Mario Says His Mother’s Funeral Changed His Relationship With His Father

Mario is sharing a deeply personal story.

The R&B singer opened up about reconnecting with his father after the death of his mother, Shawntia Hardaway.

Full story below…

Appearing on ‘Way Up with Angela Yee,’ Mario reflected on the moment everything shifted, explaining that his father had been largely absent throughout his childhood.

It was not until his mother’s funeral in 2017 that he felt a change.

He said:

“He was the only person in that moment when her casket was closing that could console me. Even though he wasn’t in my life, it was a spiritual thing. He was the only person that could hug me and it felt like, ‘Yo, you’re not alone.’”

That experience convinced him to rebuild their relationship.

He continued:

“In that moment I was like, ‘Yo, I got to rekindle this relationship because I got one parent left.’ So that’s when, for me, it shifted.”

His mother died after a long battle with addiction. Mario had spent years trying to help her recover, with her struggles and eventual passing shaping much of his later music, including his 2018 album ‘Dancing Shadows.’

He has also continued advocating for families affected by substance abuse through his Mario Do Right Foundation.