"If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody…

“If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” means that “mama” takes care of the whole household; if she’s not feeling well, the whole family could suffer. “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” has been cited in print since at least December 1987 and is of unknown authorship.

Google News Archive
10 December 1987, The Grayson County News-Gazette (Leitchfield, KY), “Short Stuff” by Lucy Huff, pg. A2, col. 4:
And my motto is “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

25 April 1988, Titusville (PA) Herald, pg. 16, col. 1 ad:
i>If Mama Ain’t Happy—
Nobody Ain’t Happy!
(Robinsons Wallcoverings & Coordinates—ed.)

6 September 1989, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Mama’s happy at Mia’s‎” by Erika Schlagregen:
If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. That’s the creed at Mia’s on Lemmon, a Tex-Mex restaurant that has become a must destination for hundreds of devotees.

OCLC WorldCat record
If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy
Author: Lindsey O’Connor
Publisher: Eugene, Or. : Harvest House Pub., 1996.
Edition/Format: Book : English

OCLC WorldCat record
When Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy : 52 secrets uncovered : rules that women want men to know
Author: Brian Gillespie; Kris Gillespie
Publisher: Tulsa, OK : Insight Pub. Group, ©2000.
Edition/Format: Book : English

The Huffington Post
If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy (VIDEO)
First Posted: 05/22/10 11:36 AM ET Updated: 11/17/11 09:02 AM ET
Being a good mom can be hard sometimes, especially when inevitable stress arises. But this stress can have a negative impact on your children. As the saying goes, “When Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your kids is to be good to yourself. When you’re happy and healthy, your kids learn how to be happy and healthy, too.
WATCH: