Deborah Cox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deborah Cox
Cox during an interview in February 2020
Background information
Born	(1974-07-13) July 13, 1974 (age 50) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	R&B soul pop dance jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress producer
Years active	1987–present

Deborah Cox (born July 13, 1974) is a famous Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. She also produces music. Deborah was born and grew up in Toronto, Canada.

She started performing in TV commercials when she was just 12 years old. As a teenager, she joined many talent shows. Later, she became a backup singer for the superstar Celine Dion. In 1994, Deborah moved to the United States. There, she signed with Arista Records and released her first album in 1995.

Her second album, One Wish (1998), sold over a million copies in the U.S. This album featured her biggest hit song, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here." This song reached number two on the Billboard chart and stayed there for eight weeks!

Deborah also started acting in the 2000s. She appeared in films and on Broadway in musicals like Aida and The Bodyguard. In 2022, Deborah Cox was honored by being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. She is known as one of Canada's top R&B artists.

Early Life and Beginnings

Deborah Cox was born in Toronto, Canada. Her parents came from Guyana. She grew up in Scarborough and went to Catholic schools.

When she was 12, Deborah started singing in TV commercials. She also entered many talent shows, including Tiny Talent Time. As a teenager, she sang in nightclubs and began writing her own songs.

In the early 1990s, Deborah worked as a backup singer for Celine Dion. She did this for six months. After facing rejections from Canadian record labels, she moved to Los Angeles in 1994. She went with her producer and songwriting partner, Lascelles Stephens.

Music Career Highlights

First Albums and Big Hits (1995–1999)

In 1995, music executive Clive Davis signed Deborah Cox to Arista Records. Her first album, Deborah Cox, came out that same year. It sold well and earned a gold award in the U.S. and platinum in Canada.

Her song "Sentimental" became a top five hit on the R&B charts. Another song, "Who Do U Love", was popular worldwide. It reached the top of Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. In 1996, Deborah won a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording for her debut album.

In 1998, Deborah released her second album, One Wish. This album also sold over a million copies. Its main song, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here", became her most successful hit. It was number one on the R&B chart for a record-breaking 14 weeks! Other songs like "It's Over Now" and "I Never Knew" also topped the Dance Club Songs chart.

Acting and New Music (2000–2005)

After One Wish, Deborah sang with Whitney Houston on the song "Same Script, Different Cast". In 2000, Deborah started acting in the Canadian film Love Come Down. She played a nightclub singer.

In 2001, her song "Absolutely Not" from the Dr. Dolittle 2 movie soundtrack became another number one dance hit. Her third album, The Morning After, was released in 2002. It featured songs produced by famous artists like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This album reached number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2004, Deborah made her Broadway debut. She starred in the musical Aida, playing the main role. Her performance received very good reviews. She also appeared in films like Blood of a Champion and Love on Layaway in 2005.

Jazz and Independent Music (2006–2009)

Between 2005 and 2006, Deborah recorded her fourth album, Destination Moon. This album was a tribute to the jazz singer Dinah Washington. It was recorded live with a large orchestra. Destination Moon reached number three on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

In 2008, Deborah sang the Canadian national anthem at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans. She received great praise for her performance.

Later that year, she released her sixth studio album, The Promise. This album was released through her own independent record label, Deco Recording Group. It marked her return to R&B music. The song "Beautiful U R" became a top ten hit in Canada. It also became her tenth song to reach number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

Dance Music and Broadway (2010–Present)

Cox performing at the Capital Pride in Washington, D.C. in 2012

In 2011, Deborah released the dance song "If It Wasn't for Love." This became her eleventh number one hit on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. In 2012, she played the lead role of Lucy in the musical Jekyll & Hyde. She received positive reviews for her acting.

In 2015, Deborah provided all of Whitney Houston's singing voice for the TV movie Whitney. She sang famous songs like "I Will Always Love You". The same year, she released new songs like "Kinda Miss You."

In 2016, Deborah played Josephine Baker in the musical Josephine. She also starred as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard musical tour. In 2017, her dance song "Let the World Be Ours Tonight" became her 13th song to top Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.

In 2019, Deborah performed at Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019. She released a new song called "Easy Way" and Christmas songs. In 2020, she appeared in the TV thriller Influence and as a guest host on Canada's Drag Race. She also started a web series called COXtales with Deborah Cox.

In 2021, Deborah joined the BET series First Wives Club. She also appeared in the HBO Max series Station Eleven. In 2022, she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. She is the first Black woman to receive this honor.

Starting in September 2023, Deborah Cox began starring as Glinda in a new tour of The Wiz. This musical will open on Broadway in March 2024.

Personal Life

Deborah Cox lives in Miami, Florida. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Lascelles Stephens, who is also her manager. They have three children: a son named Isaiah (born 2003) and two daughters, Sumayah (born 2006) and Kaila Michelle (born 2009).

Discography

• Deborah Cox (1995)
• One Wish (1998)
• The Morning After (2002)
• Destination Moon (2007)
• The Promise (2008)

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Awards and Recognitions

Deborah Cox has won several awards and received many nominations for her music and performances.

• 1996: Won Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording (for her album Deborah Cox).
• 1998: Won Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording ("Things Just Ain't the Same").
• 1998: Won Soul Train Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Female ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").
• 1999: Won Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording (for her album One Wish).
• 1999: Won Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here").
• 2008: Received a star on the walk of fame in Toronto's Scarborough Town Centre.
• 2022: Inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
• 2024: Nominated for a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Diva Performance (for The Wiz).
• 2025: Pending Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album (for The Wiz).

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart