Born in Terrell, Texas, Jamie Foxx was raised by his maternal grandparents in a strict Baptist household. His grandmother introduced him to the piano at age five, something that helped shape his musical career. After high school, he received a classical piano scholarship to United States International University in San Diego, where he studied classical music and composition. 

Foxx gained national recognition in the early 1990s as a cast member on the sketch comedy series In Living Color. He later starred in his own sitcom, The Jamie Foxx Show, which aired on The WB. His star rose further, following his portrayal of Ray Charles in the 2004 film Ray, which earned him an Academy Award. Since then, he has appeared in several high-profile acting roles, including box office hits such as Django Unchained, Annie, and Spider-Man: No Way Home.

In addition to his acting and music career, Foxx has also found success as a television host. Since 2017, he has hosted the music-based game show Beat Shazam on Fox, where contestants compete to identify songs faster than the Shazam music recognition app. The show also features his daughter, Corrine Foxx, as co-host.