Joanna Noëlle Levesque, professionally known as JoJo, was born on December 20, 1990, in Brattleboro, Vermont, and later raised in Foxborough, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of Diana Lynn Levesque (née Blagden) and Joel Maurice Levesque, who have a rich ancestry, with Diana being of Polish, English, Irish, and Scottish descent, and Joel being of French-Canadian descent.
JoJo's mother, a talented church soloist and theatre performer, would often sing hymns to her as a baby, nurturing her love for music. Growing up, JoJo was heavily influenced by legendary vocalists such as Whitney Houston, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
At a young age, JoJo discovered her passion for performing and began to showcase her talent. She landed an audition for the popular TV show "Kids Say the Darndest Things" in 1998 and impressed the judges, securing a spot on the show. Her outstanding performance of "Respect" at the request of Bill Cosby received an overwhelming response, which sparked a chain of events.
Soon, JoJo received calls from prominent figures, including Oprah Winfrey, who invited her to appear on her talk show. She also performed at the Republican National Convention, the Boston Celtics, and Rosie O'Donnell's show. However, it was her electrifying performance at the 2001 Gospelfest that brought the entire crowd to its feet.
JoJo continued to pursue her passion for music, auditioning for the "America's Most Talented Kids" competition in 2003. Although she didn't win, she met James Womack, who introduced her to an executive at Da Family Entertainment. She eventually signed with Blackground Records and released her debut single, "Leave (Get Out)," which topped the American charts.
Before the release of her single, JoJo toured with the renowned R&B artist, Usher. Her debut single's massive success marked the beginning of her illustrious music career.
