Mary J. Blige

American singer (born 1971)

Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is often referred to as The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, due to her music mainly being R&B mixed with hip hop and soul. She has released 11 studio albums, 82 singles, and 8 other albums.

Mary J. Blige
Blige during an interview in February 2022
Born
Mary Jane Blige

(1971-01-11) January 11, 1971 (age 53)
Other names
  • Monét
  • Brook Lynn
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
Years active1988–present[1]
Spouse
Martin "Kendu" Isaacs
(m. 2003; div. 2018)
AwardsFull list
Musical career
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S. Yonkers, New York, U.S.
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
Labels
Websitemaryjblige.com

Music career

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In 1988, Blige recorded an cover of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" at a recording booth in a local mall. Her mother's boyfriend at the time played the cassette 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 joined the label, becoming the company's youngest and first female artist.

Production for Blige's first album, Whats the 411?, began in 1991. Sean "Puffy" Combs (at the time a beginning A&R executive at Uptown) organised the project. Also enlisted were some of the top R&B and hip hop producers of the time, among them are Tony Dofat, Mark Morales and Cory Rooney, Dave "Jam" Hall, and DeVante Swing.

In 2014, Blige toured with R. Kelly called "The King and Queen Tour".[2]

Personal life

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Blige is a Democrat.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Prison Song Mrs. Butler Movie debut
2009 I Can Do Bad All By Myself Tanya
2012 Rock of Ages Justice Charlier
2013 Black Nativity Platinum Fro Nominated — American Black Film Festival Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2017 Mudbound Florence Jackson Gotham Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Performance
New York Film Critics Online for Best Ensemble Cast
IndieWire Critic's Poll Award for Best Breakthrough Performance (Film)
Hollywood Film Awards – Breakout Actress Award
Hollywood Film Awards – Breakout Ensemble Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up)
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Original Song
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song
Nominated — Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor
Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion Picture
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2018 Sherlock Gnomes Irene (voice)
2020 Trolls World Tour Queen Essence (voice)
2020 Respect Dinah Washington
TBA Body Cam Renee Post-production
TBA The Violent Heart Nina Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1995 New York Undercover Herself "Private Enemy No. 1" (episode 14, season 1), "Tag You're Dead" (episode 2, season 2) [music performance]
1998 The Jamie Foxx Show Ola Mae "Papa Don't Preach" (episode 14, season 2)
1999 Moesha Herself "Good Vibrations?" (episode 1, season 5)
2001 Strong Medicine Simone Fellows "History" (episode 4, season 2)
2007 Ghost Whisperer Jackie Boyd "Mean Ghost" (episode 15, season 2)
Entourage Herself "Gary's Desk" (episode 8, season 4)
2009 30 Rock Herself "Kidney Now!" (episode 22, season 3)
2010 & 2012 American Idol Guest judge/Herself 2010: Auditions were held in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia Dome when Blige guest judged. 2012: Mentor for the Top 13 Whitney Houston & Stevie Wonder Week
2012 The Voice Herself Mentor of Team Adam (season 3)
2013 Betty & Coretta Dr. Betty Shabazz Television film
Nominated — Women's Image Network Award for OutstandingOutstanding Actress Made for Television Movie / Mini-Series
The X Factor Guest judge/herself Blige assisted Nicole Scherzinger at her judge's house in Antigua
2015 Empire Angie "Sins of the Father" (episode 10, season 1)
The Wiz Live! Evillene, The Wicked Witch of the West TV special
Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries
Nominated — Black Reel Award for Best Supporting Actress: Television Movie/Cable
Black-ish Mirabelle Chalet Guest appearance in Season 1, episode 24
2016 How To Get Away With Murder Ro TV Series (2 episodes)
2019–present The Umbrella Academy Cha-Cha Main role
2019 Scream Sherry Elliot Recurring role

References

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  1. Stacia Proefrock. "Mary J. Blige". AllMusic. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. "R. Kelly Announces Tour with Mary J. Blige". BET.com.
  3. Tran, Vivyan (September 7, 2012). "Celebrities spotted at the Democratic National Convention". Politico.