Mary J. Blige’s Powerful Mentorship Helped Shape Ella Mai’s R&B Journey

For Ella Mai, working with Mary J. Blige wasn’t just a career milestone — it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Over the past several years, the British R&B star has gone from idolizing Blige to calling her a mentor, forging a professional and personal bond that has left a lasting impact on her music and outlook.

A Queen and Her Protégé
Blige, born in 1971 and celebrated as the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” and “Queen of R&B,” has spent more than three decades shaping the sound and soul of modern R&B. With nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy, and a 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction to her name, she’s an artist whose influence stretches across generations.

Mai, who broke through with her Grammy-winning hit “Boo’d Up” in 2018, grew up on Blige’s music. In a 2022 interview with HipHopDX, she called Blige “one of my all-time favorites” and revealed that the singer had been a part of her life “since I was very young.” That admiration evolved into mentorship when the two began working together on Mai’s second album, Heart On My Sleeve.

Mentorship in the Music
Blige’s contributions to Heart On My Sleeve went beyond guest appearances. On tracks like “Not Another Love Song” and “Sink or Swim,” she offered candid, hard-earned advice on love, self-worth, and resilience. “Guard that heart,” Blige tells listeners — a message rooted in her own openness about personal struggles.

For Mai, having Blige in the studio wasn’t just about making music. It was about absorbing wisdom from someone who had walked the path before her. “It’s honorable when somebody you’ve idolized for so long comes in, has conversations with you, and praises your music,” Mai said.

On Stage and In the Spotlight
The bond between the two artists has also played out in high-profile moments. In 2022, Mai joined Blige and Queen Naija as an opener on the Good Morning Gorgeous Tour, supporting Blige’s 15th studio album. That same year, Mai was a special guest at Blige’s Strength of a Woman festival and summit in Atlanta.

In 2024, their connection took center stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. As Blige was honored for her career, Mai joined her and Lucky Daye for a medley of Blige’s classics, including “My Life” and “Family Affair.”

A Relationship Years in the Making
Their relationship traces back to at least 2018, when Mai tweeted about Blige facetiming her and calling her “my favorite singer right now.” That early moment of recognition foreshadowed the deep mentor-mentee relationship they would build in the years to come.

Passing the Torch
For Mai, Blige’s mentorship has been both professional guidance and personal affirmation — a reminder that her voice and story have a place in the lineage of R&B. For Blige, it’s a chance to invest in the next generation of artists while continuing to shape the genre she helped define.

As Mai carries forward her own career, the echoes of Blige’s influence are unmistakable — in her music, in her confidence, and in the way she’s already paying forward the lessons she’s learned from her mentor.

If you’d like, I can also prepare a music-magazine style profile that blends this narrative with quotes, lyrical analysis, and cultural commentary for a richer, feature-length piece. That would give the story more emotional depth and industry context.