“To have been around for so long and still be relevant is truly a gift from God,” she said Thursday (Nov. 30). “This Icon Award is a huge responsibility because “icon” means to look up to something or someone. When people look up to me, I want people to see my life and understand that if I can make through everything I’ve made it through and still making it through, you can too.”

Read the full story (source): Mary J Blige’s Billboard Women in Music Icon Award Speech