Mary J. Blige’s New Album Wants Us (Women) to See the Beauty in our Strength

We are getting a double dose of Mary this week! Grammy award-winning artist Mary J. Blige is set to release her 15th studio album, Good Morning Gorgeous, this Friday, February 11, 2022. This is just days before Super Bowl LIV, where she gears up to grace the main stage during the Pepsi Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar.

In celebration of the 13-track album, iHeartRadio and Fox Soul are hosting an exclusive Album Release Party with Mary J. Blige that will stream live on February 11th at 10pmET/7 pm PT. Blige will be performing tracks from the new album, as well as answering questions during an exclusive Q&A hosted by Angie Martinez.

As the queen of hip-hop soul, Blige has been a staple in many women’s lives for the last thirty years. We have witnessed the evolution of Blige’s womanhood; her ups, downs, trials, and triumphs weaved into the lyrics of her music. Judging by the title of her album, album artwork, and recent interviews, a personification of style and beauty are front and center. We can assume that Blige has finally “Arrived” at genuinely embracing herself, and she’s bringing us along.

During a recent interview with Tamron Hall, Blige says she can finally “Accept it all.” She continued by stating, “I’m sure of who I am right now. I earned the right to say I feel amazing.” And those are the sentiments amplified in her new track, Amazing featuring DJ Khaled, which featured a cameo from Angie Martinez. Blige seems to be giving off the same “strong black woman” stance that she always takes but spinning it beautifully.

Blige has also released two other singles available for streaming and download. Good Morning Gorgeous is an empowering song encouraging women to make themselves feel beautiful. The other single, Rent Money, features Dave East and gives off a nonchalant “I’m just plain old Mary” vibe, reminding us of her raw, can’t-be-fooled image. The tracks are equally impressive!

As we eagerly await the Album Release Party, I can’t help but wonder what kind of questions Martinez will ask Blige based on their longtime friendship. So, as Blige enters into this new empowered stage of her life, I wonder if she will share what steps she took to learn to love and accept herself genuinely?