00:00Hey Essence, I'm Dana Johnson and I am back.
00:03As you can see, the VIP room right here at the Superdome is filling up on the first night.
00:07Jasmine Sullivan just took the stage and blew everyone away.
00:11We are enjoying hors d'oeuvres, fabulous cocktails, and we are about to toast 20 years of the Essence Festival.
00:16Stick around.
00:23You gotta check out the cupcakes over here, guys.
00:25They have this big 20th anniversary cupcake display, and I really want to go and check those out.
00:30But before I do that, we are going to enjoy some libations here at the VIP, New Orleans, Louisiana, Essence Festival, 20th anniversary.
00:42Did I deliver or what?
00:43The one and only, beautiful, talented Miss Kay Michelle.
00:46How are you doing?
00:47I'm doing great.
00:48Just excited about tonight.
00:49Ready to sing.
00:50This is our 20th anniversary.
00:52A very big year for us.
00:53And I know you have many festival memories.
00:55What's your most important or favorite festival memory today?
00:59Well, actually, this is my first Essence.
01:02Yeah, this is my first time performing.
01:04My first time being here.
01:06This is something, you know, that an artist always, you know, wants to do.
01:11It's like the R&B Super Bowl.
01:12Like, you have to come through here, and you have to shut it down, or you don't matter.
01:18So this will be my first Essence Festival experience.
01:22As you can see right behind me, Naj just took the stage, rounding out our kickoff night of
01:34the 20th anniversary of the Essence Festival.
01:36It doesn't get any better than this.
01:39Keep it locked right here at Essence.com for more celebrities, more behind the scenes, and
01:43more action all weekend.
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