Mary’s Artistry
“Singing The Star-Spangled Banner, America’s National Anthem, is more than just a performance moment for me. It is a career spanning close to 15 years of singing sacred words, unifying America, honoring God and America’s heroes, and promoting freedom. I am blessed to have performed the National Anthem and America’s patriotic music for four consecutive U.S. Presidents, and across the world. In uncertain times, these songs anchor us. In defining moments, they light our way. These songs unify us as Americans, of every race, in every zip code, of all faiths.”
Award-winning International Singer/Actress Mary Millben is a story of the American dream, and a brand rooted in God, American patriotism, and love of country. A global symbol for faith, freedom and unity, Mary is uniquely gifted to stir spirits across the world in settings of patriotism, global causes, and gatherings of world leaders.
A preacher’s daughter from Oklahoma, Mary is an American product that transcends cultural borders. Rising from humble Midwestern roots, to working for a U.S. President and The White House, now performed for four consecutive U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and foreign dignitaries, a respected cultural ambassador across the world – Mary is an inspiring symbol of youth, conservatism, patriotism, and diplomatic alliance through cultural diplomacy.
A unique career that began as a White House presidential appointee to President George W. Bush paved the way for Mary now recognized as one of the world’s celebrated voices in music. Coined as America’s “National Anthem Singer” across America, Mary has performed the National Anthem and patriotic music for four consecutive U.S. Presidents - President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden, international royalty, and world leaders. Mary has been featured at the 58th Presidential Inauguration Victory Celebration for President Trump, The White House, the United States Congress, 2020 Republican National Convention, for the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), 2016 RIO Olympics, off-Broadway, in India, China, Europe, Canada, Africa, and in concert halls worldwide.
Musically, Mary is an original lane – a career based in global patriotism, global anthems, and world music. Through robust orchestrations of America’s patriotic music and global performances of international anthems, Mary has mastered cross-over appeal to more broad and cultural demographics. Mary has gained worldwide recognition for her captivating vocal prowess and stirring performances of global national anthems and patriotic songs of the United States, Africa, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and specifically India, China, Brazil, UAE, and Israel.
June 2023 and broadcast live in India, the United States, and across the world, Mary performed for India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guests in Washington, D.C. at the concluding event for the Official State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Formally invited by the Steering Committee for Prime Minister’s Official State Visit, Mary performed the Indian National Anthem to an invitation-only, Diaspora event hosted by United States Indian Community Foundation (USICF) at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington,D.C.
August 2022, Mary made her first, historic trip to India performing in celebration of India’s 75th Anniversary of Independence as an official guest from the United States invited by the Government of India, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Mary made history – as the first American and African American artist to be invited to India for the Independence Day observance and for an audience of 1.4 billion people.
2019, Mary made history performing the American National Anthem and the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) for the 40th Anniversary of U.S. - China Student Exchanges at The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C. - becoming the first American and African American artist to perform the American National Anthem and the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) on American and Chinese soil. Hosted by The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in coordination with The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Mary is formally recognized as a United States State Department cultural envoy and regarded as a cultural ambassador across the world for her effective leadership in cultural diplomacy, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for global inclusion. Mary’s artistic career has a very intimate perspective and inside relationship with American politics and Washington, D.C., blessed with bipartisan support from the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives leadership.
October 2022, Mary returned to the theatrical stage playing the historical figure Elizabeth Keckley in the new Broadway-bound musical and world premiere of The Lincolns of Springfield debuted at Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, CA. Directed by four-time Tony Award winner and 12-time Tony Nominee Corey Brunish, alongside playwright, lyricist, and composer Terrence L. Cranert. Mary made her New York debut at the Westchester Broadway Theatre starring in Ray Roderick’s Gershwin musical ‘S Wonderful. June 2019, Mary starred in the world premiere of Tazewell Thompson’s play Jubilee at Arena Stage’s premieres of Sophisticated Ladies and Crowns, for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination. Mary has headlined solo concerts at popular New York venues including The Copacabana, Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, The City Winery, The Cutting Room, and featured at the Iridium.
Mary was named to Ideagen’s 2020 Power 10 List - 10 Global Leaders Empowering Women & Girls alongside Oscar/Emmy/Tony Award Winning Actress Viola Davis; Melinda Gates - Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair; Kate Johnson - MicrosoftUS President; Adena Friedman - CEO of Nasdaq; Jo Ann Jenkins - CEO of AARP, and more. Mary is a passionate and devoted advocate for women and girls across the world.
February 2020, Notefornote Entertainment released Mary’s debut single “Grace Will Lead Me Home” on THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS original motion picture soundtrack now on all leading digital platforms globally and received Academy Award/Oscar eligibility. Produced with 2018 Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee, three-time Grammy/six-time Emmy nominee Steve Dorff and lyrics by two-time Emmy Award winner and four-time Grammy nominated songwriter Maribeth Derry. “Grace Will Lead Me Home” was written for THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS, now available on Amazon Prime Video.
Mary is a former global ambassador for Education Africa, a non-profit bringing educational opportunity and arts education to South Africa’s poorest communities. Equally, Mary is a noted advocate for the ideals of freedom and free enterprise, creating opportunity for marginalized communities, small business, children, arts education and school choice, and the empowerment of women and girls across the world. Mary earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma’s prestigious Weitzenhoffer Department of Musical Theatre, a minor in political science, and completed studies and fluency in Mandarin in China - Xi'an University, Kunming University, Peking University, and Fudan University.