Deborah Cox

Biography

Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Toronto, she began performing on television commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows in her teenage years before becoming a professional backing vocalist for Celine Dion. In 1994, Cox relocated to the United States and was signed to Arista Records by Clive Davis, releasing her self-titled debut album the following year. Her second studio album, One Wish×One Wish15 September 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1September4:462It’s Over Now4:203Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here4:224We Can’t Be Friends4:415Couldn’t We4:326One Wish4:367I Won’t Give Up4:328Just When I Think I’m Over You3:579Love Is on the Way4:4410I Never Knew5:0711One Day You Will4:1312Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:1413Things Just Ain’t the Same (dance mix)4:1214September (dance mix)4:12 (1998), was certified platinum in the United States. It was marked by the commercial success of the pop crossover single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here×Nobody's Supposed to Be Here22 September 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Nobody's Supposed to Be Here4:202Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:13", which would become her most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number two and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks. Cox signed with J Records for her third studio album The Morning After×The Morning After19 November 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Up & Down (In & Out)5:0122 Good 2 Be True4:063Play Your Part3:484Like I Did3:315Hurt So Much5:086Just a Dance3:437The Morning After4:248Givin’ It Up3:399Up & Down (All Star remix)4:2610Oh My Gosh3:5711Starting With You4:2612Mr Lonely (Hex/Mac remix)4:0413Absolutely Not (Chanel mix)4:06 (2002), which saw moderate commercial success.
Cox ventured into acting in the 2000s, making her film debut in the Canadian drama film Love Come Down (2000) and her stage debut in 2004, in the title role in the Broadway musical Aida. She has since appeared in smaller films and several musical productions, including the horror-drama Jekyll & Hyde, the biographical musical Josephine, the musical adaptation of The Bodyguard, and the 2023 revival of The Wiz. Cox's most recent studio albums, Destination Moon×Destination Moon1 January 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Destination Moon2:412What a Difference a Day Made4:073Misery3:424Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes3:355This Bitter Earth4:056Squeeze Me2:227New Blowtop Blues3:008Blue Skies4:079I Don’t Hurt Anymore3:2710Smoke Gets in Your Eyes4:3311September in the Rain3:2212Look to the Rainbow3:5513All of Me2:48 (2007) and The Promise×The Promise11 November 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Love Is Not Made in Words4:122You Know Where My Heart Is3:563Did You Ever Love Me4:384Saying Goodbye4:205Beautiful U R4:106The Promise3:327All Over Me3:388All Hearts Aren’t Shaped the Same3:409Down 4 U4:0910Where Do We Go 23:40 (2008), have been released through her own independent record label, Deco Recording Group. In 2017, her single "Let the World Be Ours Tonight×Let the World Be Ours Tonight30 June 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Let the World Be Ours Tonight3:22" became her 13th number-one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs over the span of three consecutive decades. In 2016, Billboard listed Cox at 23rd on its list of the Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists. An eight-time Juno Award nominee, she has won four awards and is often cited as Canada's top R&B artist. She received her first Grammy Award nomination for The Wiz in the Best Musical Theater Album category in 2025, while the following year she produced and starred in the Broadway production Titanique, earning a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Musical.
Cox was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2022.

Early life

Deborah Cox was born to Guyanese parents in Toronto, grew up in Scarborough, was raised Catholic, and attended John XXIII Catholic Elementary School and Earl Haig Secondary School. She began singing on TV commercials at age 12, and entered various talent shows including an appearance on Tiny Talent Time. She performed in nightclubs as a teenager, and began to write music around the same time. Cox entered the music industry in the early 1990s, performing as a backup vocalist for Celine Dion for six months. In 1992, she also appeared on Devon's LP titled It's My Nature on the track "That's A Friend." After receiving many rejection letters from Canadian record labels that claimed their "quota" had been reached, Cox moved to Los Angeles in 1994 with producer and songwriting partner, Lascelles Stephens.

1995–1999: Debut and One Wish

In late 1994, label executive Clive Davis signed Cox to Arista Records. Featuring production from Dallas Austin, Keith Crouch, Tim & Bob, and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, she released her self-titled debut album the following year. A middling commercial and critical success, the album peaked at number 102 on US Billboard 200 but emerged as a steady seller, eventually receiving a gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while going platinum in Canada. Lead single "Sentimental×Sentimental21 August 1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Sentimental (original radio edit)4:302Sentimental (Uno Clio dub mix)8:103Sentimental (Smooth mix)4:354Sentimental (E-Smoove House dub)5:33" entered the top five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while follow-up "Who Do U Love×Who Do U Love1995 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Who Do U Love (Gass mix)4:272Who Do U Love (Morales mix)4:46" attained worldwide success, becoming a top twenty success in Australia, New Zealand and the US, also reaching the top of Billboard's Dance Club Songs. In 1996, Deborah Cox won Cox a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording at the annual award ceremony and earned her a Best Soul/R&B New Artist nomination at the 1996 American Music Awards.
Cox contributed the non-album song "Things Just Ain't The Same×Things Just Ain't The Same1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Things Just Ain't the Same3:402Things Just Ain't the Same (remix)3:40" to the soundtrack to the 1997 film Money Talks. A dance remix of the song, produced by Hex Hector, became her second number-one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart and was included on her second album, 1998's One Wish×One Wish15 September 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1September4:462It’s Over Now4:203Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here4:224We Can’t Be Friends4:415Couldn’t We4:326One Wish4:367I Won’t Give Up4:328Just When I Think I’m Over You3:579Love Is on the Way4:4410I Never Knew5:0711One Day You Will4:1312Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:1413Things Just Ain’t the Same (dance mix)4:1214September (dance mix)4:12. As with her self-titled debut album, her sophomore effort was once again executive-produced by Davis, but featured more uptempo, contemporary R&B, and a slew of new producers and personnel to incorporate dance and club music, including Montell Jordan, Anthony "Shep" Crawford, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and DJ Quik. One Wish peaked at number 72 on the Billboard 200 and earned a platinum certification from the RIAA, while reaching gold status in Canada. The album capitalized on the crossover success of lead single "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here×Nobody's Supposed to Be Here22 September 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Nobody's Supposed to Be Here4:202Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:13" which became Cox's most successful entry on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number two, and remaining there for eight consecutive weeks, making it one of the longest stays at number two in chart history. The song also reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, spending a then record-breaking 14 weeks at number one, while the third single "We Can't Be Friends," a duet with R. L. Huggar, reached the top ten, with "It's Over Now" and "I Never Knew" become chart-toppers on the Dance Club Songs chart.

2000–2005: The Morning After and acting career

After One Wish, Cox collaborated with singer Whitney Houston on her single "Same Script, Different Cast" from the compilation album Whitney: The Greatest Hits. Incorporating a backing track of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" during the intro, it was released as a radio-only promo single and became a minor hit on Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 70 while reaching number 14 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In 2000, Cox made her acting debut when she starred in Clement Virgo's Canadian drama film Love Come Down, playing a nightclub singer. The film garnered eight nominations at the 21st Genie Awards, including two Best Original Song nominations for Cox's songs "29" and "Our Love". In 2001, Cox then recorded "Absolutely Not×Absolutely Not2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracksA1Absolutely Not (Chanel club mix)10:02B1Absolutely Not (Chanel club dub)7:31B2Absolutely Not (original version)3:39", for the soundtrack to Dr. Dolittle 2 which became her sixth number one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs.
Cox's third album The Morning After×The Morning After19 November 2002 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Up & Down (In & Out)5:0122 Good 2 Be True4:063Play Your Part3:484Like I Did3:315Hurt So Much5:086Just a Dance3:437The Morning After4:248Givin’ It Up3:399Up & Down (All Star remix)4:2610Oh My Gosh3:5711Starting With You4:2612Mr Lonely (Hex/Mac remix)4:0413Absolutely Not (Chanel mix)4:06 was released in November 2002 on J Records following a frustratingly long departure from Arista. It marked the Cox's first record under Clive Davis's label, with Davis, once more serving as executive producer. Keen to build on the success of her previous album One Wish×One Wish15 September 1998 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 14 tracks1September4:462It’s Over Now4:203Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here4:224We Can’t Be Friends4:415Couldn’t We4:326One Wish4:367I Won’t Give Up4:328Just When I Think I’m Over You3:579Love Is on the Way4:4410I Never Knew5:0711One Day You Will4:1312Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:1413Things Just Ain’t the Same (dance mix)4:1214September (dance mix)4:12, he enlisted the help of producers such as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Shep Crawford as well as up-and-coming producers Warryn Campbell, Johntá Austin and Alex Richbourg to work with Cox. A blend of urban R&B and adult contemporary songs with additional dance/house tracks, it became her highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200 and Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums yet, debuting and peaking at number 38 and number seven, respectively. Commercially, the album was less successful than her previous album, however, though it produced two singles on the US Dance Club Songs chart, including "Mr. Lonely×Mr. Lonely11 February 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Mr. Lonely (radio edit)4:082Mr. Lonely (Hex Hector/Mac Quayle main mix)10:043Mr. Lonely (Junior Vasquez club Lonely mix)10:464Mr. Lonely (Widelife Mixshow)6:385Absolutely Not (Chanel club mix)10:02" and "Play Your Part×Play Your PartJune 2003 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Play Your Part (radio edit)3:472Play Your Part (instrumental)3:493Play Your Part (Call Out Hook)0:10".
In February 2004, Cox made her Broadway debut in the Elton John-Tim Rice musical Aida when she replaced singer Michelle Williams in her role of the Nubian princess. Her four-month engagement earned largely positive reviews. The same year, she recorded and released a dance remix of the musical's theme song "Easy As Life×Easy As Life2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Easy As Life (Club)10:542Easy As Life (Mixshow)6:163Easy As Life (Radio)4:07" as a promotional single. In 2005, Cox starred in the films Blood of a Champion and Love on Layaway. Also that year, her voice was featured in the movie Hotel Rwanda in the song "Nobody Cares". To sustain demand for Cox's club appearances, while focused on her family and new album projects, she released a dance single titled "House Is Not a Home×House Is Not A Home13 September 2005 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1House Is Not A Home (Radio Edit)3:542House Is Not A Home (Extended Radio Edit)3:573House Is Not A Home (Radio Instrumental)4:074House Is Not A Home (Club Mix)5:135House Is Not A Home (Club Instrumental)5:13" on Nervous Records in January 2006. Later in the year, her song "Definition of Love" was used in the movie Akeelah and the Bee, but was not released as a single.

2006–2009: Destination Moon and The Promise

Between 2005 and 2006 Deborah recorded her fourth album, called Destination Moon×Destination Moon1 January 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Destination Moon2:412What a Difference a Day Made4:073Misery3:424Baby, You’ve Got What It Takes3:355This Bitter Earth4:056Squeeze Me2:227New Blowtop Blues3:008Blue Skies4:079I Don’t Hurt Anymore3:2710Smoke Gets in Your Eyes4:3311September in the Rain3:2212Look to the Rainbow3:5513All of Me2:48, arranged and produced by Rob Mounsey. A tribute album to jazz singer Dinah Washington, Cox noted it a concept album that she had in mind for years. Most of the album was recorded live with a forty-piece orchestra with Rob Mounsey arranging. Eventually released by Decca Records in June 2017, Destination Moon peaked at number three on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums. The same year, Cox co-starred alongside Golden Brooks and Darius McCrary in Leslie Small's film A Good Man is Hard to Find. Based on the musical stage play of the same name, the comedy depicts the story of three women who each undergo romantic crises that challenge their personal and spiritual relationships. In 2008, Cox performed the Canadian national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, receiving rave reviews. She also contributed the song "This Gift" to the soundtrack of the 2008 romantic drama film Meet the Browns, directed by Tyler Perry, and served as a supporting act on Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour 2008.
Also that year, Cox finished work on her sixth studio album The Promise×The Promise11 November 2008 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Love Is Not Made in Words4:122You Know Where My Heart Is3:563Did You Ever Love Me4:384Saying Goodbye4:205Beautiful U R4:106The Promise3:327All Over Me3:388All Hearts Aren’t Shaped the Same3:409Down 4 U4:0910Where Do We Go 23:40, released on November 11, 2008, through Deco Recording Group, Cox's own independent label, with distribution handled by Image Entertainment. A breakaway from her previous album, it marked her return to R&B music and saw her working with a wider number of songwriters and producers on the album, including The Avila Brothers, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Devo Springsteen, Big Jim, and Shep Crawford.
The Promise debuted at number 106 on the US Billboard 200, number 14 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and number 95 on the Canadian Albums Chart. Earning generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics, it was nominated for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the 2009 Juno Awards. The second single "Beautiful U R×Beautiful U R2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Beautiful U R (Jody Den Broeder radio edit)3:582Beautiful U R (Jody Den Broeder extended mix)7:333Beautiful U R (Impetto remix)7:484Beautiful U R (Adrian Lux remix)6:305Beautiful U R (Soulseekerz remix)6:356Beautiful U R (Manox remix)5:057Beautiful U R (original radio edit)4:22" marked her biggest hit since "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here×Nobody's Supposed to Be Here22 September 1998 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Nobody's Supposed to Be Here4:202Nobody's Supposed to Be Here (dance mix)4:13," becoming a top ten hit in Canada, where it was certified platinum by Music Canada, as well as her tenth chart-topper on the Billboard' Dance Club Songs. In support of the album, Cox joined forces with American R&B singer Kenny Lattimore for the joint Timeless Promise Tour in July 2009. Also in 2009, she was featured on the single "Leave the World Behind×Leave the World Behind1 April 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Leave the World Behind (original mix)6:50", a house track produced by four DJs Axwell, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso and Laidback Luke.

2010–2017: The Queen Project, dance music and Broadway

In 2010, it was announced that Cox would be joining fellow R&B singers Kelly Price and Tamia to form a supergroup. While the trio recorded several tracks together, their joint album The Queen Project eventually failed to materialize due timing issues and label politics. In 2011, Cox released the dance-heavy single "If It Wasn't for Love×If It Wasn't for Love26 November 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1If It Wasn't For Love (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Original Edit)4:082If It Wasn't For Love (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Remix Edit)4:063If It Wasn't For Love (Young Collective Radio Edit)4:024If It Wasn't For Love (Razor Guido Skribble Radio Edit)4:285If It Wasn't For Love (Papercha$er Mix)6:186If It Wasn't For Love (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Original Mix)7:467If It Wasn't For Love (Mixin Marc & Tony Svejda Remix)8:098If It Wasn't For Love (Young Collective Mixshow)6:409If It Wasn't For Love (Razor Guido Skribble Mixshow)6:58" through Deco Entertainment. It became her eleventh chart topper on Billboard's Dance Club Songs and was to precede a new studio album which remained unreleased. In September 2012, Cox gave her inaugural performance as the female lead Lucy in a revival of the musical Jekyll & Hyde which toured North America for twenty-five weeks. While the show enjoyed a limited Broadway run only, Cox received positive reviews for her performance. Also in 2012, she collaborated with rapper Akon on the song "No Labels", the official anthem of the same-titled American bipartisan political organization. The following year, Cox collaborated with DJ Paige on the non-album single "Higher×Higher25 October 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Higher (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio mix)8:152Higher (DJ Escape & Tony Coluccio dub)6:523Higher (Paige Resurrection mix)6:454Higher (Dave Rose & Dimitri Tee mix)7:095Higher (Chris Staropoli mix)8:386Higher (Carlos Melange mix)6:00". Released on March 18, through Electronic Kingdom Records, it became her twelfth number-one hit on the US Dance Club Songs chart. In 2014, Cox was one of the performers at the opening ceremonies of WorldPride in Toronto, alongside Melissa Etheridge, Tom Robinson and Steve Grand.
In 2015, she provided vocals for the made for television biographical film Whitney, directed by Angela Bassett based on American recording artist Whitney Houston. Cox performed all of Houston's vocals in the film, including "I Will Always Love You×I Will Always Love You31 March 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1I’m Every Woman4:402I Have Nothing5:003All the Man I Need3:554I Wanna Dance With Somebody4:525Run to You4:556The Greatest Love of All4:587Jesus Loves Me3:378I Will Always Love You4:35", "I'm Your Baby Tonight", and "The Greatest Love of All." The same year, she released the deep house-influenced "Kinda Miss You×Kinda Miss You3 February 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kinda Miss You3:17", as well as the ballad "More Than I Knew×More Than I Knew15 April 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1More Than I Knew3:56" as singles. Both were set to appear on her sixth album Work of Art, initially announced for an August 2015 release through Deco and Primary Wave Music. However, after several delays, the album remained unreleased. In 2016, Cox played the lead role of Josephine Baker in the Broadway-bound musical Josephine, which chronicled the singer's life between the years of 1939 and 1945, and starred as Rachel Marron in the North American Tour of the musical The Bodyguard based on the 1992 film of the same name. In support of the musical, Cox released the EP I Will Always Love You on Deco and Broadway Records, containing cover versions of seven Whitney Houston originals as well as Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You." In June 2017, she released an uptempo dance single "Let the World Be Ours Tonight×Let the World Be Ours Tonight30 June 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Let the World Be Ours Tonight3:22" during LGBTQ pride season on Radikal Records and Galactic Media. It marked her 13th single to top Billboard's Dance Club Songs.

2018–present: Seventh studio album and television films

In June 2019, Cox performed at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. In November 2019, she released the Rico Love-produced single "Easy Way" through Deco Entertainment. The song was expected to lead her yet-unreleased seventh studio album, initially expected to be released in late 2020. It was followed by the Christmas single "Gimme Gimme Gimme Some Christmas" a month later. In February 2020, Cox starred opposite Roger Guenveur Smith in the BET+ television thriller Influence, an adaption of Carl Weber's same-titled 2018 novel, portraying a big-name celebrity singer accused of killing her husband. Also in 2020, she appeared as a guest host in an episode of Canada's Drag Race and started a webseries titled COXtales with Deborah Cox during the global COVID-19 pandemic. In fall 2020, Cox released further two Christmas singles, the original song "I Really Don't Want Much for Christmas" and a rendition of the Eartha Kitt song "Santa Baby."
In 2020, Cox was appointed Executive Director of Alpha Magazines, a U.S.-based lifestyle and entertainment publication.
In 2021, Cox was added to the BET series First Wives Club during its second season, playing the role of musician Regina alongside Michelle Buteau and Jill Scott. The same year, she co-starred as Wendy in the HBO Max post-apocalyptic dystopian fiction miniseries Station Eleven, and appeared on "Summer of Love×Summer Of Love27 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Summer Of Love7:21," another collaboration with Israeli producer Offer Nissim. In 2022, Cox was announced as an inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, becoming the first Black woman to be inducted. Beginning in September 2023, Cox starred as Glinda in a US revival of The Wiz, touring nationally in advance of a March 2024 Broadway opening.
Beginning in March 2026, Cox starred as "The Unsinkable" Molly Brown in the Broadway musical Titanique.

Personal life

Cox currently lives in Miami, Florida. She is married to her high school sweetheart and manager, Lascelles Stephens. They have three children: a son, Isaiah (born July 1, 2003) and two daughters, Sumayah (born June 29, 2006), and Kaila Michelle (born February 23, 2009).