*Essence’s annual “Black Music Month” June issue features a special triple-cover tribute to the Queens of R&B–Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott and Alicia Keys. In the article Ladies First, they talk about how they’re still holding it down and dominating the charts. This month’s issue also features the Essence Summer Music Hot List, a guide to summer releases, gadgets and concerts, including the 2008 Essence Music Festival.

Q: You had to cancel a few of those shows earlier. Is everything back to where it should be?

A: Everything is spectacular, perfect. You know I did get a little bit under the weather. It sucked. Believe me, if anybody was disappointed, it was me. It’s a terrible feeling to not be able to sing to my full capacity, but it’s very important for me to protect myself.

I’m definitely in this for the long haul, and there’s nothing I’ll do to damage my voice ever. So it was important for me to take those two and just make sure I was 100 percent instead of singing on strained cords. And now I’m back, back, back, back, back. (Full Story)

Alicia has just been added to the lineup of Hot 97’s Summer Jam. The show is going down June 1st at Giants Stadium. You can buy tickets here.

Tomorrow Alicia will be on the Ellen show. Alicia Keys will pop in. We’ll talk about her current tour, those marriage rumors, then Alicia will perform “Teenage Love Affair” from her hit CD, “As I Am!” Check your local listings for showtime in your area.

I’ve added HQ pictures from the last night show in Los Angeles. So far I like this outfit the most. She looks great! x17 Agency reports that even Britney Spears came to see Alicia live

Alicia was seen leaving a dance studio in Los Angeles just before her show.

I’ve added pictures of Alicia’s tour stop in Anaheim, California to our gallery.

IN THE film clip that introduced Alicia Keys’ concert at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sunday, a fiery gospel choir raised the church roof and a young Alicia stepped from her pew and prepared to make her way in the world. The preacher, played by Cedric the Entertainer, sent her forth, with some mysterious advice about seeking “the Star Maker.”

Like the concert’s production numbers, this kind of extra baggage is just a distraction from Keys’ unique essence. The segments when she simply sang and played piano, whether alone or with her band behind her, were the real heart of the concert, both musically and emotionally. (Full Story)

For the 5th time Alicia has made People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People list. The magazine is on newsstands now.

Anyone who sings a song called “Superwoman” needs the extra game to back it up.

Alicia Keys has it and more. Thursday night she rolled into town — just ahead of the monstrous thunder, wind and light show — and whipped up a storm of her own inside the Sprint Center.

The place wasn’t sold out, but the crowd was big (around 10,000), loud and appreciative, although it endured a sound mix that was bad at its worst, tolerable at its best. (Full Story)