Grammy and Emmy award-winning entertainer Mary J. Blige announced that she would be releasing her very first book, Mary Can! in March 2023.
Mary Can! is about a little girl named Mary who proves that anyone can make their dreams come true if they just believe. The book is in collaboration with one of the largest publishing companies in the world, Harper Collins.
Bige could not have imagined as a young girl growing up in the Bronx that one day she would become an award-winning icon. As she’s mentioned in her 2021 Love and Life documentary, her childhood was filled with its fair share of dark moments.
Blige discussed the impact of her troubled childhood in a previous interview with Entertainment Tonight. She revealed, “That was painful because the most painful part is, ‘Why so much stuff, so much stuff had to happen to a little girl?’ But that happens, you know? Little girls aren’t safe. Little boys aren’t safe.”
This also meant that the “Good Morning Gorgeous” singer rarely had any trusted figures around to motivate or inspire her to dream big. In her upcoming book, Blige hopes to be an encouraging voice for children facing similar challenges.
The “Power Book II: Ghost” actress first posted the news on Instagram, “I’m so excited to share some BIG NEWS with you!!! I wrote a book for kids and it is available for preorder TODAY!”
As the first-time author expressed in a statement, she hopes her story will be well-received by young readers, “I want kids to know that there are no limits to what they can accomplish. My wish is for my nieces and nephews to feel they can achieve anything they imagine. Growing up, I was constantly told that my dreams were too big, too bold, and too far out of reach. I think we need to reinforce that nothing is impossible.”
Growing up, Blige encountered obstacles when discussing her aspirations with adults. Despite often being shut down, the mustard seed of faith within her still helped her flourish. Now that she is a highly successful, world-famous, and beloved entertainer, she can bring her own ideas to life like penning this book.
“From start to finish, this book has been my own dream – starting from just the idea, to partnering with Ashleigh Corrin and Harper Collins who helped bring Mary Can! to life, to seeing the final and finished book – I couldn’t be more excited to share this with the younger generation.”
Young Mary’s journey will be portrayed primarily through compelling, whimsical drawings created by Ashleigh Corrin, a critically acclaimed and award-winning illustrator. Mary Can! will be available everywhere on March 28th.
This is just another jewel in the Queen of Hip Hop Soul’s crown. Over the course of her career, Blige has won nine Grammy Awards and been nominated for two Academy Awards. Her albums have earned triple platinum status four times, topped the Billboard 200 four times, and charted in the Top 15 for 14 consecutive years between 1992 and 2022.
In 2022, she won her first Primetime Emmy for her performance at the Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show. The “My Life” singer took the stage with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent, and Eminem on Feb. 13.