Mary J. Blige Will Not Be Performing At Lovers & Friends Fest, Says Inclusion Was “An Error”

Mya Abraham
·2 min read
4
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Earlier this week, the 2024 lineup for Usher’s Lovers & Friends Fest was announced. Mary J. Blige was listed as part of the stacked schedule, but is now saying her inclusion was a mistake.

“I am beyond humbled by the response from all of you about the announcement of me on Lovers & Friends Festival. Unfortunately, my inclusion was an error as I will be busy in preparation for my Strength Of A Woman [Festival And] Summit just one week later!,” wrote the 53-year-old on her Instagram Stories.

Blige concluded, “I have the greatest fans in the world and can’t wait to see you in New York in a few short months!”

Just last week, the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul announced that her Strength Of A Woman Festival and Summit will be hosted in New York City this Mother’s Day weekend—after making a home in Atlanta for its first two years.

Details regarding the lineup and panelists have not yet been shared.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mary J Blige (@therealmaryjblige)

A formal statement regarding Blige’s inclusion—or lack thereof—hasn’t been released by the Lovers & Friends Fest team.

Confirmed performers include headliner Janet Jackson, who will be hitting the road a month after the festival with the second leg of her Together Again tour. The Backstreet Boys will also headline alongside Usher, who will be performing Confessions for its 20th anniversary.

Lil Wayne is set to perform Tha Carter III as Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Nelly Furtado, Nas, Ludacris, Ne-Yo, T-Pain, TLC, Brandy, Monica, Eve, Keyshia Cole, Jodeci, Craig David, Kelly Rowland, SWV, Xscape, The-Dream, Lupe Fiasco, Dru Hill, and more will also hit their respective stages on May 4.

Fans, however, are skeptical as to who’s actually going to show up or back out. One tweeted, “Again I ask—do all those artists know they’re performing at Lovers and Friends?” They doubled down by adding, “If Fyre Festival taught me anything, it’s to always ask the important questions.”

In previous years, the festival stuck to its lineup by scattering the artists across four stages, with Usher explaining to VIBE, “If you can move around this very small space, you can get to each show and see it. They’re not long, long walks in between the stages. But you can literally finish one, and then rush over to the next stage really quick to see the next performer.”

That actually isn’t as easy as it seems, especially if you want a good view. Tickets for this year’s experience, however, will be available starting on Friday (Jan. 26) with the presale on the fest’s official site.

More from VIBE.com