The celebrated Canadian singer, actress and Broadway star Deborah Cox has been a trailblazer in music and theater for over 25 years—and she or he exhibits no indicators of slowing down. A Grammy-nominated artist and the primary Black lady inducted into the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame, Cox has seamlessly transitioned between R&B, dance music and theater. Recognized for fascinating audiences together with her highly effective voice and hits like “No one’s Imagined to Be Right here,” Cox continues to encourage together with her artistry and advocacy for range and empowerment. She has obtained rave opinions for her portrayal of Glinda in The Wiz for each nationwide and Broadway runs. In the present day, we take an unique, behind-the-scenes take a look at her career, her imaginative and prescient for the longer term and the practices that preserve her grounded amidst her continued success.
SUCCESS: Your journey within the music trade has been extraordinary. What defining moments have formed you as an artist and entrepreneur?
DEBORAH COX: My journey has been outlined by some really life-changing moments. Getting signed by Clive Davis and releasing my debut album was a dream come true—it gave me the liberty to totally discover and discover my voice as an artist. Sharing levels with legends like Whitney Houston and Celine Dion was transformative; it taught me the immense energy of vocal self-discipline and the significance of staying true to my artistry.
Being acknowledged on the Canadian Music Corridor of Fame was deeply private and significant. It’s about extra than simply an accolade—it’s about leaving a legacy, paving the best way for different Black artists and displaying them what’s doable. Starring in and co-producing The Wiz is one more profession spotlight that I’m extremely happy with.
Now, with KAZAISU, I’m tapping into a complete new facet of my creativity. It’s such a pleasure to merge artwork and entrepreneurship like this. I really feel like each step of my profession has led me to this second, and truthfully, I can’t wait to see what’s subsequent.
S: How has your strategy to your profession and objectives advanced because you first began within the music trade?
DC: My strategy to my profession has positively modified through the years. Once I first began out, it was all about proving myself—whether or not it was singing background vocals, doing session work or performing in golf equipment. I used to be utterly centered on getting my foot within the door and displaying that I had what it took. Again then, a lot of it was about assembly the expectations of the trade and looking for my place in a market that didn’t actually have house for R&B artists, particularly in Canada.
Over time, I realized that generally you need to create your personal alternatives. If a door didn’t open for me, I’d discover one other technique to make it occur. That shift in mindset is what led me to strive new issues like Broadway and dive into dance music. It was about trusting my intestine and staying true to myself, it doesn’t matter what path I used to be on.
S: Sustaining a loyal fan base for thus a few years is spectacular. What do you assume is the important thing to forming a deeper connection together with your viewers?
DC: Sustaining a loyal fan base for thus lengthy has been such a good looking journey, and I believe it comes all the way down to being actual and constant. From the very begin, I’ve all the time wished my music to be a mirrored image of what I’m going via—whether or not it’s love, ache or hope—and I believe that authenticity is what creates a deeper connection as a result of folks relate to it.
S: You’re recognized for breaking down limitations and advocating for illustration and your dedication to social injustice initiatives. What recommendation do you have got for rising artists navigating comparable challenges?
DC: Breaking limitations and advocating for illustration has all the time been a part of my journey, and my recommendation to rising artists is straightforward: Keep true to who you might be. It’s simple to get caught up in tendencies or what others anticipate, however your genuine voice is, and can all the time be, your best asset. Your artwork isn’t nearly you—it’s about creating house for others to be seen and heard too.
Social justice actions, like partnering with Revolutionnaire, are essential as a result of we’ve a accountability to make use of our platforms for good. As artists, we’re not simply right here to entertain—we’re right here to encourage change and problem techniques. It’s about leveraging your affect for a trigger larger than your self.
S: Balancing the music enterprise with a profitable private life is not any small feat. How do you prioritize psychological well being and private development amidst a busy profession? Do you have got any common habits that preserve you grounded?
DC: Balancing the music enterprise with a private life will not be the simplest factor to navigate, however I’ve realized through the years that psychological well being has to return first. I’ve come to understand that taking good care of myself isn’t one thing I can skip—it’s important for staying centered and grounded.
Staying related with my household and shut mates is big for me. They preserve me grounded and remind me of what actually issues. I attempt to prioritize high quality time with them, which helps me recharge and keep balanced within the midst of all the things happening.
Train can be an enormous a part of my routine—whether or not it’s yoga or going for a motorcycle journey. It’s not solely nice for protecting my physique wholesome, but it surely’s additionally a great way to de-stress, clear my thoughts and keep my vitality.
S: With KAZAISU, you’ve created a rosé model that displays not simply your travels however your dedication to natural, health-conscious dwelling and sustainable practices. Might you share extra concerning the philosophy behind the model?
DC: Once I began KAZAISU, I wished it to mirror my values—health-conscious dwelling, sustainability and luxurious. It’s crafted with natural grapes and produced utilizing sustainable practices.
I’m happy with what KAZAISU represents—not simply when it comes to the wine itself, but in addition in what it means for me as a Black lady in enterprise. It’s about embracing who I’m and the place I come from whereas creating one thing significant. I hope KAZAISU can encourage others to see that there’s room for us in each house, that we are able to push boundaries and that we are able to do all of it with ardour and function.
S: Wanting forward, what legacy do you hope to go away—not solely in music but in addition in the best way you’ve impressed others?
DC: Wanting forward, I would like my legacy to be about extra than simply the music I create. It’s about displaying people who we are able to break limitations, problem expectations and create one thing significant that lasts. I need to show that it’s doable to attain greatness with out compromising who you might be. By way of all the things I’ve achieved—from my music to Broadway, launching KAZAISU and advocating for social justice causes—I hope to have proven others easy methods to rise above challenges, carve out their very own paths and by no means accept lower than they deserve.
Above all, I hope my legacy ignites a hearth in others to reside unapologetically, struggle for what really issues and uplift others alongside the best way. I would like my journey to point out that staying true to who you might be, irrespective of the challenges, is the important thing to creating an actual affect.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
This text initially appeared within the Might/June 2025 challenge of SUCCESS® magazine. Picture by Daniel Saboune.
