JoJo (singer) facts for kids

Joanna Noëlle "JoJo" Levesque (born December 20, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She started performing in singing contests and local talent shows when she was a child. In 2003, record producer Vincent Herbert noticed her after she appeared on the TV show America's Most Talented Kids. He asked her to audition for his record label, Blackground Records.

After signing with the label, JoJo released her first album, JoJo, in 2004. It reached number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and sold many copies worldwide. With her first single, "Leave (Get Out)", JoJo became the youngest solo artist to top the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 chart at age 13. Her second album, The High Road (2006), included her first top-five hit, "Too Little Too Late". This album also sold millions of copies worldwide.

For several years, JoJo faced challenges with her record label, which made it difficult for her to release new music. During this time, she released two mixtapes on her own. After leaving her old label, JoJo signed with Atlantic Records in 2014. She then released her first commercial EP, III (2015), followed by her third album, Mad Love (2016). This album became her third to reach the top ten in the U.S. In 2017, she started her own record label, Clover Music. As one of her first projects, she re-recorded and re-released her first two albums in 2018. JoJo released her fourth and fifth albums, Good to Know and December Baby, in 2020. Her sixth album, Trying Not to Think About It, followed in 2021.

Besides her music, JoJo has also acted. In 2006, she appeared in the films Aquamarine and R.V.. She has also made guest appearances on TV shows like The Bernie Mac Show (2002) and Hawaii Five-0 (2011). In 2023, JoJo made her Broadway debut, playing "Satine" in Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Quick facts for kids JoJo
JoJo in 2023
Born	Joanna Noëlle Levesque (1990-12-20) December 20, 1990 (age 34) Brattleboro, Vermont, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	1998–present
Works	Discography songs videography tours
Musical career
Origin	Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres	R&B pop soul hip hop
Instruments	Vocals piano
Labels	Blackground Da Family Universal Wagram Universal Motown V2 Interscope Streamline Atlantic Clover Music Warner BMG

Early Life and First Steps in Music

Joanna Noëlle Levesque was born on December 20, 1990, in Brattleboro, Vermont. She grew up in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Her family background includes Polish, French, Irish, and Native American roots. Her father enjoyed singing, and her mother sang in a church choir and studied musical theater. JoJo's parents divorced when she was four, and her mother raised her as an only child. "JoJo" was a nickname she had since childhood.

As a young child, JoJo listened to her mother practice songs. She started singing at age two, copying everything from nursery rhymes to R&B, jazz, and soul music. She also enjoyed attending Native American festivals and acting in local theaters.

In 1998, JoJo appeared on the TV show Kids Say the Darndest Things: On the Road in Boston with comedian Bill Cosby. She sang a song by the artist Cher. In 1999, she auditioned for the TV show Destination Stardom, singing hits by Aretha Franklin. In 2002, she performed on Maury during an episode about talented kids.

Music Career Highlights

Early Success: JoJo Album

In mid-2003, JoJo competed on the TV show America's Most Talented Kid. Record producer Vincent Herbert saw her and asked her to audition for Blackground Records. In 2003, at age 12, JoJo signed with Blackground Records. She began working on her first album.

JoJo's first single, "Leave (Get Out)", was released in 2004. After the song came out, JoJo went on her first tour, the Cingular Buddy Bash. When "Leave (Get Out)" reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, JoJo became the youngest solo artist to have a number-one song in the United States at age thirteen. The song was also nominated for an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 2004.

Her first album, JoJo, was released in 2004. It reached number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. In September 2004, JoJo released her second single, "Baby It's You", which featured rapper Bow Wow. This song reached number twenty-two in the U.S.

In December 2004, JoJo was nominated for Female New Artist of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards. This made her the youngest artist ever nominated at these awards. Later that month, First Lady Laura Bush asked JoJo to perform at the 2004 Christmas in Washington special. In 2005, JoJo took part in "Come Together Now", a charity song to help victims of natural disasters. She also hosted the Hope Rocks Concert in 2005 to benefit City of Hope National Medical Center. In 2005, she was offered a role on the Disney Channel TV series Hannah Montana, but she chose to focus on her music career instead.

The High Road and Acting Roles

In 2006, JoJo acted alongside Emma Roberts and Sara Paxton in the film Aquamarine. The movie opened on March 3, 2006. Her second major film, RV, a comedy starring Robin Williams, was released on April 28, 2006.

JoJo's second album, The High Road, was released on October 17, 2006. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The album's first single, "Too Little Too Late", was released in summer 2006. This song broke a record for the biggest jump into the top three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The album's second single, "How to Touch a Girl", was less successful. "Anything" was released as the third single. By December 2006, the album had sold many copies. In late 2007, JoJo shared that she would be writing songs for her third album. She wanted her music to show her growth.

Challenges and New Music

JoJo performing as an opening act in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2011

In 2008, JoJo said she was writing and producing a new album. In August 2008, JoJo played Morgan Carter in True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet, which aired on Lifetime Television. In 2009, JoJo faced challenges with her record label, which made it hard to release her music. She reached an agreement with her label later that year. In late 2009, JoJo appeared on Timbaland's album Shock Value II.

In September 2010, JoJo released her first mixtape, Can't Take That Away from Me. In January 2011, JoJo was cast in an episode of CBS's Hawaii Five-0. In June 2011, she released her own version of Drake's song "Marvin's Room".

On August 29, 2011, "Disaster" was released to U.S. radio. The song was praised for keeping her original style. In support of the song, she opened for the Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour. In August 2011, JoJo signed a deal with HeartSoul clothing. In December 2011, JoJo became a spokeswoman for the skin care brand Clearasil.

In October 2012, JoJo began working on the film G.B.F.. She played Soledad Braunstein, the president of the Gay Straight Alliance. In early 2012, JoJo toured with Big Time Rush. A promotional song was released in February 2012. JoJo released "Demonstrate" in July 2012.

After her record label faced distribution issues, JoJo started recording new music for a mixtape. On November 15, 2012, she announced her mixtape, Agápē, which means "unconditional love" in Greek. It was released for free on her 22nd birthday, December 20, 2012. To support the mixtape, JoJo went on her first headlining tour, The Agápē Tour.

New Labels and Re-recording Albums

JoJo performing on the I Am JoJo Tour in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2015

In December 2013, JoJo and her old record label reached an agreement. On January 14, 2014, JoJo announced she had signed a new recording contract with Atlantic Records. On February 14, she released an extended play called #LoveJo, which featured covers of three classic songs. On August 20, 2015, JoJo released three songs at once on the III extended play. She called this a "tringle." To support this release, JoJo went on her first world tour, the I Am JoJo Tour, in November 2015. In December 2015, JoJo released #LoveJo2.

In June 2016, Fifth Harmony announced that JoJo would be one of the opening acts on their 7/27 Tour. Mad Love, JoJo's third album, was released on October 14, 2016. JoJo helped write every song on the album. The album reached number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. In January 2017, JoJo started the Mad Love tour across North America and Europe.

In August 2017, JoJo announced she was leaving Atlantic Records. She also announced her new music company, Clover Music. In April 2018, she announced the Leaks, Covers, & Mixtapes tour. On December 21, 2018, JoJo released new versions of her first album and The High Road. These new versions had re-recorded vocals and slightly changed music. These albums were the first releases from Clover Music.

Recent Albums and Broadway Debut

On February 14, 2019, JoJo and singer-songwriter PJ Morton released the song "Say So". On October 11, 2019, JoJo released the song "Joanna" with a music video. On October 25, JoJo worked with rapper Chika on the song "Sabotage".

On May 1, 2020, JoJo released her fourth album, Good to Know. She co-wrote every song on this album too. The main song, "Man", was released on March 13, 2020. On October 2, 2020, she released "The Change", a song written by Diane Warren. On October 30, 2020, JoJo released her first holiday album and fifth album, December Baby.

In 2021, JoJo competed on the fifth season of The Masked Singer as "Black Swan". She finished in second place. On September 24, 2021, Blackground Records and Empire Distribution re-released JoJo's original first album and The High Road to streaming services. JoJo encouraged fans to listen to her 2018 re-recordings instead, as those versions support her directly.

On October 1, 2021, JoJo released her sixth album, Trying Not to Think About It. This was followed by a tour. JoJo also worked with Stan Walker on his 2022 album All In.

On April 11, 2023, JoJo made her Broadway debut in the main role of Satine in Moulin Rouge! The Musical. On February 9, 2024, she released a cover of the REO Speedwagon song, "Can't Fight This Feeling". This song was featured in the 2024 film Lisa Frankenstein.

On March 7, 2024, JoJo announced plans to release new music and her first memoir later that year. On September 17, 2024, her memoir Over the Influence: A Memoir was released. "Porcelain" was released on October 2, 2024. The next month, she released "Too Much to Say". Her extended play NGL was released on January 24, 2025.

Musical Style

JoJo in 2011

JoJo's music is mainly pop and R&B. Critics have often praised her singing voice, calling it one of the best. Her R&B songs have been compared to those of singers like Brandy and Monica. Some have described her as a "vocal phenom" who can sing like Mariah Carey. Critics often compare her voice to Kelly Clarkson and Beyoncé.

Sometimes, her music has been criticized for being too produced or for using too many vocal runs. However, many agree that JoJo is best when she sings about emotional situations with big, heartfelt choruses. She has been called a "teen-pop star with an R&B singer's voice."

JoJo's earliest memories of singing include performing songs by Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Mariah Carey, and Whitney Houston. Her mixtape, Agápē, was influenced by musicians Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. JoJo has a mezzo-soprano vocal range, which is well-suited for R&B. When she first started in 2004, critics noticed that her singing skills were beyond her age. When she released "Demonstrate" in 2012, critics saw that her voice and lyrics had grown more mature.

Personal Life

JoJo lived in Edgewater, New Jersey with her mother until she was 18. Then she moved to Boston for a year. As of 2014, she lives in Los Angeles. JoJo dated American soccer player Freddy Adu from 2005 to 2006. They met on an MTV show.

In August 2009, JoJo graduated from high school. She was accepted to Northeastern University and thought about studying cultural anthropology, but she did not attend.

Besides singing and acting, JoJo supports many charity organizations. These include Boys & Girls Clubs of America, World Vision, She's the First, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.

In December 2021, JoJo announced her engagement to actor Dexter Darden. They ended their engagement the following year.

Discography

Studio Albums

• JoJo (2004)
• The High Road (2006)
• Mad Love (2016)
• Good to Know (2020)
• December Baby (2020)
• Trying Not to Think About It (2021)

Filmography

Films and Television Films

Television Shows and Appearances

Concert Tours

Headlining

• The High Road Tour (2007)
• Then & Now Concert Tour (2010)
• Pinktober (2011)
• The Agápē Tour (2013)
• I Am JoJo Tour (2015–16)
• Mad Love Tour (2017)
• Leaks, Covers and Mixtapes Tour (2018)
• Trying Not to Think About It Tour (2021)
• JoJo Tour 2022 (2022)
• Too Much To Say Tour (2025)

As a Special Guest

• Timbaland – Shock Value II Tour (2010)

As an Opening Act

• Usher – The Truth World Tour (2004)
• Joe Jonas/Jay Sean – Joe Jonas & Jay Sean Tour (2011)
• Big Time Rush – Better with U Tour (2012)
• Fifth Harmony – The 7/27 Tour (2016)

Broadway

Books

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: JoJo (cantante) para niños