Mary J. Blige Delays New Album Until Early 2022

Mary J. Blige has once again pushed back her 14th studio album. It is now slated to arrive in early 2022, ahead of her co-headlining Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show performance in February 2022. 

The R&B legend confirmed the update on the follow-up to 2017’s Strength of a Woman in a recent interview with Chicago WGN-TV’s Dean Richards. Blige, who recently had studio sessions with London On Da Track, Jeremih, and Bongo ByTheWay, also hinted at a bundle of new music debuting in the interim. 

“Yes, I have new music coming this month,” Blige told Richards. “Three new singles coming and an album in January following. So, keep your ears to the street for November.” 

The new album was originally planned for a November release, while its lead single was supposed to premiere last month. She initially changed its 2021 date from a late 2020 release, explaining to the Los Angeles Times, “It’s about life, love, struggle, but mostly triumph. Because I’m learning how to rejoice in the valleys and the droughts.” 

As previously mentioned, Blige is taking the SoFi Stadium stage in Inglewood, California, to perform at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show. It will be a family affair for Blige, performing alongside previous collaborators Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, and Eminem. 

In other news, Blige is signed on for season two of Power Book II: Ghost. The series returns to Starz on November 21.  

Watch Blige’s interview with Dean Richards below.