Award-winning recording artist and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee Deborah Cox is a trailblazing international icon with a career spanning nearly three decades. With six critically acclaimed studio albums — Deborah Cox (1995); One Wish (1998); The Morning After (2002); Remixed (2003); Destination Moon (2007); and The Promise (2008) — Deborah has carved out her place in music worldwide and several genres. An established songstress, Cox has scaled the R&B and Pop charts with six top 20 Billboard R&B singles and a stunning thirteen No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play Chart. With several impressive accolades, including 3 JUNO Awards, a Grammy Award nomination, a Billboard Music Award nomination, and a World Music Award nomination, Cox has made a name for herself as a multi-talented artist within the worlds of Broadway, television, film, and fashion.
Cox’s early career began with singing commercial jingles and in local bands. Cox toured with icon Celine Dion before being discovered by renowned music executive Clive Davis who instantly signed her to the illustrious Arista Records. Her sophomore album, One Wish, and its mega-hit single, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” shot her to stardom and held the record as the longest-running No.1 R&B single for 13 consecutive weeks, and earned her the Billboard Music Award nomination for R&B Single of the Year in 1998. Simultaneously, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” peaked at No. 2 for eight consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her second single from the album, “We Can’t Be Friends,” also shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s singles chart.
Among her famous collaborations, Deborah has performed with British recording artist Rod Stewart and opera star Andrea Bocelli, toured with mega-producer David Foster, Cyndi Lauper, and Sarah McLachlan, and performed for First Lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama. In 2000, Cox collaborated with her friend Whitney Houston to record the duet “Same Script, Different Cast” for Houston’s Greatest Hits project. Cox has also frequently worked behind the scenes recording music for film scores and soundtracks, including Akeelah and the Bee, Hotel Rwanda, Kingdom Come, Money Talks, A Good Man is Hard to Find, Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns, and Disney’s 2019 holiday movie, Noelle.
As an actress, Cox has lit up screens and stages in many critically acclaimed roles, including as fan-favourite characters Wendy—in HBO MAX’s hit series, Station Eleven—and Regina, in particular BET’s First Wives Club. She also served as the voice of Whitney Houston in Lifetime’s biopic, Whitney, directed by Angela Bassett, for which she received rave reviews from top media outlets, including the New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Newsday, The Boston Globe, and ESSENCE.
On stage, Cox made her Broadway debut in 2004 in the lead role in Elton John and Tim Rice’s Broadway musical, AIDA. Cox’s other stage works include leading roles in the 2016 Asolo Repertory Theatre musical production, JOSEPHINE, and Lucy in Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden’s Broadway musical, JEKYLL & HYDE. In 2016, Deborah received the “role of a lifetime” when she dazzled as Rachel Marron in the stage musical version of The Bodyguard and was praised for her stunning tribute to the late Whitney Houston.
In September 2020, Deborah found herself honoured with the creation of the “Deborah Cox Challenge,” which saw some of music’s biggest names covering her smash hit, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here.” As a track that famously features much vocal precision and complexity, singers around the globe took their shot at emulating the classic tune that spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard R&B chart in 1998. Alongside fans and vocalists worldwide, stars like Lizzo, Keke Palmer, Melanie Fiona, Queen Naija, Tiffany Evans, Avery Wilson, and more took to their social media accounts to share their performances of the unforgettable ballad. Covered by outlets like TMZ, ET Canada, and BET, the challenge brought love and positivity in a time of trouble and spoke volumes about Deborah’s influence and impact on the growth of the music scene today.
Alongside her illustrious career in music and acting, the Canadian-born star has been recognized for her longstanding commitment to fighting back against marginalization and inequity. During June 2019, Pride Month, Cox was presented with a Proclamation by the Bronx Borough President for her recognition of and dedication to the LGBTQ community. That same month, she received the Liberty Bell and Proclamation from Philadelphia Mayor James Kenney when he proclaimed June 12, 2019, as LGBTQ Philadelphia Pride Parade and Festival Day. In April 2019, Cox also received the NGLCC-NBIC Icon Award and the Luminary Award from the University of The West Indies. Her philanthropic efforts span decades, earning her the Civil Rights Award from the New York Senate for her efforts in the fight for Human Rights and Equality in 2007 and the California State Senate Award in 2014. In January 2015, she also received the OUTmusic Pillar Award. That same year, The Harvey Milk Foundation recognized her at the Diversity Honors ceremony for her efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the LGBTQ community. Most recently, Deborah was honoured with the Black Music Honors’ Entertainer Icon Award in recognition of 25 passionate, inspirational, and ground-breaking years in the music industry. Her iconic musical and philanthropic work continues to reach audiences far and wide, providing hope in the toughest of times.
In May 2022, Deborah reached a pinnacle career milestone when she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame during the 2022 JUNO Awards in her hometown of Toronto, Canada. As the first Black female inductee, Deborah’s example continues to pave the way for future generations of BIPOC creators. It cements her identity as an inimitable force in the entertainment industry. Her connection with music lovers remains as strong and loyal as ever, as she continues to perform internationally and bond with fans through sold-out shows around the globe. Deborah is currently creating new music and working toward releasing her seventh career studio album.
