Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige

 On The Wendy Williams Show!

Queen of hip hop soul with 9 Grammies and over 50 million records sold, Ms. Mary “I’m Going Down” Blige was on the Wendy Williams Show today. Looking fabulous in a pair of black suede sky high black shoes and wearing a purple leopard print Dolce Gabbana dress, which showed off her “banging” body and sporting her blonde hair stylishly done in a side pinned-up bob with a flip she really opened up to Wendy in a no holds barred interview. I must say I commend Wendy who is Mary's friend that she did a no question off limits interview, because she didn't really have to and all the questions she asked was for the benefit of her audience.

Mary began by singing her latest song, Mr. Wrong, which is featured in her new album, My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1), which is her 10th album after she burst on to the screen in 1992 with What’s The 411?

The one and only Mary J. Blige with large diamond shaped earrings looked good sitting on the couch for someone we all know has been through so much. When asked how many boots she has, she said, “I can’t count. I just collect them. I have more boots because they are comfortable. They are like sneakers.”

Wendy reminded her that the first time they met was long ago when she was in radio and Mary came by with pizza and wore her sunglasses through the whole interview, and the last time they saw each other was at Neyo’s birthday party, where they danced together.

Mary also recently celebrated her 41st birthday and when asked how it feels to be over the hill, she said, “I feel great. I’ve never been more comfortable in my own skin. Well, maybe only when the premenstrual time of the month comes around,”  as she made a confused hand gesture to show how she feels at that time of the month. She then said, “It’s a beautiful thing. At that age, You just really don’t care what anyone things negatively of you.”

Referring to Mary’s fragrance, My Life, Wendy said, “Your fragrance was the highest selling fragrance on Home Shopping Network.”The perfume broke HSN records by selling 65,000 bottles during its premier and went on to win two FiFi Awards, including the prestigious "Fragrance Sales Breakthrough" award. She also has a new one My Life Blossom, which I'm sure Mary fans will be snapping up.

When asked about her new album compares with My Life, she said, “I didn’t think I’d survive My Life, talk less of thinking about doing My Life II.  I was confused. I hated myself. I hated my life. There have been peaks and valleys. It’s been, soon as you make a change, something happens to put you back in a whole and you have to dig your way out again.”

When Wendy who has also had past substance abuse issues asked about her substance abuse problems, she said, “Not at all. I’m not struggling with my sobriety. I have occasional drinks with my friends. I traded the coke for the alcohol, that’s why I had to cut it out for five years.” Wendy reminisced about her and her husband dining with Mary and Kendu, and Mary not drinking at all, which left her feeling bad about drinking. Then she said, “Then Mary got the shakes and knocked over the liquor they were drinking.” Mary said, “I went through the whole period of shoot! I’m an alcoholic! When asked if she still likes going to club and a diner after wards, she was very enthusiastic with her response of her love for clubbing especially with her friends.

When asked, “Who are your close friends we know? It used to be Missy Elliott and Lil Kim. She said, “I love Kim and Missy to death, but I don’t see them much.” She says right now, her friends are actress, Taraji P. Henson and Toni Braxton’s younger sister and star of Braxton Family Values, Tamar Braxton, who she said, is so smart, has a beautiful heart, and is really a cool person. She said her and her husband, Kendu and Tamar and her husband, Herb Vincent, were scheduled to go out as a foursome on a date when Vincent had a health scare and was rushed to the hospital.

Mary is currently starring in the movie, Rock of Ages with Tom Cruise and Russell Brand, in which she plays Justice Charlier, a 1980’s strip/gentleman’s club owner who has to be a light in a dark place helping the women feel better about their lives. She said she didn’t audition for the role and just got call from the director, Adam Shankman, whose credits include Hairspray. For a girl from the Schlobohm Projects in Yonkers, girlfriend has come a mighty long way.

She said she loves spending time alone at home. When Wendy asked her, “What do you do in that big house 12,000 SF mansion? She said, “It’s beautiful to know you can be there alone. I watch movies, especially horror movies, but I got to stop because they mess with your head.”

Referring to past her past albums, Wendy then asked, “Did you always have many people around all the time during What’s the 411? and Share My World? She said, yes and “I can’t just go to the Short Hills Mall by myself. I can go to the grocery store. Everybody goes to the grocery store, but if you go to a mall, you might as well do a concert. Sometimes I feel alone, because it’s hard to find people to talk to. Every time you want to move, you have to get security, hair and make up.” Wendy responded by saying a baseball hat and sunglasses is who Mary is and her fans understand that, which is true considering that was the pre-glamorous Mary's standard uniform.

She’s been married for 8 years to her manager Kendu Isaacs and the rumor mills have been buzzing for years saying her marriage is on the rocks. When asked about that she said, “My marriage is not on the rocks. We have situations just like everyone else. It’s real, but we love each other.” Then Wendy went on to admire her beautiful ring, which she initially said she has one, but then conceded and admitted to having two.

Another topic Wendy chose to bring up is having children. Practically begging Mary to become a mother, Wendy said, “I think you would make a terrific mother. Be a mom, you’ll see it’s so good.” To which she replied, “It’s in my future, but I’m not planning it.”

Wendy said the things she’s happiest about in her life are saying no to drugs and having her son, Kev. While Mary said she doesn’t want to have kids just because that’s what others are doing. She then said, “I was baby sitter from 12 to 16, so I have had to listen to children crying and changing diapers”, so she’s definitely not gung ho about having kids. However, I would caution her because at 41 now and  getting older daily, she might have to make a decision soon or wind up not having any kids ever. Life is really all about choices and timing is very important.

She also talked about the Mary J. Blige Centre for Women in Yonkers, NY, which is part of the Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. (FFAWN) which was inaugurated at Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, New York with the purpose being to inspire women "to reach their individual potential". The foundation offers scholarships and programs including a GED program, a child care provision center, a computer room for people to do their resumes, home work and paperwork etc, because the aim is to foster self-esteem and career development. She said they had a gala last year and FFAWN sent 50 women to college with four year scholarships.

Fun Facts About Mary:

Before she became a star it is incorrectly said that she was a directory assistance operator. She was actually a floor person at Alexander’s on Central Avenue and said, “I never had a job as a directory assistance operator.”

Back in the day, her style and outfits were described as "ghetto fabulous, but not anymore, she's straight up fabulous now."

In the song, Family Affair in the No More Drama album, she coined two words namely Hateration and Holleration.

Favorite sweet treat is Twizzlers. Earth to Y&S Candies, Inc, you might want to feature her in a commercial...

She’s had many different hairstyles over the years. She said about her hair style choices, “My head is too small and it’s narrow, so I keep my hair off my face. I have to keep it up, so I don’t look like a horse.” To end her time on the show, she sang her song Living Proof, the lead single from the soundtrack of the Oscar nominated movie, The Help.

It was nice seeing her on the show. I wish her good luck and blessings in her future endeavors. Pick up her current album, My Life II: The Journey Continues (Act 1) in stores now.