Joanna Noëlle Levesque, known to the world as JoJo, burst onto the music scene at an astonishingly young age, only to face a prolonged battle with her record label that significantly impacted her career. Despite the setbacks, she has shown remarkable resilience, continuing to create music and expand her artistic ventures.
Early Career and Meteoric Rise
Born on December 20, 1990, JoJo was a prodigious talent, performing in singing competitions and local talent shows from a very young age. Her big break came when she signed with Blackground Records in 2003. In June 2004, at just 13 years old, she released her self-titled debut album, JoJo. The album’s lead single, “Leave (Get Out),” became an instant smash hit, making her the youngest solo artist in U.S. history to have a debut single reach number one on the Billboard Pop Chart. The album went on to sell over four million copies worldwide, earning platinum certification.
She followed up this success with her second album, The High Road, in 2006, which featured another major hit, “Too Little, Too Late.” This song further solidified her position as a rising star with a powerful voice mature beyond her years. During this period, JoJo also ventured into acting, appearing in films like Aquamarine and RV.
The Battle with Blackground Records: A Decade in Limbo
After the success of “Too Little, Too Late,” JoJo’s commercial music releases came to a near halt. What many fans didn’t know was that she was entangled in a prolonged and debilitating legal battle with her record label, Blackground Records. The label reportedly faced internal issues and was unable to secure distribution deals, effectively preventing JoJo from releasing new music or even taking on new projects without their approval, despite their inactivity.
This contractual dispute trapped JoJo in a state of “artistic purgatory” for nearly a decade. She has spoken openly about the emotional and personal toll this period took on her, including struggles with her mental health, body image (reportedly being told to lose weight and put on extreme diets by her label), and substance use as a coping mechanism. She was unable to release official new material, losing crucial momentum in her career.
During this time, JoJo independently released mixtapes and EPs like Can’t Take That Away from Me (2010) and Agápē (2012) to stay connected with her fanbase, but these didn’t receive the widespread promotion and distribution of her earlier work.
The Comeback and Reclamation of Her Voice
In 2013, after a protracted legal battle, JoJo successfully sued Blackground Records, finally securing her release from the contract. She then signed with Atlantic Records, marking a significant turning point in her career. In 2016, she released her third studio album, Mad Love, which was her first official album in ten years.
A pivotal moment in her comeback was in 2018 when she re-recorded and re-released her first two albums (JoJo and The High Road) under her own label, Clover Music. This bold move was a way for her to regain ownership of her masters and allow her music to be available on streaming platforms, which had previously been unavailable due to the Blackground issues.
Since then, JoJo has continued to release critically acclaimed music, including her fourth studio album good to know in 2020, which debuted at number one on the Billboard R&B Albums Chart. In 2020, she also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for “Say So” with PJ Morton, a testament to her enduring talent and artistry.
Beyond music, JoJo has expanded her acting career, most notably starring as Satine in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning Moulin Rouge! The Musical in 2023. She also recently released her memoir, Over the Influence, in which she candidly details her experiences as a child star and the challenges she faced in the music industry.
JoJo’s Net Worth
Estimates for JoJo’s net worth vary, but as of 2024, she is widely reported to have a net worth of approximately $7 million. It’s important to note that some sources mistakenly attribute the higher net worth of internet personality JoJo Siwa to JoJo Levesque. JoJo Levesque’s net worth reflects her long career in music, acting, and her recent endeavors as an author and Broadway performer.
JoJo’s journey is a powerful story of talent, resilience, and the fight for artistic freedom in a challenging industry. After years of being held back, she has successfully reclaimed her narrative and continues to thrive as an artist on her own terms.