The 2025 ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy Unites Chance The Rapper, Kierra Sheard, CeeLo Green, DC Young Fly, Kat Graham, and Shannon Thorton in a Live Studio Experience Premiering November 27th

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, ESSENCE Communications Inc., announced the premiere of the ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy, a filmed holiday special that unites powerhouse voices, live-audience energy, and modern expressions of faith, music, and community. The special debuts Thursday, November 27, at 7 PM ET on YouTube and ESSENCE.com.

Hosted by comedian DC Young Fly and actress and advocate Kat Graham, the special showcases a dynamic lineup that bridges gospel, R&B, and contemporary sound. The program features Grammy winner Chance The Rapper, gospel powerhouse Kierra Sheard, powerhouse vocalist Amber Riley, multifaceted music icon CeeLo Green, and celebrated vocalists Lena Byrd Miles and Susan Carol, alongside rising R&B star T.A. Thomas. Megan Piphus, a groundbreaking ventriloquist from Sesame Street, performs alongside Heiress Harris, VanVan, and Ms. Shirley in a segment that captures the wonder of the holidays through the eyes of the next generation. Each artist delivers a defining moment, from reimagined takes on beloved classics to original songs created exclusively for the ESSENCE stage.

Actress Shannon Thornton delivers a festive segment filled with holiday fun and lighthearted energy. A special appearance by DeVon Franklin adds an uplifting note of reflection. The celebration also features 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Inc., with remarks from Chairman of the Board Aaron N. Swain on the organization’s ongoing work in the community.

Filmed before live studio audiences in Atlanta and Los Angeles, the ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy extends the experience from coast to coast, capturing what happens when sound, spirit, and togetherness meet on one stage. The production blends the intimacy of live performance with the shared energy of collective joy, offering audiences a true celebration of faith, family, and music.

Alongside the special, the ESSENCE Holiday Gift Guide returns to ESSENCE.com, featuring curated finds inspired by the season’s creativity and joy. From beauty and wellness must-haves to thoughtful keepsakes, the guide continues ESSENCE’s tradition of celebrating style, intention, and care.

“Our goal with this special was to create something that feels familiar yet fresh — a space where our community could see itself reflected through sound, storytelling, and joy,” said Michele Ghee, Chief Content Officer, ESSENCE. “The artists, the audience, and the partners who made this possible all share one purpose: to remind us that celebration is a language we all understand.”

In collaboration with Coca-Cola^®, Ulta Beauty and Prime Video, the ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy also features exclusive in-show shopping segments that highlight gifts, beauty favorites, and holiday essentials inspired by the performances and spirit of the season.

This holiday season, grab your family, turn up the volume, and join ESSENCE for an evening filled with laughter, praise, and unforgettable performances. The ESSENCE Holiday Celebration of Joy premieres Thursday, November 27th on YouTube and ESSENCE.com.

About Sundial Media & Technology Group

Sundial Media & Technology Group (SMTG) is a human connections company — the signal powered by culture, scaled by technology, and built for community. SMTG connects, elevates, and empowers the most influential consumer segment in the market: HER, the Chief Influence Officer. With over 100 years of community knowledge and insights, SMTG is redefining the media model into a next-generation platform. Powered by proprietary intelligence and AI technology, it activates an ecosystem that scales HER influence and economic power. Its portfolio includes some of the most iconic, purpose-driven brands and experiences shaping culture today—ESSENCE (Girls United, ESSENCE Studios, ESSENCE Festival of Culture^®), Refinery29, AFROPUNK, Beautycon™ (including NaturallyCurly), the Global Black Economic Forum, the Academy for Advancing Excellence, and the New Voices Fund. Through storytelling, products, and platforms, SMTG delivers the tools and technology to shape the future of media, commerce, and community—on HER terms.