Rhona Bennett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rhona Bennett
Bennett in 2018.
Background information
Birth name	Rhona Lynn Bennett
Also known as	Miss R&B Coach Rho
Born	(1976-05-10) May 10, 1976 (age 49) Chicago, Illinois
Genres	R&B pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress speaker author life coach
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1991–present

Rhona Lynn Bennett-Simon (born May 10, 1976) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and life coach. She became well-known as a cast member on the Disney Channel's The All New Mickey Mouse Club. She appeared on the show for four seasons.

After the show ended, Rhona started acting. She was a guest star on several TV shows. Later, she got regular roles on the UPN sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space (1996-1997) and The WB's The Jamie Foxx Show.

In 2000, she began her music career. She signed with Sony Music through producer Rodney Jerkins' record label. Her first song, "Satisfied," became a top five hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her first album, Rhona, was mostly released only in Japan. In 2003, she joined the R&B group En Vogue. She has toured and released music with them since then. This includes their albums Soul Flower (2004) and Electric Café (2018). Rhona also released her second solo album, Instant Classic, in 2024.

Since the 2010s, Rhona has also worked as an author, speaker, and life coach. She continued her acting and singing careers. In 2012, she published a small book called Got Motivation? How to Stay Motivated. She has written other mini-books on topics like healthy eating and staying positive. In 2016, Rhona started her online coaching school, Personal Power University.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Rhona Bennett grew up in Calumet Park, Chicago. Her older sister, Roz Bennett, was a football player. Rhona started singing in church choirs in Chicago when she was a child. She sang with the famous Soul Children group.

At age 11, she became a background singer at the ETA Creative Arts Theater. She performed her first big role in a play called A Christmas Carol. At the same time, she went to Polaris High School in Oak Lawn.

Career Highlights

Early Career and TV Roles

In 1990, Rhona tried out to be a Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club. This was a variety show on the Disney Channel. It featured 19 teenagers who sang, danced, acted in skits, and interviewed celebrities. Rhona joined the show in its fourth season in 1991. Other famous young talents on the show at that time included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and JC Chasez. The All New Mickey Mouse Club ended in 1994 after seven seasons.

After the show, Rhona moved to California to try acting. She soon appeared in guest roles on sitcoms like Living Single, The Single Guy, and Martin. In 1996, Rhona got a regular role on the TV show Homeboys in Outer Space. This science fiction sitcom also starred Flex Alexander and Darryl M. Bell. In 1999, she acted in the independent comedy film No Vacancy. The same year, she joined the fourth season of WB sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show. She played Nicole, who was Jamie's co-worker and singing partner.

Music Career and Joining En Vogue

In late 2000, Rhona signed with Sony Music. She worked with producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins' new record label, Darkchild Records. Rhona was called the "First Lady of Darkchild." Many of Jerkins' regular team members helped Rhona with her first album, Rhona.

The album's first song, "Satisfied," came out in March 2001. It became a top five hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart. However, the song did not become popular in other places. After a trip to promote the album, plans to release Rhona were stopped. This happened because of problems between Sony Music and Darkchild Records. So, the album was mostly released only in Japan, and Rhona left the label.

In 2002, Rhona got a main role in the play Men Cry in the Dark. The next year, Rhona was asked to join the R&B girl group En Vogue. She became a performing member, replacing Amanda Cole. During her five years with the band, Rhona released the album Soul Flower (2004) with original band members Terry Ellis and Cindy Herron. In 2008, Rhona left the band during their 20th Anniversary World Tour. This was because original member Dawn Robinson returned.

Solo Projects and Return to En Vogue

Bennett performing live on stage in 2009.

After leaving En Vogue, Rhona started working on her second solo album, The Anticipation of R&B. She worked with many musicians on this project. The album was planned to be released in 2010 but was put aside due to problems. Rhona later shared some songs from this album on her SoundCloud account.

In 2010, Rhona started her "Personal Power" coaching business. She used her nickname, Coach Rho. In 2012, she began writing mini-books. Her first was Got Motivation? How To Stay Motivated. She also wrote Find and Pursue Your Passion... Even with a Regular Job (2012), Eating Healthier for Less (2013), Beyond a Wish – How to Discover the Champion Within (2014), and Beyond the Fear: Real Stories of Inspiration while facing Illness and Adversity (2015).

In 2014, Rhona rejoined En Vogue. This happened after new music from the original members did not work out. In July 2014, Rhona, Ellis, and Herron started working on En Vogue's seventh album, Electric Café. In November, the three appeared in the Lifetime holiday movie An En Vogue Christmas. They played fictional versions of themselves in the film.

In 2016, Rhona launched her online coaching school, Personal Power University. She also released the solo song "Take Me There." This song was meant to be on a solo album called R&B Gumbo, but that album was never released. After Electric Café came out and after touring with En Vogue, Rhona wrote a book called Saving Your Soul. This self-help guide helps musicians in the entertainment industry. She released it in August 2022. Rhona also released her second solo album, Instant Classic, in November 2024. This album included songs like "We (A Powerful Thing)", "Butterfly", and "All on You".

Personal Life

Rhona Bennett and Shantiel Simon met in high school and became friends. They started dating in April 2021. On September 9, 2022, they got married in a private ceremony.

Music Releases

Studio Albums

Singles

Selected Film and TV Roles

Films

Television Series

See also

In Spanish: Rhona Bennett para niños