Lauryn Hill Performs for Nearly-Empty Stadium After Beginning Essence Festival Set at 2:30am, Though Late Show Was 'Not Her Fault'

Lauryn Hill performed to a nearly-empty stadium during the 2025 Essence Festival over the weekend.

The 50-year-old singer closed out the Friday night show, but her set didn’t happen until the early morning hours of Saturday (July 5).

The event took place at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., a stadium that fits 83,000 people, but only a few hundred people remained in the venue for Lauryn‘s set, according to Nola.com.

Lauryn went on stage at 2:31am and finished her set at 3:37am...