Jessie J is a famous and beloved pop star. However, very few know that life has not always been smooth for her. She started her journey from a theater stage and ended up on the big stage, earning millions.
Jessie J was born as Jessica Ellen Cornish in Chadwell Heath, London Borough of Redbridge in England. She has gained fame in the past years through her super-hits like Price Tag, Bang Bang, and Alive. Jessie J earned her initial expertise from the theatre stage before making it to the big stage.
Initially, she went through some medical complications, which could have sabotaged her career as a singer. However, perseverance was the key that helped her rebuilt herself every time she went through a setback. Today, Jessie J is a living legend.
The Beginning of Her Career
Jessica Ellen Cornish started her career when she was only 11 years old. Jessie J, who refers to herself as the Essex girl, attended school at Colin's Performing Art. At a tender age, she made her debut in Whistle Down the Wind, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production.
In 2002, Jessie was part of The Late Sleepers after enrolling in the National Youth Music Theatre. The very next year, when she was about 15 years old, she performed in a competition called Britain's Brilliant Prodigies.
Launched as a Songwriter
Jessie J's first song was called Big White Room. She wrote this song when she was hospitalized at the age of 11 and unfortunately had to share a big white room in the hospital with a younger kid on his deathbed. The emotional masterpiece was composed at the tender age of 17.
A new opportunity came her way when Gut Records invited her to sign a contract that would let her travel and perform with other high-profile artists. Unfortunately, Gut Records went bankrupt and closed the contract even before Jessica's big journey could begin.
Jessica Cornish's hopes were still up as she had complete faith in her talent. She decided to adopt a stage name, and she chose 'Jessie J.' Nevertheless, she faced another blow at the age of 18, where she suffered a minor stroke and had to take a break from her work. Right after recovering, she signed a contract with Sony ATV to seal her fate in songwriting. One of her first successes was composing the song Party in the USA for Miley Cyrus.
The Making of a Pop Star
The Party's success in the USA was Jessie J's big break. Next, she performed in a famous concert opening for Cyndi Lauper in Lauper's popular song Girls Just Want To Have Fun. Getting launched as a successful songwriter came handy in building her name as a pop star.
Soon she signed the historical contract with Universal Music Group; it gave her the chance to record her songs worldwide. Jessie's first hit was Do It Like A Dude, originally meant to be performed by Rihanna. Jessie J's performance won hearts all over the UK. After topping the UK Pop Singles chart, Jessie J also made it to BBC's Sound of 2011 list. Her second single called Price Tag featured B.o.B's rap, and it made it to the top of the UK's pop singles chart. This time it was also number 11 in America.
Jessie J produced one gem after another. Her subsequent monumental success was her debut album called Who You Are. She spent about six years making this masterpiece, and it became super popular both in the UK and the USA. Her success in America was reassured with her mind-blowing single called Domino. Jessi J spent almost a year making her next masterpiece - Alive. The first single in this album, and Wild, earned immense popularity in the UK.
Jessie J diversified her growing musical career by performing at the 2012 Olympics Games and later being a mentor at the UK's The Voice reality show in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. She also earned herself a new music market of billions of people in China after winning a Chinese TV show called Singer in 2018.
Jessi J promotes self-positivity and personal growth; she wrote a single called Its My Party as a positive comeback to all the hate messages she received for her performances. The treasures that followed were part of her third solo album called Sweet Talker. Her song Flashlight became a sensation all over the UK, the USA, and the rest of the world. It was used in the famous movie Pitch Perfect 2.
Jessica says that the 'J' in her stage name does not have any specific meaning, but it makes her sound as cool as she is. Moreover, she is in her early 30s and already worth millions. In 2021, the net worth of Jessie J is calculated to be a fantastic $30 million.
Source: AllMusic, FindAnyAnswer, liveabout dotcom, Wealthy Gorilla