AFPÂ -Â Grammy-winning soul singer Mary J. Blige -- who has earned critical acclaim and award nominations for her acting debut in last year's "Mudbound" -- celebrated her 47th birthday Thursday by getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"I am so grateful, and I say that with confidence and not arrogance," she told the crowd gathered for the star unveiling ceremony.
"I know my work and I understand what this means."
Blige -- the self-proclaimed "queen of hip-hop soul" who is best known for hits such as "No More Drama" and "Reminisce" -- is a nine-time Grammy winner with tens of millions of records sold worldwide.
She earned a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild award nod -- and is generating Oscars buzz -- for her magnetic turn as Florence Jackson, a stoic housewife in Dee Rees's civil rights drama "Mudbound."
"Dee Rees called me and gave me a job and put my life back in motion with 'Mudbound,'" Blige said.
"Dee, I want to thank you for calling me. I don't think you understand what you did... You really really helped save my life," the New York native added.
"'Mudbound' opened up doors and gave me strength that I didn't even know I had."
Rap mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who helped launch Blige's