Legendary R&B artist Mary J. Blige will receive the Icon Award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, Billboard announced on Thursday. And as part of the recognition, the 10-time BBMA winner will perform in the show.
Blige is now added to a list of only 10 other artist to receive the prestigious award, which recognizes outstanding artists for their Billboard charts excellence and contributions to music. Past recipients include Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Prince and Stevie Wonder.
“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 the announcement. “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.”
Some of Blige’s many BBMA accolades include taking home top trophies at the 2006 show, including Female R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist of the Year and R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year, for The Breakthrough, an award she previously won at the 1995 awards show, for My Life.
The 2022 Billboard Music Awards air live from Las Vegas on Sunday, May 15 at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.
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