Mario is opening up about the emotional journey of reconciling with his estranged father following the death of his mother, Shawntia Hardaway, in 2017.
The performer shared that a moment of profound grief during his mother’s funeral served as the catalyst for healing a lifelong rift. During a recent interview, the Baltimore-born artist reflected on the difficulty of navigating a relationship with a parent who was largely absent throughout his upbringing.
Mario admitted that the concept of forgiveness was complicated by the fact that he lacked a blueprint for what a father-son dynamic should look like. “It was hard for me because you don’t know what you’re missing if you never had it,” Mario said during the broadcast.
He explained that his perspective shifted entirely as he prepared to say his final goodbye to his mother seven years ago. As his mother’s casket was being closed, Mario found himself overwhelmed by the weight of the loss. It was in that moment of vulnerability that his father stepped in to provide a specific kind of comfort that no one else could offer.
“He was the only person that could hug me and it felt like, ‘Yo, you’re not alone. You did everything you could,’” Mario said. He noted that even though the physical presence had been missing for years, the connection felt like a “spiritual thing” that signaled it was time to move toward reconciliation. The singer, known for hits like “Let Me Love You,” realized that with the passing of his mother, he only had one parent remaining.
This realization prompted him to actively work on rebuilding the connection he had previously lacked. Mario has been transparent about his past, including his mother’s long-standing battle with addiction.
Before her death in June 2017, he spent years attempting to support her recovery through various rehabilitation programs. His 2018 album, “Dancing Shadows,” and the single “Care for You” served as creative outlets for processing that grief and the complexities of his childhood.
In addition to his musical pursuits, the singer continues to lead the Mario Do Right Foundation. The organization, founded in 2008, provides support and resources for families struggling with substance abuse, emphasizing that family members should not carry the burden of guilt for a loved one’s addiction.