Must See: Mýa, Chlöe, Normani, Ryan Destiny, Sevyn Streeter & More Honor Aaliyah During ESSENCE Festival Tribute Curated by Missy Elliott [Video]

Aaliyah’s legacy was celebrated Sunday night during the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture in New Orleans with a special tribute curated by her longtime friend and collaborator Missy Elliott.

The tribute, titled “One in a Million, Forever,” took place during the festival’s closing night at the Caesars Superdome and marked 30 years since the release of Aaliyah’s groundbreaking 1996 album One in a Million. ESSENCE previously announced that the tribute would honor Aaliyah’s life, music, and lasting impact on R&B and pop culture.

The performance curated by Missy Elliott featured several artists paying homage to Baby Girl, including Chlöe, Mýa, Normani, Ryan Destiny, and Sevyn Streeter.

Among the performances shared from the tribute:

Chlöe performed Aaliyah’s “Are You That Somebody?”
Ryan Destiny performed “If Your Girl Only Knew”
Sevyn Streeter performed “4 Page Letter”
Normani performed “Rock the Boat”
Mýa performed selections including “Back & Forth,” “At Your Best,” and “We Need a Resolution”

The tribute also included visuals and choreography honoring Aaliyah’s signature style, with legendary choreographer Fatima Robinson, who worked with Aaliyah during her career, also tied to the tribute’s creative direction.

The moment was especially fitting for ESSENCE Festival, as Aaliyah performed at the inaugural ESSENCE Festival in 1995 as a teenager. Nearly three decades later, the festival used its 2026 closing night to spotlight her continued influence on a new generation of performers and fans.

Aaliyah, who died in 2001 at age 22, remains one of R&B’s most influential artists, with a catalog that includes classics such as “One in a Million,” “If Your Girl Only Knew,” “4 Page Letter,” “Are You That Somebody?,” “Try Again,” “Rock the Boat,” and more.

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Chloe performed More Than A Woman at Aaliyah: One In A Million Forever Tribute at Essence pic.twitter.com/y6MeOKBzCJ
— Chlöe x Halle Now (@cxhnow) July 6, 2026

Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, T-Boz, Monica, Ciara, Fatima, Timbaland, Ginuwine, and Da Brat speaking on Aaliyah at the ESSENCE Tribute. pic.twitter.com/ntpQrkLXLm
— Young Nation /•\ (@Aaliyah_Fanatic) July 6, 2026