Coco Jones

Biography

Courtney Michaela Ann Jones (born January 4, 1998) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She first appeared on the competition series Radio Disney's Next Big Thing (2010–2011), which led to her signing with the company's Hollywood Records and being cast in several Disney Channel properties — including the sketch comedy So Random! (2011–2012) and the sitcom Good Luck Charlie (2012–2013). She had her breakthrough role as Roxanne "Roxy" Andrews in the 2012 television musical DCOM Let It Shine, where she co-starred with Tyler James Williams and lent her vocals to the soundtrack for the network.
She returned to a recording career in 2022, signing with High Standardz and Def Jam Recordings to release the single "ICU" in October of that year. The song was her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), also winning Best R&B Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. The award was among five total nominations she received at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards—which included a nomination for Best New Artist. That same year, she was cast in the starring role for the Peacock drama series Bel-Air (2022–2025). Her other accolades include a BET Award and an NAACP Image Award.
Her debut studio album, Why Not More?×Why Not More?25 April 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1Keep It Quiet2:352Taste2:453On Sight4:284AEOMG2:245Thang 4 U3:166Here We Go (Uh Oh)3:357Other Side of Love2:188Why Not More?3:369Hit You Where It Hurts2:2110Most Beautiful Design3:3911You2:5212Nobody Exists2:4413By Myself2:5414Forever Don’t Hit Like Before2:29 (2025), moderately entered the Billboard 200 and was met with critical acclaim, earning Jones her second Best R&B Album nomination at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Its lead single, "Here We Go (Uh Oh)×Here We Go (Uh Oh)3 May 2024 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Here We Go (Uh Oh)3:36", was also nominated for Best R&B Song at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.

Early life

Jones was born on January 4, 1998 in Columbia, South Carolina. She is the daughter of former NFL player Mike Jones and session vocalist Javonda Jones, and was raised in Lebanon, Tennessee. She has three siblings: older brother, Steven, younger brother, Mike Jones Jr., who formerly played football for LSU, and younger sister Aja.
Jones showed a passion for music at an early age, performing "America the Beautiful" at her kindergarten graduation. At the age of nine, she met with the casting heads for Disney and joined the company as an actor and songwriter.

2006–2013: Early career with Disney and Hollywood Records

In 2006, Jones competed on Radio Disney, where she became known for her song, "Real You". In 2009, she was chosen to perform live on "The Most Talented Kids" episode of the Maury Povich Show. In 2011, she guest-starred on Disney Channel's television series So Random!. In 2010, Jones was the runner up during season 3 of Radio Disney's The Next Big Thing singing competition. Shortly after, she released her debut project Coco Jones, and began a concert tour revolving around the theme of anti-bullying called UBU-Stop the Bullying.
In June 2012, Jones played the lead role of Roxie in the television Disney movie, Let It Shine. The movie was the most watched Disney Channel Original Movie and most watched movie of the year for kids and tweens in 2012. Jones and the other main cast of Let It Shine performed at the 43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards Nominees Luncheon prior to the movie's release.
Jones signed a record deal with Hollywood Records and began working with Grammy-nominated producer Rob Galbraith, co-writing and recording all-new original music. Jones' debut single "Holla at the DJ" premiered on Radio Disney on December 6, 2012, with its release on iTunes the next day. The video for the track premiered on the Disney Channel on December 12, with a premiere on VEVO just afterwards. Her extended play Made Of was released on March 12, 2013, and it reached the top 10 of the Billboard Heatseekers chart. She toured with Mindless Behavior later that year. Jones performed with Mindless Behavior at Radio Disney's Radio Disney Music Awards, and took home an award for "Funniest Celebrity Take." Following the release of the EP, Jones worked in the studio with David Banner, Ester Dean, and Jukebox, with plans to release her debut album by August.

2014–2022: Independent music and acting roles

In 2014, Jones was dropped from Hollywood Records. In August 2014, she put out a video for the song, "Pepermint", and made it available on digital platforms a month later.
In July 2017, Jones was featured in a Fanta commercial.
In April 2018, Jones was featured in 1950s-era jazz film, Flock of Four. In September of that year, she released a song, called "Just My Luck", along with its music video.
On September 3, 2019, Jones released a song, called "Depressed". On September 20, she released an 8-track EP, titled H.D.W.Y×H.D.W.Y16 September 2019 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1Come Over3:032Dms2:473Depressed2:584Float3:025Worth It2:246The Same2:367Rain4:008Just My Luck3:40..
In August 2020, it was announced Jones will appear in the upcoming holiday film, White Elephant, and horror film, Vampires vs. the Bronx. In September 2020, Jones talked about her negative experiences in the industry with colorism. According to her, executives decided she was not marketable enough after featuring in Let It Shine. In November 2020, Jones released the single, "Hollyweird".
In September 2021, Jones was cast in Peacock drama series, Bel-Air, a reimagining of hit sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in the role of Hilary Banks. The show would premiere in February 2022.

2022–present: Signing to Def Jam Recordings, What I Didn't Tell You and Why Not More?

On March 20, 2022, Jones announced that she had signed a new artist deal with High Standardz and Def Jam Recordings. Her major label debut single "Caliber" was released on March 25, 2022, and also served as the lead single for her major label debut EP What I Didn't Tell You×What I Didn't Tell You4 November 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Headline2:502Caliber3:023Crazy for Me2:144Double Back2:395ICU4:016No Chaser2:537Spend It2:36. After the release of the EP's second single, "ICU"; as well as the non-album Amazon Music exclusive single, "Love is War×Love Is War3 June 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Love Is War3:46", the EP was released on November 4, 2022. Just a month prior to the EP's release, Jones was featured on Babyface's ninth album, Girls Night Out, contributing vocals to the song, "Simple". The music video for the song was also released a week later on October 31.
On January 20, 2023, Jones released the deluxe edition to her EP, which includes a song, "Simple", and three new tracks. Jones' single, "ICU", reached number 21 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, and peaked at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, her first entry on both charts. On 30 January 2024, Jones signed an exclusive publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music. On February 10, Jones released "Love is War" on all streaming platforms, and four days later, released a Spotify-exclusive cover of "Until the End of Time×Until The End Of Time1 September 2023 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Until The End Of Time4:43" with Leon Thomas.
On April 6, 2024, Jones performed the National Anthem at night one of WrestleMania XL in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On August 9, Jones partnered with Disney for a reimagined release of Princess Tiana’s "Almost There×Almost There9 August 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Almost There3:58". On August 16, Jones released a promotional single, "Sweep It Up×Sweep It Up16 August 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sweep It Up3:18", with an accompanying visualizer and lyric video. On November 22, Jones released her sixth extended play, Coco by the Fireplace. On April 25, 2025, Jones released her debut studio album, Why Not More?×Why Not More?25 April 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1Keep It Quiet2:352Taste2:453On Sight4:284AEOMG2:245Thang 4 U3:166Here We Go (Uh Oh)3:357Other Side of Love2:188Why Not More?3:369Hit You Where It Hurts2:2110Most Beautiful Design3:3911You2:5212Nobody Exists2:4413By Myself2:5414Forever Don’t Hit Like Before2:29.

Musical style and influences

Jones has said that many famous artists have inspired her music. Some of her biggest musical influences include Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Aretha Franklin, Brandy Norwood, Mary J. Blige, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Jazmine Sullivan, Britney Spears, Etta James, Roberta Flack, Jennifer Hudson, and CeCe Winans.

Personal life

On July 11, 2025, Jones announced her engagement to basketball player Donovan Mitchell, after two years of dating. They were married in Greenwich, Connecticut, on August 1, 2026.

As a supporting act

The Boy Is Mine Tour (2025) (Brandy and Monica)