Recognized as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B," she has earned numerous accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award.
Blige's career took off in 1988 when she was signed to Uptown Records, and she quickly made a mark with her debut album, "What's the 411?" in 1992, credited for blending R&B and hip-hop into mainstream pop culture. Her 1994 album, "My Life," and its remix album achieved recognition on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and Time magazine's All-Time 100 Albums.
Throughout her career, Blige released 14 studio albums, with four reaching number one on the Billboard 200. Some of her biggest hits include "Real Love," "You Remind Me," "Not Gon' Cry," "Be Without You," and the chart-topping "Family Affair."
In addition to her musical success, Blige has transitioned successfully to the big and small screens. She has taken on supporting roles in various films, including the Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated performance in "Mudbound" (2017). Blige has also showcased her talent on television, starring in the Netflix series "The Umbrella Academy" and the Power spin-off, "Power Book II: Ghost," where she portrays Monet Tejada.
Her impact on the music industry is evident in the numerous awards and recognitions she has received over the years, including a Legends Award at the World Music Awards, the Voice of Music Award from ASCAP, and being named the most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist by Billboard. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Mary J. Blige as the 25th greatest singer of all time.