Mary J. Blige is deepening her creative partnership with Lifetime, signing on for a new three-picture deal that will bring more original films inspired by her music to the network.
The first project under the expanded agreement is Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy, inspired by Blige’s 1994 song ‘Be Happy’ from her landmark album My Life. The film marks the directorial debut of Gabourey Sidibe and stars Tisha Campbell, Mekhi Phifer, and Russell Hornsby.
Be Happy centers on Val (Campbell), a 50-year-old devoted wife and stay-at-home mother who finds herself at a crossroads when her youngest child leaves for college. As she struggles with empty-nest emotions and an increasing emotional distance from her husband Ross (Hornsby), Val begins to confront the reality that both her marriage and her sense of self may be slipping away.
A spontaneous trip to New Orleans to support her pregnant daughter Kayla (Zing Ashford) becomes a turning point. There, Val meets Peter Mosley (Phifer), a charismatic photographer who sees her in ways she’s long forgotten to see herself. The experience reawakens her artistic spirit and forces Val to ask a life-altering question: is it ever too late to choose yourself?
Blige has already established a strong track record with Lifetime, previously adapting song titles like ‘Real Love,’ ‘Strength of a Woman,’ and ‘Family Affair’ into original films. According to the network, those projects collectively reached more than 6.1 million total viewers on linear platforms, per Nielsen.
Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy is produced by Blige’s Blue Butterfly Productions alongside Monami Productions, Motion Entertainment, and Swirl Films. Blige executive produces through Blue Butterfly, with Bruce Miller and Milana Edwards Brooks serving as co-producers. The film is written by Cameron J. Ross.
Blige’s success has helped spark a broader trend at Lifetime, turning iconic R&B songs into emotionally driven, character-centered films led by Black women. Following that momentum, Toni Braxton has also partnered with the network. Her film He Wasn’t Man Enough marked the first installment in her multi-picture deal, with Breathe Again set as the second.
Breathe Again premieres Saturday, January 24 at 8/7c and reunites Braxton with Essence Atkins, while also starring Cree Summer. The project continues Lifetime’s Love of a Lifetime slate, which reached 5.6 million total viewers last fall, and reinforces the network’s commitment to storytelling rooted in music, emotion, and Black women’s lived experiences—both in front of and behind the camera.