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Home · 2018 ESSENCE Festival

Fantasia Had Everyone In Tears When She Brought Her Brother On Stage During Her Emotional ESSENCE Fest Performance

Fantasia Had Everyone In Tears When She Brought Her Brother On Stage During Her Emotional ESSENCE Fest Performance
Erika Goldring/Getty Images
By Rachaell Davis · Updated October 23, 2020

Fantasia’s mesmerizing performance at the 2018 ESSENCE Festival was one those who witnessed it will never forget for more reasons that one.

A favorite among ESSENCE Festival fans, the powerhouse soul music diva was in true form from beginning to end as she took to the Superdome stage to run through a mix of the classics that helped propel her to stardom and new music from her latest album, The Definition Of. Whether she was belting out songs like “Free Yourself” or dancing her heart out to the sounds of “Hood Boy,” “Without Me” and “When I See You,” the 32-year-old songstress left everything on the stage.

Every Fantasia performance is one full of emotion and raw talent, but there was one moment in particular during her ESSENCE Fest set that had many Festival-goers shedding tears of joy right along with her.

Towards the end of her showstopping mainstage moment, which came just before headliner Janet Jackson closed the weekend out with a spectacular show of her own, Fantasia opened up to the crowd about a recent motorcycle accident that nearly claimed the life of her younger brother.

This Journey has been Hard and Long for my Family. God spared his life and he has come a Long Way🙏🏾 @xavierbarrino you are the strongest person I know.

A post shared by Fantasia Taylor (@tasiasword) on Dec 27, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

While sharing her brother’s tragic story with the audience, she displayed pictures of his hard-fought journey to recovery in the hospital just before transitioning to a heartfelt performance of her hit, “Lose To Win.” 

Yoooooo!!!! You can’t tell me God can’t @xavierbarrino you will walk again. I make him workout and he gets a Little upset with me but after he says ( I’m coming out of this Tasia for my Kids) 👏🏾👏🏾🥇Thank You to All the Doctors, Nurses and physical therapist over at CMC Main for all you’ve done for my Brother. God gave all of you the Wisdom and the knowledge to do what you do for all of the people in this place. I can go sing real pretty now and cut up on that stage this weekend because my Baby is fighting like never before.

A post shared by Fantasia Taylor (@tasiasword) on Dec 28, 2017 at 12:13pm PST

As the song neared its’ end, the audience erupted in cheers when a sudden break in the music was followed by Fantasia’s brother making his way to the stage in a wheelchair, smiling from ear to ear and singing along to his big sister’s song.

Fantasia broke down in tears as she kneeled at her brother’s side to share an embrace that was undoubtedly felt by everyone in the room.

A truly magical moment to close out a phenomenal performance.

For more on every unforgettable moment you missed at the 2018 ESSENCE Festival, visit ESSENCE.com

TOPICS:  Fantasia
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