Nick Cannon
A multimedia entrepreneur who transformed from a Nickelodeon teen star into a ubiquitous host and a patriarch of his own entertainment empire.
Born 1980 (age 46)·American comedian·Birthday: October 8·Generation X
Biography
Nick Cannon’s career began with youthful exuberance on Nickelodeon's 'All That,' but his ambition always stretched far beyond sketch comedy. He leveraged that early fame into a unique position as a generational ringmaster, creating and hosting the long-running improv battle show 'Wild 'N Out.' That success made him a go-to host for network television, steering major franchises like 'America's Got Talent' and 'The Masked Singer.' Cannon’s work ethic is staggering, extending into music production, film, and a sprawling radio and podcast network. His public life, particularly his large family, has become a central part of his narrative, blending personal and professional into a continuous, headline-generating brand. He operates not just as a performer, but as a CEO of his own vast creative universe.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Nick was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nick Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Nick's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Created, produces, and hosts the enduring MTV improv comedy series 'Wild 'N Out,' launched in 2005.
- Served as the host of 'America's Got Talent' for nearly a decade, from 2009 to 2016.
- Hosts the prime-time hit 'The Masked Singer,' which became a global television phenomenon.
- Released a self-titled debut rap album in 2003 which included the top 10 single 'Gigolo'.
- Owns and operates Ncredible Entertainment, a multifaceted production company.
Did You Know?
He was the youngest ever executive producer in broadcast television when he helped develop 'TeenNick'.
Cannon was diagnosed with lupus in 2012 and has spoken publicly about managing the autoimmune disease.
He briefly attended Howard University on a scholarship before focusing on his entertainment career full-time.
He is a certified minister and has officiated weddings.
Cannon hosts a daily radio show, 'Nick Cannon Mornings,' on Power 106 Los Angeles.
“"If you stay ready, you ain't gotta get ready."”
