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.

Celebrating “The Power of Our Voice,” the 18th annual event will be held at the Louisiana Superdome during the weekend of July 6-8. This year’s lineup boasts veterans and newcomers including Aretha Franklin, Charlie Wilson, SWV, Dru Hill, Ledisi, Stephanie Mills, Raheem DeVaughn, Estelle, Goapele, Vivian Green, Kindred the Family Soul, Luke James, Eric Roberson, The Stylistics, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Bridget Kelly, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, The Stooges Brass Band, and Khris Royal & Dark Matter.

The legendary Aretha Franklin, who performed at the Festival in 1995 and 2005, will also be honored with “The Power Award.”

“The theme of this year’s Essence Music Festival celebrates our most powerful voices. Whether it’s Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul commanding respect or Rep. Maxine Waters demanding better conditions for our community, these powerful voices resonate with our audience like no other,” said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. “As we all face a new reality in these critical times, we want to inspire our Festival-goers to leave this year’s Festival even more resilient and motivated so that they can be empowered to create change in their own communities.”

Weekend ticket packages are available now.

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

The boy, named Dallas Xavier Barrino, weighed in at 7 lbs., 9 oz. and measured 21 inches long, the singer’s rep tells PEOPLE. Fantasia has a 10-year-old daughter named Zion from a previous relationship.

“I feel so blessed that my son Dallas Xavier was born healthy, and is a wonderful new addition to our family,” said the 27-year-old in a statement. “I thank all my fans for their well wishes and continued support.”

Fantasia publicly revealed that she was pregnant during a charity gig in August. “This child that I carry, God has given me this child. And I don’t have to hide it from none of ya’ll,” she told the crowd.

The father of the baby has not been publicly announced, but Fantasia has been romantically linked to Antwuan Cook. The pair made headlines last year after Cook’s wife alleged that the two were having an affair.

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.

Amidst rampant rumors that she was with child, the 27-year-old singer confirmed the big news at a charity gig for the grand opening of Riverview Apartments in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sunday (July 31).

“You are the first person that I share this news with,” Fantasia told the crowd. “And I share this with you because I can relate to you. And for a while I walked around figuring out what will they say and what will they think about me. But now I tell you I don’t live my life for folk.”

She continued, “This child that I carry, God has given me this child. And I don’t have to hide it from none of ya’ll.”

The father of the child has not been revealed, but Fantasia has been romantically linked to Antwuan Cook. The pair made headlines last year after Cook’s wife alleged that the two were having an affair.

Fantasia has a 10-year-old daughter named Zion Quari Barrino from a previous relationship.

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.

“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.

Tasia, who previously played herself in the 2006 Lifetime film Life Is Not a Fairy Tale: The Fantasia Barrino Story, will channel Jackson in the Euzhan Palcy-directed film written by Jim Evering, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In the flick, she will portray Jackson as she grows up in a poverty-stricken New Orleans and later gets involved in the Civil Rights Movement as an early supporter of Martin Luther King, Jr.

The as-yet-untitled film will commence production in April in Pittsburgh and Chicago and is slated for a December release.

Fantasia may be filling the shoes of another famous songstress. Aretha Franklin recently told CNN that she is considering the 26-year-old and her fellow “Idol” alum Jennifer Hudson to play her in a biopic.

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.

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.

Fantasia hit the New York City pavement to shoot her new video for “I’m Doin’ Me,” the second single off her third album Back to Me. With director Benny Boom (Next Day Air) at the helm, the clip shows Tasia trying to get over her ex, rocking a cutoff jean jacket over a gray dress accented by a giant circular ruffle. The video premieres November 1 on VEVO, but you can get a sneak peek of what to expect by checking the pics below.

Photo credit: Mychal Watts