Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, model 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.

 Music career 
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".

 Personal life 
Blige is a Democrat.

Filmography
Movie
 Year Title Role Notes2001 Prison Song  Mrs. Butler Movie debut2009 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 JacksonGotham Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble PerformanceNew York Film Critics Online for Best Ensemble CastIndieWire Critic's Poll Award for Best Breakthrough Performance (Film)Hollywood Film Awards – Breakout Actress AwardHollywood Film Awards – Breakout Ensemble AwardLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress (Runner-up)Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Academy Award for Best Original SongNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting EnsembleNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Original SongNominated — Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough ActorNominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureNominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated — Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble 2018 Sherlock Gnomes Irene (voice) 2020 Trolls World Tour Queen Essence (voice)2020RespectDinah WashingtonTBABody CamReneePost-productionTBAThe Violent Heart Nina Filming

Television
 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 filmNominated — 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 specialNominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/MiniseriesNominated — 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

Category:1971 births
Category:Living people
Category:Rappers from New York (state)
Category:American movie actors
Category:African-American actors
Category:Democrats (United States)
Category:Singers from New York City
Category:Actors from New York City
Category:Interscope Records artists

Category:American contemporary R&B singers
Category:American R&B singers
Category:American hip hop singers
Category:American soul singers
Category:American hip hop soul singers
Category:American new jack swing singers