Mary J. Blige Brings Midlife Reinvention to Lifetime with Be Happy

By Dr. Sharon H. Porter | Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Lights, Camera, Action!

Lifetime is once again teaming up with cultural icon Mary J. Blige, expanding a powerful creative partnership that continues to blend music, storytelling, and deeply resonant lived experiences. Announced January 6, 2026, the network has greenlit three new original films executive produced by the GRAMMY® Award–winning artist, two-time Academy Award® nominee, and Golden Globe nominee—building on the success of Real Love, Strength of a Woman, and Family Affair, which collectively reached more than 6.1 million linear viewers.

The first film under the new deal, Mary J. Blige Presents Be Happy, premieres Saturday, February 7 at 8/7c as part of Lifetime’s Winter 2026 Love of a Lifetime slate. True to Blige’s legacy of centering emotional honesty and resilience, the film explores reinvention, intimacy, and the pivotal moments that redefine life in midseason.

At the center of the story is Val, portrayed by NAACP Image Award winner Tisha Campbell, a devoted wife and stay-at-home mother standing at a crossroads. With her youngest child heading off to college, Val anticipates rekindling the spark in her marriage—only to confront the quiet ache of emotional distance and unspoken disappointment with her husband, Ross, played by SAG Award nominee Russell Hornsby. As empty-nest loneliness settles in, Val begins to question not only her marriage, but the parts of herself she may have lost along the way.

Russell Hornsby Photo Credit Benjo Arwas. | Mona Scott-Young- Photo Credit: Derek Blanks | Mekhi Phifer - Photo Credit: Lifetime

Tisha Campbell- Photo Credit: Cyndi Brown| Cameron J. Ross | Gabourey Sidibe

A spontaneous trip to New Orleans to support her pregnant daughter, Kayla (Zing Ashford), becomes the catalyst for transformation. Immersed in the city’s rhythm and soul, Val reconnects with long-buried dreams and encounters Peter Mosley (Mekhi Phifer), a charismatic photographer who sees her potential before she fully remembers it herself. The journey forces Val to confront a powerful, life-altering question: Is it ever too late to choose yourself—and the love you truly deserve?

Adding another milestone to the project, Be Happy marks Academy Award® nominee Gabourey Sidibe’s television film directorial debut. Sidibe directs from a script by Cameron J. Ross (The Summer I Turned Pretty), bringing a nuanced, intimate lens to a story that centers Black womanhood, midlife awakening, and emotional courage.

The film is produced by Blue Butterfly Productions—Blige’s production company—in collaboration with Mona Scott-Young’s Monami Productions, Motion Entertainment, and Swirl Films. Blige serves as executive producer alongside Bruce Miller and Milana Edwards Brooks, with Scott-Young and Angela White producing. The project reflects a strong collective of creative leadership committed to authentic, layered storytelling.

Mary J. Blige -Photo Courtesy of MJB Press

With Be Happy, Mary J. Blige continues to expand her impact beyond music, offering audiences stories that affirm growth, self-worth, and the beauty of starting again. For viewers who have grown alongside her music—and for anyone standing at the edge of reinvention—the message is clear: joy, purpose, and love are always within reach.

ABOUT LIFETIME

Celebrating over 40 years of entertaining audiences, Lifetime is a premier entertainment destination for women dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning award-winning movies, high-quality scripted series and breakout non-fiction series.  Lifetime has an impressive legacy in public affairs, bringing attention to social issues that women care about with initiatives such as the long running Stop Breast Cancer for Life and Stop Violence Against Women. Lifetime Television®, LMN®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ are part of A+E Global Media™.  A+E Global Media™ (aegm.com) is a joint venture of The Walt Disney and The Hearst Corporation. 

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