The celebration of black music and culture at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans will provide comfort to artists and fans alike after a tough week following Michael Jackson's death.

Singer Lionel Richie, a longtime friend of the pop superstar and the festival's headliner, says performing at Essence will give him and others a chance to regroup.

"We'll celebrate his life and come together as a family down there," Richie said. "It's New Orleans. The spirit of what the music business is all about is there. It really is to me one of those places that's like visiting my foundation."

Read the complete story

Beyonce Knowles-Carter wants Sasha Fierce wants to go to school with your daughters.The singer-actress-fashion-brand has named her new junior fashion line after her alter-ego on her third solo album I Am...Sasha Fierce.

In a bit of a Sybil sartorial move, Beyonce will call the collection Sasha Fierce for Dereon. Look for it in Dillard's and Macy's stores no later than August.

The line will include sportswear, coats, handbags, shoes, eyewear, lingerie and jewelry reflecting the more edgier and aggressive persona Sasha Fierce that Knowles is channeling on a world tour through November a la designer Thierry Mugler.

While Mizz Fierce seems to prefer wearing Mugler for her concert , Miss Knowles has been working a lot of Balmain off-stage lately.

For the new brand that means a dose of Mugler's exaggerated shapes and bitch-goddess hardness: studded shoes; oversized "movie star" sunglasses; one-shoulder dresses, black bodysuits, faux leather jackets with dramatic collars and jeans with mesh and lace detailing.

Enjoying a little time off from her performing duties, Beyonce Knowles was spotted soaking up the sun on Miami Beach on Tuesday (June 30).
Having flown to Florida following the BET Awards, the "Irreplaceable" songstress took a dip in the ocean before packing up and catching a private jet out of town.
Ready to continue along with the tour grind, Miss Knowles is now heading off to Atlanta, Georgia for a show on Wednesday night (July 1) before making her way to Texas for shows in Houston and Dallas.
As for her weekend in Los Angeles for the BET Awards, Beyonce performed a tribute to Michal Jackson during the night's ceremony before being taken on a double date with hubby Jay-Z and pals Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin.

Barack Obama’s kids Malia and Sasha got a loud shout out from their role model and R&B star Beyonce Knowles at her concert in Washington, D.C.

US first lady Michelle Obama and her daughters were the special guests of the show at the Verizon Centre.

According to the Washington Post, the Bootylicious singer even dedicated her “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” to the teen girls, reports Usmagazine.

“This is for Sasha and Malia — and all my single ladies!” she said.Beyonce told Vogue magazine that Michelle considered her a role model for her girls.

“She told me she was very happy that her girls have someone like me to look up to,” Beyonce said.

“And I’m like, ‘Oh, my God.’ You have to feel fortunate to be one of the people whom parents don’t mind their children looking up to,” she added.

Beyonce Knowles grabbed a trophy for Best Female R&B Artist at this year's BET Awards. When collecting the prize, the wife of rap mogul Jay-Z managed to thank her idol Michael Jackson, who shocked the world with his sudden death on June 25.

Another winner at the annual event was DAY26. The group formed by P. Diddy through MTV's reality show "Making the Band" bagged an honor for Best Group, putting aside such contenders as GS Boyz, N.E.R.D, The Roots and Three 6 Mafia.

Meanwhile, The O'Jays, Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean were handed special awards. The O'Jays got Lifetime Achievement Award for their notable contributions to music industry, while Alicia and Wyclef received Humanitarian Award for their contributions to charitable causes.

Read the complete story

While P. Diddy, The Game, Usher, Chris Brown, Mario Winans and Boyz II Men recorded Michael Jackson tribute song, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z choose to remember the late singer on-stage when 2009 BET Awards is kicked off on June 28. Joining them to pay tribute to Michael at the event are other performers which include Ne-Yo and The-Dream.

Beyonce and the other BET musical acts actually have rehearsed their songs for weeks, but they are willing to change the numbers in a bid to honor Michael. "To change it up in three days is something that's not easy but they're all willing and looking forward to it," the awards' producer Stephen Hill told Associated Press. "There's a direct line from Ne-Yo to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Beyonce to Michael Jackson. There's a direct line from Jay-Z to Michael Jackson. I think they'll want to pay tribute in their own way."

Beside those singers, other musicians such as Usher and Justin Timberlake who didn't plan to attend the gala ceremony, are rushing their way to Los Angeles to join their fellow celebs for this tribute. "We're adding on. We're trying to do the numbers we had already planned and we're trying to add on, so it may be a longer show than we anticipated," Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive of Black Entertainment Television (BET) promised.

"This is going to be the first gathering of people who really cared for and were influenced by him since his death. It's a tall order for us but we have every intention of paying respect to Michael Jackson," Stephen commented. Then, Debra added, "There's no artist that's going to want to get up there and talk about themselves. They're going to want to talk about Michael. We want to give out the awards, we want them to have their moment but it's going to be more geared toward Michael Jackson."

This year's BET Awards, which nominations list includes Lil Wayne and T.I., will be conducted at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles starting from 8 P.M. EST/PST with Jamie Foxx as its host. Beside Beyonce, Jay-Z, The-Dream and Ne-Yo, MAXWELL is also lined up to sing at the bash. After the event is wrapped, an after-party will be held and hosted by Queen Latifah.

International superstar Beyonce will perform at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN on July 16 to benefit the Charles & Phyllis Newman Foundation and the Knowles Family charitable organization, The Survivor Foundation. One of the most widely recognized and highly respected women in pop music and a strong supporter of philanthropic efforts, Beyonce's latest album I Am . . . Sasha Fierce has spawned the worldwide hit "If I were a Boy," and the U.S. number one single "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)". Fellow soul songstress, and sister, Solange will join Beyonce as a special guest.

The concert will be for one night only and fans will enjoy live performances of chart-topping music from Beyonce and Solange. Concert tickets range from $39.00 to $1,000.00 and are available now at Target Center's Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or call 1.800.745.3000. Doors open at 5:30 PM on July 16.About The Newman Foundation:

The Newman Foundation supports programs of National and International significance that promote medical research and discovery in humans and animals that add to the quality of life and longevity of their lives.About The Survivor Foundation:

The Survivor Foundation helps to transform the lives of survivors of social, economic and catastrophic hardships by providing assistance, education and support.

These were the last words to leave the mouth of Beyoncé Knowles Tuesday night at the 1st Mariner Arena, and the final message projected onto the gigantic video screen behind the band. It was both a gracious thank you to her fans, whom she left screaming as if they wanted more following a two-hour-and-change concert spectacle, as it was the young woman's operating mantra for the set. From the moment she appeared center stage in stark silhouette, Knowles spent the evening moving, bumping, grinding, dancing, singing, chatting, smiling, welcoming, and thanking the audience, her three watch-out-for-the-big-girls back-up singers, her 10-piece all-female band, the five female dancers, the four male dancers, the four-woman opening act RichGirl, the tech crew, the lighting crew, and just about every single person who might have had anything to do with helping her make this show the most-est best-est fun thing to do that evening. She wasn't exaggerating: The show was, in fact, more fun than a bed full of puppies. And girlfriend works onstage to take you there. No joke.

Read the complete story

Why on earth is world-famous super-diva Beyonce Knowles holding a box of Hamburger Helper brand instant food product in this snapshot?

Because she's donating it to hunger-fighting charity Feed America as part of the new "Show Your Helping Hand" campaign, of course!

I'm willing to bet that B hasn't actually tasted Hamburger Helper in years -- though maybe her team of privately trained chefs includes that anthropomorphic glove? -- but she generously took time out of her just-launched.

"I AM…" tour yesterday to donate some food to the campaign. She also encouraged fans to bring non-perishable items to her upcoming concert dates, where they'll be collected to feed the nation's hungry.

So, now you have one more reason to see this summer's Must Live Act. Bravo to Beyonce for supporting a great cause. This has been today's edition of "Random Celebrity Photographs with Totally Mundane Explanations." You're welcome.

Beyonce plays at the Wachovia Center on Pattison Avenue in South Philly this Friday, June 26th. The pop singer’s show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets range from $20.75 to $150.75 and are still available for sale.
Beyonce is on a worldwide concert tour to promote her hit album “I am…Sasha Fierce.” This marks her third worldwide tour for her third studio album.
After her one performance date in Philadelphia, she will continue to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex in North Carolina to complete the rest of the North American leg of her tour. She then heads off to Australia for the rest of her 2009 tour.