Grammy Award-winning musical talent Mary J. Blige has written and performed a new song for upcoming DreamWorks Pictures’ The Help. The empowering story of a group of 1960s-era Mississippi women finding their voice will come out in theaters August 12, and Blige’s new song “The Living Proof” will be available on The Help’s soundtrack release July 26th.
After watching a screening of the touching civil-rights drama The Help, Blige was inspired to write her song for the soundtrack. “The beautiful thing about these women is that they were very smart,” said Blige. “They chose to walk in love and forgiveness.”
The Help is based on a best-selling novel of the same name, and chronicles the dangerous and empowering journey of three very different women in 1960s-era Mississippi as they take on a secret writing project and flout societal rules. When a white southern woman returns to her hometown after college, she is determined to become a writer, starting with capturing the stories of the black “help” around the neighborhood.
“To speak to so many women with this song means a lot to me,” Blige commented. “I wanted to be involved with this film, because I think we need to encourage each other more, we are here to tell a story.”
Blige’s new song for The Help’s soundtrack was announced last week by DreamWorks and Geffen Records. The movie soundtrack, from Interscope Records, will only be available at select Starbucks on July 26th. The Help stars Emma Stone and Viola Davis, and is directed by actor-turned-director Tate Taylor.
Check out the “Living Proof” VNR below.