VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul

VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul was the third of three concerts in the series not aired live. It was taped on December 18, 2011, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, and aired the next evening on VH1, paying tribute to the places that helped create or contributed to soul music: Chicago, Detroit, London, Philadelphia and Memphis.

Anita Baker, who was going to sing with Jill Scott, had to drop out moments before the concert after disagreements with producers, allowing Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi to step in and perform in their places during the Detroit medley. Kelly Clarkson twisted her ankle on the way into the concert, though she still performed as planned.

The concert was never released on CD or DVD.

Headliners:

Mary J. Blige Kelly Clarkson Jennifer Hudson Florence Welch Jessie J Jill Scott

House band: The Roots

Guest performers: Marsha Ambrosius Erykah Badu Boyz II Men Estelle Wanda Jackson Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Chaka Khan Ledisi Travie McCoy Martha Reeves Mavis Staples

Presenter:

La La Anthony Common Terrence Howard Samuel L. Jackson Queen Latifah Nas Dolly Parton Archie Panjabi Sherri Shepherd

Show sequence:

Medley: Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson – "You Keep Me Hangin' On" Jennifer Hudson – "Spotlight" Mary J. Blige" – "Real Love" Kelly Clarkson – "Since U Been Gone" Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson – "You Keep Me Hangin' On (Reprise)" Memphis tribute: Jennifer Hudson and Jessie J – "Knock on Wood" Erykah Badu, Chaka Kahn, and Mavis Staples – "I'll Take You There" Florence + the Machine with Golden Orb Girls – "Shake It Out" Detroit medley: Marsha Ambrosius, Sharon Jones and Martha Reeves – "Nowhere to Run" Kelly Clarkson and Ledisi – "Chain of Fools" Marsha Ambrosius and Ledisi – "Sweet Love" Jessie J – "Domino" Mary J. Blige – "Mr. Wrong" Amy Winehouse Tribute: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Wanda Jackson- "You Know I'm No Good" Florence Welch – "Back to Black" Philadelphia medley: Estelle and Travie McCoy – "Wake Up Everybody" Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Black Thought – "You Got Me" Boyz II Men – "Motownphilly" Jill Scott – "Hear My Call" Kelly Clarkson – "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" London medley: Estelle, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, and ?uestlove – "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" Florence Welch – "Walking On Broken Glass" Jennifer Hudson – "Night of Your Life" Chicago medley: Sharon Jones and Ledisi – "Rescue Me" Mary J. Blige and Chaka Kahn – "Ain't Nobody" Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings – "He Said I Can" (Not aired in television broadcast)