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9-Time Grammy Award-Winning Artist Mary J. Blige Just Wrote a Children's Book to Inspire the Youth

9-Time Grammy Award-Winning Artist Mary J. Blige Just Wrote a Children's Book to Inspire the Youth

Coming March 2023!


Singer, songwriter and actress Mary J. Blige has been on everything from big stages to tv screens. Now she’s hitting the bookshelves with her new children's book, entitled, Mary Can!

Mary Can! teaches young people to believe in themselves; the reader follows young Mary who’s being told she can’t do many things, but when it comes to singing, she will not take no for an answer! This is a “powerful motivating tale about a confident and ambitious girl who doesn’t feed into negativity,” the singer explained.


The book is being published by HarperCollins with illustrations by Ezra Jack Keats and Award-winning illustrator Ashleigh Corrin, who was elated to work with Blige on her book. “She has given herself to generations, and now today’s youth get to be touched by her courage and strength,” Corrin said.

Blige shared in a statement, “I want kids to know that there are no limits to what they can accomplish. My wish is for my nieces and nephews to feel they can achieve anything they imagine. Growing up, I was constantly told that my dreams were too big, too bold, and too far out of reach. I think we need to reinforce that nothing is impossible.”


This year has been one for the books for Blige! She was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 and released her latest album Good Morning Gorgeous. She also had a slamming Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show performance, now she’s an author of a children’s book.


We can’t wait to see what else she has in store!


Photo: HarperCollins/ LEON BENNETT/GETTY IMAGES