at a launch party kicking off Oxygen’s new relationship with “America’s Next Top Model.”
Top actors Terrence Howard and Isaiah Washington catch up at Vanity Fair’s Golden Globes party.
London native Estelle gives fans her all at her Las Vegas show at The Palms.
Kanye West beats the New York City cold in a trench coat after dinner at the Waverly Inn.
Denzel Washington shares a laugh with his son Malcolm, as the Los Angeles Lakers battle the Miami Heat at the Staples Center.
Taraji P. Henson shimmers at VH1’s Critics’ Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California.
Chris Brown gives a fiery performance in London.
Brad Pitt keeps the jokes coming with his “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” costar Taraji.
Trendsetter Rihanna gets her shopping on in Dublin.