Coco Jones is checking New York’s largest vacation traditions off her checklist this 12 months.
First, the R&B singer carried out her Grammy-nominated single “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” throughout the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade final week — within the pouring rain. “My toes are frozen, but I was thankful to perform,” she advised The Put up.
And now, she’ll be singing tunes from her new Christmas EP “Coco by the Fireplace” on the Rockefeller Heart tree lighting ceremony Wednesday alongside host Kelly Clarkson and a star-studded lineup, together with Jennifer Hudson, the Backstreet Boys, Little Massive City, Dan + Shay, British breakout Raye and extra.
Little doubt, she’s residing out the desires of a bit lady who wore out one very particular Christmas reward.
“One of my younger Christmas gifts was a Barbie karaoke machine,” recalled Jones. “I literally broke it from overuse. It literally got played out.”
It was a prophetic current for Jones, who has gone from Disney Channel darling to Grammy-winning diva this 12 months. And, earlier than she releases her long-awaited debut album in 2025, she received into the vacation spirit along with her new EP.
“I was still working on my debut album, but the songs kind of just found their way to me,” mentioned Jones. “It kind of just all aligned over the last month. When things like that happen, you just go with it.”
“Coco by the Fireplace” options 4 authentic vacation tunes, together with “Call on Christmas” and “String of Lights,” which Jones will carry out Wednesday night time.
Passing over the requirements, the Tennessee native wished to place her personal “modern R&B” spin on the season. “I feel like it’s hard for me personally to find Christmas songs that are a little bit more like my style,” she mentioned. “So for me, it kind of was just like, ‘This is what I would want to listen to during my Christmas.’ ”
Nonetheless, Jones has a tender spot for one vacation basic: Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song.”
“Whenever I hear that, I literally feel like I’m by a fireplace and chestnuts are roasting,” she mentioned. “I’ve never even roasted chestnuts. I don’t even know where you even purchase chestnuts.”
Jones is trying ahead to celebrating Christmas along with her household in Nashville.
“Good food is always a crucial element of our Christmas,” she mentioned. “We also do the matching pajamas, which can be so cheesy, but I just feel like it’s a vibe.”
Jones needs to additionally “take things a little slower” after a busy 12 months that began along with her successful a Grammy for Greatest R&B Efficiency for “ICU” in February. It was considered one of 5 nominations for Jones, together with a nod for Greatest New Artist.
“It’s amazing. I am so grateful,” she mentioned. “I mean, you just put out the music, and you don’t expect all of these accolades. I haven’t even put out an album yet. So it’s kind of surreal.”
Jones’ mom is the keeper or her gramophone. “I put all my awards at my mom’s house,” she mentioned. “My whole family put a lot of effort and blood, sweat and tears into me being Coco, specifically my mom. When I was under 18, she was there with me for everything. And so a win for me is really a win for, like, my whole family.”
As a baby, Jones appeared on “Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing” competitors in 2010 earlier than happening to the Disney Channel movie “Let It Shine” and sitcom “Good Luck Charlie.”
“I loved everything that I got to do with the Disney Channel,” she mentioned. “I feel like it’s such a powerful machine, and it taught me a lot about balance. I was doing school, I was learning scripts, I was learning choreography and music. And all of that really is a skill that I use now, the compartmentalizing in every different world and learning how to give all of yourself to these completely different skill sets.”
Certainly, Jones is now balancing singing and performing, additionally starring as Hilary Banks in “Bel-Air,” Peacock’s reboot of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
“ ‘Bel-Air’ just got picked up for its fourth and final season, which is amazing,” she mentioned. “It’s such a blessing, honestly, to be able to bring new life into such a classic show, and to be able to portray black excellence in this way, and to give people a refreshing perspective on all the different types of black people that there are.”
Whereas Jones is up for 2 Grammys on Feb. 2 for “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” she’ll be rooting for Beyoncé — her dream collaborator — to lastly win Album of the Yr for “Cowboy Carter.”
“Beyoncé is amazing. She deserves everything,” she mentioned. “She works so hard. She’s literally the blueprint.”
She’ll even be pulling for one more Disney Channel alum: Sabrina Carpenter. “Her journey is very inspiring,” mentioned Jones. “I’m a fan of her work ethic.”
After releasing a collection of EPs, Jones is prepared for her debut album — together with new single “Most Beautiful Design” — to lastly drop in 2025.
“I actually had plans of putting it out this year and so many things changed,” she mentioned. “So once I put the album out at the top of next year, I feel like it’ll be this feeling of relief.”
