Coco Jones Wins First Grammy for Best R&B Performance with ‘ICU’

Coco Jones, the multi-talented singer-actress, celebrated a major milestone in her career on Sunday night at the 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, as she took home her first Grammy for Best R&B Performance for her hit song ‘ICU’. Backstage at the Crypto.com Arena, Jones expressed her deep gratitude and reflected on the long journey she had embarked on since she was just nine years old.

‘It feels like all of the uncertainty can really be answered by God‘s timing for you,’ Jones shared. ‘I’ve been pursuing this since I was 9, and to reap the benefits at this time makes way more sense than I could have ever imagined. I’m just truly grateful for all the obstacles that made me who I am today.’

Jones went on to discuss the importance of being an inspiration for young Black girls with big dreams who may doubt themselves. She believes transparency about her own journey is key to providing the motivation and guidance she herself once sought. ‘I learned that I have to be the inspiration for the next young Black girl, because that’s what I was looking for when I was trying to navigate this world, this dream, and this industry,’ she revealed.

Her winning track, ‘ICU,’ released in 2022 as part of her EP ‘What I Didn’t Tell You,’ has captivated fans with its powerful lyrics and beautiful harmonies that pay homage to 90s R&B. While some argue that R&B is dead, Jones continues to bring the genre to life with her soulful performances. Despite ‘ICU’ not reaching its peak on the charts until 2023, its popularity has only grown stronger.

During her backstage interview, Jones also shared her plans for the future. With the success of her debut EP, she now aims to release an official album, ready to take bigger and bolder creative strides. ‘I want to make the creative choices that I feel like come with confidence, time, and experience. All of that I gained last year with my debut EP. So this year, I want to put out an album, and I want to do bigger and better. Dream bigger,’ she declared with excitement.

While her Grammy win was not televised, it undoubtedly made for a memorable moment in her life. In fact, Jones found out about her victory while walking the red carpet. ‘I was under the rain at the red carpet, and I was on my last stop [on the press line],’ she recounted. ‘I think I’m really soaking it in right now. Looking at this award, thinking about my vision board and editing my face on Beyonce‘s picture of her holding all the awards. It’s just too surreal to really unpack right here on this stage.’