Grammy Week was in full swing as music’s brightest stars came out to honor Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards Producers & Engineers Wing event at the Village in Los Angeles. From Dr. Dre to Stevie Nicks, the room was full of artists of all genres. Skylar Grey kicked off the evening with a medley of her hits and Mary J. Blige, will.i.am, and Polow Da Don were among those who saluted the music visionary.

Mary J. Blige tackled some heavy issues during her sit-down with pal Wendy Williams. The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul discussed her sobriety, rumors surrounding her marriage, and motherhood.

“I don’t need alcohol to get me out of a depression or get me out of a bad moment, but I have occasional drinks with my friends,” explained Mary, who was once addicted to drugs. “I traded the coke for the alcohol and that’s why I had to completely cut it out for five years.”

She also shot down reports that her marriage to manager Kendu Isaacs is in trouble. “My marriage is not on the rocks, but I would be a liar and my fans would hate me if I said to them, ‘Oh, we’re perfect and everything is great,’” she said. “We have situations just like everyone else. We’re not out in public trying to kill each other, but it’s real. We love each other.”

Wendy encouraged MJB to become a mother, but she’s in no rush. “When it’s time, when it happens, it’s in my future. I’m not planning it,” said Mary, who also performed her My Life II single “Mr. Wrong” and the Golden Globe-nominated “The Living Proof.”

Interview

“Mr. Wrong”

“The Living Proof”

The show must go on. Despite her Oscar snub, Mary J. Blige soldiered through her performance on “Live! with Kelly.” Beaming in orange, MJB delivered a powerful version of “The Living Proof,” the song she penned for The Help. She also filled in as co-host alongside Kelly Ripa, interviewing actress Cynthia Nixon and “The Bachelor” host Chris Harrison.

Mary J. Blige didn’t hear her name called when nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards were announced today. The disappointed singer took to Twitter to address the snub.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul was considered a front-runner in the Best Original Song category for “The Living Proof,” the ballad she penned for The Help. The film was nominated in major categories including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress, but shut out of the music categories.

Blige, who rose bright and early for the live announcement, thanked her supporters and expressed her disappointment with the news. “I’m so thankful for true fans like you all. It saddens me & feels like the Academy is being mean. 2 only nominate 2 of the 5 slots is…….” she wrote before retweeting reactions from her fans.

The category, which typically sees four to five nominees, only had two this year. Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown were recognized for “Real in Rio” from the animated film Rio and Bret McKenzie received a nod for “Man or Muppet” from The Muppets.

Blige was previously nominated at this year’s Golden Globes, but lost in the category to Madonna.

Mary J. Blige mingled with Hollywood’s power players at the Sundance Film Festival. The Golden Globe-nominated singer, who celebrated her 41st birthday this week, attended the Artist at the Table Dinner and Discussion in Park City, Utah, on Thursday (Jan. 19). The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul chatted with festival founder Robert Redford and America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift at the star-studded event.

MJB will host an after-party for the documentary The Invisible War tonight, featuring a performance from Estelle. Drake, Common, and Nas are also set to make appearances during the annual festivities.

Mary J. Blige dazzled in a floor-length Michael Kors gown at the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton hotel last night. A nominee herself, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul held court with Queen Latifah and the cast of The Help at the star-studded ceremony. The inspirational song she penned, “The Living Proof,” was nominated for Best Original Song, but lost to Madonna. Will Mary have better luck at the Oscars? Find out when the nominations are announced on January 24.

Some of music’s biggest voices are headed to New Orleans. Mary J. Blige, Keyshia Cole, and Fantasia have been announced as performers for this year’s ESSENCE Music Festival.

Celebrating “The Power of Our Voice,” the 18th annual event will be held at the Louisiana Superdome during the weekend of July 6-8. This year’s lineup boasts veterans and newcomers including Aretha Franklin, Charlie Wilson, SWV, Dru Hill, Ledisi, Stephanie Mills, Raheem DeVaughn, Estelle, Goapele, Vivian Green, Kindred the Family Soul, Luke James, Eric Roberson, The Stylistics, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Bridget Kelly, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, The Stooges Brass Band, and Khris Royal & Dark Matter.

The legendary Aretha Franklin, who performed at the Festival in 1995 and 2005, will also be honored with “The Power Award.”

“The theme of this year’s Essence Music Festival celebrates our most powerful voices. Whether it’s Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul commanding respect or Rep. Maxine Waters demanding better conditions for our community, these powerful voices resonate with our audience like no other,” said Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence Communications Inc. “As we all face a new reality in these critical times, we want to inspire our Festival-goers to leave this year’s Festival even more resilient and motivated so that they can be empowered to create change in their own communities.”

Weekend ticket packages are available now.

Drake was M.I.A. in the original video for Mary J. Blige’s My Life II single “Mr. Wrong,” but he shows up to support the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul in this newly released version. Drizzy opens the Rico Love and Jim Jonsin-produced song, standing against a brick wall awash in blue lights. The rest of the visuals remain mostly unchanged, with Mary giving a nod to the past with her throwback looks.

The divas brought the house down at “VH1 Divas Celebrates Soul.” The biggest voices in music paid homage to the great cities of soul music including Chicago, Detroit, London, Memphis, and Philadelphia during the star-studded show, which aired on Monday night. Veteran divas (Chaka Khan, Mavis Staples) and divas-in-training (Jessie J, Florence Welch) dueted on Motown classics.

Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, and Kelly Clarkson kicked things off with a medley of their hits, Florence + The Machine paid tribute to Amy Winehouse with “Back to Black,” and Jessie J joined Jennifer Hudson for “Knock on Wood.”

Watch these diva-licious moments and more below.

Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, & Kelly Clarkson – “Spotlight,” “Real Love,” and “Since U Been Gone”

Jennifer Hudson & Jessie J – “Knock on Wood”

Erykah Badu, Chaka Khan, & Mavis Staples – “I’ll Take You There”

Jessie J – “Domino”

Mary J. Blige – “Mr. Wrong”

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings & Wanda Jackson – “You Know I’m No Good”

Florence + The Machine – “Back to Black”

Estelle & Travie McCoy – “Wake Up Everybody”

Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, & Black Thought – “You Got Me”

Boyz II Men – “Motown Philly”

Estelle, Erykah Badu, Marsha Ambrosius, & ?uestlove – “Back to Life”

Jennifer Hudson – “Night of Your Life”

Mary J. Blige & Chaka Khan – “Ain’t Nobody”

Mary J. Blige keeps it classic in the Diane Martel-directed video for “Mr. Wrong.” The R&B icon emerges from a music box to the tune of the Rico Love and Jim Jinson-produced tune off her album My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act I). Amidst disco balls and smoke, MJB poses and dances in a variety of throwback looks, harkening her My Life era. Take a trip down memory lane with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.