Jill Scott (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jill Scott
Scott in 2012
Background information
Birth name	Jill Heather Scott
Born	(1972-04-04) April 4, 1972 (age 53) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul neo soul hip hop spoken word jazz
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter model poet actress
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Hidden Beach (2000–2010) Blues Babe/Warner Bros.(2011–2013) Atlantic (2014–present)

Jill Heather Scott (born April 4, 1972) is an American singer, songwriter, model, poet, and actress. She is known for her soulful voice and powerful lyrics. Her first album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (released in 2000), sold over a million copies. Her next albums, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004) and The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 (2007), also sold very well.

Jill Scott also started acting in movies and TV shows. She appeared in the films Hounddog and Why Did I Get Married? in 2007. In 2008, she starred in the TV series The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. After a break from music, she released her fourth album, The Light of the Sun, in 2011. In 2014, she played Deidre "Dee Dee" Jenkins in the movie Get on Up. Her fifth album, Woman, came out in 2015. From 2018, Scott played Lady Eve in Black Lightning, a superhero TV show.

Early Life and Education

Jill Scott was born in Philadelphia on April 4, 1972. She grew up in North Philadelphia as an only child. Her mother, Joyce Scott, and her grandmother raised her. Jill remembers her childhood as a very happy time. She said she was "very much a loved child." Her family history has been traced to the Jola people of Guinea-Bissau. She was raised as a Jehovah's Witness.

After finishing high school at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, Jill went to Temple University. She worked two jobs while studying to become a high school English teacher. After three years of college and working as a teacher's helper, Jill changed her mind about teaching. She then left college to follow her dreams.

Music Career and Albums

Starting as a Spoken Word Artist

Scott performing in Hamburg, Germany in 2000

Jill Scott began her career by performing spoken word poetry. She shared her poems at live events. She was discovered by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson from the band the Roots. Questlove invited her to work with the band in the studio. This led to Jill helping write the song "You Got Me". In 2000, Erykah Badu and the Roots won a Grammy Award for this song. Jill then started singing the song live with the Roots.

After this, Jill worked with other famous artists like Eric Benet, Will Smith, and Common. She also gained more experience by touring Canada with the Broadway musical Rent.

First Albums and Grammy Wins

Jill Scott was the first artist to sign with Steve McKeever's 'Hidden Beach Recordings' label. Her first album, Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1, came out in 2000. Her song "A Long Walk" became popular and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2003. In 2005, Jill won her first Grammy for "Cross My Mind." This award was for Best Urban/Alternative R&B Performance.

In November 2001, she released a live album called Experience: Jill Scott 826+. Her second studio album, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2, followed in 2004. Jill also continued to write poetry. A book of her poems, The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours, was published in 2005.

In 2007, Jill Scott won her second Grammy Award. This was for "God Bless The Child", a song she sang with George Benson and Al Jarreau. In 2006, she was featured on Lupe Fiasco's song "Daydreaming." This song won a Grammy in 2008. A collection of her collaborations with other artists was released in 2007.

Her third studio album, The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3, was released on September 25, 2007. The song "Hate on Me" was the first single from this album. In 2008, Jill released her second live album, Live in Paris+.

New Music and Tours

In 2011, Jill Scott signed a new deal with Warner Brothers. This deal gave her more control over her music. She also signed a deal with Live Nation for her concert tours.

Her fourth studio album, The Light of the Sun, was released on June 21, 2011. It was a huge success, debuting at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart. This was her first album to reach the top spot. The album included songs with Anthony Hamilton, Eve, Doug E Fresh, and Paul Wall.

The first official single from the album was "So in Love" with Anthony Hamilton. It became a big hit, staying at No. 1 on the Urban Adult Contemporary Chart for 14 weeks. Jill promoted the album with her "Summer Block Party" tour. This tour sold out venues across the country. The album earned Jill four NAACP Image Awards.

Fifth Album and Recent Events

In 2015, Jill Scott released her fifth studio album, Woman. This was her first album released on Atlantic Records. It also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart.

On May 9, 2020, Jill Scott and Erykah Badu took part in a special online music battle called Verzuz. They played their hit songs and songs they had written for other artists. Over 700,000 people watched this live event.

Other Music Work

Jill Scott has also appeared in other music projects. She was in Dave Chappelle's 2006 concert film, Dave Chappelle's Block Party. She has also been featured on songs by artists like Lupe Fiasco, Pharoahe Monch, Kirk Franklin, and Dr. Dre. Her song "Golden" is featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Music Style

Jill Scott is a soprano singer. Her music mixes jazz, opera, R&B, spoken word, and hip hop. This style is often called neo-soul. Reviewers have praised her strong voice, comparing her to singers like Minnie Riperton and Deniece Williams. She is known for her "elegant vocals" and for singing about everyday people.

Film and Television Roles

Jill Scott started acting in 2000, following advice from her friend, director Ozzie Jones. She joined a theater group in Philadelphia. Her first theater role was in Tyler Perry's Neighbors from Hell. For two years, she worked small jobs to pay for acting lessons.

In 2004, Jill appeared in the TV show Girlfriends. She played Donna, a love interest for the character William Dent. She also appeared in the movie Cavedwellers.

Her first major film roles came in 2007. She played Big Mama Thornton in Hounddog and Sheila in Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?. In 2008, Jill starred as Precious Ramotswe in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. This TV series was based on popular books.

In 2010, she provided the voice of Storm from the X-Men in the TV series Black Panther. She also appeared in an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She played Sheila again in Why Did I Get Married Too? (2010). For her role in Sins of the Mother, she won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress.

In 2012, Jill Scott appeared on VH1 Storytellers, where she performed her songs and created characters for each one. Later that year, she starred in Steel Magnolias, a TV movie remake. She played Truvy Jones, a role originally played by Dolly Parton. In 2013, she starred in the film Baggage Claim. In 2015, she co-starred in the movie With this Ring.

From 2018, Jill Scott had a recurring role in the CW’s Black Lightning. She played the villain Lady Eve, a powerful criminal. In 2019, Scott starred in First Wives Club, a TV show about three divorced women.

Personal Life

Jill Scott married her long-time boyfriend, Lyzel Williams, in 2001. He was a graphic artist and DJ. They had dated for seven years before their private wedding in Hawaii. Jill wrote the song "He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)" about Williams. They divorced in 2007 after six years of marriage.

Jill Scott has lived in Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey, and California. As of 2014, she lives in Tennessee.

In 2008, Jill Scott announced her engagement to her drummer, Li'l John Roberts. Their son was born in 2009. In June 2009, Jill announced that she and Roberts had broken up.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

In 2003, Jill Scott started the Blues Babe Foundation. This program helps young minority students pay for college. The foundation gives money to students aged 16 to 21. It mainly helps students in Philadelphia, Camden, and the greater Delaware Valley. Jill donated US$100,000 to start the foundation. It was named after her grandmother, who was called "Blue Babe."

In 2003, the Blues Babe Foundation gave over $60,000 to the graduating class of the Creative Arts School in Camden. Students who kept a good GPA could get money for their college education.

At the Essence Music Festival in 2006, Jill Scott spoke out about how women of color are shown in hip-hop songs and music videos. She said the content was "dirty, inappropriate, inadequate, unhealthy, and polluted." She encouraged listeners to "demand more" from the music they choose.

Discography

Studio albums

• Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (2000)
• Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004)
• The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 (2007)
• The Light of the Sun (2011)
• Woman (2015)

Concert Tours

• Words and Sounds Tour (2001)
• Buzz Tour (2004)
• Big Beautiful Tour (2005)
• Sugar Water Festival (2005)
• The Real Thing Tour (2008)
• Maxwell & Jill Scott: The Tour (2010)
• Summer Block Party (2011–12)
• An Evening with Jill Scott (2011–12)
• Live in the Moment Tour (2018–19)
• Who is Jill Scott 20th Anniversary Tour (2020)

Filmography

Film

Television

Documentary

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jill Scott para niños