The Untold Truth Of Mary J. Blige

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The following article includes mentions of domestic abuse, addiction, mental health struggles, and suicidal thoughts.

For decades, the world has been gifted with music from Mary J. Blige. With more than 50 million albums sold worldwide, the "I'm Goin' Down" singer has rightfully earned her title as Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. Blige is more than just a singer, though. She's an incredibly strong woman who has overcome major obstacles, and who has always used music as a refuge in times of sorrow, as well as a medium to share her innermost demons. 

"The only thing, I think, that kept us guided was the music," she said of her childhood, for example, in her 2021 documentary, "Mary J. Blige's My Life" (via Page Six). "It just saved you." And after nearly 30 years in the music business, Blige has had an undeniable influence on the industry, and is gearing up to continue making a difference with new projects on the horizon. Blige has always been honest about her life, particularly through her music, but there's more to this musician than even her biggest fans know. 

This is the untold truth of Mary J. Blige.

At the age of 16, Mary J. Blige dropped out of high school, per her biography on All Music. Despite her decision to stop her education, Blige prevailed. Obviously a talented woman, a tape of the future star singing caught the attention of Uptown Records. "Everyone talked about the karaoke machine at the mall. So I went in and recorded Anita Baker's 'Caught Up in the Rapture' on cassette tape. I didn't think it was anything big," she later told Parade. 

It became very big, though, and from her recording eventually came a record deal. At just 21, Blige signed with Uptown Records — and in 1992, her debut album "What's the 411?" was released. Once Blige started in the music industry, she didn't slow down. Just two years after releasing her first album, the singer followed up with "My Life," which cemented her place as a star in pop culture. This sophomore effort is still widely considered her best album, even landing a spot on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Mary J. Blige has been very open about her struggles with drug addiction and mental health issues, both in interviews and her music. Her classic album "My Life," for example, documented many of the difficulties she faced due to the former. More recently, in her "Mary J. Blige's My Life" documentary, the artist admitted that it's "probably my darkest album at one of the darkest times I've had," and shared even more of her suffering — specifically how she had trouble dealing with newfound success at the beginning of her career.

"I could tell it was exciting for her, but I could also tell it was a little scary," her sister, composer LaTonya Blige-DaCosta, said of Blige's quick rise to fame. Blige was willing to ease her discomfort by any means necessary, saying of her mechanisms at the time (via The Root), "[I'll do] whatever it takes for me to be comfortable — if I need to drink some more, if I need to do some more coke, whatever I need to do to loosen up and try to take this in." The star wasn't just struggling with addiction, though — she was experiencing anxiety and depression, too. Blige said of her sophomore album, "This was like a turning point. This was a decision I had to make to either live or die. Most of the times, I was just depressed and didn't want to live because I didn't love myself."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline​ at​ 1-800-273-TALK (8255)​.

Mary J. Blige isn't just an acclaimed musician, she's also a celebrated actor who's displayed her talents in various mediums, including films. After appearing in Dee Rees' 2017 flick "Mudbound," for example, the multi-talented star made Oscar history thanks to her acting chops, becoming the first actor to receive a best supporting actress nomination in a movie directed by a woman of color, per Cosmopolitan.

Blige's 2018 Oscar theme was making history, evidently, as her nomination for best original song, coupled with her acting nod, made her the first person to be nominated in the same year for an original song, as well as in an acting category. "I didn't anticipate any of this. I just knew I was part of a very powerful, important film, and I was happy to be a part of it," she told Deadline of her nominations.

While Blige didn't win at that year's Academy Awards, she still has hardware to display at home. The multi-hyphenate has taken home nine Grammy Awards over the course of her singing career, including best R&B album and best female R&B vocal performance. In addition to her big screen and musical efforts, the singer-turned-actor has also been featured in a variety of television shows, like "30 Rock," "Scandal," "Empire," "How to Get Away with Murder," and Netflix's original series "The Umbrella Academy."

Mary J. Blige has had multiple long-term committed relationships, but she's never had children of her own. When she was married to ex Kendu Isaacs, the star was the stepmother to his three children from a previous relationship — however, she's admittedly never had any intention of adding more to the mix. "I don't think I'll do foster care or adopt, to be quite honest," she once said in an interview with 97.9 The Box. "I barely have time for my own children. To adopt more children and not have time for them, that [would be] poor parenting on my [part]."

Although she's never had children of her own, Blige has still influenced plenty of people, particularly younger musicians. The artist has been cited as an artistic inspiration by many of today's biggest stars, and her music is still sampled on popular songs. As Jeff Redd, one of Blige's earliest collaborators, said of the singer in "Mary J. Blige's My Life" (via Vogue), "When Mary opened her mouth and sang, it spoke to a generation of children and kids who were coming out of [an area] where they raised themselves." As one of Blige's close pals, Taraji P. Henson, put it, "She gave us a face, a name, and a story. She humanized us."

Being the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul has been lucrative for Mary J. Blige. Per Celebrity Net Worth, the "One" singer is worth an estimated $20 million, and cited in her 2018 divorce papers that she brings in roughly $300,000 every month. While the star has faced some financial woes throughout her career — such as reportedly owing $3.4 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS in 2013, and later settling to pay an undisclosed amount to her ex-husband in spousal support — we imagine her monthly income has only increased in more recent years thanks to her latest acting role. In 2020, Blige signed on to portray Monet in the crime drama "Power Book II: Ghost," and, according to Express, is earning an impressive $400,000 every episode.

So, how does Blige spend her high earnings? A scroll through her Instagram account proves the singer-actor has an affinity for designer duds and jewelry, and the "Rent Money" hitmaker also likes to travel to tropical destinations. Blige has also spent millions on real estate, including a New Jersey mansion she purchased in 2001 and put on the market for $2.75 million about two decades later, per Realtor. If her house sells and her next chapter is as successful as her previous ones, Mary J. Blige's net worth will most likely see a major well-deserved bump.