Club Shay Shay - Club Shay Shay - Coco Jones Part 2

Episode Date: February 26, 2025

Coco Jones Dating Donovan Mitchell, SZA's BBL, Disney, Lil Wayne, & Special Performance By Teddy SwimsIn part 2, Coco Jones dives into Hollywood beauty standards, thoughts on plastic surgery, and reacts to SZA’s comments about regretting her BBL.She candidly discusses her eight-year career drought, the harsh reality of being labeled a “has-been,” and how therapy helped her heal from a toxic relationship. She also discusses her experiences with auditions, handling rejection, and why telling her truth was the key to her success. Coco reflects on working with industry titans like Tabitha Brown, Kountry Wayne, and Ms. Pat, and how their wisdom and resilience influenced her approach to fame and longevity. When it comes to relationships, Coco shares her views on 50/50 partnerships, dating Donovan Mitchell, and what an ideal first date looks like. She also clears up common celebrity mix-ups—being mistaken for Jennifer Hudson and Gabrielle Union—and weighs in on whether she will play Princess Tiana. Coco treats the audience to an a cappella snippet of her upcoming single “Taste” from Why Not More, her newest album. This conversation is filled with insight, vulnerability, and powerhouse performances—don’t miss it!#volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Part two is underway. How hard is it to, like if you're a kid star, obviously a lot of kids stars, you want to transition, but sometimes people only see you as that, and it's so hard to get out of that role, and people only see you as that. Right, right, right. Yeah, it's no joke.

For me, I always felt a little scared that people wouldn't feel like I've been through anything, you know? Because I do, even sometimes in my own extended family, there's this like, man, your family was da-da-da, and you lived here, and you did the Disney thing. You ain't ever been through anything. So I would feel nervous that people wouldn't believe me when I told my stories, you know? Or that I wasn't cool enough or been through enough to be able to say anything at all.

But luckily, my life did get real as I was making that transition. And I think I dealt a lot with real life things, colorism and rejection and losing money and being on your own and all of those things are real. Wherever you from, it don't matter. Going through that is real, and so I did feel more validation in being able to say anything because I had been through it.

I had, and it was tough and scary, and I didn't know when it was going to end. I don't know if you've heard this, but the Bernie Mac Show star, Camille Wimbush, she had to get on OnlyFans because she said the residuals from the show, it just wasn't enough to sustain moving forward. As a kid, as a former kid actor, I mean, is that something that you, I mean, obviously you have, you were able to transition and do other things. You can sing your full-fledged, a full-fledged star now. But how difficult is it for a kid to transition when they don't have, all of a sudden, now

they don't have that steady stream of income coming in as they transition into an adulthood? Yeah, the transition is no joke. I think because things slow down and you're trying to figure out where you fit in, especially in a world where most of the opportunities are written for people who do not look like you, then things are significantly slower. I think for me, I was always gonna just start a new career, you know? And if I had to do that, and it would still be in the music category, but I don't know, like maybe more on the label side,

maybe more on the artist development side, maybe on the vocal teaching side. Like, to me, I still wanted to be in that world if I had to transition, and I wasn't gonna be in front anymore. Maybe I wasn't gonna be singing the songs, maybe I'd be writing them. But I would have to figure out how to live with that because I still get one life,

so I can't live in despair the rest of my life. Yeah, that is crazy, and I do get that part about, you know, running out of money and not having residuals. You don't have any ownership when you're doing these roles and sometimes singing these songs. But I think for me, I was going to figure out another way and you would just have to start from ground zero. But people start from ground zero all the time.

It doesn't matter if you're 16, it doesn't matter if you're 36, you know, people pivot and you just got to live your life and keep going. And a part of this, what I'm about to ask is you kind of touched on is like kind of the advice that you would give someone as a child that's trying to pivot and go to that next that next phase of their life. I would say, depending on how much you you popped off, you might be, you know, might be straight on, you might be. So figure out how to manage your money so that it can grow for itself. But I think what I wish I would have done was to go to college and go that route, you know, do it on your computer and balance and then get a job and still do what you like.

And so you're funding your dream. And also, if you want wanna be in this field, create your own opportunity. Like I think of Issa Rae and Insecure. I actually filmed that in an office, on a camcorder, or making my own songs and putting them on the internet, writing songs on live, and there's so many different ways

to get yourself out there that just don't run out of money while you're doing it. Work a job while you're doing it. You know what I'm saying? Do your nine to five. What are the things they say on TikTok and stuff? Like my five to nine before my nine to five for the girl who's gonna be on fitness and working out and shit.

Is it hard though? Like you're like, I should be a star and then not, man, I don't be wanting to work because if I work that means I'm not a star, but I think I'm a star so therefore I shouldn't have to work. And then you get it twisted. Yes, that is the most humbling part but I think I'm a star, so therefore I shouldn't have to work. And then you get it twisted. Yes, that is the most humbling part of that journey.

When you get to that point where you're like, okay, I might have to, well, at least for me, because I had felt like, dang, I had done so much, and I climbed so high and I was almost there. And now what? Now they're gonna be like, aren't you that girl from Disney, reading my table?

What you doing in here? You know? So I was thinking, I was like, maybe I'll put a wig on and just have a mask because I'll be like, I'm just a germaphobe. I was really thinking that because I didn't want my pride to be messed up. If somebody saw me, like, what would I say?

I would lie. I would say, I don't know what you're talking about. Really? Yes. You would say that's not you? Sometimes I do that now. They'd be like, Kee Koko Jones. I'd be like, say, I don't know what you're talking about. Really? Yes. You would say that's not you? Sometimes I do that now. They'd be like, he Coco Jones. I'd be like, no, I'm Kiki Palmer, sorry.

I'd be tired sometimes. I'd be tired. But yeah, that pride really would have had to be humbled. But the other choice is to go home, and I wasn't doing that. How tough is it to handle rejection? You don't get a part, or things don't go your way. To stay positive because this is, we can all pivot,

but when you've invested so much time, so much energy, so much of your life has been invested in this, and then all of a sudden you're like, damn, I might just have to do that. Yeah. The rejection is, I mean, you have to grieve for what you thought was gonna happen, and when dreams die, you must mourn for them.

But I felt like at least I could live with knowing that I tried it and I went till the wheels fell off. I would have to just chalk it up to that. I would have given it everything I had. And then, you know, I want to be happy, so I would figure out something else to do that would make me happy. When you call your mom? I talk to my mom every day. When I was unemployed, she was in the bomb there.

You went up your mom's phone bill. Girl, she was taking all of this sadness, but one thing I love about my mom is that she never ever made me feel like, yeah, girl, you can't do this anymore. Never was that said. It was always, you can pivot and be in this world. You can teach. You can go back to school for music, learn an instrument.

You can compose. It was never, no, I don't think you can do this anymore. With all of my family, every one of them, when somebody wouldn't pick up, I got to call somebody else, my mom, dad, my siblings, everybody saw that tunnel of uncertainty that was gears of my life, you know? And funding my own music videos, and like now you're running out of more money,

but I wanted to make this song, cause I believe in this song. It's just really, really scary, really, really scary. But I'm grateful for them, because if not for them, I feel like I wouldn't have had enough strength to keep going. Your mom has always been your biggest supporter, hasn't she?

Absolutely, yeah. That's your rock. That's your foundational piece. Yeah, I mean. No matter what, no matter what, the good, the first person you call no matter what, I won $30 million in the lottery. Mom, guess what?

No, for real. My mom's gonna show me how to flip that. Hold on, you tried to flip 30, you got... My mama's smart as hell. I'm like, girl, we all up. But yeah, no, my mom is definitely such a crucial piece that makes me who I am. And I think just like I had said about the singing

and that part, she wanted that so bad when she was raised, you know, to just feel like encouraged, seen, and supported in whatever she wanted to be. And so I think that is where she had to teach herself how to do that for us, you know? Because like I said about my dad, we don't know how to do these things if they weren't taught to us.

Right. Yeah, my mom has done a great job of working on herself and trying to be more open and more less judgmental, you know, because I love my mama, but she's very religious, very Christian, very... You know what I'm saying? So sometimes I'm like, girl, don't watch that video. Don't even listen to that song. Don't even listen to it.

But yeah, she is definitely my safe place to land, for sure. How much are you like your mom? I mean, do people say, girl, you definitely your mama child? Yes, I definitely get that. I'd be getting that I sound like my mom. Of course, I look like my mom. My siblings say I'm just like my mom. But I don't know.

I feel like me and my mom are very similar when it comes to work ethic and how we treat people and what we want for ourselves, great things and goals and whatnot like that. But yeah, me and my mom have different things. Like I said, my mom is very religiously rigid. So there's certain things, I know she's not even gonna wanna hear that in the car.

One curse word, I gotta turn it off. she's not trying to hear that like certain things I like shows or whatever things like that. She's like, what is that? Right? No, she's not into that You took an eight-year hiatus the hiatus took me. Oh that wasn't by choice. Hell no would never ever do that Okay, I'm literally deciding to like be pregnant or something. Okay, we talked about that a little later But let me ask you this, so eight years, that's a long time. Yeah. Okay, one year go by, oh this thing about to jump off.

That was me partying, I was like, we in the club? We checking shots? What's a shot? Another one. Two years. Three years. Two years, I'm like, we still cute, and I'm sneaking into the club, I'm only 18, I'm in there.

Now I'm like with the artists and celebrities, I'm like, whoa, I'm at They Out period. But I'm also like, I deserve to be. But I'm also with the like artists and celebrities, I'm like, whoa, I'm at they out period. But I'm also like, I deserve to be. But I'm also like, okay, cool, cool, cool. Three years, it starts to get a little less funny. Okay. A little chuckle.

Year four, I'm concerned. I'm concerned. And I'm doing things that nobody's watching. Nobody cares. Oh. It's so embarrassing. Like, ew, I'm singing these covers on social media and my engagement is so low

and I remembered when it was so high and I'm doing movies where the budget was like 40 cents. And hopefully nobody watches. I mean, it's okay. It's part of my story. So if you watch it, you watch it, that's great. But yeah, I'm doing these things that just weren't. Wasn't catching. They weren't catching and they weren't what I wanted. They weren't what I thought I could have.

And so I'm just like confused, very confused. And then I'm like also learning about love and learning about relationships and nobody taught me these things. honestly. I really was in this bubble of music, this is what I want, this is all I focus on. I didn't even date until literally I was 18. That's what I was about to ask you. So you come out to LA and you move out to LA in 17. That's gonna be very interesting, you move to LA on your own.

I wonder what your parents were thinking like, oh no, what, LA? Why you gotta move so far away? Nah, that wasn't what they thought at all because I had been coming back and forth from LA since I was nine. So we all knew and associated LA with where you go to work in that field.

So it was kind of just like, that's what we know. We know you're gonna do that. But of course it's very, very hard. And I think my mom and dad were kind of in this, I don't know, maybe they was a little naive to think what was gonna happen. I think my mom and dad were kind of in this, I don't know, maybe they was a little naive to think what was gonna happen. But we all needed to be a little bit naive. I didn't wanna live in any possible negative reality.

To me, I was like, once I go there, it's up. That's what I thought, and I think that's what I had to think. That delusion kinda helped me to keep going. So, you're five, six, seven, and eight. Why didn't you give up? Why didn't I? Because I still had a little money in that. Ah!

Because that rent check was still clearing. And because I wanted it so bad, man. I wanted it so bad. And until I had to leave, I wasn't going to leave. Until I had to. I mean, I literally downgraded where I lived. I had roommates again. Uh oh.

I like didn't have them and then I had them and then I didn't and then I got them again. And then you know how y'all women are. Y'all live. Well actually it's very very interesting story. You had guy roommates? Did your mom know this? No. Oh boy. It wasn't all guys first of all it was two girls and two guys. I'm one of the girls. Yeah so we had this big place and everybody had like a room. And you know how I said I didn't want people to know like what I did? They were all white, respectful. They didn't know me. They didn't know me at all.

But then I started to pop off again, like during the pandemic and like my clips would go viral. So they'd be like, is that you? And I'd be like, mm, yeah. Yeah, yeah. But I left shortly after that. But yeah, so I just kept prolonging it, yeah, mm, yeah, yeah. But I left shortly after that. But yeah, so I just kept prolonging it,

you know what I'm saying? I was doing whatever I needed to do to stay. I was in a, I also was just in a cloud of what's going on, I'm confused, I'm trying to numb this, but I'm not leaving. It was really crazy times. I was in a crazy relationship and I was just like prolonging the inevitable is what I was thinking in my mind

They say when we're at our lowest is when we find out the most about ourselves What did Coco find out about herself during this period? that Money doesn't equal happiness. Oh Yeah, so I was in this relationship that basically it was kind of like a manipulation situation. Like, oh, you want your music video to do this? Oh, okay, well, da-da-da-da. Oh, okay, so what are we?

Like, what are we? You know? Okay, yeah, I'll pay for that if you, you know, da-da-da-da-da. It was kind of like me on a string. Mm-hmm. Because I wanted to do things. It was a quid pro quo. You do things for me, I do things for you.

Something very similar to that. And I was like, you know what? Maybe this is life. Maybe this is the type of relationship that, you know, whatever, you have money and you don't have happiness. Whatever. And it just crashed so bad that I was like, I would rather be broke than ever need anybody to do anything ever for me again

I'm out. I'm out and I had to like literally Uncut myself because there were so many strings in me tied to that person that I didn't even know were there That I didn't even know whether it was it was just crazy but when you like How did you how did you cut the cord? Because you kind of kind of needed it But when you're like, how did you cut the cord? Because you kinda needed it. I know bro, it was so hard at the time. Didn't say you'll be back.

Nah, he didn't say nothing like that. He was like, well, your music video's not gonna be funded. Good luck with that. I'm about to call them right now and tell them I'm not paying for that. What? And I was like, okay, okay. music video's not gonna be funded. Good luck with that. I'm about to call them right now and tell them I'm not paying for that. What? Mm-hmm.

And I was like, okay. Okay. It was like everything kind of had to crumble. And it was so embarrassing at the time because the producers I had worked with on this one song, they were helping me film the video. And then they were like, why did he just call us and say something about that? And I'm like, okay, here's the know? And I was just telling them what I was doing, what I was in and kind of like where my life was at at that time. And so, yeah, it was super humbling at that time, but that's what I learned. I was like, even if I ever get this money again, I'm going to never, never equate it with happiness, with a healthy relationship, with a healthy mind, hell no.

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on or off the course. We're bringing on some of our friends like Michelle Wee, Heather McMahon, Amanda Baleotis. So, if you wanna keep up with us and here, Heather McMahon, Amanda Baleotis. So if you want to keep up with us and here's Yapp, tune into our new podcast. Listen to Quiet Please with Mel and Kira, an iHeart Women's Sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. It was a moment that should have broken me, but just because of how I was raised and my

bullishness and arrogance to want to be great hardened me. It gave me a platform to be so singularly focused on greatness. We all have moments like this. Something happens that's supposed to break us. But it's in these moments that we discover what we're really made of. I promise you, if anyone knows this, it's me. I'm Ashlyn Harris. If I don't have it in myself, I don't need the money.

How did you find yourself again? How did you pull yourself out of that? Therapy. At the time, so the one good thing about that relationship was that he used this therapist and I would hear what they were talking about and I'm like, what? And then I was like, who do you let tell you about yourself? I want to talk to her.

And I remember I had my first therapy session and I was breaking down crying because I had never been asked some of the questions that she asked me. And from there, I was like, okay, I'm kind of in this trap situation, but I'm about to tell you everything. I don't know why, but I just told her everything. I felt like she couldn't tell anyone else. And theoretically, she's not supposed to. I mean, no, literally.

And I Googled that, I was like, you can lose a license. I'm gonna trust you, girl. But it's also the law. Yeah, so I just told her everything, and slowly by slowly, I was rebuilt. Because I was at such a low state, I felt so powerless. I felt so stuck. I felt like I was in these chains,

and I couldn't leave because I wanted this music stuff so bad, and I was just gonna do what it took, you know? And my freaking brand, and, oh! It was just so bad. It was so bad. I was so unhappy. But, yes, she helped me rebuild myself and also to shed these limiting beliefs. This is what I gotta do. I would say, this is what I gotta do.

You think I wanna do this? You think I wanna sing that? You think I wanna do that? And so she want to sing that you think I want to do that? And so um she'd be like, but why says who and I literally couldn't answer. So yeah Yeah rebuilding slowly when you saw the viral tweet asking what happened to Coco Jones? How did it make you feel like oh, I'm right here it was so embarrassed I was so embarrassed at that time that I felt like I just kept getting hit. Hit with embarrassment. And I remember that it made me really upset.

I called my mom, and I was like, this is what they're saying about me. I cannot believe this is what the world thinks about me. I'm a has-been. I'm not even freaking 20-something. How? Now what? And I remember my mom said,

what do you got to lose? Like literally, you're unemployed. So she was like, just tell them what happened. My mom not knowing how social media works at all. She's like, just tell them. I'm like, it's not my home girl down the street, this is the internet. She's like, well tell them, tell the internet.

And I ended up, that was my first time ever saying anything that didn't have to do with music, that wasn't polished that wasn't you know You would lie. I would lie. What I see you with live. Oh, I thought you said you would know no No, you were like no. No, you didn't pre record. It's like so it's almost like it's kind of hard I know and I was so scared because I was like, oh, I don't want to be black box I don't know how this works to tell the truth. I've never done anything like that I was just like if it ain't cute, you don't say.

Right. But honestly, so much came from that. So much of, because you know what's crazy? My homegirls would be like, you need to tell, you need to talk more. Your personality is so something, something, something. And I'd be like, girl, ain't nobody trying to hear me talk. I just need to sing.

So it was just so validating. And it opened a lot of doors. The sound that I had in the video went viral on TikTok. And then I was like, what's TikTok? And then I started doing shit on TikTok and then that popped off too. Was it a situation that you felt free after that? Because you mentioned about these chains, you mentioned about these strings, you were rich about like being in bondage and it felt like it seems like to me and I'm just outside looking in, I'm not the therapist, but once you did that, you felt like you were free?

just outside looking in, I'm not your therapist. But once you did that, you felt like you were free. I think what really made me free was what my therapist had said to me this one time. I was telling her what I can and can't do as a dark-skinned black girl, and I'm like, they don't let you do that. Like, you can't do that. Or like, nah, that's just not, that's not realistic for me.

And she was like, is this really the world you're gonna live in? Like this world where you have all these limitations you didn't choose, like is this really what you're gonna do? Cause like, why wouldn't you just create your own world? Like who said that? What rule is that? Where is that written?

And it made me be like, I literally don't know. I really only act the way the world has taught me I should and shouldn't act. And that to me was kind of that shift that made me, I would think made my life change. And then of course telling that video and then that video and seeing people like my personality. I was like, okay, so this is during the pandemic.

I'm like, maybe they don't want me to sing anymore. Okay, I'll tell stories. So I started telling these stories on the internet. I was like, I would have just pressed record and afterwards I'd be like, what am I doing? I just told stories on the internet. I was like, I would just press record, and afterwards I'd be like, what am I doing? I just told stories on the internet. But it was working at the time. My engagement was back up.

Then I'd throw a little song in there. And then the TikTok thing happened, and I started doing the covers on TikTok that were like, that if I was on this song, I would do my version of that. And slowly it just pivoted. And then I got acting management, who had saw the video. And they were like,

we wanna work with you and I was like, okay I haven't had a acting job in like a year and a half but sure, he was like, I just like your personality. And yeah, it just- Do y'all pay? Do the acting manager pay me? No, that's what I thought you would have asked. Y'all pay for this gig?

Okay, y'all. It doesn't work like that, they get commissioned. They're not paying for nothing you do. I think I'm tripping. But let me ask you this. Why do you think TV executives believe that darkest-complected women aren't marketable? Aren't. Well, I think it's changing now. I don't think that is exactly the truth I think you just have to show people that things work. But honestly truly, I think our community has done a that things work, but honestly, truly, I think our community has done a poor job at times of supporting our own work. And so if we're looking at just the numbers, if I'm an executive and I'm unbiased, because

I don't care, I just want the money. Yeah, I see green. Yeah, I'm just looking at the green, like which way are you going? Where the people show up or where the people be like, $18 for a ticket. You know what I'm saying? So I do think as a community, we have to do a better job of supporting our own stuff, but I also feel like it's a matter of not knowing what it's like over there.

You're in this position and you're this exec, you don't know what that's like until you get somebody like Ashonda Rhimes or Issa Rae who's like, this is what it's like. Let me show you the script. It's really good. And it's funny and you're like, oh, what a different way of life.

And kind of introducing people to the world of being black in different facets, I don't think it's necessarily that they don't think that we're marketable, I think they don't think of us, until somebody forces that into their heads, and until we, as a community, force that money, that revenue, into our own world.

But I definitely think it's getting better. From when I was a kid, to me now watching these shows, and so many different platforms, Oulu, Apple TV, Actors Soul, so there's so many more opportunities. It's just the best show wins at this point, honestly. It's whatever can grab attention. Attention is currency now. It's not this look. It's whatever can grab attention. Attention is currency now. It's not this look, it's whoever can grab attention.

Why do you feel you haven't come, or do you feel the need to succumb to societal pressures and change anything? Plastic surgery, B I felt that? No, I wouldn't say that I felt like that. I honestly if anything When I was younger wanted to be like shorter, but I felt like all the guys I mean like I'm not talking that young a couple years ago Right felt like all the guy actors were shorter than me and I'm like well They're not gonna choose me because I'm taller than him, you know that was the one of the only things I could think that I really wanted to change about myself,

but for the most part, nah, I come from an athletic family, so whatever you want to see in your body, that's like, I was taught go work out, like go do it, you know, and that's kind of, that's what I like, working out and feeling strong, that's what I like on my body. So, no. SZA recently came out and said she regretted getting the BBL.

Have you talked to anybody in the industry that has regretted any kind of... Because I think the thing in the TV industry or the Hollywood movie industry is like this weight loss drug, the ozempic, trizepatide, semaglutide, that thing like that. Have you talked to anyone that regret like, whatever you do, don't do this? No, the girls that I talk to, they be like, that look good. I don't know about nothing but that is eating right up. I be like, let me feel that, that's nice.

No, I will say though, I do feel like, I have had some girls who do like the quick trying to lose weight, all of a sudden, like maybe you got a shoot coming up and you trying to do something. But that is the only thing where I feel like it's like, yeah, I just poisoned myself for no reason. But yeah, no, none of the girls that I met really regret that. I think you got to be careful though, because everything's a trend.

So it's here today, gone tomorrow, mm-hmm. They be looking good I mean Janet Jackson reposted one of your videos sizzle hit you up after I mean what is that Janet Jackson now obviously? Janet was Beyonce before Beyonce and so for the song she was she was the it and for her to repost it or just have Sizzle, you know reach out. I mean what how does that make Coco feel? How did that make Coco feel to know Janet Jackson reposted or have SZA reach out. How does that make Coco feel? How does that make Coco feel to know Janet Jackson reposted of your video? I think it's very rewarding because for such a long time, nobody cared. So to have people care, first of all, is a blessing and crucial to success. Right.

But then to also have people you look up to and respect in your field to commend what you're doing is, it's kind of like this sigh of relief, like, oh, maybe I am doing something really good. If they think that, then maybe I am doing something really good, but honestly, I think for me, I feel like it's always been me who's gotta be proud of what I'm doing.

Even when nobody cared and it was embarrassing, I still knew I ate that. I still knew I ate proud of what I'm doing. Okay. Even when nobody cared and it was embarrassing, I still knew I ate that. I still knew I ate that and I'm like, I don't know what's not clicking for y'all, but damn, I got something over here. Do you believe you got the role of Haley, Hillary in the,

Haley, Hillary. So how was that audition? Tell me about that audition. So that was around the time where I had just started getting re-relevant in the world in any capacity. And I had this fan base now that was like, we support you. We didn't know you were going through this.

We support you. I don't know you're Karen. Thank you. So I get this acting management and they're like, we just like your personality. We want to work with you. I was like, okay, I haven't been employed in a year and a half, but okay. And so around that time, they were like, there's this audition, there's this opportunity going around the show, Bel Air,

and we think you should audition for Hillary. And I was like, y'all, what do I look like trying to audition for this light-skinned girl? I'm sorry. I was like, I told you guys, been a year and a half since I've had a job, and y'all gonna make me do this? Yeah. Like, you know?

And I was like, what if I read for Ashley? She was like, see it? They were like, Ashley's 12 in this, get your tape for Hillary. And so I was very reluctant, and this was still when I was working on myself, and so my mental was not really good, and so I was basically expecting rejection.

So I kind of did it in this, I don't really care, I'm doing this, and I don't really care. But it kind of worked, you know? And so I ended up getting on the phone with the director right after my audition, which I thought was really care, but it kind of worked, you know? And so I ended up getting on the phone with the director right after my audition, which I thought was just okay, because in the back of my mind, I wasn't really there. I was like, let's get this along so you can tell me no,

so we can move on, thanks. And he kind of talks about how he had looked me up and how he knew me and how he wanted me to just really be myself. And I had never had anyone with any position of power tell me to do that. And so I was like, okay, great, I'm gonna do this next audition.

And now I'm really excited, now my heart's in it. Normally you keep your guard up. And then he was like, actually, we're just gonna call you, we'll tell you whether or not you got it. So they were basing it off my first audition where I didn't really expect anything and I was expecting rejection. And I was like, oh, well, I'm not going to get this.

Okay. But they ended up calling me and telling me that I did get the role. And I was so, so happy because I needed that money. For real. Real was about to be due again, huh? Man, what? I was like, I'll sign anything. No, but it did work out.

It did work out. And we're on, we're about to film our fourth and final season. So it's a blessing to think that was four years ago where I was like, hell yes. Did you think, think about this, you said you went in there and you're like, hey, I'm just going to read. I don't care if I get it or not, as opposed to the other roles that you were actually trying to get.

Do you feel like you relaxed and you allowed the best Coco to come out? Um, no. trying to get. Do you feel like you relaxed and you allowed the best Coco to come out? Um, no. No, I am my best when I am prepared, when I do my research, when I'm ready. Then I can just get out of my head and just execute. But you said you like, I don't really thought you want to do this other role, but the other role was too young. And then you're like, I'm just going to do this. And that's like, I don't know, it was truly just my time. It was truly just my time, because when I look back at it,

I can see the vision, but I can see myself, and I know what I was thinking in my own head. So I'm like, I don't believe her, but people who don't know what's in my head, they could get it. You came off as believable. You know, yeah, but no, I'm my best when I'm prepared. When I've practiced, when I've rehearsed it

Then I can just go eat it up. Right. What's some of the best advice you've received since you've been in the industry What's some of the best advice who's giving you some of the best advice that you like? Okay, this is really helped me You know what? SZA had to said something because I remember I had done this cover of love galore and this was years ago Okay, and I had she had cover of Love, Glow, and this was years ago. And she had hit me about it, or maybe it was hit different, I don't know, she had hit me about it, because a lot of her fans were sending it to her.

And I asked her, how did you get there? And she kind of said, be delusional in a way. And honestly, truly, I do feel like you have to be a little bit delusional, because you're trying to do something that nobody has done, especially the people around you, the people closest to you who know how to sing. Especially the people you know. Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? Yes. So you have to be delusional. And unless you have that support in somebody who believes in the vision with you, you own your own with it. It's you and God. Right. So yeah, I think that actually has helped me so much to walk in rooms with my head held

high, to sing certain things, to you know things creatively is like delusion John Stewart is back at The Daily Show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with The Daily Show Ears Edition podcast dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics Entertainment sports and more joined by the sharp voices of the shows, correspondents, and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content

you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. Try it please with Mel. And Kira, we are bringing you spicy takes on sports and pop culture, some golf haps, and interviews with incredible people who have figured out how to make golf their superpower. Or just people we like. Plus tales from the road and everything in between. By the way, golf isn't just for the dads, brads, and chads.

Yeah, it's actually life's cheat code and we're not going to be quiet about it on or off the course. We're bringing on some of our friends like Michelle Wee, Heather McMahon, Amanda Ballyotis. So if you wanna keep up with us and here's the app, tune into our new podcast. Listen to Quiet Please with Mel and Kira, an iHeart Women's Sports production

in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. It was a moment that should have broken me, but just because of how I was raised and my bullishness and arrogance to want to be great hardened me. It gave me a platform to be so singularly focused on greatness. We all have moments like this.

Something happens that's supposed to break us. But it's in these moments that we discover what we're really made of. I promise you, if anyone knows this, it's me. I'm Ashlyn Harris. Is there a scene that you won't do? Is there anything that you won't do? I don't know about, you know, intimacy on screen or being naked on screen if there's something that could go like that that ain't you that ain't your girl Yeah I feel like honestly truly a lot of the intimacy scenes are super choreography They're five six seven eight one two three four do it again, and you just get into this little habit it to me It's like mom watching uh my mama no not to

She got to protect herself, But I think for me, I don't want it to ever lean too porn vibes, you know? Like if it's a tasteful moment, like I always say, the notebook. That was obviously them having sex, but it was so tasteful and the storyline was so good and I was just like, I respect this, you know? That's what you got out of that?

Tasteful? Yes. What'd you get out of it? That is a new tasteful. It was tasteful. You don't even know what I'm talking about. Wouldn't he have come back after all those years, and he built that freaking house for her?

I do. He built that house. I got that. No, but yeah, I think that would have to be the world that it's in. Because sometimes I'm like, now why is this scene here? I'm reading the script, and I'm like, what does this have to do with anything?

Did this make me like the characters more at all? Or are they just wanting some views? Cause I'm not doing it that way. It would have to be tasteful. Have you have turned down the role because it made you feel uncomfortable? Yeah, I have turned down roles where I didn't want to be depicted in that light, you know?

And sometimes, most of them, like if you get an audition and it's something crazy, they say that at the beginning, before you even read for it, will require nudity, will require this, da da da da da. And you can read. You ain't get nude on camera? It depends, it depends. I'm not gonna do like, okay, so I feel like

if it's like a silhouette and you can see that it's obviously in my body, but I don't want it to give like, you can look up Coco Jones boobs on corner of him though. Right? You don't get that click. You know what I'm saying? You're not getting that cropped out.

Uh-uh. That's not my vibe. That's not my vibe. Are you going to play T.I.? Man, I love The Princess and the Frog. You do? I did. I saw it.

I loved it. Really? I did. You watch it with your kids or something? Or just for the passion? I was by myself. OK. I know I used to go to a lot of animators,

and I know people looking around like, and they probably thinking if I wasn't who I was they probably think I was a perv because I've been there with everybody parents with their kids. I mean still a little side eye but you know whatever your passions are your passions I would definitely pass with my large popcorn and be like lord bless him lord bless him lord. Guide him on his way. But you know what? I love animation, too. I think they're so cute, those characters, and the way they, like, emote is so cool to me. I do love animation. It's one of my favorite, like, types of movie.

But yes, people ask me, am I gonna play Princess Sienna? And y'all, come on. I don't know. I don't know what's in the cards. Like, even if I was sitting right now, knowing that I just filmed it, I wouldn't be able to say that. Those non-disclosures, be tight!

Like my therapist. So no, I don't know. I wouldn't be opposed, of course. I think it would be like an honor to one day have like a film like that and my daughter watch me as a princess. It would be amazing, but I don't know. I don't know how that's working.

I don't know what they got going on over there, but they know where to go to find me They got my number and my mama number. Okay. Let me ask you this I'll see you in a new movie country Wayne Loretta Devine to Tabitha Brown miss Pat. Yeah, I Had miss Pat don't have I think some of them clips Lord have mercy. I Had tabitha also country Wayne has also been on. Oh, yes, I saw Country Wayne's too actually, when I was on set. That's when I watched this, because he was telling me his story, I was like, what?

And yeah, I went and watched his episode with you, so good. What did they like on set? What was that set like? They're all different personalities. Loretta is like this respectful, legend, tasteful Country Wayne. You know, he has that swag, that voice, and he's super chill, but he's a very hard worker, very hard worker.

Miss Pat is, you know. She's hilarious. Miss Pat is a wonderful person. She's a little bit so funny. But I think we all did a really good job of making it feel very authentic, and adding our two cents to things. I feel like it's kind of one of those movies

where you hope that it could have that black culture stamp effect, you know? So everybody was contributing in their different ways to hopefully get that outcome. Have you ever had a mistaken identity? They look like, are you Gabrielle Union? Yes. Are you Jennifer Hudson? Absolutely. Yes.

Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Hudson. Do you say yes? It depends on how I'm feeling that day. But more than likely, I'll do this thing where I'm like, people will be sometimes, more than likely, I'll do this thing where I'm like, people will be like, oh my god, you look like Coco Jones. And I'll be like, who is that?

Because I want to see what they say. And nobody said anything bad yet, so that's good. But then I'll tell them, yeah, I am. But yeah, of course. You got a new song. Yeah. Taste. Can I hear it?

Can you hear it? Yeah. Yeah. How did that go? Oh, I got my phone right here. Yeah. I'm like, let me see. No, I think you meant just like sing a little bit.

Oh! Yeah, a little clip. I thought you wanted me to play it. Okay, so yeah, so Taste, I'm really excited. It's, you know, of course me with my R&B vocals, but then I'm also sampling Britney Spears' Toxic. Yeah. And it's really dope.

So you want me to sing some of it? Look, you hit a little sample of it. I'm like, should I sing the Britney part? A taste gets me in places. I'm chasing, I can't erase it. Taste me boy and I'll taste you. That's the way I feel when I'm slipping under. And then it goes into the

Right. Taste of your lips, I'm on a ride. It's really dope. I'm excited, man. Oh, it's out now. Yeah, I gotta pretend it's out now. You said you was in a toxic relationship. The guy, he was controlling like,

okay, you don't do this, like, that video, I don't know, it ain't looking good. Yeah, I did have my little face of that. I did have my little face of that. I think it's kind of something you have to go through to character develop and learn what you do and don't like, but I mean, he wasn't the only toxic one, I will say that. I was also...

You talked it too, huh? I had my ways. I was. I feel like everybody was, until you get healed. And they're like, I just want to love authentically. You know? But yeah, I have my fair share of moments. Oh. What is this, what is this, uh, uh, this rumor that was going on about you and Donovan Mitchell? I just want to love authentically. I have my fair share of moments. What is this rumor that was going on

about you and Donovan Mitchell? What rumor? I mean, y'all showed up at the concert. I mean, you said it was nothing, but I think it's odd holding hands dressed alike going to an arts class. I'm just saying, it could have been innocent. Yo, holding hands.

But normally, most people don't show up at the concert holding hands dressed dressed up. Dressed alike? That's hilarious. You know what? I love the internet because they definitely clock my tea. I love that. You know?

There's little spies everywhere. I feel like I'm in a detective movie. But you know what? I'm happy and I will say my music is the outlet that I used to tell most of my stories and my truth and some things I keep everybody's out because this is my life too. But yeah, I say some things and you can hear it in my album. Can I ask you this?

Danix, are you a public, I mean, obviously you a public figure, but are you private? Because a lot of times, because a lot of times, you know, they date, they're public figures and they date, they do everything publicly. But do you like having privacy? Do you like having some anonymity, like some secrecy to Coco? I think secrecy is not what I prefer. I don't want to ever feel like I have to be somebody's secret.

I don't want to make anybody feel like they're mine. I think for me, I'm trying to protect myself. And I'm trying to protect my family and whoever I love. And so, yeah, I am more private. Also, I just feel like I give so much. I work so hard. And I will always do my part on the business side, on the Coco side, on the singing side, on the acting side.

So why do I also have to give y'all something that is sacred to me when I give so much on that side? I just feel like it has to be balanced. Otherwise it's not fair. Then what do I get for me? How is it dating a celebrity? Cause you're a celebrity, obviously you date somebody. Could you, I'll ask you this before we get to that part.

Could you date someone that's not a celebrity? Yeah, absolutely. I think for me, I don't really like the celebrity lifestyle myself. So to be with somebody that was more normal would never have been, you know, like an issue to me. It has never been like an issue to me. I think for me, what's always been important is, okay, yeah, you do your big one there. I do my big one there. Whatever field. Public, not public, whatever. Right.

But I want to feel seen and heard as Courtney. Mm-hmm. I don't want to feel like there's any other motive to being with me. If I walk away from all of that, are you cool with that? You know, I don't want to feel like I have to be on. Because I have one job. Right. And so I want to feel seen and understood and I want to feel like want to feel like I'm with somebody else who's normal as well. And we just happen to do whatever our fields are.

So that's always been what's important to me, not whether you're relevant or not. What's the best place to take Coco on a first date? The best place to take me on a first date? I'm going to be asking a lot of questions. So quiet. So, quiet. Well, can't be the movies, cause you, shh. Uh-uh. Don't pop me up.

I would never wanna sit by a complete stranger. Okay. Dinner? I would say dinner. I think it would be dinner, cause one, I do like me a good food and a good meal and a good glass of wine. Okay.

But also, it's gonna be a song. Quiet ambiance, yeah, nice, quiet, dimly lit. Yeah, I love candles too. I like a good, I like a good estate. So it's like more one-on-one, everybody in your business like, is that Google? Yeah, no, for sure, for sure. I definitely like to be secluded.

And to also, I don't want it to be like a group thing. I wanna see who you are, bye. So one-on-one, you don't want no double date? No, what, for a first date? Yeah. Uh-uh, I'm not trying to deal with that. Because then also if I bring my homegirl and she dating somebody now I gotta hear him

to clock his T and it's too much going on. I can't be Inspector Gaddaford. Just the one. Just focus, one on one. Yeah. Okay, let me ask you this. 50-50, where are you on the 50-50 relationship? It's always interesting to hear, we had Cheryl and and Cheryl's like, man is the head of the

house. I don't care who I am, I don't care what I make, he's the head of the house. Breadwinner, no breadwinner, man head of the house. It's interesting to hear women younger, I guess y'all millennials, maybe y'all Gen Z, but where are you on this? So my opinion To me is that I feel like women Have it harder

Hormonally, I mean in the world in all the ways Okay, and so a man will never feel internally what I feel. They're just living their life like it's golden. Love that for you. So to me, I feel like it could never really be equal because we both ain't going through the same challenges, take the job out of it. Yeah, so for me, I don't know. I think there would have to be some compensation

on both things. I also feel like who's taking care of the house if everybody's going to work, like what are the choice? I feel like it may not be completely equal when it comes to the finances. But wherever that yin and yang needs to come in, like I don't wanna feel like I have to work and clean and cook and be hot and wanna be sexy.

Like come on now, like what's going on? That's just not fair. Maybe in a numbers way we're splitting things, but I'm going through a lot on the side. So I feel like there needs to be some compensation in that way. You okay with the man being the head of the house? Yeah, I do feel like that is my tea

because I do come from a very southern and very traditional and that's what I saw. And I think for me, I don't wanna have to do that. There's too many, on this side in my own career, there's too many questions, too many decisions, too much brain power going to that. I don't wanna also have to do that for a family. No thanks, no thanks.

That's on you, sir. That's on you. Let me, have you ever introduced one of your boyfriends to your dad? Introduce one of your boyfriends to your dad Um Not Not no no no no well not what is what what am I saying Courtney? not commonly and not often only

As I have gotten older and like it's only it hasn't been a lot right it could never be oh do they when you say well I want you to me I want you to meet my dad do they get nervous because I'm pretty sure they probably googled your dad yeah I don't think I wouldn't say it's a thing of nervous because I'm probably picking somebody who has a lot of confidence okay and themselves because I have a lot of confidence in yeah so picking him huh huh Huh? He think he chose you, but you chose him. What? I just wanna throw that out there.

May the best one win. No, I'm not. But yeah, so no, I don't think that they would get scared or anything, and also I feel like, I feel like my choices hold enough respect that if my family happens to meet anybody I'm dating, they're probably like, whoa, what? Who are you?

You gotta be good. I just don't bring anybody around because it's just not that serious to me. We're gonna wrap up on this. What new album out? What do you want to put on? Yes. Okay, so Taste, my single is out, my video. I'm super excited.

And my debut album is called Why Not More and it comes out on April 25th. I'm so excited. Taste is the song, the album, Why Not More, Miss Coco Jones. Period. Thank you, Shae Shae! That's why all my life I be grinding all my life All my life, been grinding all my life Sacrifice, but so pay the price One a slice, got to roll the dice That's why all my life I be grinding all my life you you you you you Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, Here's the Thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians,

policymakers and so many other fascinating people, like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd. I love writing more than anything. You're left alone. You know, you do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon, go pick up a kid from school and write at night. And after nine hours, you come out with seven pages, and then you're moving on. Listen to Here's the Thing on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is Mel Reed, LPG Tour winner and six time Lady Geovine Tour winner. And Kira K. Dixon, NBC Sports reporter and host. And we've got new podcast, Quiet Please, with Mel. And Kira, we are bringing you spicy takes on sports and pop culture, some interviews with incredible people who have figured out how to make golf their superpower.

An iHeart Women's Sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on iHeart Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. We all have a moment that splits us wide open. On my new podcast, Wide Open with Ashlyn Harris, I'll sit down with trailblazers from sports,

music, fashion, entertainment, and politics to explore their toughest moments and the incredible comebacks that followed. Listen to Wide Open with Ashlyn Harris, an iHeart Women's Sports production on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.