Erykah Badu Named Essence Black Women in Music Honoree

Sponsored by Lincoln, this year's celebration coincides with the 20th anniversary of Badu’s game-changing debut album Baduizm. Released on Feb. 11, 1997, the set spun off the No. 1 R&B hits “On & On” and “Next Lifetime.” Bowing at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 2 on the Billboard 200, the set ultimately won a Grammy for best R&B album at the 40th annual ceremony.

“From the time that she first hit the scene with Baduizm, we all fell in love with the genius that is Erykah Badu,” said Essence editor-in-chief Vanessa De Luca in a release announcing the annual celebration.

?Previous Black Women in Music celebrations have paid tribute to Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Kelly Rowland, Janelle Monae, Solange, Emeli Sandé, Andra Day and Epic Records president Sylvia Rhone.