In the opening lyric of her 1994 single, “Be Happy,”[1] Mary J. Blige said this: “How can I love somebody else, if I can't love myself enough to know when it's time, time to let go?”


It seems that sentiment still rings true for the singer 19 years later, as she graces the December cover issue of Shape Magazine[2] .


For the issue, which hits newsstands November 25, Blige opened up to the glossy about a variety of topics including her workout regimen and how Whitney Houston’s death[3] inspired her to lead a different lifestyle.


“Whitney Houston’s death really crushed me,” she said. “I saw someone so incredibly talented just diminish, and I refuse to go out like that.”


As part of her epiphany, the 42-year-old New York native went on to admit that she feels stronger since giving up alcohol over a year ago.


“Others may be able to drink and have a great time, but it doesn’t work for me at this point,” she added. “I haven’t had a drink in a year and three months. I had quit for a long time but started again about five years ago. I’m off it completely once more, and now I feel stronger than ever.”


In addition to the magazine feature, the Queen of Hip Hop Soul also recently released her debut Christmas album, “A Mary Christmas,” and is scheduled to perform during NBC’s annual “Christmas In Rockefeller Center” special airing on Dec. 4.

[4] [5]





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  • 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Day 2 - Show


    LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 22: Singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)




  • 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Day 2 - Show


    LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 22: Recording artist Prince (L) and singer Mary J. Blige perform onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)




  • 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Day 2 - Show


    LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 22: Singer Mary J. Blige (L) and recording artist Prince perform onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)




  • 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival - Day 2 - Show


    LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 22: Singer Mary J. Blige (L) and recording artist Prince perform onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 22, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)




  • NBCUniversal's Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together Relief Benefit


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 02: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, Mary J. Blige participates in NBCUniversal's Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together Relief Benefit on November 02, 2012 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Heidi Gutman/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)




  • 2012 GLAMOUR Women Of The Year Awards


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Mary J. Blige attends the 22nd annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)




  • 2012 GLAMOUR Women Of The Year Awards


    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 12: Mary J. Blige attends the 22nd annual Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 12, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)




  • Lifetime Celebrates The Premiere Of "Betty & Coretta" With Cast


    NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 28: Actresses (L-R) Angela Bassett, Ruby Dee and Mary J. Blige attend the premiere of 'Betty & Coretta' to celebrate with Lifetime and cast at Tribeca Cinemas on January 28, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Lifetime)




  • 2013 Peace, Love & A Cure Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Benefit


    CRESSKILL, NJ - MAY 21: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Mary J. Blige (L) and Gwendolyn Hardy attend the 2013 Peace, Love & A Cure Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation Benefit on May 21, 2013 in Cresskill, New Jersey. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation)




  • 2013 Joyful Heart Foundation Gala - Arrivals


    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 09: Singer Mary J. Blige attends the 2013 Joyful Heart Foundation Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on May 9, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)




  • World Series - St Louis Cardinals v Boston Red Sox - Game One


    BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 23: Mary J. Blige sings the national anthem before Game One of the 2013 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park on October 23, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)




  • LACMA 2013 Art + Film Gala - Arrivals


    LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 02: Singer Mary J. Blige arrives at the LACMA 2013 Art + Film Gala on November 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)




  • US-ENTERTAINMENT-LACMA-ART-FILM


    Singer Mary J. Blige attends the LACMA 2013 Art + Film Gala honoring Martin Scorsese and David Hockney at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on November 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. AFP PHOTO / JOE KLAMAR (Photo credit should read JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)




  • 2013 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade


    ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 09: Mary J. Blige, accompanied by David Foster, performs 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' during a taping for the 'Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade' television special at Disneyland on November 9, 2013 in Anahiem, California. 'Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade' airs December 25 on ABC. (Photo by Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Parks via Getty Images)




  • CMA 2013 Country Christmas


    NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 08: Mary J. Blige performs during the CMA 2013 Country Christmas on November 8, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Erika Goldring/Getty Images)




  • Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! - Arrivals


    LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Mary J. Blige and Liberty Ross attend Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! at Somerset House on November 19, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)




  • Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! - Arrivals


    LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 19: Mary J. Blige attends Isabella Blow: Fashion Galore! at Somerset House on November 19, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)




  • Escape To Total Rewards At Woldenberg Park, New Orleans


    NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 01: Mary J. Blige performs at The Escape To Total Rewards at Woldenberg Park on March 1, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)




  • Escape To Total Rewards At Woldenberg Park, New Orleans


    NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 01: Mary J. Blige performs at The Escape To Total Rewards at Woldenberg Park on March 1, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)




  • Escape To Total Rewards At Woldenberg Park, New Orleans


    NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 01: Mary J. Blige attends The Escape To Total Rewards at Woldenberg Park on March 1, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)




  • Escape To Total Rewards At Woldenberg Park, New Orleans


    NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 01: Maria Menounos, Mary J. Blige and Gavin DeGraw attend The Escape to Total Rewards at Woldenberg Park on March 1, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Skip Bolen/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)




  • Escape To Total Rewards At Union Station, Chicago


    CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 01: A general view of the atmosphere at Escape To Total Rewards at Union Station on March 1, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Caesars Entertainment)




  • 2012 NBA All-Star Game


    ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Singer Mary J. Blige performs the United States looks on during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)




  • 2012 NBA All-Star Game


    ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Singer Mary J. Blige performs the United States National Anthem during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)




  • 2012 NBA All-Star Game


    ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Singer Mary J. Blige performs the United States National Anthem during the 2012 NBA All-Star Game at the Amway Center on February 26, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)




  • (Belvedere) RED Pre-Grammys Party With Mary J Blige - Roaming Inside


    HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Belvedere board member John Sykes, singer Mary J. Blige, and Belvedere CEO Charles Gibb attend the (Belvedere) RED Pre-Grammys Party with Mary J Blige held at Avalon on February 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For (Belvedere) RED)




  • (Belvedere) RED Pre-Grammys Party With Mary J Blige - Performance


    HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 09: Singer Mary J. Blige performs onstage at the (Belvedere) RED Pre-Grammys Party with Mary J Blige held at Avalon on February 9, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images For (Belvedere) RED)