Jill Scott: Marriage Plans Scrapped; Moving on as Single Mother

Jill Scott seemed so open about her hopes for marriage after divorcing ex-husband Lyzel Williams in 2007. A year later, she went public about her relationship with her drummer-turned-fiancé, Lil John Roberts, who is also the father of her son, Jett, born in April.

The Grammy Award-winning neo-soul diva seemed to be living her life like it's 'Golden,' but it appears that the old adage "everything that glitters ain't gold" has rung true.

In a candid interview with Essence.com, Scott shares her experience of being in labor for 36 hours and reveals that she and Roberts are no longer together. Scott says that during her pregnancy, she and Roberts were "dealing with a lot of emotions."

"He was there and for a couple of days afterward while I stayed in hospital, but John and I are no longer together," she disclosed. "When you have a baby, you're dealing with a lot of emotions and I don't know how much of it had to do with us breaking up, but it happens."

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In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **

In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )

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"We definitely love our son, and we are co-parenting and working on being friends. It is what it is," she continued.

"I have a lot of support, so I want for nothing as far as that's concerned," she added. "I know some might criticize me for the fact that my son is being raised in a single-parent home, but I wasn't raised in a two-parent home, and I had a good relationship with my dad. I have hopes for him, and I'm sure his father will do his part as well."

On Nov. 25, 2008, our very own celebrity blogger Jawn Murray exclusively reported that the engaged couple were expecting their first child. 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' actress asked fans via her personal Web site what they thought about the reported news.

Scott officially announced her pregnancy in January while promoting the acclaimed HBO series during the Television Critics Association conference in Los Angeles.

"At one point, I was trying to gain weight for the role, and I noticed I had put on 7 pounds in seven days," she told reporters of finding out about the maternity news before filming the series. "I thought something was wrong with me, and I found out I was pregnant the day I was supposed to leave for Africa."

"The first trimester I spent in Botswana," she said. "That was one of the biggest challenges of my life. First trimester. You're sick every morning. It was seven hours time difference, the heat, the bugs, the 14-hour days. My doctors gave me a clean bill of health and said 'you can do this,' so I did it."

Although the Philadelphia-bred vocalist is raising a newborn all by her lonesome, she depends on her closest friends for support.

"I can afford to have this child at 37 because I have a support system, and I can talk to my girls, Mo'Nique and Erykah [Badu], but I don't understand how any mother does it alone," she told Essence. "I don't believe I suffered from postpartum because I didn't feel depressed, but it was jarring, and I can understand now how some mothers lose it."

"What he's taught me is that I thought I was grown and patient, but I was neither until now," she added. "Even when I hold him and dance with him to his favorite song, Marvin Gaye's 'Come Live With Me,' and he holds me tighter and then relaxes, I realize that I never knew unconditional love like this before, and I'm looking forward to watching and helping him grow."

Neo-Soul Music Stars

Ledisi
Birthname: Ledisi Anibade Young
Origin: New Orleans, Louisiana
Association(s): Oran 'Juice' Jones (Ledisi joined the Def Jam Records veteran for a cover ofhis hip-hop soul classic 'The Rain' on an all instrumental Def Jam tribute project.)
Notable Tracks: 'Kitchen,' 'Coffee,' 'Devotion,' 'Feeling Orange But Sometimes Blue,' 'In The Morning.'
Factoid: Ledisi made her feature film debut in the 2008 George Clooney movie 'Leatherheads,' where she appeared as a jazz club singer.

Verve Records

Maxwell
Birthname: Maxwell Gerard Menard Rivera
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Association(s): Leon Ware (The legendary Motown Records songwriter worked on Maxwell's debut album, 'Urban Hang Suite.')
Notable Tracks: 'Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder),' 'Fortunate,' 'Lifetime' and 'This Woman's Work.'
Factoid: Though a media darling, Maxwell has never won a Grammy Award despite being nominated five times for the coveted honor.

Getty Images

Jill Scott
Birthname: Jill Scott
Origin: North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Association(s): The Roots (She co-wrote and performed on their song 'You Got Me')
Notable Tracks: 'A Long Walk,' 'He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat),' 'Golden,' and 'Hate On Me.' NBA legend Michael Jordan helped finance Hidden Beach Recordings, who released her debut opus, 'Words & Thoughts: Vol. 1'
Factoid: The three-time Grammy Award winner's first theatrical film role was as music pioneer Big Mama Thornton in the controversial film, 'Hounddog.'

Retna

Joi
Birthname: Joi Gilliam
Origin: Nashville, Tennessee
Association(s): D'Angelo (A fellow labelmate. A pregnant Joi appeared in the music video clip for D'Angelo's remix of 'Lady.')
Notable Tracks: 'Sunshine In The Rain,' 'Freedom,' 'Move On,' 'Ghetto Superstar,' and 'Missing You.'
Factoid: The eclectic music dynamo replaced ex- En Vogue singer Dawn Robinson as the female vocalist in the hit-making trio Lucy Pearl, which also included Raphael Saadiq and Ali Shaheed (from A Tribe Called Quest.)

Raphael Saadiq
Birthname: Charlie Ray Wiggins
Origin: Oakland, California
Association(s): Tony! Toni! Tone! (Formed with his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian, the trio enjoyed breakout success in the late 1980s with their brew of new-school R&B)
Notable Tracks: 'Ask of You,' 'Get Involved (with Q-Tip)' and 'Be Here' (with D'Angelo)
Factoid: One of the most sought-after R&B producers today, Saadiq has produced songs for John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kelis, and Joss Stone, among others.

Retna

D'Angelo
Birthname: Michael Eugene Archer
Origin: Richmond, Virginia
Association(s): Angie Stone (Not only is the neo-soul diva the mother of his oldest son, she also was his chief writing collaborator on his breakthrough debut opus, 'Brown Sugar.')
Notable Tracks: 'Brown Sugar,' 'Lady,' 'Cruisin,' 'Untitled (How Does It Feel?),' and 'Devil's Pie.'
Factoid: As a young songwriter, one of the first major projects he conceived was the song 'U Will Know,' performed by Black Men United a collective of urban music superstars of the time including Tevin Campbell, Keith Sweat, Al B Sure, Boyz II Men, Aaron Hall, LL Cool J and Usher, among others which was featured on the soundtrack to the 1994 movie 'Jason's Lyric.'

Wire Image

Amel Larrieux
Birthname: Amel Larrieux
Origin: New York City, New York
Association(s): Groove Theory, Sweetback, The Roots
Notable Tracks: 'Tell Me,' 'Keep Tryin',' 'Baby Luv,' 'For Real,' 'Get Up'
Factoid: In the past Larrieux received a Grammy nomination alongside Glen Lewis in the Best R&B Performance category for their cover of Stanley Clarke's 'Where is the Love.'

Amy Winehouse
Birthname: Amy Jade Winehouse
Origin: Enfield, Middlesex, England
Association(s): Salam Remi (The acclaimed producer of The Fugees and Nas joined Mark Ronson to produce Winehouse's critically-acclaimed sophomore opus, 'Back to Black.')
Notable Tracks: 'Valerie,' 'You Know I'm No Good,' 'Rehab,' and 'Love is a Losing Game.'
Factoid: Once signed to a deal, Winehouse hired New York soul singer Sharon Jones's longtime band, the Dap-Kings, to back her up in the studio and on tour, giving the group its first real taste of the limelight.

Universal

Raheem DeVaughn
Birthname: Raheem DeVaughn
Origin: Beltsville ,Maryland
Association(s): DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kenny Burns (former Roc-A-Fella Records A&R)
Notable Tracks: 'Guess Who Loves You More,' 'You,' 'Woman,' 'Customer,' 'Marathon'
Factoid: Early on in his career the Grammy-award nominee toured with legendary entertainer Doug E. Fresh, in which he learned the art of being a stage performer.

Wire Image

Angie Stone
Birthname: Angela Laverne Brown
Origin: Columbia, South Carolina
Association(s): The Sequence (She was a member of the very first female rap group to hit the charts.) Vertical Hold (She was the female vocalist for the 90s R&B trio.) Lenny Kravitz (She sang background on his album, '5.')
Notable Tracks: 'No More Rain (In This Cloud),' 'Everyday,' 'Brotha,' 'I Wanna Thank Ya' and 'Baby' (with Betty Wright).
Factoid: Angie Stone made her film debut in the movie 'The Fighting Temptations' and also starred in the Broadway musical, 'Chicago.'

J Records