JustCordell is embracing the full-circle moments as the gospel artist and award nominee recently brought his energy to the ESSENCE Festival of Culture 2026 for a performance, as well as connecting with fans during one of the biggest celebrations of Black music and culture.

For JustCordell, the opportunity to perform at the festival was about more than simply taking the stage.

“I’m just grateful, man,” he said. “You don’t get opportunities like this often to just be around your people, to be able to uplift, inspire people, and then to be able to walk in your gift and your calling while you do it.”

JustCordell said the crowd’s response made the moment even more memorable, saying, “It was bananas; it’s mind-blowing to me.”

The ESSENCE Festival appearance comes as JustCordell continues to experience major milestones in his career, including a Stellar Award nomination that placed him alongside artists he has admired throughout his life.

“It was full circle because you’re in a room with all the people that you love,” he said. “To hear that you’re amongst the Lecraes, you’re amongst the T.I.s, Killer Mikes, and to be nominated with all these different fan bases that you looked up to for so long—and to finally look and be like, ‘God, man, we here’—it’s a full-circle moment.”

Rather than viewing the recognition solely as the result of his own efforts, JustCordell said he sees the moment as part of a larger journey guided by his faith.

“I’m humbled,” he said. “A lot of people are getting these awards and being like, ‘Yeah, I worked for it.’ But for me, it’s like, no, God just really had his hand on me and put me in the right places. And now, man, I get to see the fruit from that.”

As he continues to grow as an artist, JustCordell already has a few dream collaborations in mind. Chance the Rapper, Tobe Nwigwe, Luther Vandross and Teddy Swims.