Mary J. Blige gave back to her hometown of Yonkers, New York earlier this week, when she opened her new facility, the Mary J. Blige Center for Women. Blige and Hip-Hop mogul Steve Stoute founded the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) in 2008, as a way to encourage women by supporting educational programs, career development, self-esteem and personal growth. Blige and Stoute are initially concentrating the foundation’s focus on Yonkers and the surrounding communities of West Chester, although plans are underway to service the entire country. (more…)

Don’t expect Mary J. Blige to join the ranks of celebrities adopting – she’s already got her hands full.

“I don’t think I’ll do foster care or adopt, to be quite honest,” the singer, 38, said at the Cipriani 42nd Street for New Yorkers for Children event where she was honored. “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].” Blige is stepmother to two children, Jordan, 11, and Nas, 10, with husband Kendu Isaacs, who also has a grown daughter, Brianna, 23.

“I wouldn’t adopt, but what I will do is give my time and go and try to be there for people,” she said.
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Queen of Hip-Hop Soul Mary J. Blige graces the cover of ESSENCE’s October issue (for the tenth time!) in a piece where she talks about her latest album, “Stronger;” her role in Tyler Perry’s new movie, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself;” her foundation to help young women, the Foundation For the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN); and the 15th anniversary of her album “My Life.” In honor of the album’s milestone, ESSENCE asked its readers what they would like to ask Mary J. by posting more than 100 questions on Twitter and ESSENCE.com. Find out what burning questions Mary J.’s fans asked—and how she answered each of them from the heart.

Do you feel any pressure to keep pumping out hits because of the younger artists?—Angie Kyles, Los Angeles
MARY J. BLIGE: I feel no pressure. I pump out hits for my fans. They just want to hear from me. I don’t compete with the young generation, I learn from them. I listen to what they’re saying, so I can get a little bit of that, so we can cross, so we can have an understanding and hear each other.

When I listen to your music I can’t help but feel the emotion, whether it is joy, pain, anger or bitterness. How do you control and channel your emotions to give us these great performances?—Adina Oubre, New Orleans
Every lyric in my songs is real to me, so I channel the words and the feelings. Whatever those different songs are, they really are relatable to me. And then the fans give me the energy back, because they’re basically saying, “It’s us too Mary,” so I just take it to the next level. (more…)

Mary J. Blige featuring Drake The One

Mary J and Queen Latifah showed up to a private dinner to support The Dream’s new group Electrik Red at the Oak Room.

Mary J. Blige and Keisha Whitaker were seen leaving the Catherine Malandrino Maison (love her clothes).


Catherine Malandrino is a French-born designer, known for her feminine, ultra-wearable designs. She opened a 6,000-square-foot boutique on La Cienega Boulevard called the Catherine Malandrino Maison.

Mary J. Blige arrived at LaGuardia airport after traveling from Atlanta. Mary was in Atlanta filming the new Tyler Perry movie titled “I Can Do Bad By Myself”.