Mary J Blige's Divorce with Ex-husband Kendu Isaacs: Inside Their Marriage and Split
Emily Carr
Published Feb 16, 2026
Singer Mary J. Blige was once married to her first and only husband, report producer and manager Kendu Isaacs, for 15 years. Find out extra about their marriage and how it ended.
For many years, singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige has rocked the leisure trade with an impressive selection of hit songs, ranging from "Family Affair" to "Be Without You." The singer has additionally performed extremely neatly as an actress and has gave the impression in the hit presentations "The Umbrella Academy" and "Power Book II: Ghost."
While lovers appreciate her for her skills, many do not know of her tumultuous past and marriage to her former manager, Kendu Isaacs. Here is all you want to find out about Blige's ex-husband of fifteen years and how their marriage came to an finish.
Mary J. Blige and Kendu Isaacs at The twenty first Annual Critics' Choice Awards | Source: Getty Images
Who Is Kendu Isaacs?
Best referred to as Blige's ex-husband, Isaacs used to be born in August 1968 and made a career from being a report producer. He is credited for his work at the reality display "Tamar & Vince" and used to be an government producer of the 2013 drama "Betty and Coretta," wherein Blige starred.
In addition, he's credited for operating as a supervisor on the Berlin-based artist control corporate K.I. Management. Isaacs has additionally govt produced and controlled a lot of Blige's musical works, including her albums "My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act 1)," "Stronger With Each Tear," and "A Mary Christmas."
Mary J. Blige at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 21, 2018. | Source: Getty Images
However, their union ended after Isaacs reportedly had an affair during their marriage. They did not percentage any children throughout their marriage, but Blige did welcome his youngsters from a prior courting. During an interview, Blige reminisced about her marriage to Isaacs and said:
“Well, when I look again, I see that all of us need what we wish and we would like it to be the best way we would like it to be. I wanted a savior; I’d been hurting so long, and such a lot, and so unhealthy.”
Kendu and Mary Found Love Working Together
After working in combination for goodbye, Blige's fans have been delightfully stunned to discover that she had discovered love with Isaacs. On December 7, 2003, Blige and Isaacs tied the knot. At the time, Isaacs used to be already a father to his three kids from earlier relationships, making Blige a stepmother.
Mary J. Blige and Kendu Isaacs at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party | Source: Getty Images
Mary J. Blige Accepted His Children from Another Marriage
The singer printed that she beloved being a stepmother to Isaacs' kids, including that she did her very best to make time to be with them. Isaacs's daughter is Briana, whilst his other two kids are Nas and Jordan.
A decade after marriage, the singer gushed about her darling husband and how she knew he was once the one for her. While on the "Queen Latifah Show," she said:
"My past was just horrific. I felt ashamed about everything. Me dropping out of high school, me not, you know, just not being beautiful enough."
Continuing her narration of their love tale, Blige said that she felt genuinely liked and cared for through Isaacs. She added that he was once now not terrified of being truthful with her whilst giving her the affection she craved. While talking about their marriage, the singer joked that she would not let her husband have female friends.
Kendu Isaac and Mary J. Blige's Divorce
Seeing how in love and smitten Blige and Isaacs were with each different, lovers had been stunned to listen to of Isaacs' relationships outdoor their marriage. It was once revealed that Blige filed for divorce in July 2016, mentioning irreconcilable differences. The singer used to be adamant about pursuing the end of her marriage, which was once finalized two years later.
In 2017, Isaacs raised eyebrows when he started dating Blige's signed up-and-coming artist, Starshell. He additionally reportedly cheated on Blige with Starshell. The pair went again and forth over their divorce agreement, with Blige in the hunt for to paintings some way out of paying Isaacs the court-ordered $30,000 spousal support.
Isaacs was to begin with in the hunt for $130,000 a month in spousal support and heading off the spousal reinforce labored for Blige, as she claimed that he spent extravagantly on his mistresses. Eventually, the agreement came in 2018.
Mary J. Blige Re-Parenting Her Little Girl
After years of ache and hardship, Blige shared in an interview that she would spend the next chapter of her lifestyles healing "little Mary." After her marriage ended, Mary J. Blige launched "Strength of a Woman.''
She said fans had told her the album had saved their lives. And over the years, she revealed that she had learned to forgive Isaacs for "everything he did" and herself for "being so stupid."
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