The Opening Night Line-Up Went From Great To Running Super Late
Then we get to the Friday night concert at the Superdome, aka the “Essence After Dark: The Sleep Deprivation Edition.” Baby, when we say late, we mean LATE-late. Like we-almost-missed-Saturday late. Concertgoers said the show didn’t really get rolling until an hour or two behind schedule, which is wild considering the stacked lineup.
We’re talking: Psyrin, Lucky Daye, Coco Jones, GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Babyface, Maxwell, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. That’s a whole Tiny Desk tour in one night—so yes, timing was crucial.
Around midnight, Babyface straight-up told the crowd he was “tired as hell.” But before y’all assume Lauryn Hill was the culprit (because, let’s be real, the legend has a history), plot twist: this time it wasn’t her fault.
Lauryn didn’t hit the stage until 2 A.M., and didn’t wrap up until nearly 4 A.M. By then, the dome was looking half-empty, but shoutout to the real ones who stayed. Because listen—seeing Lauryn live is a spiritual experience, even if you’re running on Red Bull and prayer.
According to NOLA.com, this was one of the latest shows in Essence Fest’s 31-year history. So yes, it was historic… but not exactly in the way we’d hoped.
Organizers responded to the headlines to set the record straight and clear Lauryn’s name on Instagram: “The delay? Not hers. We’ll take that.”
“Family is family and around here we protect our own no matter what the PEOPLE have to say.
Let’s be very clear— WE don’t play about Ms. Lauryn Hill.
Not for clicks. Not for headlines.
She arrived on schedule, stepped on that stage, and delivered the kind of performance only a legend can.
The delay? Not hers. We will take that.
The moment? One for the books.
The legacy? Still unmatchedPut some respect on her name.
Keep the takes, but keep her out of them.All love and deep profound admiration for Ms. Lauryn Hill,” the statement said.
Give Grace, But Keep It Real
Look, we get it. Essence has been doing this for 30+ years, and they’ve brought so much joy, connection, and Black excellence to New Orleans. Every year won’t be flawless. Every decision won’t land. However, many still came, slayed, and left inspired.
Despite a challenging year, Essence Fest has everyone talking. From satisfied fans to disappointed devotees and everyone in between, the leaders’ responses show that they’re listening. Now, we’re eager to see how the 2026 event follows the feedback.
We’re still rooting for everybody Black—and for Essence to remain the cultural reset we all know and love.
Have you ever attended Essence Fest? Were you there this year? Sound off in the comments—let’s talk about it.
Great Job lizsmith23 & the Team @ Bossip Source link for sharing this story.
