Triumphant Return
Throughout October, JoJo is hitting the road to perform songs from her personal capsule collection titled Trying Not to Think About It. While kicking off the tour in Boston and New York, the singer gave E! News an exclusive look behind the scenes.
Must-See Event
After not performing for a couple of years, JoJo was pleasantly surprised to hear her tour was sold out. "It just was really exciting and I was like, Oh my god. Okay, I'm about to put on the best show I possibly can for them," she told E! News. "I want to make sure that this is everything from the moment they walk in."
Fashion First
While performing in Brooklyn, JoJo was styled by Anna Katsanis in a dress from Christian Siriano and boots by Gianvito Rossi.
The Truth
When listening to JoJo's new music, fans can hear her struggles with mental health through her lyrics and songs. As for why she's so personal? "I like to share it in my music because I'm really bad at lying," she explained. "I'm really generally not good at pretending to be feeling something that I'm not. So just for me to write where I'm at, it feels a lot more natural than trying to do something that isn't coming from me at the moment."
Healing Sounds
"I really hope that this music feels comforting to [fans] and reassuring that while their circumstances are theirs, they're not alone in the feeling," JoJo shared. "I hope that encourages somebody who is in the depths of the blue and gray that can come along with depression or anxiety, I hope that they are encouraged to reach out and get help."
JoJo's Wish
"I just want them to know that they're worthy of feeling happiness and feeling peace," JoJo added. "Everybody is worthy of that."
Set-List Secrets
"Definitely expect to go through the new music, but also, I do dip into my music from over the years," JoJo teased about her latest tour. "It's very much a sing-along. I love storytelling so I give some backstory on how the songs came to be. And I really hope that people just feel a sense of connection, community and that they feel seen and understood."
Looking Forward
New music may just be the beginning for JoJo. "Since I'm feeling more confident and capable, I also want to get back into acting," she told E! News. "I want to explore other things that I love. I'm super passionate about plant-based cooking and baking and just eating food in general, things to do with plant-based creations and how that can really help bring health and wellness to your life as well."
Don't Look Back
When asked to share a message with her old self—the girl who first hit the music scene in 2004 with "Leave (Get Out)"—JoJo had an epic response. As she told E! News, "I would say, 'Girl, hold on. It's gonna be a ride like you never could have imagined, but you're strong enough and it's gonna make you into somebody totally resilient and unique. Nobody will be able to take that away from you if you just hold on."