Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson Join 2011 Essence Festival Lineup

NEW ORLEANS (AP) _ Grammy Award winners Chaka Khan and Jennifer Hudson are joining the 2011 lineup for the Essence Music Festival, which will be held over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in New Orleans.

Festival officials said Tuesday they've also added Kem, Marsha Ambrosius, New Edition, Hal Linton, Eric Benet, Doug E. Fresh, Naughty By Nature and Vanessa Bell Armstrong to the roster of artists scheduled to perform in the Louisiana Superdome.

Earlier, Michelle Ebanks, president of Essence Communications Inc., announced a group of headliners for the festival, including Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Jill Scott and Kanye West.

The event, now in its 17th year, started in 1995 to mark the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine and has since grown into a major national venue celebrating black culture and R&B music.