Mary J. Blige accepted the Grammy Award for the best R&B album last night for ‘The Breakthrough’. Blige told the audience: “Thank you. I just have to thank my father, God, my lord and savior Jesus Christ. That’s right. This is the first time I’ve ever been up here to receive anything and I thank you so much. I just want to thank God for this album and this award for this album. It is not only shows I’m an artist and musician and writer, but it’s also shown I’m growing into a better human being. Tonight we celebrate the better human being, because for so many years I had been talked about negatively, but this time I’ve been talked about positively by so many people. And I want to start by thanking the people that have helped me so much to grow. I want to start with my husband and my manager Kendu Isaacs, my children Jordan, Nasir, and Brianna, James Dillon, who delivered the tape, rest in peace. My mom, my sisters, my brothers, my fans, my extended family. Doug Morris, Jimmy Iovine, Zach Horowitz, Ron Fair, Ron Anderson, Ashley Fox, Ivette Gill, Jeff Hollister, Steve Berman, Jim Rose, Alicia Graham, Jahad Johnson, Dave Pinsato, Peter Moquin, Pat Dillard, Danny Chung, Huggie, Eric Staz, John McLean, Neil Portland, Ken Ehrlich, Stef Johnson, Brenda Romano, Nino, Kevin Black, Allen Gruan, Kenny Marsells, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Ronnie Durban, will.i.am, Bryan Cox, Dante Austin, Sean Garret, thank you.”

Mary J. Blige spoke with ‘Extra’ about leading all artists with eight Grammy nominations. “It feels so good,” she said. “Because ‘The Breakthrough’ album is something we put a lot of work into, just a lot of being strong, and how can I say this, not giving up on ourselves.” Read more and watch video here.