Mary J. Blige is bringing her mission to empowering women beyond music to her hometown with the help of her superstar friends.
Taraji P. Henson, Tiffany Haddish, Jill Scott and other stars and experts will be attending Blige’s Strength of a Woman Summit and Festival starting May 10th. Her three-day event over Mother’s Day weekend in New York will feature concerts, comedy shows, a gospel brunch, panel discussions, and workshops focused on technology, beauty, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. It is included.
On Thursday, organizers announced additional speakers including Henson, Marsai Martin, Method Man, Larenz Tate, Tasha Smith, Michael Rainey Jr., Angie Martinez and Pinky Cole. The event will be hosted by comedian Jess Hilarias and podcaster Gia Peppers.
Sean Diddy Combs’ longtime friend Mary J. Blige is believed by fans to have burned bridges with the music mogul.
“We teach each other, we embrace each other, we lift each other up,” the R&B singer said in a recent interview. “We help each other to keep our businesses afloat and keep our mental health and everything going.”
FILE – Mary J. Blige attends the CFDA Fashion Awards on November 6, 2023 in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
Blige announced her 2022 Strength of a Woman event after years of seeing women at her concerts “hang on to my every word like my life belongs to them.” I launched it. She felt that she connected with concertgoers when the singer told her own deep story of overcoming her pain.
Blige, a nine-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, two-time Oscar nominee and inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, said: “I said, “Let’s let them do more than just sing.” That’s what I thought in my heart.” Gain fame later this year.
“In the middle of a song, it just pops out of me,” she continued. “It’s like an inspirational quote. People like that. My team and I thought, ‘Why not make a festival about the same thing?'”
After two successful years in Atlanta, Blige moved the festival to her hometown of New York City. She will perform a huge concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, with guest appearances by 50 Cent, Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Laura Brooke and Muni Long. Robert Glasper will headline a jazz concert at the Blue Note Jazz Club, and Haddish will take the stage for a comedy show at the Apollo Theater.
Blige said that along with entertainment, he hopes to provide uplifting and inspirational resources for participants to achieve success in life.
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“I’m doing my job,” she said. “I am fulfilling the purpose for which I was sent to this earth. I am doing my job by uplifting women and letting them know that you are not alone. You are here as a safe haven. Come and be comforted.”
