All-New Lincoln MKZ Shares Spotlight at Essence Magazine's Black Women in Music

DEARBORN, MI--Feb. 4, 2013: Lincoln and ESSENCE will recognize musician and singer Lianne La Havas and singer-songwriter Solange Knowles on Feb. 6 to celebrate music's biggest event, the Grammy Awards.

Lincoln's all-new luxury midsize sedan, the 2013 MKZ, and the luxury full-size sedan, the 2013 MKS, are the official vehicles for Black Women in Music and will chauffer the two stars to the red carpet. This is the fourth year that Lincoln and ESSENCE have collaborated for the invitation-only affair.

"Lincoln is honored to be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the ESSENCE Black Women in Music event for the fourth consecutive year," says Shawn Thompson, Lincoln manager of Multicultural Marketing. "Our involvement allows us to give our target customers and influential buyers a hands-on experience with our great new products like the 2013 MKS and MKZ in hopes that they will consider us for purchase in the future."

Last year's honoree, multi-platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning Kelly Rowland and ESSENCE editor-at-large Emil Wilbekin will host this year's event.

Havas is one of Britain's rising folk and soul singers having earned fans like the legendary Stevie Wonder and Prince. The self-taught guitarist has spent time performing on both sides of the Atlantic from London and Paris to New York City.

Knowles' career in the music industry began as a teenager – she wrote songs for Destiny's Child and followed with her debut album, "Solo Star," at 14. Her second album, "Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams," included "I Decided," which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Singles and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles charts.

"Lianne and Solange are the perfect examples of what's current in music and having Lincoln sponsor an event celebrating these two young progressive African-American women is an honor," says Thompson. "African-American women play an important role in the luxury landscape, and events like these allow us the opportunity to appeal to them while celebrating their creativity and diversity."

Havas and Knowles will perform live sets as a part of the annual celebration.

The 55^th Annual Grammy Awards will air Feb. 10 on CBS.