# Coco Jones
**Coco Jones** is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and actress who moved from [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) teen stardom to a Grammy-winning recording career, winning Best R&B Performance at the 2024 [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards) for her platinum single "ICU" and releasing her debut album *[Why Not More?](https://www.edgepedia.org/why-not-more)* in 2025.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/coco-jones/53449/) • [2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) She also stars as Hilary Banks in Peacock's *Bel-Air*, the drama reboot of *The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air*.[2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Breakthrough acting role | Roxie in the 2012 Disney Channel movie musical *Let It Shine*, at age 14[3](https://www.grammy.com/news/coco-jones-why-not-more-debut-album-journey-career/) |
| Label | Signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022[2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) |
| Breakout single | "ICU" (2022), certified platinum, her first Billboard Hot 100 entry, later remixed by Justin Timberlake[2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-09/coco-jones-icu-let-it-shine) |
| Grammy record | 1 win from 8 nominations; won Best R&B Performance for "ICU" at the 2024 ceremony[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/coco-jones/53449/) |
| Debut album | *Why Not More?* (April 2025), 14 tracks, featuring Future and YG Marley[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60) |
| Chart firsts | "Here We Go (Uh Oh)" gave her a first No. 1 on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart; the album peaked at No. 59 on the Billboard 200[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60) • [6](https://www.therealcocojones.com/) • [12](https://thatgrapejuice.net/2025/05/chart-check-billboard-200-coco-jones-why-not-more-is-the-weeks-highest-charting-female-debut/) |
## Early life and Disney years
Jones was born in [South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/south-carolina) and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee, in a show-business family: her father is former NFL player [Mike Jones](https://www.edgepedia.org/mike-jones) and her mother is a session vocalist.[4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-09/coco-jones-icu-let-it-shine) She began recording at age 9, cutting her first songs as a do-it-yourself project burned onto a CD with her mother's help, and appeared as a recurring guest on Disney's musical sketch comedy *So Random!* before her film debut.[2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) • [4](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-09/coco-jones-icu-let-it-shine)
Her first taste of success came starring as Roxie, the golden-voiced love interest, in the 2012 Disney Channel movie musical *Let It Shine* alongside [Tyler James Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/tyler-james-williams), Trevor Jackson, and Brandon Mychal Smith.[3](https://www.grammy.com/news/coco-jones-why-not-more-debut-album-journey-career/) Two of her duets with Williams, "Guardian Angel" and "Me and You," made [Top 40](https://www.edgepedia.org/top-40) appearances on Billboard's Rap Digital Song Sales chart.[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/coco-jones-mn0002609645/biography) She first signed a record deal at 14.[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60)
## Rebuilding a music career
The transition from Disney teen actor to adult singer took roughly a decade and included several false starts. She released a series of EPs, moving toward a more mature contemporary R&B sound by her fourth EP, 2019's *H.D.W.Y.*, and also co-starred in the family film *Grandma's House* (2016) and the music-themed comedy-drama *Flock of Four* (2017).[7](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/coco-jones-mn0002609645/biography) In interviews she has described the period as one of rejection and struggle to maintain stardom, until viral TikTok videos and her casting as Hilary Banks on *Bel-Air* rebuilt her public profile.[8](https://apnews.com/article/f694cc7d0f8efbf445c78da852d29ea0)
The turning point came after she signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022. Her EP *What I Didn't Tell You*, released in November 2022, was her first major-label release since 2013, and its lead single "ICU," a soulful ballad she has compared to the music of Brandy and [Toni Braxton](https://www.edgepedia.org/toni-braxton), became her breakout hit.[9](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/coco-jones-why-not-more-review-3858185) • [2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B Airplay chart and led to Best New Artist wins at the [BET Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/bet-awards), the Soul Train Awards, and the [NAACP Image Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/naacp-image-awards).[2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/)
## Grammy recognition
At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards (2024), Jones received five nominations: Best New Artist, Best R&B Album for *What I Didn't Tell You (Deluxe)*, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Solo Performance for "ICU," and Best Traditional R&B Performance with Babyface for "Simple." She won Best R&B Performance for "ICU."[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/coco-jones/53449/) She returned as a nominee at the 2025 ceremony for Best R&B Solo Performance and Best R&B Song with "Here We Go (Uh Oh)," and at the 2026 ceremony *Why Not More?* was nominated for Best R&B Album, bringing her career total to eight nominations with one win.[1](https://www.grammy.com/artists/coco-jones/53449/)
## Why Not More? and recent work
*Why Not More?*, her debut album, was released in April 2025. The 14-track record spans what Jones describes as a spectrum of R&B styles, from introspective ballads to what the Associated Press calls "Pop&B" and "Trap&B," with production from StarGate, London on Da Track, and Jasper Harris, and features from Future and [YG Marley](https://www.edgepedia.org/yg-marley). Jones wrote on every song.[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60) Four singles preceded the release, including "Here We Go (Uh Oh)," her first No. 1 on Billboard's Adult R&B Airplay chart, and "Taste," which interpolates [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears)' "Toxic."[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60) The album earned her the No. 1 New R&B Artist Debut of 2025, reached No. 1 in Current R&B Album Sales, and reached No. 59 on the Billboard 200; a deluxe edition, *Why Not More?[12](https://thatgrapejuice.net/2025/05/chart-check-billboard-200-coco-jones-why-not-more-is-the-weeks-highest-charting-female-debut/) (MORE!)*, added "Other Side of Love" with [Alicia Keys](https://www.edgepedia.org/alicia-keys).[6](https://www.therealcocojones.com/)
Reviewers were divided on the album's second half. NME called it "deeper, richer and more wide-ranging than anything we've ever seen from her," while one independent review praised her voice but criticized later tracks as more radio-oriented and thematically repetitive.[9](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/coco-jones-why-not-more-review-3858185) • [10](https://hiphophighsociety.com/2025/05/19/album-review-coco-jones-why-not-more/)
Alongside music, Jones continued acting through the fourth and final season of *Bel-Air*, appeared in [Malcolm D. Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/malcolm-d-lee)'s psychological thriller *Strung*, and wrapped the romantic comedy *That's Her*, which she stars in and executive produces.[5](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60) • [2](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/) She was selected to perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing" at a [Super Bowl LX](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-lx) event in San Francisco in February 2026.[11](https://www.therecordlive.com/home/customer_files/pdfs/digital_editions/2026/cr_020426_.pdf)
## References
1. [Coco Jones: Grammy Awards and Nominations, Recording Academy](https://www.grammy.com/artists/coco-jones/53449/)
2. [Bio, Coco Jones official site](https://www.therealcocojones.com/bio/)
3. [Tracing Coco Jones' Journey To 'Why Not More?', GRAMMY.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/coco-jones-why-not-more-debut-album-journey-career/)
4. [Coco Jones went from Disney Channel to Def Jam, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2023-10-09/coco-jones-icu-let-it-shine)
5. [Coco Jones is fearless on debut album 'Why Not More?', Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/99cd933623f375c8f5faab879e047f60)
6. [Home, Coco Jones official site](https://www.therealcocojones.com/)
7. [Coco Jones biography, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/coco-jones-mn0002609645/biography)
8. [Coco Jones talks earning Grammy nods, overcoming obstacles after Disney fame, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/f694cc7d0f8efbf445c78da852d29ea0)
9. [Coco Jones – 'Why Not More?' review, NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/coco-jones-why-not-more-review-3858185)
10. [Album Review: Coco Jones – Why Not More, Hip Hop High Society](https://hiphophighsociety.com/2025/05/19/album-review-coco-jones-why-not-more/)
11. [The Record, week of February 4, 2026](https://www.therecordlive.com/home/customer_files/pdfs/digital_editions/2026/cr_020426_.pdf)
12. [Chart Check (Billboard 200): Coco Jones’ ‘Why Not More?’ Is the Week’s Highest-Charting Female Debut](https://thatgrapejuice.net/2025/05/chart-check-billboard-200-coco-jones-why-not-more-is-the-weeks-highest-charting-female-debut/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 2010s to present › Surnames H to O*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license