Some of music’s biggest voices are headed to New Orleans. Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, and Fantasia have been announced as performers for this year’s ESSENCE Music Festival.

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Fantasia Barrino is a mother for the second time. The “American Idol” winner gave birth to a son on Tuesday in North Carolina.

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Fantasia Barrino is about to be a baby mama once again. The “American Idol” champ has revealed that she is pregnant with her second child.

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Thousands of music fans packed the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on Friday for the start of the 17th Annual ESSENCE Music Festival. The jam-packed lineup for Day 1 included Miguel, Tank, Charlie Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia, and Usher.

“American Idol” alums Hudson and Fantasia shared the bill on the Main Stage. A glammed-up J-Hud delivered material from her latest album I Remember Me, while Tasia kicked off her shoes and took fans to church during her stirring set. ’90s groups Boyz II Men and Dru Hill resurfaced with nostalgic performances that appealed to older festivalgoers.

Headliner Usher closed out the day with his last big show of the year, tweeting, “To everybody that came to the show tonight…much love! I had an incredible time…as I told ya’ll last show this year on that level.”

LeToya Luckett soaked up the soulful sounds with fellow Houstonian Slim Thug and Mary J. Blige was honored for her philanthropic efforts at the 365 Black Awards.

Kanye West will headline tonight and Blige will round out the festival on Sunday.

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“American Idol” winner Fantasia returned to her alma mater to serve up her doo-wop-inspired single “Collard Greens and Cornbread” on Thursday’s show. “Is it all right if we take it back old school, ‘Idol’?” asked the soulful songstress, shimmering in a floor-length red gown. See what Tasia’s got cookin’ below.

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Fantasia is heading back to where it all started. The “American Idol” champ is scheduled to perform on Thursday night’s episode of the hit show. She will serve up the soulful “Collard Greens and Cornbread,” the new single from her third album Back to Me. The R&B songstress will share the stage with Jamie Foxx and will.i.am, who will debut their collaboration “Hot Wings (I Wanna Party)” off the soundtrack to the animated film Rio. Tune in tomorrow evening for a super-sized helping of star power.

After holding it down on Broadway in The Color Purple, Fantasia is ready to hit the big screen. The “American Idol” winner is set to star as Mahalia Jackson in a biopic adapted from the 1993 book Got to Tell It: Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel, where she will play the late gospel singer.

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Fantasia whipped up a strawberry, pineapple, and coconut milkshake at Millions of Milkshakes at the Westfield Culver City Shopping Mall on Thanksgiving Eve before her show at Club NOKIA in downtown Los Angeles. Her daughter Zion tagged along, posing for photos with her mom and assisting her behind the counter.

“This is Zion, my daughter, and I keep her with me now ’cause she’s the best thing for me to have right now,” said Tasia, who attempted suicide earlier this year. “Thanksgiving is coming… Truly I’m just thankful to be here. After all that I’ve been through, I still have joy. It doesn’t matter anymore because we have to learn how to live our lives for us. We can’t please everybody.”

Check out Fantasia bringing her milkshake to the mall below.

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After discovering that her boyfriend is cheating on her, Fantasia kicks him to the curb and does her in the video for “I’m Doin’ Me,” the second single off her third album Back to Me. The independent woman rounds up her girls and sings away her blues at a diner and in the park in the Benny Boom-directed clip. But don’t feel too sorry for Tasia, new love is lurking just around the corner.

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