2023 is most definitely Coco Jones’ year! Since the release of her 2022 platinum single “ICU,” Jones has been taking over the R&B music charts and is now many people’s fave new artist.
Thanks to “ICU” — which is her biggest hit to date — and her EP What I Didn’t Tell You, Jones has skyrocketed to superstardom and recently secured five 2024 Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. With Jones taking the music industry by storm, it’s expected that fans are interested in learning everything they can about her — including her real name.
Now before you start assuming the singer’s real name is completely different from her stage name, allow me to set the record straight. “Coco” is just a shortened version of the singer’s first name, which is Courtney. In a 2022 interview with Edition by Modern Luxury, Jones revealed there’s a difference between Courtney and Coco, which she considers her alter-ego.
“Coco is business! That’s work, goals, and tapping into my creative emotions but leaving them somewhere else when it comes to the music business,” she said. “Courtney is very normal, doesn’t like being in the mix, loves watching The Office and eats ramen. Courtney is very vulnerable and wants to say no to things sometimes, but that’s when Coco steps in!”
Although the world sees more of Coco, the singer still embraces Courtney as a way to balance her professional and personal lives.
“The line is a bit blurry at times because I need both,” she explained. “Coco can be a workaholic, but that’s when I have to be Courtney and rest because I’ve given the max I can give, and anything more than that will have to wait until tomorrow.”
The “Double Back” singer added, “Courtney is definitely more there because Coco is a performer! Courtney is chill, but I have to be both to accomplish my goals because the industry doesn’t cater to any one person, so an alter-ego is necessary.”
I can attest to the fact that Coco is a performer as she’s proven time and time again that she’s a star. And, after putting in years of hard work, Jones is finally in her winning season. Not only has she gotten the chance to collaborate with artists such as Reneé Rapp, Justin Timberlake, and Brent Faiyaz, she recently won the award for Best New Artist during the 2023 Soul Train Awards on Nov. 26.
Let’s be honest, Jones is taking the R&B music industry by storm and as a longtime fan of hers, I feel so lucky to witness her incredible talent continue reaching new heights.