Ne-Yo recently revealed how a hit he wrote for Mario changed his mother’s life.
During a July 22 appearance on The Zach Sang Show, the singer-songwriter, 46, discussed the personal inspiration behind his 2008 hit “Miss Independent” and revealed that his mother, Loraine Smith, was the woman behind the song. Besides honoring her in that song, another hit track, “Let Me Love You,” became a hit and allowed him to tell her she no longer had to work.
For His Mamma
Ne-Yo said his mother “cried like a baby” when she learned the song was inspired by her.
He also said he called Smith while she was at work on the day he received his first major check for writing Mario’s “Let Me Love You.”
“Let Me Love You” went double-platinum in the U.S. for moving over 2 million equivalent units and sold over 1.6 million digital ringtones, becoming Mario’s most successful career single. The track spent nine consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2005.
“I called her at work,” he recalled, explaining that the check was substantial enough for him to change her circumstances.
He told his mother to get into her car, turn it on and drive home.
“You never have to go back into that building ever again in your life,” he told her.
Smith had worked multiple jobs to help support the family.
“That moment I feel like any son, if you could ever do that for your mom, that’s a defining moment,” Ne-Yo said. “It gives you motivation.”
He went on to write or co-write major songs for artists including Beyoncé and Rihanna, building a lucrative career behind the scenes as well as as a recording artist. So far he has amassed a $9 million fortune.
Ne-Yo has also discussed the financial success of his songwriting catalog, revealing “Let Me Love You” and Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” were among the songs that have generated the most money for him, with Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” also among his biggest songwriting successes.
The Grammy-winning artist is now exploring another musical chapter with “Highway 79,” his country-inspired album released in July.