With a career that spans decades, Mary J. Blige will now receive the Billboard Icon Award and the Billboard Music Awards, making her the 11th artist to receive this title.
Past recipients include Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, P!nk and more. Blige has won 10 Billboard Music Awards throughout her career, gaining the most after her album The Breakthrough.
“My career has been such an incredible and unexpected journey that has included many turns into avenues I never could have imagined like acting, producing, launching businesses and now even my own music festival,” Blige said in a statement. “Through it all, I always one way or another gravitated back to my first love, music. To be recognized in this way at this moment, with the Icon Award at the Billboard Music Awards, is an incredible honor and one that I am truly humbled by.”
The Billboard Music Awards will take place in Las Vegas and air live on May 15.