The ESSENCE Black Women in Music event took place last night in Los Angeles, California honoring the U.K. native and featured an exclusive performance from Sandé with special guests. The ultra-glam, star-studded event, presented by the Lincoln Motor Company, kicks off the week leading up to the 56th Annual Grammy Awards and is designed to shine a light on African American women in the music industry.
“Emeli Sandé brings fresh, groundbreaking style as a performer and songwriter, which makes her a perfect match with the new perspective the Lincoln Motor Company is bringing to the luxury segment,” said Shawn Thompson, Lincoln manager, multicultural marketing. “Lincoln is pleased to be the presenting sponsor of the 2014 ESSENCE Black Women in Music event because it celebrates strong and creative women.”
Emeli Sande’s debut album, Our Version of Events, became the top-selling album in the U.K. for the second year in a row and to date has sold 238,000 units in the USA, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
In a statement released about the honor, Essence editor-in-chief Vanessa K. Bush shared, “Emeli Sandé’s soaring confidence as a songwriter and fearless self-expression as a singer is in the tradition of many iconic female trailblazers such as Nina Simone.”
Celebrities in attendance included: Chrisette Michelle, Sevyn Streeter, Michelle Williams, SWV, Kelly Price, Malinda Williams, Kelis, Vivica Fox, Tank, Goapele, Ledisi, Mara Brock Akil, Erica Campbell, Leonna Lewis and more… [Discover which celebrities loved posing with the Lincoln MKC here.]
Sandé joins previous Black Women in Music honorees Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monaé, Solange Knowles, Lianne La Havas and industry veteran Sylvia Rhone.
