{blackbabes} Emeli Sande to be feted at 'Essence' Black Women in Music

For Emeli Sande, 2013 was a breakout year. Her debut album, Our Version of Events, became the top-selling album in the U.K. for the second year in a row and to date has sold 238,000 units in the USA, according to Nielsen SoundScan. She has also worked with Alicia Keys, Labrinth, Rihanna and Nas.

On Jan. 22, she celebrates another milestone as the honoree of 2014's Essence magazine's Black Women in Music celebration.

Sande plans to keep her winning streak going with her sophomore album, slated for release in 2014.

"It's just a baby at the moment. I'm not sure what it is yet," Sandé told Billboard.com. "But it will be very spiritual. I want it to hit people's souls, to speak to them no matter where they are in the world."

White Christmas