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.

Keyshia Cole went back in time to celebrate her 30th birthday. Cleveland Cavalier Daniel “Boobie” Gibson threw his wife an ’80s-themed bash at Tavo Martini Loft in Cleveland, Ohio, over the weekend. The newlyweds partied with guests including Keyshia’s new manager Kevin Liles and “Just a Friend” rapper Biz Markie. The birthday girl paid homage to pop icon Madonna with her custom-made outfit, while her hubbie sported a red adidas tracksuit and dookie rope chain. He later surprised her with a diamond necklace made of hearts.

“[Daniel] threw me the best birthday weekend celebration EVER! I had sooo much fun. Way to much fun!” tweeted Keyshia, who is readying her new album Woman to Woman for a February/March release.

[Photos via Jay Fogle/216pics.com]

Keyshia Cole is sending out a message to her fellow women on her fifth album. The R&B singer has announced a title for the project.

The follow-up to last year’s Calling All Hearts will be called Woman to Woman, she revealed on Twitter. Cole has recorded a collaboration with Trey Songz and has been in the studio with hitmakers including Boi-1da, Cool & Dre, Toxic, and Ester Dean.

The first single will drop in December with the album to follow in February. It marks her first release without the guidance of Interscope A&R executive Ron Fair, who departed the label earlier this year.

“So excited about this album! Although Ron Fair is no longer with Geffen records, N i’m very accustomed 2 him being here. MY NEW TEAM IS GR8,” she tweeted. “I will name them all very soon. New team. New life. New album. My child. My husband. 30’s are the new 20’s LOL. AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.”

She’s returning to her roots with the new music. “Had to bring the REDHEAD KEYSH bak for this album. Cause I LOVE my ladies. MOTIVATION.”

The singer, who turns 30 this week, celebrated her marriage to husband Daniel Gibson in Hawaii last month and is taping a new reality series “Family First.”

What do you think of Keyshia’s new album title? Let us know below.

Keyshia Cole’s dreams turned to reality when she married her husband, NBA star Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, in paradise. The newlyweds celebrated their union for a second time in an island ceremony in Hawaii on Sunday.

“My husband wanted me to have my DREAM WEDDING so he flew all of our family members here! He’s giving something I will NEVER forget! Amazing!” tweeted the 29-year-old singer, who previously tied the knot in Las Vegas in May. “This is soo absolutely beautiful! I’m so glad we’re taping this so you all can see! I got EVERYTHING I WANTED today! My husband is amazing!”

The bride was surrounded by her loved ones including her biological mother and sister, Frankie and Neffe, as she exchanged vows near a waterfall wearing a white ruffled designer gown.

The special day was documented by cameras for her new reality series “Family First,” premiering in February. The couple got engaged in January 2010 after meeting the year before. They have an 18-month-old son named Daniel Hiram Gibson Jr.

Less than a year after releasing her latest album, Keyshia Cole is back in the lab cooking up new material. The soulstress is eyeing an early 2012 release for the as-yet-untitled project.

The follow-up to last December’s Calling All Hearts is due in February, Keyshia revealed on Twitter. She has been writing with hitmaker Ester Dean and says the new material is unlike her previous four albums.

“I’m in love with these songs I’ve recorded. REAL TALK,” wrote the mother of one, who is also scheduled to hit the studio with Boi-1da (Drake, Eminem).

Earlier this year, the 29-year-old singer split from her longtime manager Manny Halley and is now being represented by music executive Kevin Liles, who manages Trey Songz.

In between music, she is taping her new reality series “Family First” and will celebrate her marriage to Daniel “Boobie” Gibson in an island ceremony in Hawaii.

A proud Keyshia Cole showed off her family backstage during her show with Miguel at Chene Park Amphitheater in Detroit on Friday night (July 29). The working mom, who shaved hearts into the sides of her hair, smiled for a photo with her husband, Cleveland Cavalier Daniel “Boobie” Gibson, and 17-month-old son Daniel Hiram Gibson Jr. aka DJ.

The star of BET’s “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” will let viewers into her life once again on her upcoming reality series “Family First.”

DJ Khaled rounds up R&B hotshots Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, and Ne-Yo for a “Legendary” collaboration on his Cash Money debut We the Best Forever, available Tuesday. Breezy and Keyshia blend their soulful harmonies, while Ne-Yo holds down a solo verse on the anthemic tune. “Don’t let nobody stop the dreams, keep winning,” encourages Khaled. Rise up with the full song.

DJ Khaled aims for “Legendary” status with Chris Brown, Keyshia Cole, and Ne-Yo on the R&B-laden track off his star-studded album We the Best Forever, dropping July 19. In the 90-second snippet, Breezy and Keyshia deliver empowering lyrics (“Legends are born and created”) over a synth-heavy beat. Preview the track below.

Keyshia Cole paid tribute to one of her idols, Mary J. Blige, while on R. Kelly’s “Love Letter” tour. The Oakland songstress once again covered the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’s My Life classic “I’m Goin’ Down,” originally performed by Rose Royce in 1977, live at the NOKIA Theatre in Los Angeles last night. She had the audience singing along to her soulful rendition. Let us know what you think of Keysh’s cover.

Keyshia Cole tied the knot with Daniel “Boobie” Gibson in a private ceremony over the weekend. Now the groom has posted photos from the couple’s wedding on Twitter, showing him and his wife smiling with their 14-month-old son Daniel Hiram Gibson Jr. on the big day. The beaming bride looks elegant in a white gown with a pearl necklace, holding a bouquet of red roses, while Gibson is sharp in a black-and-white tux.

“Enjoy!! Me @keyshiacole Wedding pics.. The Gibson Family!” tweeted the NBA player. “Always & Forever!! It’s just like a dream to Me.. @keyshiacole Moments you live for.”

The newlyweds shared their special moment with family. Boobie’s mother can be seen straightening his bow tie in another image from their wedding album. “Moms Getting me right for the Big Day!” he wrote.

Cole, 29, and Gibson, 25, celebrated their union with a helicopter ride over Las Vegas. “One of the Best nights of our Lives,” he later said.

[Photos via Daniel Gibson]