Does Mary J. Blige Have Kids? Everything the Singer Has Said About Her 3 Stepkids With Ex-Husband Kendu Isaacs

Talented performer Mary J. Blige is a vocal powerhouse who has conquered all areas of the entertainment world. The Grammy winner was married once during her career to Kendu Isaacs from 2003 to 2016. She became a stepmom to his three children but never welcomed children of her own. Keep scrolling to see everything she has said about not having kids. 

Who Are Mary J. Blige’s Stepkids? 

Kendu was already a father to three children from a previous relationship upon meeting Mary. The manager and music producer introduced Mary to his kids, Briana, Jordan and Nas, whom she viewed as her own. In a May 2007 interview with Redbook, the Mudbound actress opened up about becoming a stepmom. 

“I’ve been a stepmother for three years now and I love them so much,” she said. “They would ask me questions like, ‘What do we call you?’ I said, ‘Call me Mary, call me what you want. You don’t have to call me Mommy until you’re ready.’”

The “Family Affair” singer went on to say that she wanted all three kids to “feel loved and secure.” In another 2009 interview with People, she shared what her two youngest stepkids, Jordan and Nas, were passionate about.  

“One [Jordan] is a film director already – she’s working on it,” the Academy Award nominee said. “That’s her goal. And the other [Nas] is a philosopher, a public speaker. He speaks very well already.”

As for Briana, she went on to join the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop in 2016. Mary and Kendu split in 2016 and their divorce was finalized in 2018. Briana shared what her relationship was like with her stepmom in a September 2017 episode of the WE TV show. 

“Me and Mary, I thought we had, like, a real thing,” she said. “I love her, and I get it. She’s going through things, so she probably can’t talk to me right now and I respect that, but to me, it’s almost like I lost somebody.”

Does Mary J. Blige Have Biological Children?

In the past, when posed with questions about not having children of her own, the R&B icon got candid about how her busy career played a major factor in that decision. 

“I don’t think I’ll do foster care or adopt, to be quite honest,” she told People in 2009. “I barely have time for my own children. To adopt more children and not have time for them, that [would be] poor parenting on my [part].”

In between her loaded schedule, Mary likes to spend time with her nieces and nephews. In June 2021, she posted a photo with them smiling for the camera on Instagram. She is also the godmother of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ son Justin Dior Combs. She gave the former college football star birthday wishes in a December 2021 post. 

“Happy Birthday to my beautiful, amazing & handsome godson @princejdc. I am beyond proud of you!!” The Umbrella Academy actress wrote.

In March 2022, Mary further reflected on the decision not to have children of her own during an episode of E! Daily Pop. 

“I have nieces and nephews forever and I’m always watching how people are scrambling around for babysitters,” she admitted. “I don’t want to go through that.”

The “Everything” singer has shouted out her nieces and nephews on social media before. They were also front and center to watch their aunt receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018. 

“I like my freedom,” the songstress continued. “I like being able to get up and go and move and do what I want to do. I don’t want to have to tend to someone all the time. I don’t think it’s gonna happen.”