After her difficult divorce in 2016, Mary J Blige struggled for years with the idea of love. But in recent interviews, the singer revealed that she had managed to find love again after heartache.
She was on TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to promote her new single, the aptly named “Still Believe in Love.” Mary told the hosts that the song perfectly represented her new outlook.
She explained that love was “the only way she’s able to be her own company.” The 53-year-old shared that she had learned to believe in love for herself, and was “not going to give up on love.” She referred to her past, saying, “I’m not going to let a bad relationship or a bad marriage stop me from having a good life and having romance.”
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So although she learned the important lesson of loving herself and being happy alone, Mary was happy to admit that she still wanted to find someone. She talked about “getting the hugs that she wants and the desire and kisses” during her interview with Today. “I want a man! I want love, I want it all, and I’m not going to let my past stop me from that,” she added.
In a separate interview on CBS Mornings, Mary suggested that she had already made that wish come true. She shared that she was currently head over heels for someone, saying, “I am in love. I believe I deserve a good relationship. With myself. With a partner.”
She added that believing in love was what made it come to you. She would continue to believe in love and romance while also believing in herself.
Mary Explained That She Is “Not Single”
Mary recently gave other updates about her dating life. In an interview with V-103’s Big Tigger, she was asked about her relationship status.
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She replied without any ambiguity that she was “not single.” However, she refused to reveal who her new love was, and only said, “I’m happily doing what I’m doing”.
It would have been easy for Mary to be less hopeful about love after leaving her marriage to ex-husband Kendu Isaacs behind. The pair married in 2003 before splitting up 13 years later, only finalizing their divorce in 2016.
Mary filed for divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences. Later, however, she claimed that Kendu had been unfaithful to her and had even stolen from her.
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Essence magazine reported that Kendu had allegedly cheated on Mary with her one-time musical protege Starshell. When the divorce was finalized, Mary was left responsible for paying Kendu $30,000 a month in alimony payments. In a 2021 interview, Mary said that her divorce was the moment that she felt like she was “at the bottom”.
Thankfully, in the years since Mary has been able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And whoever her new mystery partner is, we all hope they’re everything she’s been looking for in love.
