An inspiration, a superstar and a woman we never seem to get tired of.
Mary J.Blige has always opened her life to the public, not to enhance her fame, but to show us how to grow stronger from certain situations that we encounter in life.
Blige’s story started as a 17-year-old girl who recorded an unrehearsed cover of Anita Baker’s ‘Caught up in the Rapture’ in the mall. Her mother’s boyfriend played the tape for Jeff Redd, a recording artist and A&R runner for Uptown Records. Redd then sent it to the president and CEO of the label, Andre Harrell. Harrell met with Blige and, in 1989, she became the youngest and the first female artist to be signed by Uptown Records.
From the malls to a 12.3 million dollar house, its clear Blige didn’t look back since.
Blige grew to achieve fame, success and wealth but her personal life told another story.
She was molested at the age of five, had a failed six-year relationship with Jodeci frontman Cedric ‘K-Ci’ Hailey, and was addicted to alcohol and drugs.
However, Blige has grown to found solace and peace with the world but more importantly, her inner self.
Watch the clips of her latest interview below where Blige talks about why she refuses to commit to any liquor endorsements, her relationship with her husband, and how fans are responding to a new and happy Mary J. Blige, respectively.
The interview airs at TV One on 14 June.
Words by Nadifa Sheikhey