Michigan Actress Zing Ashford Stars in Mary J. Blige’s New Lifetime Film ‘Be Happy’

February 27, 2026

"Be Happy," a new Lifetime film executive produced by Mary J. Blige and directed by Gabourey Sidibe, follows Val, a Black mother experiencing loneliness and disconnection after her children leave home and her marriage grows distant. The emotional core centers on the evolving mother-daughter relationship between Val and her daughter Kayla, played by Michigan-raised actress Nzingha "Zing" Ashford, who brings personal authenticity to the role based on her own close bond with her mother.

Who is affected

Black mothers experiencing empty nest syndrome and marital distance
Black daughters navigating evolving relationships with their mothers
Val (the protagonist, played by Tisha Campbell), dealing with loneliness and identity questions
Ross (Val's husband, played by Russell Hornsby), experiencing marital distance
Kayla (Val's daughter, played by Nzingha "Zing" Ashford), supporting her mother while pregnant
Michigan and Detroit audiences, particularly Black families
Nzingha "Zing" Ashford's own mother and family
Black women viewers seeking representation and stories centered on healing

What action is being taken

Val is leaving home and traveling to visit her daughter in New Orleans
Kayla is providing a safe space for her mother to grow and learn about herself
Lifetime is positioning "Be Happy" as the first of three films under Mary J. Blige's expanded partnership deal
The film is premiering on Lifetime

Why it matters

This film matters because it centers Black women's emotional lives and validates their need for care, healing, and self-recognition beyond traditional caregiving roles. It addresses the often-overlooked experiences of mothers whose identities become flattened to "provider" and "caregiver," giving permission for maternal figures to evolve and rediscover themselves. The story honors the intergenerational mother-daughter bond specific to Black families, where daughters transition from students of their mothers' strength to becoming supporters and safe spaces themselves. For Detroit and Michigan audiences specifically, the film resonates through its authentic representation of community-nurtured talent and the familiar family dynamics shaped by church, economic challenges, and tight-knit intergenerational relationships. It provides cathartic representation for Black women who are frequently overlooked and underserved in mainstream media.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle