NEW YORK (Variety) - Artists including Prince, Mariah Carey, Chris Rock, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Sean (Puffy) Combs and Sinbad will perform during the "1998 Essence Awards'' show to run on the Fox network in primetime late next month.

Actors Vivica Fox, Eriq La Salle and Lynn Whitfield will host the two-hour special, which tapes April 10 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The awards will pay tribute to Prince, Patti LaBelle, Wynton Marsalis and Will Smith. Honorees almost never perform, and so Prince's performance is considered a coup for producer Essence Entertainment.

Although she won't perform, Whitney Houston will appear to make the presentation to LaBelle. Carey and Bolton will sing some of LaBelle's signature songs.

Honoring Marsalis will be such performers as Manhattan Transfer, Nicholas Payton, Nina Freelon and the Lincoln Jazz Ensemble.

Reuters/Variety