Mary J. Blige
Born: 1971-01-11 in Yonkers, New York, USA
Known For: Acting
Biography
Mary Jane Blige (/blaɪʒ/; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist. She started her career as a backing singer on Uptown Records in 1989. She has released 13 studio albums, eight of which have achieved multi-platinum worldwide sales. Blige has sold over 80 million records, has won nine Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, twelve Billboard Music Awards and has also received three Golden Globe Award nominations, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its second original song "Mighty River" for Mudbound; she also received a nomination for the Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song, becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year. In 1992, Blige released her first album, What's the 411?. Her 1994 album My Life is among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[4] and Time magazine's All-Time 100 Albums. She received a Legends Award at the World Music Awards in 2006, and the Voice of Music Award from ASCAP in 2007. As of 2018, Blige has sold 80 million records worldwide. Billboard ranked Blige as the most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the past 25 years. In 2017, Billboard magazine named her 2006 song "Be Without You" as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop song of all time, as it spent an unparalleled 15 weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and over 75 weeks on the chart. In 2011, VH1 ranked Blige as the 80th greatest artist of all time. ln 2012, VH1 ranked Blige at number 9 in "The 100 Greatest Women in Music" list.
Filmography
2026
- Be Happy ... (Executive Producer)
2025
- Sean Combs: The Reckoning as Self (archive footage)
- Mary J. Blige's Family Affair ... (Executive Producer)
- Mary J. Blige: For My Fans as Self
2024
- In Vogue: The 90s as Self
- Rob Peace as Jackie Peace
- Fat Joe Talks as Self - Guest
- TMZ Presents: The Downfall of Diddy as Self (archive footage)
- 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- Wham!: Last Christmas Unwrapped as Self
2023
- The Color Purple ... (Songs)
- Thriller 40 as Self
- Strength of a Woman ... (Executive Producer)
- Real Love ... (Executive Producer)
- Carole King and her Songs at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
- The Wine Down with Mary J. Blige as Self - Host
2022
- Sherri as Self - Guest
- Impact x Nightline
- Lost Ollie as Rosy (voice)
- The Crew Has It
- 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- George Michael: Freedom Uncut as Self
- Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL as Self (archive footage)
- THE SHOW: California Love as Self
2021
- Respect as Dinah Washington
- 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony as Self
- Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell as Self (archive footage)
- You're Watching Video Music Box as Self (archive footage)
- Mary J. Blige's My Life as Self
2020
- Power Book II: Ghost as Monet Stewart Tejada
- Trolls World Tour as Queen Essence (voice)
- Body Cam as Renee Lomito-Smith
- Pink Skies Ahead as Doctor Monroe
- The Violent Heart as Nina
2019
- The Umbrella Academy as Cha-Cha
- Tamron Hall as Self - Guest
2018
- The Shop as Self
- Sherlock Gnomes as Irene (voice)
- Quincy as Self
- The Box as Evil Commander
2017
- Mudbound as Florence Jackson
- George Michael: Freedom as Self
- Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story as Self
- Grammy's Greatest Stories: A 60th Anniversary Special as Self
2016
- Hidden Figures ... (Songs)
2015
- The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
- Empire as Angie
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter as Self
- Scream: The TV Series as Sherry Elliot
- Lip Sync Battle as Self
- Taylor Swift: The 1989 World Tour - Live as Self - Musical Guest
- The Wiz Live! as Evillene
- The Making of the Wiz Live! as Self
- Mary J. Blige: Live at Made in America as Self
- Queens of Soul at the BBC as Self (archive footage)
2014
- How to Get Away with Murder as Rolanda
- black-ish as Mirabelle
- Variety Studio: Actors on Actors as Self
2013
- Black Nativity as Platinum Fro
- Betty and Coretta as Dr. Betty Shabazz
- Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade as Self
- Michael Bublé’s 3rd Annual Christmas Special as Self
2012
- Rock of Ages as Justice
- Rod Stewart: Merry Christmas, Baby as Self
- Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ as Self
- Be Inspired: The Life of Heavy D as Self
2011
- The Help ... (Songs)
- Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest as Self
- VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul as Self
2010
- The Marriage Ref as Self - Panelist
- Teenage Paparazzo as Self (uncredited)
- Justin Lee Collins: Good Times as Self
- Hope for Haiti Now as Self
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Self
- The Jay Leno Show as Self
- Alan Carr: Chatty Man as Self
- I Can Do Bad All By Myself as Tanya
- We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial as Self
2008
- Mary J. Blige: VH1 Storytellers as Self
2007
- Soul Divas as Self
- Classic Albums: Jay-Z - Reasonable Doubt as Self
2006
- 30 Rock as Mary J. Blige
- George Michael - Twenty Five as Self
2005
- Ghost Whisperer as Jackie Boyd
- The Tyra Banks Show as Self
- VH1 Storytellers
- Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music as Self
- An Intimate Evening with Mary J. Blige - Live from the House of Blues as Self
2004
- Entourage as Mary J. Blige
- Miley's New Year's Eve Party as Self - Musical Guest
- And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop as Self
- Michael Jackson: The One as Self
- JAY-Z: Fade to Black as Self
- And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop as Self
- Genius. A Night for Ray Charles as Self
- Mary J. Blige - Live in Los Angeles
- Happy to Be Nappy and Other Stories of Me as Self (voice)
2003
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self - Guest
- America's Next Top Model as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as Self
- Michael Jackson: Number Ones as Self (archive footage)
- Sting: Inside - The Songs of Sacred Love as Self - Special Guest Vocalist
2002
- American Idol as Self - Guest
2001
- Friday Night with Jonathan Ross as Self - Guest
- Prison Song as Mom
- Jay-Z: MTV Unplugged as Self
- VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin as Self
- All Access: Front Row. Backstage. Live! as Self
- DMX: Angel as Guardian Angel
- MTV 20: Jams
2000
- Strong Medicine as Simone Fellows
- Gangstresses as Mary J. Blige
- Elton John: One Night Only, The Greatest Hits as Self - Guest Appearance
1999
- VH1 Divas Live 2: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music as Self - Performer
- Eric Clapton & Friends in Concert as Self - Guest star
1997
- The View as Self
- Classic Albums as Self
- The Chris Rock Show as Self
- Songs & Visions as Self
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- Moesha as Mary J. Blige
- The Jamie Foxx Show as Ola Mae
1994
- New York Undercover
- All That as Self
1993
- Late Show with David Letterman as Self - Musical Guest
- Intimate Portrait as Self
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as Self
- Out All Night as Self
1990
1989
- MTV Unplugged as Self
1988
- Yo! MTV Raps as Self
1984
- MTV Video Music Awards as Self
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Musical Guest
- People's Choice Awards as Self - Performer
1974
- American Music Awards as Self - Musical Guest
1968
1964
- Top of the Pops as Self
1959
- The Grammys as Self
1952
- Today as Self