Nick Cannon

Cannon was married to singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from April 30, 2008, until their divorce was finalized in 2016. They have fraternal twins, Moroccan Scott Cannon and Monroe Cannon, born in 2011. Before his marriage to Carey, Cannon was engaged to model Selita Ebanks in 2007, but the engagement ended that year.

Cannon has children with Brittany Bell, Alyssa Scott, Abby De La Rosa, Bre Tiesi, and LaNisha Cole. His son Zen, born to Scott in June 2021, died of brain cancer at five months old. Cannon and Scott later welcomed a daughter in December 2022, while De La Rosa has twin sons and a daughter with him. Bell has three children with Cannon, and Tiesi and Cole each have one child with him.

Cannon was hospitalized in 2012 for kidney failure and a pulmonary embolism. He later identified lupus nephritis as the cause of his kidney problems. In 2024, he discussed being clinically diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder and seeking help.

Nicholas Scott Cannon was born in San Diego, California, and spent much of his childhood in the city's Bay Vista Housing Projects. His first break in comedy came through his father's local public-access television program, where he performed stand-up. He later worked in comedy clubs and became a warm-up performer for Nickelodeon's All That.

At 17, Cannon became a staff writer for All That, which Biography.com identified as making him the youngest staff writer in television history at the time. He went on to write, produce, and star in The Nick Cannon Show, which premiered on Nickelodeon in 2002. He graduated from Monte Vista High School in 1998 and earned a Bachelor of Science in criminology and administration of justice, with a minor in Africana studies, from Howard University in 2020.

Cannon made a small film appearance in Men in Black II in 2002 before landing his first leading role as Devon Miles in Drumline. The film follows a talented drummer who attends a historically Black university and clashes with the school's marching-band leadership. Cannon's performance helped establish him as a leading actor, and the film drew both Black and non-Black audiences.

He followed Drumline with roles including Alvin Johnson in Love Don't Cost a Thing, Scott in Shall We Dance?, Bernard in Roll Bounce, and Dwayne in Bobby. He later appeared in Chi-Raq, King of the Dancehall, She Ball, and The Misfits. Cannon also played Devon Miles again in the television film Drumline: A New Beat.

In 2005, Cannon created, produced, and hosted MTV's improv comedy series Wild 'n Out. The show became one of MTV's successful programs before returning in 2013 on MTV2 under his NCredible Entertainment production company. Its fifth season premiered to the highest ratings in MTV2 history, and the series resumed production with Cannon as host in 2021.

Cannon hosted America's Got Talent from 2009 until his departure ahead of the 2017 season. He cited creative differences with NBC executives, and Tyra Banks subsequently replaced him. He also hosted programs including TeenNick Top 10, Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon, and Lip Sync Battle Shorties.

Cannon began hosting The Masked Singer in 2019. In 2021, Niecy Nash temporarily filled in after Cannon tested positive for COVID-19. Cannon later appeared as the costumed contestant Bulldog during that season and was eliminated after Nash selected him.

Cannon was one-third of the teenage rap group Da G4 Dope Bomb Squad, which opened for performers including Will Smith, LFO, 98 Degrees, and Montell Jordan. After signing with Jive Records in 2001, he appeared with Romeo Miller and 3LW on the Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius soundtrack. His 2003 self-titled debut album included the single "Gigolo," a collaboration with R. Kelly that reached the top 30 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Cannon formed Can-I-Ball Records in 2005, but his planned album Stages was never released as his acting career expanded. He founded NCredible Entertainment in 2009 and released the mixtape Child of the Corn in 2011, followed by the studio album White People Party Music in 2014 and the mixtape The Gospel of Ike Turn Up: My Side of the Story in 2016.

His broader production work includes the television series Incredible Crew, the films School Dance and She Ball, and the television special Miracles Across 125th Street. He has also hosted radio programs, including the syndicated chart show Cannon's Countdown, and served as chairman and creative consultant for TeenNick.

In July 2020, ViacomCBS ended its relationship with Cannon after remarks he made during an episode of Cannon's Class were criticized as racist and antisemitic. Cannon apologized for his antisemitic remarks and began conversations with Jewish leaders, including representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. He donated his first paycheck from The Masked Singer to the center after the controversy.

Fox allowed Cannon to remain host of The Masked Singer after his apology. ViacomCBS announced in February 2021 that Wild 'n Out would resume production with Cannon as host. His syndicated daytime talk show, Nick Cannon, premiered in 2021 and was canceled after one season in 2022.