On Friday night, during the highly anticipated 2025 Essence Festival of Culture, Lauryn Hill captivated a predominantly empty stadium, albeit taking the stage hours after her scheduled appearance. Though Hill has garnered somewhat of a reputation for delayed performances, this instance seemed beyond her control, as the entire first day of the Essence Festival had commenced later than planned. She had been added to the star-studded lineup mere days prior, joining GloRilla, The Isley Brothers, Babyface, and Maxwell, among others. An unannounced delight was Coco Jones, who also shines on the Peacock series "Bel-Air." Earlier in the evening, the audience was treated to performances by singer Lucky Daye and Kandi Burruss' girl group, Psiryn.
Amidst the festival's fluid timeline, GloRilla wrapped up her set precisely when The Isley Brothers were supposed to conclude theirs, prompting the legendary group to commence their performance at Babyface's original timeslot. Subsequently, Babyface, a 19-time Grammy winner, didn't take the stage until after midnight, diving into his vast songwriting repertoire. He delivered soulful renditions of hits associated with Bobby Brown ("Don't Be Cruel," "Every Little Step I Take"), Boys II Men ("I'll Make Love to You," "End of the Road"), TLC ("Baby-Baby-Baby," "Red Light Special"), The Whispers ("Rock Steady"), and Toni Braxton ("Another Sad Love Song," "Love Shoulda Brought You Home" from the film "Boomerang").
Maxwell graced the stage just minutes shy of 1 a.m., serenading the audience with several hits from his debut album, "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite." However, the "Fortunate" singer abbreviated his set. Shortly after Maxwell's departure, Kenny Burns, an Essence Festival emcee, informed the crowd that Hill was present. As numerous crew members scrambled to adjust the stage setup for the beloved artist, time mercilessly ticked on. Despite the stage appearing ready for her performance, the delay persisted. Technical difficulties were only disclosed five to ten minutes prior to Hill's eventual stage entrance.
"Family is family, and here, we shield our own regardless of what others may say," the Essence Festival posted on Instagram on Sunday. "She arrived promptly," the festival continued, accepting responsibility for the delay and standing by Hill. "Let's be clear—we hold Ms. Lauryn Hill in the highest regard. She mounted that stage and delivered a performance befitting a legend. The delay? Not hers. We will own that. The moment? Unforgettable. Her legacy? Unparalleled."
