JoJo

Early Years

Joanna Noelle Blagden was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, to Diana Blagden, a house cleaner, and Joel Levesque, a blues singer. JoJo's parents had a turbulent relationship and finally split when she was three. Despite her poverty-stricken, abusive upbringing, Joanna was surrounded by music. Her mother sang in the church choir, and the young girl started singing along at a very young age.

Joanna first appeared on television at the tender age of six, when she wowed Bill Cosby and his audience on Kids Say the Darndest Things. Her mature rendition of Respect caught Oprah Winfrey's eye too, and Joanna was invited to sing on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Music Career

Arriving at the 2005 Angel Ball in New York City.

JoJo was offered a record deal at the amazing age of six, but her mother declined, feeling the girl was simply too young. Joanna held off a few years and finally signed with Blackground Records when she was 12. Within a year, she released her first record, a self-titled effort that was eventually certified multi-platinum. With her pop single Leave (Get Out), JoJo became the youngest singer in history with a number one single on the American Billboard charts. Other singles include:

• Too Little Too Late
• Baby It's You
• Not That Kinda Girl
• How to Touch a Girl
• Anything
• Coming for You

Early in her career, JoJo toured with R & B star Usher. She has also performed for a host of prestigious events, including the 2004 Christmas in Washington, multiple events for the Republican Party and a single to benefit victims of the Asian tsunami.

Her Musical Sound

JoJo bills herself as a pop R & B artist. She names Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald as her musical idols, and these women's influences can be heard in her soulful tunes. Although her music isn't 100 percent "squeaky clean," her songs do maintain an innocence fitting her age. For example, How to Touch a Girl, which JoJo wrote, tells of her desire to meet a boy who can touch her heart, one who cares about her thoughts instead of her body.

Acting

At Olympus Fashion Week Spring 2007.

With her throaty, bluesy sound, JoJo was a natural to play a young Linda Ronstadt in American Dreams. She has performed in several other television shows, as well, including The Bernie Mac Show, America's Most Talented Kid, and Romeo! She was offered the starring, high-profile role in the Disney Channel's hit show Hannah Montana, but turned it down to focus on her music. The star-making role ultimately went to Miley Cyrus, the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

In addition, she has appeared in two full-length movies: Aquamarine, a tween and family movie about friendship and mermaids, and RV, a Robin Williams family comedy.

JoJo Trivia

• According to her mother, JoJo is a "borderline genius."
• Although she was given her mother's surname at birth, she took her father's last name later in life.
• She dated Freddy Adu, a famous soccer player, for more than a year.
• She is friends with fellow actresses Emma Roberts, Sarah Paxton and Alexa Vega.
• When she appeared on America's Most Talented Kids, she lost out to future American Idol runner up, Diana DeGarmo.
• She is of mixed heritage, with Irish, French, Polish and Native American blood.