Mary J. Blige To Be Awarded With 2022 Billboard Music Icon Award

Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Mary J. Blige will receive the Icon award at this year’s Billboard Music Awards.

The Billboard Music Icon award is given to individuals who have shown excellence and impact on the Billboard Charts and their music careers. Blige, 51, is now set to join the Billboard Icon club among 10 other artists, including Janet Jackson, Prince, Mariah Carey, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Cher, Garth Brooks, Neil Diamond and Pink.

“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,” said Blige in a statement, Deadline reports. “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 awards ceremony takes place Sunday, May 15, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The show starts at 8 p.m. ET and 5 p.m. PT on NBC.