Essence Magazine:
By Keyaira Boone ·Updated February 11, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…
Mary J. Blige wrote “Be Happy” in 1994, a time when Black women weren’t openly and unapologetically choosing bliss. Now, the classic track has inspired a new Lifetime movie.
Be Happy, directed by Gabourey Sidibe, reflects a cultural shift Blige has witnessed firsthand. “They’re understanding their worth,” she tells ESSENCE of today’s Black woman. “That’s why it’s different now.
This post first appeared in Essence Magazine. Read the original article.