Mary J. Blige Reflects On Her Child-Free Life On 'IMO Podcast'

Mary J. Blige intentionally chose to live a child-free life when she was younger, largely because of the challenges she saw family members experience as parents. As she grew older, however, her perspective on motherhood began to shift slightly. The Grammy Award-winning singer opened up about her decision not to have children during an Aug. 19 episode of the IMO Podcast with Michelle Obama and her brother, Craig Robinson. During the conversation, Blige reflected on what shaped her decision when she was younger and how growing older gave her a different perspective on motherhood.

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Mary J. Blige on The IMO Podcast: Blige said she wanted her freedom when she was younger.

Around the 45:15 mark, Robinson brought up Blige’s decision not to have children, prompting the singer to explain what influenced her choice.

“I said a lot of things when I was younger,” Blige, 55, told the brother-sister duo during the interview. “I didn’t want no damn kids,” she chuckled before opening up about some of the difficult experiences she witnessed among relatives who had children.

“I saw a lot of people struggling. I see a lot, you know, my family members needing babysitters and them not having a choice, no freedom. When you’re younger, those are the words you make, those are the choices you make: ‘I don’t want any kids,’” she said.

But her perspective changed as she got older. 

Blige explained that her perspective began to change as she got older and started noticing the close relationships parents can have with their children, particularly as they grow into their teenage years.

“When you get older, you start to see how valuable their teenagers are to them [and] their kids are to them,” she explained.

The singer paused before adding, “So now it’s like … ‘Oh man’…But then you’re like … eh…”

Ultimately, Blige said she came to understand that while she has built a rich and fulfilling life as a singer, having children was not something she needed in order to feel complete. She reminded herself:

“That’s your life, you have yours.”

Mary J. Blige also opened up about her decision not to have kids in 2022.

This isn’t the first time Mary J. Blige has spoken about her decision not to have children. During a 2022 interview with E!’s Daily Pop, the “Just Fine” singer explained that she enjoyed having the freedom to live her life on her own terms. She also noted that she has plenty of younger relatives she can be a mother figure to.

“I have nieces and nephews forever and I’m always watching how people are scrambling for baby-sitters. I don’t want to go through that. I like my freedom to go and move and do what I want to do. I don’t want to have to tend to someone all the time.”

She continued, adding “Right now that’s where I’m at. But, I don’t think it’s [having kids] gonna happen.”

Blige was previously a stepmother during her marriage to her ex-husband and producer, Kendu Isaacs, who had three children from previous relationships, but the pair officially divorced in 2018.

Mary J. Blige is doing “Just Fine” without children. 

Through it all, Blige has continued to build a successful and influential career. In 2022, she launched the Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit, a women’s leadership event that has attracted hundreds of attendees. She has also earned nine Grammy Awards, including the 2009 award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Growing Pains, while building a successful acting career with appearances in film and television projects such as Power Book II and Mudbound.

Blige launched her production company, Blue Butterfly, and signed a first-look TV deal with Lionsgate in 2019. Her production company scored a partnership deal with Lifetime to release three brand-new original films, one of which was Be Happy, a rom-com starring Tisha Campbell, Mekhi Phifer, and Russell Hornsby. It debuted in February of this year and marked the directorial debut of Academy Award–nominee Gabourey Sidibe.

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