Mary J. Blige has embraced self-love, but the journey to get there wasn’t easy. During her appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, the Queen of R&B revealed that she felt “suicidal” while recording her iconic My Life album over 30 years ago.
“If you’re a Mary J. Blige fan, you know the hell I’ve been through and how much I hated myself,” she told Drew Barrymore. “But this love I have for myself now is what I need to love anyone or anything else. That’s how it works.”
The singer, who has previously spoken about her struggles with addiction and sexual abuse, is preparing for her “For My Fans” tour, celebrating those who have supported her throughout her decades-long career.
“Everything I do is for the fans,” Blige shared. “They’ve helped me heal as much as I’ve helped them. When I was recording My Life, I was completely suicidal. But four million people bought the album and said, ‘Mary, we’re going through this with you.’”
The overwhelming support inspired Blige to start “choosing life” and prioritizing her fans.
“I believe I was given this platform not to sit on it and die with my trauma but to reach out to others and say, ‘Me too. I’m going through it.’ Those four million fans who bought My Life encouraged me to open up, and that’s why I continue to share my story,” she said, adding that the album was a therapeutic outlet for her.
