JoJo found success in the music industry at a very young age, but what was her first song?
JoJo’s first song was Leave (Get Out), released as her debut solo single in 2004. She was only thirteen years old when this song was released, having been singing since the age of just six.
Read on further to learn more about JoJo’s musical success.
Born Into Talent
JoJo – born Joanna Noelle Levesque – seemed to have been destined for stardom since birth. As a child, her family didn’t have much money and lived in a small apartment in Massachusetts. However, both JoJo’s mother and father had musical roots and encouraged their daughter to sing from the age of two.
When she was six years old, JoJo was approached by a record label and offered a deal. Diana, her mother, felt she was far too young for a musical career, and declined to let her daughter perform.
This was just the start of her discovery, as JoJo would go on to appear on television reality and talent shows, singing popular songs.
From there, things just got bigger. JoJo appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Maury, and wowed audiences with her singing ability. When she was 12 years old, she signed a record deal with Blackground Records and subsequently released her first single, Leave, in 2004.
JoJo’s success only skyrocketed at this point. She became the youngest artist ever to be nominated for an MTV Music Video Award. In 2004, Leave hit number one in the charts, making her the youngest solo artist to ever have a number-one track in the United States.
She capitalized on the triumph of her debut single, Leave, and released four albums between 2004 and 2020. While she never had a more successful release than her first song, she still enjoyed a considerably impressive solo career.
Life After Leave
There have been many instances wherein young stars are tainted by their respective industries. Many young actors or artists have gone ‘off the rails’ over the years, as the sudden wealth and success spoils them.
This wasn’t the case with JoJo, who remained considerably grounded after the massive success of Leave. She remained in school until graduation and continued to live with her mother until the age of eighteen.
As time went on, the musical endeavours would continue with great vigor. JoJo hosted regional and global tours, released more music and explored acting. In addition, she also decided to take an interest in anthropology, and philanthropy.
JoJo would go on to support charitable causes and organizations such as the Make A Wish Foundation and Love Our Children. In an interview in 2020, JoJo announced that she was ‘spiritual’ and that she didn’t have as much money as she thought she would have when she was younger.
She further explained that this wasn’t meant in a selfish manner, but her younger self simply measured success in a materialistic fashion.
However, another 2020 interview did reveal that she experienced some struggles when she was older. Over fifteen years after her debut success, JoJo found herself turning to ‘sex and substances’ to ‘self-soothe’.
This was allegedly a short-lived lifestyle, and JoJo explained that she turned her life around on a dime and even started to abstain from sex.
A Long Way From The Start
With an approximated net worth in 2020 of $7 million and four albums under her belt, JoJo has had great success. Another trend that often follows child performers is that they burn out before too long.
This doesn’t seem to be the case with JoJo however, as her life seemed to just improve over time, both personally and professionally. As she continues her unique path, only time can tell what comes next.
In the meantime, you can hear an example of JoJo’s matured vocals on Instagram, here.