Meet Coco Jones, the R&B singer who performed at the Super Bowl pregame show

During the pregame show, Charlie Puth sang the National Anthem alongside deaf artist Fred Beam, who performed “Lift Every Voice and Sing” with Coco Jones. Brandi Carlile and deaf performer Julian Ortiz were tapped for “America the Beautiful”. Bad Bunny’s set will be interpreted in American and Puerto Rican sign language by deaf performer Celimar Rivera Cosme.

Notably, both Jones and Carlile were nominees at the 68th Grammys. Though they did not win, the “Stay Gentle” singer has 11 Grammys already, while Jones has one.

Here’s everything you need to know about Coco Jones.

What’s her background?

Coco Jones attends Universal Music Group’s Grammys after-party at Nya Studios West in Los Angeles, on February 1. Photo: AFP

Coco Jones was born Courtney Michaela Ann Jones to parents Mike and Javonda Jones on January 4, 1998. Her mother is a session singer and her father played in the NFL. She hails from Columbia, South Carolina, but grew up in Lebanon, Tennessee, with three siblings: Steven, Aja and Mikey Jr.

She’s a former Disney star

Jones found her knack for entertainment at a young age. At eight years old, she was singing at school shows, per the Grammy website, and by 10, she had “turned [her] hobby into a career”, she told the LA Times. In 2011, she was a runner-up on Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing, after which she landed roles in Disney titles like So Random!, Let It Shine and Good Luck Charlie.