The Real Reason Mary J. Blige Doesn't Have Any Children

Publish date: 2024-05-15

In March 2022, Mary J. Blige — who recently turned 51 — opened up about the real reasons she decided to not have children. "Oh, I'm not there yet," she responded in an E! Daily Pop interview (which has since been taken down) when asked if she would ever regret not having children, per the Independent. "I have nieces and nephews forever and I'm always watching how people are scrambling for babysitters ... 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."

These sentiments are not new, as Blige has been open about her desire to focus on herself for well over a decade. "I don't want any biological children right now," she told Oprah in 2006. "You know what I want? Property — lots and lots of real estate all over the place." 

She added in a 2009 interview with Essence, "Well, you know what it is with me? I've just got so much work. God's got to be done with me, the low moments and all the insecurities of the past." Indeed, Blige, who finalized her divorce with her only husband, Kendu Isaacs, in 2018, has been able to fully commit herself to her career, having released four albums in the last 10 years alone. Her most recent one, "Good Morning Gorgeous," was released in February 2022 to highly positive reviews

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