After more than a decade of industry highs and lows, Coco Jones is finally claiming her space in the game. Now, her highly anticipated debut album ‘Why Not More’ is set to drop on April 25, 2025.

Many first got to know Coco in 2012 when she starred in Disney Channel’s Let It Shine, a film that became a cultural staple for young Black kids who rarely saw themselves represented in mainstream teen musicals.

Unlike many Disney alums who easily transitioned into pop superstardom, Coco’s journey took a different route. She faced the harsh realities of an industry that often fails to support young Black women. After Let It Shine, Coco was positioned to be Disney’s next big crossover star, but that moment never fully materialized. Instead, she found herself sidelined with opportunities that led to dead ends and a slow realization that if she wanted longevity in the business, she would have to build it herself.

In a now viral interview, Coco openly spoke about struggling to gain traction, despite having the makings of a star. It’s an all too familiar story, but instead of allowing the industry’s rejection to define her, she doubled down. She took control of her own narrative, putting in the work, refining her sound, and reintroducing herself to the world on her own terms.

After years of grinding behind the scenes, Coco made her resurgence in 2022 with her breakout EP What I Didn’t Tell You, featuring the hit single ICU. The song was a stunning display of raw emotion and vocal excellence, and it catapulted her into mainstream recognition. It climbed the R&B charts, earning her a Grammy for Best R&B Performance, and placed her in conversations alongside the genre’s leading voices.

Simultaneously, she secured a starring role as Hilary Banks in Bel-Air, the critically acclaimed reimagining of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. It was a power move for her career that showcased her versatility, increased her visibility, and positioned her as a true multi-hyphenate in entertainment.

Leading up to her album, Coco recently gifted fans with an intimate virtual concert in collaboration with The Terrell Show, a platform that has become a haven for vocalists like Coco in an era of heavily processed music, and one Coco frequents as a guest.

The performance was magical. It wasn’t just a showcase of her vocal range, it was a moment of reflection and celebration. She performed a mix of old and new music, weaving through her discography, as if to remind both herself and her fans just how far she’s come.

She performed Worth It for the first time ever, a song she wrote at 18 fresh off of a heartbreak when she was still an independent artist, at a time when she says “I was really just figuring out my sound, what I wanted to say, and how I wanted people to know me.”

She also performed her latest single Taste from the new album. Terrell, a long-time supporter of and friend to Coco, created the perfect space for her to be celebrated.

Coco Jones is no longer waiting for the industry to acknowledge her. She has arrived. And with her debut album dropping later this month, she’s making it clear that she’s here to stay.