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Nick Cannon
Nick Cannon 2010.jpg
Cannon in 2010
Born
Nicholas Scott Cannon

(1980-10-08) October 8, 1980 (age 44)
Alma mater Howard University (BS)
Occupation
  • Comedian
  • television presenter
  • actor
  • rapper
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 2008; div. 2016)
Children 12
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals

Nicholas Scott Cannon (born October 8, 1980) is an American comedian, television presenter, actor, and rapper. In television, he began his career as a teenager on Nickelodeon's All That before going on to host The Nick Cannon Show, Wild 'n Out, America's Got Talent, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, and The Masked Singer. He has also acted in the films Drumline, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Roll Bounce, and Goal II: Living the Dream.

As a recording artist, Cannon briefly saw commercial success with his 2003 self-titled debut studio album — his only major label release under Jive Records. In 2006, Cannon released two singles — "Dime Piece" and "My Wife" — intended for his follow-up album Stages, which was never released. His second album was released as White People Party Music (2014) by RED Distribution and his N'Credible Entertainment label.

Early life

Cannon was born on October 8, 1980, in San Diego, California. He was largely raised by his paternal grandfather, whom both he and his biological father called "dad". As a child, he grew up in Lincoln Park's Bay Vista Housing Projects, a gang-ridden section of Southeast San Diego. While in his teenage years, Cannon was affiliated with the Lincoln Park Bloods street gang, but stated that he left behind his affiliations after losing a close friend. In 1998, he graduated from Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley, where he was president of the African Student Coalition and participated in track and field. Cannon received his first break doing stand-up comedy on his father's local cable public access TV program.

Music career

1999–2006: Music beginnings, Nick Cannon and Stages

After signing with Jive Records in 2001, he was featured alongside Romeo Miller and 3LW on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack with a cover of the 1988 hit song "Parents Just Don't Understand". His debut self titled album was released in 2003 and included the single "Your Pops Don't Like Me (I Really Don't Like This Dude)".

In 2005, Cannon formed his own record label, Can-I-Ball Records, with plans to release his second studio album, entitled Stages, later that year. The album's first single, "Can I Live?" was released in July 2005 followed by the second single "Dime Piece" in March 2006. It was never released because of Cannon's acting career.

2009–2012: N'Credible Entertainment, Slick Nick and Child of the Corn

In 2009, Cannon formed a new label after cancelling his old label Can-I-Ball Records entitled N'Credible Entertainment. In 2010, Cannon created a parody of hip hop pioneer Slick Rick entitled "Slick Nick". He released two songs by the character such as "I'm a Slick Rick", a freestyle of Cali Swag District's "Teach Me How to Dougie" in which he attempted to diss hip hop mega-star Eminem, and "Nick's Story", a freestyle rap version of Slick Rick's "Children's Story". On December 6, 2011, Cannon released his debut mixtape entitled Child of the Corn.

2013–present: White People Party Music and second mixtape

On July 26, 2013, Cannon premiered his new single "Me ..." and announced over seven years after the shelving of his album Stages that he was working on a new second studio album entitled White People Party Music featuring collaborations with Afrojack, Pitbull, Future and Polow da Don.

The album's second single "Looking for a Dream" was released on February 11, 2014. The song features Afrojack. The music video was released on VEVO on February 13.

On November 16, 2016, Cannon released his second mixtape The Gospel of Ike Turn Up: My Side of the Story. Prior to the release of the mixtape, a music video for the single "If I Was Your Man" was released on November 7, 2016.

On December 2, 2016, Cannon released a single called "Hold On" on iTunes.

Cannon released "The Invitation", an Eminem diss track, on December 9, 2019, as a response to Eminem's feature on Fat Joe and Dre's "Lord Above" dissing Cannon. The track featured former record producer and convicted felon Suge Knight, as well as rappers Hitman Holla, Charlie Clips and Prince Eazy, whom Cannon referred to as "The Black Squad". After Eminem responded to Cannon with two tweets, Cannon released a second diss track the next day featuring the same rappers as well as Conceited titled "Pray For Him", followed by another solo diss track entitled "The Invitation Canceled"

Other ventures

Hosting

In 2005, Cannon created, produced, and hosted the MTV improv comedy series Wild 'n Out. That same year he hosted the so-called slime stunt on Nickelodeon's 2005 Kids' Choice Awards. In addition, he was the DJ on Ellen DeGeneres's Bigger, Longer, And Wider show. On December 11, 2009, Cannon hosted the Nickelodeon HALO Awards along with Justin Timberlake, Hayden Panettiere, LeBron James, Kelly Rowland and Alicia Keys.

In 2010, Cannon created and co-hosted the short-lived TeenNick original series The Nightlife.

On July 4, 2011, Cannon hosted the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, an annual American competitive eating competition.

On November 12, 2012, MTV2 announced the revival of Wild 'N Out. The revived show was produced by Cannon's Ncredible Entertainment, the series premiered in 2013 with a few returning faces joined by a roster of fresh talents. When asked about the show coming back, Cannon said, "With our show's original cast, everyone from Kevin Hart to Katt Williams, Affion Crockett and Taran Killam becoming household names, I am looking forward to working with MTV2 as we work to introduce the biggest comedic stars of tomorrow with the return of Wild 'N Out." Rapper Big Boi of Outkast has confirmed in a tweet on Twitter he was shooting an episode on January 29, 2013, in NYC and for people to join in the audience.

Season 5 of the show premiered on July 9, 2013, to the highest ratings in MTV2 history. It was renewed for season 6 and 7, which aired in two blocks.

Meanwhile on December 1, 2012, Cannon would launch and host the TeenNick Top 10 on TeenNick as part of his executive role with the network. The program counted down ten popular videos of the week, often with Cannon's input also a part of the week's playlist. The series would air until March 17, 2018, when TeenNick phased out all original programming.

On November 4, 2013, Cannon was the master of ceremonies as well as an honoree at the annual Ebony Magazine Power 100 Awards. In 2014, he began hosting Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon on NBC.

On August 4, 2016, Wild 'N Out returned for its 8th season after three record-breaking seasons.

On February 3, 2021, Cannon tested positive for COVID-19, leading to Niecy Nash temporarily filling in for him during his quarantine during the fifth season of The Masked Singer. He returned to hosting duty after competing as the wild card contestant "Bulldog" in the fifth episode and was eliminated by Nash's choice. Cannon unmasked without the panelists having to make their final guesses.

In 2019, it was announced that Cannon would be debuting his own syndicated daytime talk show in 2020 via Lionsgate's Debmar-Mercury and Cannon's own production company, NCredible Entertainment. After taking a brief hiatus due to his controversy, the show, Nick Cannon, premiered on September 27, 2021, with the Fox Television Stations as a key group. The show was canceled in March 2022, and his final episode aired on May 27, 2022, with guest Carrie Ann Inaba.

America's Got Talent and departure

From 2009 to 2016, Cannon served as the host of America's Got Talent. He announced he would not be back for 2017, citing creative differences between him and the executives of NBC. The resignation came in the wake of news that the network considered firing Cannon after he made disparaging remarks about NBC in his Showtime comedy special, Stand Up, Don't Shoot. "I love art and entertainment too much to watch it be ruined by controlling corporations and big business," Cannon said in a statement, referring to the cable giant Comcast's ownership of NBC. Cannon, however, was technically under contract to host America's Got Talent and could have been potentially sued by NBC for breach of contract, though this was considered unlikely. NBC executives did not accept his resignation and had been stated to be keeping their fingers crossed that he would instead choose to return. Cannon's resignation was ultimately accepted as final without further incident. He was replaced in his position as host of America's Got Talent by Tyra Banks, known for also having hosted America's Next Top Model.

Business

Following his role as host of the TEENick block, Cannon was the chairman of the TeenNick channel for Nickelodeon in 2009, as well as its development and creative consultant. In 2012, he created a sketch-comedy series, Incredible Crew, starring six teenagers as Cannon wrote and produced the theme song. The show was produced by Cartoon Network Studios, in association with Ncredible Entertainment. The series aired 13 episodes before being canceled. As previously mentioned, he also hosted the network's TeenNick Top 10 video countdown program.

On November 30, 2012, a picture of Cannon was posted on the Ncredible Entertainment website, which reported that Cannon signed a deal with NBCUniversal to produce scripted and unscripted material for the network.

In December 2015, Cannon was named "Chief Creative Officer" of RadioShack in hopes of catering to a younger crowd. According to the company this role involved "creating RadioShack-exclusive products and curating the in-store experience." They launched the NCredible line of consumer audio electronics the following February, starting with the Ncredible1 Wireless Headphones.

Radio hosting

On January 19, 2010, Cannon hosted the morning show (6–10AM) with co-hosts Nikki and Southern Sarah Lee at 92.3 NOW FM (WXRK-FM) in New York. On February 17, 2012, he stepped down from 92.3 NOW citing health issues.

Cannon has a weekly chart program called Cannon's Countdown that is syndicated by CBS Radio.

Currently, Cannon hosts his own show "Nick Cannon Mornings" at Power 106 in Los Angeles. His show replaced J. Cruz's "The Cruz Show" in the 5am – 10am time slot after J. Cruz went over to urban contemporary hip hop iHeart Radio rival KRRL "Real 92.3" for their afternoon drive show.

Comedy

On July 13, 2010, Cannon announced that he was going on a comedy tour in fall 2010, beginning at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal.

In early 2011, Cannon recorded his first stand-up comedy special titled Mr. Showbiz at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The special premiered on Showtime on May 14, 2011. A digital release of Mr. Showbiz became available on iTunes beginning May 16, 2011, with a physical release of the album on May 31, 2011.

Personal life

Cannon graduated from Howard University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology/Administration of Justice and a minor in Africana Studies.

Cannon endorsed the 2020 presidential campaign of rapper Kanye West after he guest-starred on his podcast Cannon's Class.

Relationships and children

In February 2007, Cannon met model Selita Ebanks. The couple got engaged with a public proposal at Times Square in May of the same year, but broke off the engagement by October.

Cannon married singer-songwriter Mariah Carey on April 30, 2008, at her private estate on Windermere Island in the Bahamas. On April 30, 2011, Carey gave birth to fraternal twins. After six years of marriage, the couple separated and Cannon filed for divorce in December 2014. Their divorce was finalized in 2016.

He has three children with model Brittany Bell: a son (born February 2017), a daughter (born December 2020) and another son (born September 2022).

Cannon and model Alyssa Scott have a son (born June 2021) who died of brain cancer at five months old, and a daughter (born December 2022). With Abby De La Rosa, he has twin sons (born June 2021) and a daughter (born November 2022).

Model and real estate agent Bre Tiesi gave birth to their son in June 2022.

In September 2022, model LaNisha Cole gave birth to their daughter.

Activism

In 2011, Cannon filmed a public service announcement for DoSomething encouraging teens to find a cause about which they are passionate and take action in their communities. Since 2011, Cannon has served as the celebrity spokesperson for the National Association of Letter Carriers' annual national food drive, which is held throughout the United States on the second Saturday in May.

Discography

Studio albums
  • Nick Cannon (2003)
  • White People Party Music (2014)

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role Notes
2000 Whatever It Takes Chess Club Kid
2002 Men in Black II MIB Autopsy Agent
Drumline Devon Miles
2003 Love Don't Cost a Thing Alvin Johnson
2004 Garfield: The Movie Louis (voice)
Shall We Dance? Scott
2005 Underclassman Tracy "Tre" Stokes
Roll Bounce Bernard
2006 The Adventures of Brer Rabbit Brer Rabbit (voice)
Even Money Godfrey Snow
Monster House Officer Lester (voice)
Bobby Dwayne
2007 Weapons Reggie
Goal II: Living the Dream TJ Harper
2008 American Son Mike
Day of the Dead Salazar Video
Ball Don't Lie Mico
2009 The Killing Room Paul Brody
2010 A Very School Gyrls Holla-Day Robby Bottoms TV movie
2012 Rags Himself TV movie
2014 Drumline: A New Beat Devon Miles TV movie
School Dance Super Sizer/Himself
2015 Chi-Raq Chi-raq
2016 King of the Dancehall Tarzan Brixton
2019 Berserk Raffy Rivers
2020 She Ball Avery Watts
2021 The Misfits Ringo
Miracles Across 125th Street Basie/Murda Count TV movie

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal Clay Jackson Episode: "Scrubs"
1998–1999 Kenan & Kel - Recurring Cast: Season 3
1998–2005 All That Himself/Cast Member Main Cast: Season 5-6, Guest: Season 8-10
1999 Cousin Skeeter Little Rick Episode: "Bowled Over"
2000 The Parkers Garland Episode: "Big is Beautiful"
2001–2002 Taina Alex Guest Cast: Season 1-2
2002 Hollywood Squares Himself/Panelist Recurring Panelist
2002–2003 The Nick Cannon Show Himself Main Cast
2003 Soul Train Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon/Javier"
It's Showtime at the Apollo Himself Episode: "Murphy Lee/Meli'sa Morgan/Nick Cannon"
2004 Chappelle's Show Himself Episode: "Wayne Brady & Tyrone Biggums's Fear Factor"
NBeebies Bedtime Story Himself/Storyteller Episode: "Beebie Surprise"
MTV Cribs Himself Episode: "November 21, 2004"
2005 Soul Train Music Awards Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
MTV Spring Break Himself/Host Main Host
106 & Park Top 10 Live Himself/Guest Host Recurring Guest Host
Mad TV Himself Episode: "Episode #11.1"
Poorman's ... Beach Himself Episode: "Episode #7.4"
2005–present Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out Himself/Host Main Host
2006 Celebrity Undercover Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon's Spring Break Dime Piece Search"
The Andy Milonakis Show Himself Episode: "Episode #2.3"
In the Mix Himself Episode: "Episode #3.4"
Fuse Celebrity Playlist Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
America's Next Top Model Himself Episode: "The Girl with Two Bad Takes"
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Himself/Host Main Host
Teen Choice Awards Himself/Host Main Host
Crank Yankers Himself (voice) Episode: "Episode #4.8"
2009 Party Monsters Cabo Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
Black to the Future Himself Episode: "Hour 4: The 00s"
Denise Richards: It's Complicated Himself Episode: "Denise Does Slamdance"
Yes We Will! BET's Inaugural Celebration Himself/Host Main Host
2009–2013 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
2009–2016 America's Got Talent Himself/Host Main Host: Season 4-11
2009–2017 Nickelodeon HALO Awards Himself/Host Main Host
2010 VH1 Rock Docs Himself Episode: "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America"
Undateable Himself Main Guest
Colette Carr: Life in the Day Himself Recurring Cast
Just for Laughs Himself Episode: "Episode #2.7"
Movers & Changers Himself Episode: "Presentation Day"
The Nightlife Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
2011 The Marriage Ref Himself/Panelist Episode: "Nick Cannon, Patti Labelle, Ali Wentworth"
Up All Night Calvin Recurring Cast: Season 1
The Talk Himself/Guest Host Episode: "Episode #1.96"
2012 30 Rock Himself Episode: "The Ballad of Kenneth Parcell"
Punk'd Himself/Guest Host Episode: "Nick Cannon"
Mash Up Himself Episode: "Episode #1.1"
2012–2013 Incredible Crew Himself/Announcer Main Announcer
2013 Family Guy Himself (voice) Episode: "No Country Club for Old Men"
Secret Millionaires Club Himself (voice) Episode: "Avast Ye Downloads!"
Betty White's Off Their Rockers Himself Episode: "Episode #2.10"
Big Time Rush Himself Episode: "Big Time Dreams"
Hollywood Game Night Himself/Panelist Episode: "America's Got Game Night"
2013–2016 Real Husbands of Hollywood Himself Main Cast
2014 Project Runway All Stars Himself/Guest Judge Episode: "Fashion Cents"
Love & Hip Hop: New York Himself Episode: "All Good Things..."
Spoilers Himself Episode: "Celebrities React to Viral Videos"
America's Next Top Model Himself Episode: "The Girl Who Got Five Frames"
Deal with It Himself Guest Cast: Season 2-3
Mission: 4Count Himself Recurring Cast
People Magazine Awards Himself/Host Main Host
2014–2015 Brooklyn Nine-Nine Marcus Recurring Cast: Season 2, Guest: Season 3
2014–2016 Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon Himself/Host Main Host
2014–2017 TeenNick Top 10 Himself/Host Main Host
2015 Make It Pop Himself Episode: "XO-IQ"
Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood Himself Episode: "About a Boy"
2016 Jay Leno's Garage Himself Episode: "Supercars"
Wild 'N on Tour Himself Episode: "All Good Things..."
MTV's Epic Fails Himself/Host Main Host
2016–2019 Lip Sync Battle Shorties Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
2017–2018 Superstar Slime Showdown at Super Bowl Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
2018 The Hollywood Puppet Show Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon and Lilly Singh"
Teen Choice Awards Himself/Co-Host Main Co-Host
Uncensored Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
2019 Drop That Seat Himself Episode: "Episode #1.1"
UnMade Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon's "Cannon's Away"
Larry King Now Himself/Guest Host Recurring Guest Host: Season 7
The Wendy Williams Show Himself/Guest Host Recurring Guest Host: Season 11
2019–present The Masked Singer Himself/Host Main Host
2020 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Himself Episode: "Mind Your P's and BBQ's"
Celebrity Call Center Himself Episode: "The Shift With the Gen X Tik Tok"
Becoming Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
2021 Hip Hop Uncovered Himself Episode: "Victory Lap"
Soul of a Nation Himself Episode: "Faith"
2021–2022 Nick Cannon Himself/Host Main Host
Entertainment Tonight Himself/Guest Host Recurring Guest Host: Season 41
2022 Phat Tuesdays Himself Main Guest
Real Husbands of Hollywood: More Kevin, More Problems Himself Main Cast
Urban Eats and Treats Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
The Checkup with Dr. David Agus Himself Episode: "Nick Cannon"
2023 Celebrity Prank Wars Himself/Host Main Host
Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture Himself Main Guest
Claim to Fame Himself Episode: "Needle in a Haystack"
Beat Shazam Himself/Host Main Host: Season 6
2024 Bad Vs. Wild Himself/Host Main Host
Counsel Culture Himself/Host Main Host
I Can See Your Voice Himself/Guest Host Episode: "Episode #3.11" & "#3.12"
The West Coast Hustle Himself Episode: "In My Mom Era"
Wish List Games Himself/Host Main Host
Nick Cannon's Big Drive Himself/Host Main Host
Accused Marcus Paul Episode: "Marcus' Story"

Music videos

Year Artist Title Role
2002 Aaliyah "Miss You" Himself
2003 Nivea "Laundromat" Himself
R. Kelly "Ignition (Remix)" DJ
2004 Lil' Romeo "My Cinderella" Himself
2005 50 Cent "Disco Inferno" Himself
2008 Will.i.am "Yes We Can" Himself
Mariah Carey "Bye Bye" Himself
"I Stay in Love" Driver
2009 "Love Story" Himself
2010 Mariah Carey featuring Nicki Minaj "Up Out My Face" Himself
2011 Mariah Carey & John Legend "When Christmas Comes" Himself

Comedy releases

Year Title
2011 Nick Cannon: Mr. Show Biz
2017 Nick Cannon: Stand Up, Don't Shoot

Awards and nominations

Year Result Award Category Film or series
2003 Nominated Black Reel Awards Best Breakthrough Performance — Viewer's Choice Drumline
2006 Best Ensemble Roll Bounce (Shared with cast)
2006 Won Hollywood Film Festival Ensemble of the Year Bobby (Shared with cast)
2001 Nominated Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Television Actor All That
2002 Won Favorite Television Actor The Nick Cannon Show
2003 Nominated Favorite Television Actor The Nick Cannon Show
MTV Movie Awards Breakthrough Male Performance Drumline
Best Kiss Drumline (Shared with Zoe Saldana)
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Bobby (Shared with cast)
2003 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actor — Drama/Action Adventure Drumline
Choice Movie Breakout Star — Male
2004 Choice Movie Liplock Love Don't Cost a Thing (Shared with Christina Milian)
Choice Movie Liar Love Don't Cost a Thing
Choice Movie Chemistry Love Don't Cost a Thing (Shared with Christina Milian)
2006 TV — Choice Personality Nick Cannon Presents Wild 'n Out
2007
2012 Won NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor Up All Night
2022 Nominated Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Supporting Actor The Misfits

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nick Cannon para niños

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