"Joanna Levesque, better known as "JoJo", knew she was her family's ticket to financial freedom. Born in Foxborough, MA, to parents who self-identified as addicts, her smooth voice captured the attention of a record label exec when she was just twelve years old. That exec put the machine in motion, and JoJo would go on to be the face for the ever-more-popular hip hop and R&B sounds of the early aughts. She'd be the kind of star young girls could relate to as they dressed up for dances and football games.In 2004, you couldn't leave the house without hearing her hit single "Leave (Get Out)". Nearly two decades later, she remains the youngest-ever solo artist to have a debut #1 single in the U.S. But what happened to JoJo? That's the first question Google suggests when you search for her name. In this debut memoir, JoJo mines diary entries, photos, song lyrics, and conversations with loved ones to share what really happened. From growing up in a broken home to being raised by a broken music industry, to tales from her darkest ten years, when a marathon lawsuit with her music label prompted a period of proper rebellion, complete with drugs, drinking, sex, and complicated relationships, JoJo holds nothing back in these pages. She also interrogates how race intersected with her career, her relationships, and the public's perception of her, reflecting on how operating with a victim mentality left her feeling stuck in her ability to move forward in life and as an artist. By sharing her story in the tradition ofother child stars like Drew Barrymore and Jennette McCurdy, JoJo hopes to help readers who see themselves in her journey see the light sooner--and avoid making the same mistakes she did. As intimate as it is inspiring, and as refreshing as it is revelatory, this breathtakingly candid memoir is JoJo's chance to finally tell her story in her own words for the first time"--
A breathtakingly candid memoir by Joanna "JoJo" Levesque, the chart-topping, multi-platinum recording artist behind hits like “Leave (Get Out),” “Too Little, Too Late”, and the Grammy Award-winning "Say So"
Signed to a major recording deal at just 12 years old, JoJo catapulted to the top of the pop-and-R&B-infused charts in the mid 2000's. The relatability of her youth and the appeal of her cool-girl mystique earned her millions of fans around the world. JoJo was an undeniable superstar and pop culture fixture, spanning roles in major studio films, omnipresence on Top 40 radio, frequenting magazine covers, and appearing on national TV. Then, out of the blue, everything came to a halt and JoJo seemingly stepped out of the spotlight, leaving many fans to wonder: What happened to JoJo?
In OVER THE INFLUENCE, JoJo holds nothing back as she brings her against-the-odds story of adversity and triumph to center stage. From being raised by parents who were both battling addiction and depression, to emerging victorious in a never-ending lawsuit with her record label, to putting the fragmented pieces of herself together after a maddening period of rebellion and self-betrayal, she takes the reader through the turbulent years that led her to where she is now: releasing new music under her own imprint, performing in shows and festivals around the world, headlining a Broadway show, and beyond. In this raw, behind-the-scenes look at her life, both personal and professional, JoJo’s unflinching vulnerability allows readers to connect with her on a whole new level through stories of success, heartbreak, redemption, and resilience.
More than a victory lap from an artist with over two decades in an ever-changing entertainment industry, OVER THE INFLUENCE is an unapologetic rallying cry to anyone who’s ever been terrified to fail and still said, “Count me in.”
