Mary J. Blige on ‘Love a Woman’ Duet With Beyoncé: ‘It Was an Opportunity of a Lifetime’

Mary J. Blige reminisced about her 2011 duet with Beyoncé, “Love A Woman,” on her new radio show on SiriusXM. 

In the clip, Blige discussed how the collaboration was a bittersweet moment for her. “‘Love A Woman’ is a beautiful duet that I actually got to do with Beyoncé. It was just an opportunity of a lifetime for both of us to do that,” she shared.

However, behind the scenes, Blige was navigating a fractured relationship with her then-husband, Kendu Isaacs, who she divorced in 2016. 

“At that time, in our lives, I was going through hell in my marriage,” Blige added. “Obviously, this man did not know how to love a woman. That’s where this song came from.”

“Love A Woman,” produced by Sean Garrett, appeared on Blige’s My Life II… The Journey Continues (Act 1). The deep cut was originally for Beyoncé’s album 4, also released in 2011, however, it didn’t make the final cut. 

“The song came from Beyoncé,” Blige told BET in 2011. “She gave me the song. She recorded it for her album and it didn’t fit her album. Her A&R people brought the song to me with her voice on it completely.”

Blige, who was enamored by “Love A Woman,” also revealed that she had to double-check to ensure the track was indeed a gift from Bey. “The song was so amazing I had to be sure, as an artist, that she really was trying to give it to me,” Blige said.

“I was like, ‘Is she really trying to give me this song? Because it’s pretty amazing.’ They were like, ‘Yes, but she wants to stay on it with you.’ And I was like, ‘Wow! Beyoncé? Thanks!’ And you know I love and respect her to death, so I wouldn’t pass that chance up.”

Despite not being an official single, “Love A Woman” peaked at No. 89 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in June 2012, where it spent three weeks on the chart.

The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul launched Mary J. Blige Radio on SiriusXM in honor of Women’s History Month. The pop-up channel is available through April 2 on the SiriusXM app and in cars on channel 79 through March 24.

Blige is currently on her For My Fans Tour with special guests Ne-Yo and Mario. As for Queen Bey, the global superstar will embark on her Cowboy Carter Tour starting April 28 in Los Angeles.  

Revisit Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé’s “Love A Woman” and watch her discuss the track below.