2024 has been an incredible year for Coco Jones.  The R&B sensation and acclaimed actress has been collecting win after win. She won her first Grammy for Best R&B Performance for her song "ICU" and has been nominated for several more. 

Her EP, Coco By the Fireplace was released in November and has garnered rave reviews.

On the acting side, Coco continues in her reprised role as Hillary Banks in the final season of Peacock’s hit drama “BEL-AIR.”

If that’s not enough, the songstress is also set to star in the upcoming romantic comedy That’s Her along with Kountry Wayne, Emmy Raver-Lampman, and Loretta Devine.

Kicking off the holiday season, Coco performed “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Talking to BET.com, she shared her experience hitting the stage at the annual extravaganza.

“It was awesome. I’m not from New York so it was different to see people who are actually from there at the parade and what a huge deal it is,” Coco told BET.com. “I’m from the sticks so I have to learn about all these things. But man, it was a different thing to be there in person and to see how excited people were. It was an awesome event and I was happy to be there. But it was cold and rainy. Man, that’s a powerful combination. I was frozen [Laughed].”

Coco By The Fireplace is a four-song Christmas EP that puts her stunning vocals front and center. Full of sultry merriment, Coco gives all of the festive vibes that we need during the “most wonderful time of the year.” Instead of covering classic Christmas songs, CoCo penned original compositions including the lead single “Santa is Me.” 

“Honestly, I wasn't planning on doing original songs. They just fell into my lap. I was writing them on the road while I was working on my debut album. I would just write Christmas ideas. I got the tracks at the right time and was able to create the visuals. It worked out exactly the way I wanted. It was really like maybe a Christmas miracle.”

With tracks like “My Presence Is A Present,” Coco sings about more than good tidings, she sings about the heartache of breakups that happen during what should be a festive season.

“I wanted to make some songs that are on theme but for the girls, who are in their feelings on the holiday,” CoCo said.

When it comes to the holidays,  Coco considers spending time with her family essential to the season. And of course, music is at the center of everything.

“In our family, Christmas music is a huge part of what we do. My dad would put on the Jackson 5’s Christmas album, and that's when you knew it was  December. We also have the tradition of picking ornaments based on the good things that happened in our lives that year,” she recalled. “We find something that symbolizes our year, and we add it to our ornament collection.”

When asked if she would star in a Christmas series or film, Coco said she would jump at the opportunity if offered.

“There's only so much time in the year, and so it just has to work out scheduling-wise. But I'm always on the lookout for great scripts, Christmas, and Halloween,” she laughed. “I don't care.  If it's impactful, I'm trying to see something.”

After winning Grammys and dropping successful EPs, Coco is gearing up to release her highly-anticipated debut album. She shared how she’s glad she took her time to make the project.

“I think it feels really rewarding, and I'm grateful that I didn't rush it. At first, I was planning to put the album out this year but it just wasn't working out. I was confused about that, but I found that in the midst of me feeling like it was out of my control, it came together,” Coco said. “That's when the best things happen. I ended up recording more songs because I had the time. Now I believe  my album is better than before.”

Coco also said that she wants her fans to enjoy every aspect of the project when the album is released.

“I really want my fans to just have a good time with every emotion and enjoy it. You can be heartbroken but believe that whatever happens from here is going to be amazing,” she said. “You can be talking that sh*t about yourself at the club, or by yourself. There’s a level of contentment that I want my fans to feel in every stage of the album because I feel like it's powerful to be able to find contentment wherever you are.”

While no official date has been disclosed, Coco is looking forward to the album’s release and touring to promote the album.

“There is a date that we’re talking about, but I probably won't announce that date until the top of the year. This summer, the plan is to go on tour right after the album, and the tour is already on the schedule, so the album must come out before the tour,” she said.

2025 will also be the grand finale of BEL-AIR. After three seasons, Coco shared what she will miss most about the show.

“I'm definitely going to miss the wardrobe. I was inspired so much by Hillary's fashion, and I think it's just so awesome to try out a different style and be somebody different creatively. That was always really fun,” Coco said. “Of course, I’ll miss the cast and our dynamic. I think it's such a blessing to actually like the people you work with. 

Everything that you saw on that screen was really just us being us.” 

“There was great chemistry. We all are super humble and grounded. There are no divas or anything like that. It was just a pleasure working with them,” she continued.

After all her success, Coco is still in awe of the critical praise and love that she’s received from her fans. When asked if she has a Grammy speech ready, she said that still hasn’t gotten over winning the first one.

“It still doesn't feel real. The fact that I won is something that people still have to remind me of because I keep my head down and keep going,” she shared. “So I don't think that feeling will ever fade. People just have to bring me back to reality, because in my mind, I'm still surprised how far I've made it.”

While she loves her work, Coco will be enjoying some much-needed downtime during Christmas.

“I have a couple more things on my calendar for this side of the year, and then I am officially on break. I just want to cook and vibe with my family,” Coco said. “My birthday is at the top of the year, so I don't feel like I get a full holiday, because then I'm like, 'Oh, girl, now you're about to be another age.’ What are you doing with your life? Then I'm going to, you know, plan and visualize what I want for my next year of life.”

Coco's Christmas EP, Coco By the Fireplace, is out now.