A blessed life isn’t always a perfect one. Just ask Mary Mary. The award-winning gospel act composed of sisters Erica Campbell and Tina Campbell, recently endured one of the most hellish years of their lives. Worst of all, it was televised. “You basically see me losing it,” Tina reveals to JET. “Marital issues, cancer, throat troubles and financial challenges… I was very tempted to walk away.”
The Inglewood, CA, natives have spent more than a decade in the music business, releasing six albums and earning countless Grammy and Stellar Awards. Before the additional blessings of husbands and children came along, they were simply Mary Mary, the soulful beauties who were the first women to merge hip- hop, R&B and gospel, topping charts with hits like “Shackles” and “God in Me.”
Two years ago, the ladies elected to move their talents from the concert stage to the small screen with a reality series on WE tv. It was a platinum success. For two seasons, their show highlighted the beauty that is life— wholesome two-parent households, traveling the world, sold-out crowds and overcoming petty sibling drama. But, as the saying goes, what goes up, must come down.
February 27 marks the debut of their show’s third season. Undoubtedly, viewers are eager to learn what happened after Tina revealed during a 2013 cover interview with EBONY magazine that her husband of more than a decade and the father of her four children, Teddy, had an affair. “It almost broke me,” admits the 39-year-old of the backlash received from the feature. “If I knew my real truth when I talked to EBONY I would’ve never told it. I found out what it was while I was taping.” And viewers will finally be able to discover what that truth is as the season unfolds.
“I still believe in God and love. I will not live in the horrible space of ‘I’m going to fix him’ or ‘I hate men and marriage.’ You do that for a moment and realize it doesn’t undo anything.”
The ladies also dish on their amicable split from their former manager, Mitchell Solarek. Despite parting ways, Solarek, president of Maximum Artist Group, has nothing but kind words for the duo: “I am very proud of the work and accomplishments that Erica, Tina and I experienced together during my time as their manager,” he recently told JET. “I wish them continued success in their journey professionally and personally.”
TO READ THE FULL STORY, PICK UP THE LATEST ISSUE OF JET MAGAZINE, ON STANDS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17.
CHECK OUT BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FROM OUR COVER SHOOT BELOW.
