Must-See: Mary J. Blige Talks Alcohol Abuse
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Mary J. Blige has overcome a lot. In this special sneak peek from VH1′s “Behind the Music,” MJB talks about her battle with alcohol abuse, and how falling in love with her husband, Kendu Isaacs, helped her clean up her act.
“Behind the Music: Mary J. Blige” airs this Sunday, July 24th at 10 pm.
Mary J. Blige is one of the world’s great R&B singers. She’s also a survivor, a role model and a hero to many of her fans.
We chatted with the singer about her upcoming Behind The Music special, which airs 10 p.m. Sunday on VH1.
The musical biography, an inside look into Mary’s rise to fame, features commentary by her husband Kendu Isaacs, sister LaTonya Blige Dacosta, Diddy, Nas, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
What are the highlights of the special?
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Forgiveness, recovery, hope, inspiration, determination, love — it’s a great personality piece that describes who I am and why I’m able to reach people the way I do.
Has a fan’s story ever made you cry?
There have been many stories that made me cry. However, there are two stories that really stuck with me. Each story involved determination and ultimately wanting to live. One was a person who, after a tragic accident, felt that she was too ugly and didn’t want to live. She didn’t speak a single word for a very long time, and when one of my songs came on the radio she uttered her first words. The other was a young lady who was going to drive off a cliff to end her life, but stopped her car and turned around when she listened to my song, “My Life.”
Has filming “Rock of Ages” been fun for you?
Rock Of Ages has been so much fun and a great learning experience as far as being an actor. I already had a great respect for what actors/actresses do, and now it’s even greater. The cast is so beautiful and fun to work with. Adam Shankman has been one of the best directors that I have ever worked with. Julianne Hough is so talented and extremely pleasant to work with. I’m looking forward to filming my scenes with Tom Cruise and the rest of the amazing cast.
Does that mean we’ll see you in more films?
I really enjoy acting and definitely plan on doing more films. It’s a challenge, but it works.
How much has changed for you since your award-winning 1994 album, “My Life.”
So much has changed for me since then. . . . I’ve learned that in order to live you have to understand that life is not just one thing. It’s a multitude of things. You have to understand that sometimes everything is great, and sometimes it’s not so great, and you have to learn how to cope.
What has given you lasting power in the music biz?
My faith! Knowing that this is a responsibility, and it’s not always glitz and glamour. Knowing that without God giving me the fan base that I have through my music there would be nothing. My fans are very important to me.
Your music is an inspiration to fans who feel down-and-out. If you could cure their sadness with a uplifting phone call, what would you tell them?
I would tell them don’t worry about what anybody thinks of you. Believe in yourself – have faith in what you know is positive about you.
What is the best relationship advice you’ve ever received?
You have to believe in yourself and love yourself in order for someone else to give you the love you desire and deserve.
Kudos on your charity work and efforts to empower young women. Of all the causes out there, why did you pick that one?
Because I was a woman that suffered from low self-esteem, self-hatred, lack of education, lack of confidence and needed someone to encourage me and inspire me, and there was nobody really there to do that for me.
Micaela Hood
