Mario Dewar Barrett, known as simply Mario, shot to fame when he was just a teenager, thanks to his incredible vocals.
The R&B singer, now 38, scored his first record deal at just 14 years old, despite his difficult childhood and released his self-titled debut album the following year to commercial success.
Mario went on to find global stardom and a Grammy nomination for his now signature song, Let Me Love You, written by singer Ne-Yo and went on his first world tour supporting the iconic Destiny’s Child.
While he’s also enjoyed success on the silver screen, with roles in commercially successful films and shows opposite the likes of Hilary Swank, Taraji P. Henson and Channing Tatum.
Mario has faded slightly from public view in the two decades since he began his career, with cancelled albums, disagreements with management and record label issues.
However, in the past year, the hitmaker has begun to make a comeback, after winning rave reviews for his performances on last year’s The Masked Singer, and releasing his first new album in six years this December.
MailOnline has taken a deep dive into Mario’s beginnings, his career successes and where he is now.
Mario Dewar Barrett, known as Mario, scored his first record deal at just 14 years old and found global fame and a Grammy nod for his now signature song, Let Me Love You (seen in 2005)
In the past year, the R&B singer, 38, has begun to make a comeback, after appearing on The Masked Singer, and releasing his first album in six years this December (pictured last month)
Difficult upbringing
Mario was born in Baltimore, Maryland in August 1986, and was mostly raised by his grandmother as his mother, Shawntia Hardaway, struggled with a heroin addiction throughout his childhood.
He first showed a love for music at just four-years-old, prompting his mum to buy him a karaoke machine to pursue his passion.
After learning to play the piano and joining a music group at school, he was eventually discovered aged 11, after performing I’ll Make Love to You at a local talent show.
Producer Troy Patterson recognised his talent and signed him, before going on to adopt Mario and bring him to live with his family in New Jersey.
In 2020, Mario voiced his gratitude that Troy had taken him in when he did and prevented him from going into the system and getting ‘into trouble’.
He said: ‘I was blessed to have Troy come and adopt me and just give me another chance at life and a different path’.
Mario’s relationship with his mother was rocky – largely because of her admitted heroin addiction while the star was growing up.
In 2007, they starred in an MTV reality TV special called I Won’t Love You To Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom, where Mario arranged for an intervention to get his mother help.
The documentary followed the star has he sought help from family and friends and saw him write a letter to his mum begging her to stop using.
It read: ‘Growing up without a father was hard for me, but it was even harder growing up with your mother struggling with drugs and addiction.
‘I never understood why you would spend so much time in the bathroom and leave the house for days and fall asleep during the middle of the day. I didn’t understand that at all.’
The letter concluded with the line: ‘I love you so much – But I won’t love you to death.’
He later explained he had decided to do the show to help other young people that were facing addition struggles.
Mario said: ‘There were some discussions about how personal or how raw it would be, and at the time I didn’t know much about reality shows, so I just thought “real is real” and “let’s just keep it 100.”
‘We decided to do it and they wanted to turn it into a longer reality show but I was fine with the one time thing and I wanted it to help my fans and inspire people around the world who were struggling with addiction. I wanted to show young adults that they could overcome.’
He also wrote a song dedicated to Shawntia, detailing her addiction and how it affected his childhood called Do Right.
However, by 2013 the pair’s relationship had become much stronger, with Mario telling Essence: ‘I forgive her. I can’t say there aren’t times where I think about the past and what we’ve been through, the neglect and the times that she wasn’t there, but anybody who knows about growth understands that you have to look towards the future.’
He announced the sad news that Shawntia has passed away on Instagram in 2017, with a heartbreaking tribute.
Alongside a photo of his mother, he wrote: ‘Your soul lives forever beside mine. We love you Shawntia Hardaway, I love you eternally.’
Mario set up the Do Right Foundation in 2008 to educate and inspire other children affected by drug addiction.
Mario was born in Baltimore, Maryland in August 1986, and was mostly raised by his grandmother as his mother, Shawntia Hardaway, struggled with a heroin addiction throughout his childhood (pictured 2005)
Mario’s relationship with his mother was rocky – largely because of her admitted heroin addiction while the star was growing up (seen together)
In 2007, they starred in an MTV reality TV special called I Won’t Love You To Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom, where Mario arranged for an intervention to get his mother help (seen)
He announced the sad news that Shawntia has passed away on Instagram in 2017, with a heartbreaking tribute
Music breakthrough and early success
Mario was offered a record deal at the age of 14 with label J Records, being signed by producer Clive Davis, who is credited with bringing Whitney Houston to prominence.
Speaking about signing his first deal, he later reflected: ‘It happened pretty fast. I got adopted when I was 13 and moved from Baltimore to Jersey.
‘That span of two years happened really quick. It prepared me for this industry and the fast pace of it.’
He went on to release his debut album, titled Mario, in 2002, which was certified Gold and propelled him into global heartthrob status at just 15.
The LP featured three singles – Braid My Hair, C’Mon and Just a Friend 2002 – the latter of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Reflecting on his meteoric rise to fame in an interview with Billboard in 2022, Mario admitted he didn’t understand the level of his success at the time.
He said: ‘I didn’t value any of that at that age. I didn’t know what 20 years in the game meant. I didn’t think about legacy or No. 1 records.
‘I was in shock about leaving Baltimore straight to being [a star] traveling the world. On my second album, I did my first big tour with Destiny’s Child.
‘I was listening to The Writing’s on the Wall going to middle school taking the bus, so to see the artists was like, “Wow, this is my real life”.’
‘But now, I look back and I’m proud of the man I’m becoming, because I’ve come a long way. I can say that now.
‘I was ashamed to say that in my twenties when I was still going through mental health things and certain things I hadn’t dealt with. But now I can say, “Bro, I’m proud of you.”‘
Mario went on to release his second album, Turning Point, in 2004, which went platinum and was even more successful than his debut.
While it also produced his biggest and most enduring hit, Let Me Love You, which was written by a then-unknown Ne-Yo.
The song reached number one in the United States, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand and earned Mario a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2006.
On the 20th anniversary of the song last year, Ne-Yo admitted that he didn’t think that Mario would be able to do the song at first because he was only a teenager.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I remember when I wrote that song, I did not think Mario was going to be able to pull it off.
‘Mind you, I hadn’t met him yet. All I knew was that he had just turned 16 and I’m like, “This is kind of a mature song. Like, does this dude even know anything about love?”‘
However, the Grammy-winner changed his mind after hearing Mario in the recording studio.
Ne-Yo said: ‘When I met him, I realized that he’s just Sam Cooke reincarnated. I had to eat those words. He knocked that song out in an hour and the rest is history. So shout-out to Mario.’
And last weekend, Ne-Yo surprised the crowd during his show by brining Mario out to duet on Let Me Love You for the first time ever.
Sharing a video of the moment, he gushed: ‘Steel sharpens steel. In a way we both are a large part of each other’s success. An honor to share the stage with my brother @marioworldwide. Truly a moment.’
While Mario also shared the clip to his own Instagram and wrote: ’20 years ago @NeYo and I made history with Let Me Love You! He showed the world that he could write timeless music and I showed the world that as a singer, I could take any song to another level. Thank you GOD.
‘But because of YOU, the PEOPLE, Last night was our first time sharing the stage in celebration of our collaboration. Very special moment. R&B is the most powerful music in the world if you ask ME!’
Mario was offered a record deal at the age of 14 with label J Records, being signed by producer Clive Davis, who is credited with bringing Whitney Houston to prominence (seen with Janet Jackson in 2005)
He went on to release his debut album, titled Mario, in 2002, which was certified Gold and propelled him into global heartthrob status at just 15 (pictured in 2005)
Mario went on to release his second album, Turning Point, in 2004, which produced his biggest and most enduring hit, Let Me Love You, written by a then-unknown Ne-Yo (pictured in 2023)
And last weekend, Ne-Yo surprised the crowd during his show by brining Mario out to duet on Let Me Love You for the first time ever (pictured)
Acting career
As well as being a talented singer, Mario has also shown a talent for acting, taking on several different roles over the years.
He appeared as Miles Darby opposite Channing Tatum in dance-themed 2006 film Step Up, which went on to spawn the Step Up franchise.
Speaking to Nylon about the role, he said: ‘I just remember Step Up was the first movie that I did and meeting Ann Fletcher at the casting in L.A.—she was like, this fireball of energy and we just clicked.
‘We were talking about music and performing arts, and because the school that the movie was based off of was a performing arts school in Baltimore there’s a lot of discussion there, and I think that part was just literally made for me and it just worked out.
‘And I enjoyed the fact that I was able to play a musician but also act as well and not play Mario but play Miles, my character. That was based off of Quincy Jones.’
He went on to act alongside Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank in 2007’s Freedom Writers, playing one of her at-risk students.
Mario also played Benny in the 2019 live TV special of the hit musical Rent, before joining critically acclaimed series Empire the following year for its fifth and sixth season, playing the reoccurring role of an up-and-coming R&B singer Devon.
Last year, he enjoyed roles in Christmas film Style Me for Christmas and drama series All the Queen’s Men.
He appeared as Miles Darby opposite Channing Tatum in dance-themed 2006 film Step Up, which went on to spawn the Step Up franchise (pictured in film)
He went on to act alongside Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank in 2007’s Freedom Writers, playing one of her at-risk students (pictured together in film)
Reality TV stints
Outside of his musical and acting pursuits, Mario also enjoyed a stint on season six of Dancing With the Stars in 2008.
He was partnered with Karina Smirnoff and made it to week eight of the competition before being eliminated.
He also got lots of attention in 2022 after going up against fellow R&B singer and actor Omarion in a Verzuz.
Mario went from underdog to the almost unanimously-agreed winner of the bout with his vocal range and savage smack talk.
His most recent foray into the reality TV world however, was his most successful so far, after he came runner-up in The Masked Singer last year.
Mario competed in season twelve of as Wasp, with Ne-Yo serving as his Mask Ambassador, and produced some of the show’s most memorable performances.
Singing hits like Ain’t No Way by Aretha Franklin, Benson Boone’s recent hit Beautiful Things and Whitney Houston’s I’m Your Baby Tonight, he made it all the ,way to the final, before being pipped to the crown by Boyz II Men.
After being unmasked, Mario opened up on his reasons for going on the show, explaining he had wanted to tap back into his childhood.
He said: ‘I have a wild imagination. I’ve always been into, you know, just sitcoms and cartoons since I was a kid. I just think that as we get older, sometimes we lose that secret of imagination.
‘So this gave me a chance to really tap back into that kid that didn’t get a chance to be a kid.
‘You know, I started at 15 years old in the industry, and before that it was just going from home to home. I got adopted when I was 13, so this just tapped me back into that child me again’ .
He added that it was an ‘incredible experience,’ and concluded: ‘I’m just happy to be here to share that energy with y’all. Thank you’.
Outside of his musical and acting pursuits, Mario also enjoyed a stint on season six of Dancing With the Stars in 2008 with Karina Smirnoff and made it to week eight (pictured)
His most recent foray into the reality TV world however, was his most successful so far, after he came runner-up in The Masked Singer last year (pictured)
Mario competed in season twelve of as Wasp, being pipped to the crown by Boyz II Men and said he went on the show to tap back into his childhood
Renaissance
In the months since his successful Masked Singer stint, Mario has seen his career enjoy a resurgence and went on to release his first new album in six years, Glad You Came.
It marked his sixth studio album after Mario (2002), Turning Point (2004), Go (2007), D.N.A. (2009), and Dancing Shadows (2018).
He told Entertainment Weekly that the album’s title was inspired by where he was at in his life and explained how The Masked Singer had played into it.
He said: ‘I’ve been in this place of awe with both putting out an album and The Masked Singer happening at the same time. Glad You Came, for me, it’s kind of like the title of this place in my life right now.
‘I feel like people are coming to see me live on The Masked Singer, but they don’t know that it’s actually me.
‘I feel like they’re hearing this new album, which is a new era and a new elevated version of who I am as an artist, but is reminiscent of the feeling that they felt from my first albums, but with a more elevated lyricism and production.
‘So I feel like Glad You Came just is kind of like the title of my life right now in this era that I’m in, which is amazing because as an artist your dream is for everything to come full circle.’
He released the album in December, saying it had been inspired by legends like Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson and calling it reintroduction to himself as an artist.
In the months since his successful Masked Singer stint, Mario has seen his career enjoy a resurgence and went on to release his first new album in six years, Glad You Came
He told Entertainment Weekly that the album’s title was inspired by where he was at in his life and explained how The Masked Singer had played into it (seen 2023)
Big things coming
Mario is currently touring the states with Ne-Yo, opening for Mary J. Blige The For My Fans Tour, with it set to come to an end April 14 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mario will then be embarking on his own tour for his new album across Europe, starting on April 24 in Dublin, with stops in Leeds, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Paris, Antwerp, Tilburg and Copenhagen, before ending on May 17 in Stockholm.
He also teased more exciting ventures are coming soon, telling WBLS in January: ‘I feel like where I am right now is my prime because even though y’all haven’t seen everything I’m working on, I’m rolling everything out slowly from film and music side.
‘Now, I have so much more to say and I actually have experienced it.’
Mario also teased a reunion with Chris Brown, who he previously collaborated with on 2021 track Get Back and Won’t Keep You Waiting in 2023.
He said: ‘I want to do more music with Chris Brown. We got to get our schedules together, but we’ve got some things cooking. He’s working on some dope s**t right now too.’
While he admitted he’s also keen to work with big name like Busta Rhymes, A$AP Rocky, Usher, and Beyoncé.
When asked about his dream list, he said: ‘Beyoncé – to this day. She’s still on top of my list. And Usher, I feel like we could do something beautiful together for R&B’.
He previously teased: ‘If me and Beyoncé ever work together, people would be surprised at the magnitude of greatness coming from the speakers’.
Mario is currently touring the states with Ne-Yo, opening for Mary J. Blige The For My Fans Tour, with it set to come to an end April 14 in Boston, Massachusetts (seen on tour last month)
Mario will then be embarking on his own tour for his new album across Europe, starting on April 24 in Dublin and ending on May 17 in Stockholm
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