Nick Cannon

Early Life and Background

Nicholas Scott Cannon was born on October 8, 1980, in San Diego, California. Raised primarily by his paternal grandparents in the Lincoln Park's Bay Vista Housing Projects, Cannon experienced a challenging upbringing. Despite early affiliations with the Lincoln Park Bloods street gang, he redirected his path after the loss of a close friend. Cannon graduated from Monte Vista High School in Spring Valley in 1998, where he was president of the African Student Coalition and participated in track and field .

Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame

Cannon's entertainment career began with stand-up comedy on his father's local cable access program. He gained national attention as a teenager on Nickelodeon's "All That," eventually becoming the youngest staff writer in television history at age 17 . He went on to create and star in "The Nick Cannon Show" and later hosted MTV's "Wild 'N Out," a sketch comedy and improv series that debuted in 2005 and has enjoyed multiple successful seasons .

Diversified Entertainment Ventures

Beyond television, Cannon has showcased his versatility across various entertainment platforms:

• Film: He starred in movies such as "Drumline" (2002), "Love Don't Cost a Thing" (2003), and "Roll Bounce" (2005) .

• Music: As a rapper, he released his self-titled debut album in 2003, featuring the hit single "Gigolo" with R. Kelly. He later founded his own label, N'Credible Entertainment .

• Hosting: Cannon hosted "America's Got Talent" from 2009 to 2016 and has been the host of "The Masked Singer" since 2019 .

• Production: He served as executive producer for the live-action sketch comedy series "Incredible Crew" on Cartoon Network .

Personal Life and Philanthropy

Cannon married singer Mariah Carey in 2008, and the couple had twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011. They divorced in 2016 but continue to co-parent effectively . Cannon has fathered 12 children with multiple partners, often expressing his commitment to being an involved and supportive parent.

Diagnosed with lupus nephritis in 2012, Cannon has become an advocate for lupus awareness. He also founded the Nick Cannon Foundation, aiming to support entrepreneurship among underprivileged youth .

Recent Endeavors and Business Ventures

In addition to his entertainment career, Cannon has made significant investments in real estate to provide for his large family. His portfolio includes properties in New Jersey, California, and Washington, D.C. .

In 2024, Cannon launched a new show, "Bad Vs. Wild," on the Zeus Network. However, the show faced legal challenges from Viacom, which alleged it was a copy of "Wild 'N Out" .