New song by Mary J. Blige inspired by screening of 'The Help'

Photo of Mary J. Blige courtesy of Mjblige.com

Recording artists are asked to work on movies all the time but how often does a story move an artist to create something on their own?

Dream Works Pictures and Geffen Records announced that multiple Grammy Award-winning recording artist Mary J. Blige wrote and recorded an original song for the soundtrack of "The Help," after she saw the screening of the film.

The film, based on the New York Times best-selling novel of the same name, stars Emma Stone as Skeeter, a Southern society girl who returns from college determined to be a writer, but turns her friends' lives and her Mississippi hometown upside down with her intentions to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent Southern families. Viola Davis plays Aibileen, Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper and the first to agree to the interviews. Despite the fact that Aibileen and Skeeter's life-long friendships are hanging in the balance, the two women forge ahead inspiring more women to come together and embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk.

DreamWorks II Distribution Co.

"The beautiful thing about these women is that they were very, very smart," said Blige. "They chose to walk in love and forgiveness."

Blige has received nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards along with eight multi-platinum albums. Her song, "The Living Proof," from Interscope Records, will be part of the movie's soundtrack and available July 26 at select Starbucks locations.

DreamWorks II Distribution Co.

"To speak to so many women with this song means a lot to me," said Blige. "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."

While anxious, audiences have to wait until Aug. 12 to see the film. But have a listen to the song inspired by the movie and Blige's own story about how it came to together.

TODAY'S MUSE

Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us -- Wilma Rudolph