What We Know About Nick Cannon's 12 Kids
As many of us now know, Nick Cannon is a dad to twelve beautiful children. Cannon has been open about his decision to father so many children and the fact that he has done so with a number of women, two things that many consider to be highly unconventional. However, Cannon and many of the mothers of his kids have noted that he is a great dad who does his best to stay connected with each child, no matter how difficult that might prove to be at times.
Cannon has also been open about not having much of a dating life, though it's fair to assume that he has his hands busy with babies and presumed girlfriends and partners. As Cannon explained to Howard Stern in April 2023, finding the time for any new relationships would be tough. As he put it, "I'm not out there like that. I'm really trying to focus on myself and my children... my bandwidth doesn't even allow me to kind of be in that space."
Cannon has also admitted he isn't sure if he is finished having children, but told the talk show host, "I'm happy currently with the [children] that I got." Here is a look at Cannon's children, from his twins with ex-wife Mariah Carey to the newest baby in his life.
Moroccan and Monroe Cannon are performers
Perhaps it should come as no surprise that Nick Cannon's oldest children Moroccan and Monroe Cannon are born performers; after all, both of their parents have built steady and successful careers in the entertainment industry. Nick welcomed the twins with ex-wife Mariah Carey on April 30, 2011, in Los Angeles. Carey later explained in her 2020 memoir that she wanted both of her children to have the same initials that she does, hence their "M" names.
In 2016, Carey revealed that the pair's daughter was already showing signs of being interested in going into the family business. As she told People, "Miss Monroe has a really, really good ear for music and a really beautiful tone, but I can't force her to sing, so if she wants to sing, she'll sing." That same year, both Monroe and Moroccan performed with their mother when they joined her for a rendition of "Always Be My Baby" in Hollywood.
In May 2023, Nick spoke about how Carey feels about the many children he's gone on to have. During an interview with "The Jason Lee Podcast," he said, "She's like, 'As long as you don't bring none of that b******* to the Manor of Carey.' Like, she lives in her own world. Nothing can infiltrate that stuff."
Golden Sagon Cannon is testing well above his age level
Nick Cannon and Brittany Bell welcomed their son Golden Sagon Cannon on February 21, 2017. Nick shared the news on Instagram in a since-deleted post in which he wrote, "Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy cometh in the morning! No matter how hard the world may hit you, God always reminds us of our purpose! #TrueHappiness."
In the years that have followed his birth, it's become clear that Golden is a bright kid. In January 2023, Bell revealed on Instagram that Golden, age 5, is now testing at a fourth-grade level at school. In the video, Bell noted that her son began second grade at age five and said, "Golden got tested for his abilities, and he's at grade level four. Although he's not even six, he's in second grade. He's scoring in everything at a fourth-grade level. This is amazing. He blew me away. He inspires me." Nick, who is of course immensely proud of his son, also posted about Golden's academic accomplishments. "I can't take none of the credit though! He gets his genius from his Mamma!" he wrote.
Powerful Queen Cannon had a scary health experience
Nick Cannon and Brittany Bell welcomed their second child together, daughter Powerful Queen Cannon, in December 2020. Bell announced the news on Instagram, where she shared that their daughter arrived just in time for the month's holidays. As she put it, "The best gift ever we have been surprised with... A GIRL!!!!! Powerful Queen Cannon came this week perfect timing for Christmas." Bell also shared that she had "the most intense yet empowering natural water birth" ahead of their daughter's safe delivery.
In December 2021, Nick celebrated Powerful's first birthday by showing up dressed as an elf to her party. Photos of the party were shared via the Daily Mail, and it appears that the family had a Christmas-themed celebration.
In September 2022, Nick revealed that Powerful had broken her arm and even shared video from the day she got her cast taken off. He joked that the day was scary for him, but that the little girl handled the experience like a pro.
Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir are Nick Cannon's second set of twins
Nick Cannon and Abby De La Rosa welcomed their twin sons, Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir Cannon, on June 14, 2021. De La Rosa shared the news first and went to Instagram to write, "JUNE 14TH, 2021 Welcome to the world Zion Mixolydian Cannon & ZIllion Heir Cannon." The two are the second set of twins born to Nick.
De La Rosa had previously confirmed that Nick was the father of her babies in April 2021 by sharing a photo from a maternity shoot that they both participated in. In the since-deleted post, she wrote in part, "Your Dad & I will always be here for you both; in complete unison and support. No matter what this world may throw your way, know that forgiveness is key and what is for you – is for YOU! You both are already so loved and we can't wait to meet you both."
De La Rosa and Nick waited a month to share photos of the twins with the public. On July 15, 2021, De La Rosa shared three photos of herself and Nick with the babies nestled between them.
Zen Cannon passed away in infancy
Nick Cannon and Alyssa Scott welcomed their first baby together only a handful of weeks after the arrival of Nick's twins with Abby De La Rosa. Zen Cannon was born in late June 2021 after rumors that the two were expecting a child together began in May of that year. Scott appeared to confirm that Nick was the father of her baby in June 2021, when she shared a photo of herself in the arms of a man strongly resembling the actor. Scott confirmed Zen's birthday of June 23, 2021, in an Instagram post that she captioned, "I will love you for eternity 🖤 6•23•21."
Tragedy hit Nick and Scott soon after their son was born, and Zen died from complications related to cancer five months after his birth. Nick later explained that Zen didn't go through chemotherapy because his prognosis was so grim. As he later shared on "The Checkup with Dr. David Agus," "They pretty much told me that best case scenario, your son could live to 3 or 4 years old. So instantly when I heard that, I thought, quality of life. I wanted him to have the best existence he could have."
Nick was able to make the decision in part because of his own experience going through chemotherapy to treat his lupus in 2016.
Brie Tiesi and Nick Cannon welcomed their own baby Legendary Love
Over a year later, Nick Cannon's son with Brie Tiesi was born. The two named the baby boy Legendary Love Cannon, and as Nick wrote on Instagram, "LEGENDARY LOVE CANNON!!!! Y'all gonna need a wide screen for this name!!!"
Legendary arrived on June 28, 2022, at 1:28 in the morning. In an interview with Tiesi ahead of the baby's arrival, the mom-to-be told ET that she was thrilled about being pregnant and unbothered by what people might think about her pregnancy, despite the fact that Nick was already a dad to several children. As Tiesi put it, "I'm not really opinionated in other's people business. That's not really my thing. When it first started happening I was just like, 'I don't understand why everyone is so concerned. Like, why are you upset about what happens in my household?' For me, it doesn't actually genuinely affect me."
Nick had previously announced the pregnancy in January 2022, roughly two months after the death of his son Zen. The TV host waited to share the news despite having known about the pregnancy before Zen passed away.
Onyx Ice Cole was also born in September 2022
LaNisha Cole and Nick Cannon celebrated the birth of their own baby, Onyx Ice Cole, on September 14, 2022. Cannon celebrated the baby's birth on Instagram, where he shared a black and white photo of himself and LaNisha and wrote in part, "God has given me and @MissLanishaCole the privilege of hosting an Angel here on earth. I vow to protect, provide, guide and love this child to the best of my abilities."
Cannon appears close to Onyx, though her mother is in a relationship. While there have been rumors that Cannon doesn't allow the women he has babies with to have relationships outside of the one they have with him, Cannon himself has denied this claim. As he told The Breakfast Club in August 2021, "I don't want ownership over anybody. I don't have ownership over any of the mothers. We create families in the sense that we created a beautiful entity."
In April 2023, Cannon seemingly forgot to include Onyx in his list of children. While being interviewed by Howard Stern, the host asked Cannon to list all of his kids in order. Cannon responded, getting every child right except one. LaNisha appeared to address the moment in an Instagram Story in which she wrote in part, "Regardless of where I'm at on my path, I know that God's got me. And I've got Onyx."
Rise Messiah Cannon is Nick Cannon's youngest son with Brittany Bell
Brittany Bell and Nick Cannon became parents together for the third time when their son Rise Messiah Cannon was born on September 23, 2022, following 48 hours of labor. The pair had announced that they were expecting the baby in August 2022, and Rise was born close to the same time that his sister, Onyx Ice Cole, arrived.
Nick shared the news that Rise was on the way on Instagram, where he posted a video clip from a maternity shoot he and Bell shot together and captioned it, "Time Stopped and This Happened...@missbbell #Sunshine #SonRISE." Nick has also been particularly complimentary to Bell. On September 30, 2022, he shared video from what appeared to be her baby shower for Rise alongside a lengthy caption.
Nick wrote in part that Bell was a huge part of his path toward fatherhood. As he put it, "@missbbell has been the rock and foundation of my Fatherhood journey. She has taught me so much about parenting, psychology, spirituality, love and just life in general. For our third child she told me she didn't want a baby shower and needed NOTHING."
Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon is Nick Cannon's third baby with Abby De La Rosa
On November 11, 2022, Abby De La Rosa revealed that she had given birth to her third baby with Nick Cannon, a daughter that the two named Beautiful Zeppelin Cannon. De La Rosa and Nick also share twin boys who were 16-months-old at the time of their sister's birth.
Nick returned to Instagram to praise De La Rosa following the birth of Beautiful Zeppelin. He wrote in part, "Mommy @hiabbydelarosa I love you! You make it ALL look so easy and effortless but I am forever indebted to your tireless work of constant dedication, diligent effort and selfless love that you give to our children and myself."
De La Rosa clarified stories about their daughter's name a few weeks later. As she explained on Instagram, the baby girl goes by Beautiful and Zeppelin is simply her lesser-used middle name. She also shared photos of balloons that Nick had bought to celebrate the baby's birth, as well as offered a peek into her home.
Halo Marie Cannon is the younger sister of Zen Cannon
In late December 2022, Alyssa Scott and Nick Cannon shared that they have welcomed a second child together, daughter Halo Marie Cannon. The baby girl was born on December 14, 2022, which Scott shared on Instagram. In the moving post, Scott acknowledged the pair's deceased son Zen and his sister's own birth. She wrote in part, "Zen is in every breath I take. I know his spirit was with us in the room that morning. I know he is watching down on us, he shows me signs everyday. I will hold onto this memory forever. I will remember the sound of Nicks voice saying 'it's a girl' and the look of everything we've been through flash across his face."
Scott had shared photos on Instagram from a maternity shoot a month before Halo's birth. The photos featured Nick and Scott kissing in a bathtub as well as Nick kissing Scott's growing baby bump in the same location. Scott is also mom to her young daughter Zeela.