Mary J. Blige Sets Retirement Date—And Reveals What She’ll Do Next

Mary J. Blige, the undisputed Queen of Hip-Hop Soul and one of R&B’s most influential voices, has announced plans to retire from music within the next five to six years. The news came during an exclusive interview with EXTRA on April 29, 2024, just months before she is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame—a crowning achievement that marks a career peak and a new chapter for the legendary artist.

At 53, Blige shared her intention to gradually step away from the music scene by around 2029 or 2030. “Right now, I’m definitely gonna do some more acting and I’m definitely gonna retire in, like, five or six years,” she said. While she continues to create music, her output has slowed compared to earlier days. “I don’t have to now,” she explained, signaling a shift toward other passions.

Acting is already taking center stage for Blige, who has appeared in popular series like The Umbrella Academy and Scream: Resurrection. Her enthusiasm for expanding her acting career points to a dynamic next phase beyond music.

Blige’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction on October 19, 2024, in Cleveland will see her join iconic artists such as Foreigner, Jimmy Buffett, and Cher—cementing her status as a trailblazer. Reflecting on her artistic evolution, Blige described her recent music as more introspective and centered on themes of stability and self-love. “Mary is singing about life… love… being stable and understanding you can have things like love. You can have a good life,” she said. “My real love is me and I found it.”

Currently working on an album that may be her final musical statement, Blige acknowledged in an August 2024 Us Weekly interview that she has “done pretty much everything that I want to do. The boxes have been checked.” With over three decades in the industry, nine Grammy Awards, and an estimated net worth of $20 million, her decision feels both earned and heartfelt.

Fans have met the announcement with a mixture of surprise and support, while some remain hopeful she might return to music—as other artists have after retirement. But Blige’s reflections suggest a genuine readiness to embrace new experiences, including travel and a deeper focus on acting.

Beyond her entertainment career, Blige continues to champion community and cultural causes, exemplified by her hosting of the third annual Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit in New York City from May 10-12, 2024.

As Mary J. Blige charts her future, her musical legacy remains unshakable, and her evolving career promises to inspire audiences in bold new ways.