Chaka Khan headlining 2018 Macon Cherry Blossom Street Party

A 10-time Grammy Award winner will be headlining the 2018 International Cherry Blossom Festival Street Party.

Macon's signature festival announced Thursday that Chaka Khan will be appearing on the Poplar Street stage in downtown Macon on Saturday, March 24.

"Tell me something good," 2019 festival Chairman Alex Habersham said at the podium, referring to her 1974 hit.

"I just did," he laughed after the "Queen of Funk" was announced.

Khan has been performing for five decades since debuting with the band Rufus.

With the group she had two platinum albums, four gold albums and four gold singles. As a solo performer, she achieved one platinum album, three gold albums and three gold singles.

Country music's Eli Young Band also will be performing during the street party, which is back for a second year after a hiatus following repeated weather cancellations.

The band's three No. 1 singles "Crazy Girl," "Even if it Breaks Your Heart" and "Drunk Last Night" give them an "edgy, romantically charged identity," The Creek 100.9 FM's Charles Davis said during the announcement.

Two more acts have yet to be signed and will be announced later.

Street Party tickets, which go on sale Feb. 6 along with tickets to other festival events, will be $20 in advance and $25 at the gate.

"I think it's going to be phenomenally important to the community," Habersham said after the announcement. "It's one event where the whole community comes together — all races, all ages."

Marvel Burgess, 2018's festival chairwoman, let out a "get ready" before telling the audience to "get your dancing shoes ready."

"It's going to be great," she said. "It's going to bring everybody together, and that's what it's all about."

Liz Fabian: 478-744-4303; @liz_lines

This story was originally published January 11, 2018 at 10:19 AM with the headline "Chaka Khan headlining 2018 Macon Cherry Blossom Street Party."