Mary J. Blige will play Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West, in NBC's upcoming holiday production of "The Wiz Live!"

A Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment, making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multiplatinum albums, nine Grammys (plus a staggering 32 nominations), a 2012 Golden Globe nomination and four American Music Awards, Blige is a global superstar.

Blige has attracted an intensely loyal fan base, which is responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums. Born in the Bronx, New York, Blige began moving people with her soulful voice when, at age 18, she signed with Andre Harrell's Uptown Records in 1989, becoming the MCA-distributed label's youngest and first female artist. Influenced at an early age by the music of Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight, Blige brought her own gritty, urban-rooted style, fusing hip-hop, soul and honest, frank lyrics, to the forefront on her 1992 debut album "What's the 411?"The multiplatinum set, executive produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs, quickly spun off several hits, including two No. 1 singles: "You Remind Me" and "Real Love."

Blige helped redefine R&B and began forging a unique niche for herself on her more personal second album, 1994's "My Life." Blige is an artist who uses song to lift spirits and touch lives while bringing her heart, soul and truth to those willing to listen. She is loved for her passionate, chart-topping hits such as "Be Without You," "No More Drama" and "Family Affair."

And thus began the Blige movement, connecting legions of fans that identify with and have accompanied her throughout her personal travails and growth. Each subsequent album reads like a chapter from an autobiography: "Share My World" (1997), "Mary" (1999), "No More Drama" (2001), "Love & Life" (2003), the multiple Grammy-winning "The Breakthrough" (2005), "Growing Pains" (2007) and "Stronger with Each Tear" (2009). Along the way, she's lined up a string of hit singles, including "Not Gon' Cry," "Love Is All We Need," "Seven Days," "All That I Can Say," "Family Affair" and "Just Fine."

In 2013, Blige released her first-ever holiday album, "A Mary Christmas,"in collaboration with legendary producer David Foster. The album features her soulful interpretation of classic holiday tunes, including "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song." Blige is joined by a number of A-list guests, such as Barbra Streisand, and has duets with Jessie J, the Clark Sisters and a collaboration with Mark Anthony.

In 2014, Blige released her 13th studio album, "The London Sessions,"which reached No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart. The documentary for Blige's "The London Sessions"premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015, and featured a behind-the-scenes look at her recording sessions and collaboration with Britain's hottest recording artists.

Blige has branched out into acting. She appeared in Tyler Perry's dramatic comedy, "I Can Do Bad All by Myself"in 2009 and co-starred in "Rock of Ages," alongside Tom Cruise in 2012. Taking on a more dramatic role, she starred as Betty Shabazz in the 2013 TV movie "Betty and Coretta," a biographical story about the widows of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. That same year, she also starred as the mysterious guardian angel Platinum Fro in the holiday musical film "Black Nativity."

On the TV side, Blige recently had a guest role on Fox's "Empire" and ABC's "black-ish."