New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Black-ish executive producer and star Anthony Anderson will return to host UNCF An Evening of Stars for the third consecutive year. K. Michelle, Yolanda Adams,
Estelle and Jussie Smollett will perform.
Estelle and Smollett will perform the special duet version of her single "Conqueror," as seen on the hit FOX series Empire. UNCF An Evening of Stars, which has been the hallmark of African American superstars supporting minority education for 36 years, will tape in Atlanta, Georgia at the Atlanta Civic Center on April 12, 2015 and air nationally on BET, Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 10p/9c. Additional performers and presenters will be announced shortly. Tickets to the show's taping can be purchased at www.UNCF.org/AEOStickets.
"As it always has, UNCF is answering the call to make a difference in the lives of minority youth and the community at large. In the spirit of 'Black Lives Matter,' UNCF is redoubling its efforts and joining with other influential voices to ensure 'Black Lives Matter.' Through partnerships with Target, Usher's New Look Foundation and other important partner foundations, we are making a difference," said UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax. "I want to personally thank Anthony for his continued support and shepherding of UNCF An Evening of Stars. He brings comedy, experience, heart and resources to this important endeavor and inspires us all to invest in better futures for young people across the country."
"Atlanta is proud to be the home of UNCF An Evening of Stars®," said Mayor Kasim Reed, City of Atlanta. "Through the work of UNCF and countless supporters, thousands of our young people are receiving educational opportunities and resources to complete their education and continue along the road to achieving their dreams. I applaud this year's performers and sponsors for their unwavering commitment to invest in future generations by ensuring they have access to a high-quality education."
This year's show is made possible by national sponsors McDonald's and Wells Fargo. Target is an official sponsor and also serves as a "Rising Stars" scholarship sponsor. Buick is a major sponsor. The City of Atlanta, iHeartMedia and BET Networks serve as the city and media partners, respectively. The Walton Family Foundation is a philanthropic partner. UNCF An Evening of Stars® will also air in syndication on April 25 and 26 (check local listings for dates and times). To apply for press credentials to cover the show, please go to the show website https://uncf.org/sites/aeos/ - /aeos2015/pressroom.
Jesse Collins, CEO of
Jesse Collins Entertainment, returns to produce UNCF An Evening of Stars for the third year. Collins has played an integral role in producing some of television's most memorable performances in the music entertainment arena. Formerly executive producer and executive vice president of Cossette Productions, he has produced award-winning television programming including the GRAMMY® Awards, the BET Awards, BET Honors and the BET Hip Hop Awards. He has worked with superstar talent including Beyoncé, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jay Z, Rihanna, Kanye West,
Mary J. Blige and Kid Rock. Collins is also executive producer of the BET hit series The Real Husbands of Hollywood starring
Kevin Hart, which won an NAACP Image Award® for Outstanding Comedy Series.
About UNCF An Evening of Stars®
UNCF An Evening of Stars, formerly the Lou Rawls
Parade of Stars®, first aired in 1979, and since that time has become one of the longest-running and most successful televised events in U.S. history. Over its 36-year history, UNCF An Evening of Stars has raised more than $200 million that has helped hundreds of thousands of students attend college and graduate. In recent years, UNCF An Evening Of Stars® has featured a who's who of remarkable talent, including Usher, Trey Songz, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Beyoncé, Anita Baker, Jill Scott,
Kevin Hart, Fantasia,
Robin Thicke, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Bolton, Yolanda Adams, Tye Tribbett, Al Jarreau, Anthony Hamilton, Ziggy Marley, Maroon 5, and scores of others. UNCF An Evening of Stars® received NAACP Image Awards for its 2006 tribute to Stevie Wonder, its 2008 tribute to
Smokey Robinson and its 2010 tribute to Lionel Richie. Learn more about UNCF An Evening of Stars® at https://www.uncf.org/sites/aeos/.
About UNCF
UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students' education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at over 900 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized motto, "A mind is a terrible thing to waste.®" Learn more at UNCF.org.
About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading
Internet destination for
Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET
Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
