Michelle Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson, speak out about life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the May 2009 issue of Essence Magazine, arriving on newsstands April 10.

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Mrs. Michelle Obama on what being First Lady means to her:
“It’s an honor and a privilege when you walk into the White House-at least I automatically felt a level of obligation. This is a big responsibility, a wonderful platform and I just want to make sure I take every advantage to serve as a role model, to provide good messages, to be a supportive mate to the President and to make sure that my girls are solid.”

Mrs. Marian Robinson on seeing her daughter step into this historic role:
“Well, to me, it’s overwhelming. I never doubted that she could do this. She is doing it with such grace and dignity. So I am just proud. I just hope she does what she wants to do. [Chuckles] Because the things that she wants to do are very important. They mean a lot to her.”

Mrs. Michelle Obama on finding balance:
“Unlike most women, I have a lot of resources: I have my mother living with me. The White House has a staff of people who are there to make my life easy. I don’t have a full-time job, although I work very hard in the role of First Lady. But I have a lot of resources. So I have been able to achieve the balance because I have the support I need.”

The lineup has been announced for the 2009 Essence Music Festival. Look for stars like Beyonce, Robin Thicke, Lionel Richie, and John Legend are just a few of the artists who have now been confirmed for this year’s festival, which will take place in New Orleans July 3-5.

R&B singer Faith Evans sat down for Q&A with Essence.com in advance of Friday’s release of Notorious.

In the piece, titled “Holding Her Own,” the widow of the Notorious B.I.G. discusses what first attracted her to the iconic rapper.

ESSENCE.COM: Overall, are you content with the film?
EVANS: I am happy. I can’t say there aren’t some discrepancies within the film because it’s not like I was a creative partner in the film. Of course, there are things that I know aren’t correct. For instance, a particular song might not have been out when a certain incident occurred. The people who are watching won’t know but those of us who lived it will. A perfect example is the one scene in the studio with me, Lil’ Kim and Biggie—I don’t remember that happening and it might have been tension between them that I was unaware of, and it happened when we were separated. I didn’t know that happened before. No matter what your walk in life is, you get to know B.I.G. through his words. The footage from the day of the funeral was one of my favorite scenes because I was right there in the limo, and although there is no footage of Ms. Wallace inside the car, Angela Bassett captured her exact look. It was powerful. Seeing all those people who were out there for Biggie that day made it more of a celebration. It was a perfect ending to that day.

Read The Entire Essence.com Interview With Faith Evans Here

NBA star Carmelo Anthony and LaLa Vasquez have invited Essence Magazine into the Denver, Colorado mansion they share with their one-year-old son, Kiyan.

View Essence’s Profile on Melo and LaLa’s Home

As the subjects of a special 56-page-tribute, President-elect Barack Obama and soon-to-be First Lady Michelle Obama grace the cover of the January 2009 issue of Essence Magazine, on newsstands December 12.

President-elect Barack Obama received the most votes in an online poll on essence.com, taking the No. 1 spot. Other celebs featured included Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West.

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Will and Jada cover the December 2008 issue of Essence.

Beyonce is opening–just a little bit–about her super secret wedding ceremony to hip-hop legend Jay-Z last April. The singing superstar tells the November issue of Essence that she didn’t want a big wedding because, “It’s been my day so many days already.”

Bey also wasn’t interested in the tradition of fancy engagement rings “People put too much emphasis on that. It’s just material and it’s just silly to me.”

Beyonce also talked about her desire to keep her private life under wraps: “I feel that, especially now, with the internet and paparazzi and camera phones, it’s so difficult to maintain mystery. And that’s so important.”

“…What Jay and I have is real. It’s not about the interviews or getting the right photo op. It’s real,” the singing star says in the November issue of Essence Magazine, on newsstands October 13.

One of the “Original Queens of Comedy” reveals a twisted tale of incest and betrayal in the October 2008 issue of Essence Magazine, on newsstands today.

“I was molested by my older brother,” the syndicated radio hostess says. “And even when I confronted him and told my parents, he said I was lying, and nothing was really done.”

Mo says her brother molested her four times over the course of four years. He often used candy to lure her into the bathroom, where much of the abuse took place, beginning when Mo’Nique was just seven.

Her parents, she said, were in disbelief, but she didn’t hold them accountable “because me and my brother were both their children, and I just don’t know the kind of position they felt they were in.”

“My father was very upset, but it never got mentioned again. I’ll never forget my mother saying, ‘If it’s true, it will surface again,’ and I remember thinking, ‘Why would I lie? Why is there even an if in this?’ I was angry with them for so long, because I felt as if they should have seen what was happening.”

She added: “My brother was a monster to me.”

Her brother went on to serve 15 years in prison for sexually abusing another girl and has never apologized for Mo’Nique’s sexual abuse.

“He still acts like he doesn’t know what I’m talking about. So screw hurting your feelings. You need to get your feelings hurt, and you need to get some help.”