Nick Cannon’s parents are James Cannon, his father, and Beth Gardner, his mother. Nick Cannon’s parents never got married and didn’t get to raise the versatile entertainer as they were young when they had him, but they both remained a part of his life, and he has a good relationship with them.
Nick is the only child Beth and James had together, so he doesn’t have any full-blood siblings. However, he has four half-brothers from his father’s relationship with another woman after parting ways with his mother. Their names are Gabriel, Reuben, Caleb, and Javen.
Meet Nick Cannon’s Father, James Cannon
Nick Cannon’s father, James Cannon, is an African American man. According to several reports, he was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He only gained mainstream recognition through his son; as such, many details about his early life are not readily available. Even his date of birth is not known.
However, in June 2021, The Sun’s report about him stated that he was 85 years old. This implies he was born in 1936 and is currently 88 years old. Contrary to this, other reliable platforms state he is in his 60s.
James Cannon had a rough childhood. He once revealed that he was one of the founding members of the dreaded gang Lincoln Park Bloods. While some report claims he is a TV evangelist, others say Nick Cannon’s father is a retired city sanitation worker or a retired postal worker.
Nick Cannon’s father is often mistaken for his paternal grandfather, James Cannon Sr. This is because Nick grew up calling his grandfather dad, just as his biological father did. Because of this, it was widely reported that Nick Cannon’s father died in 2016, but this is not true.
Nick’s father is very much alive. The person Nick Cannon lost in 2016 was his grandfather, James Cannon Sr. Nick took to social media to mourn his granddad, whom he referred to as his dad, as he had always done.
As with his grandfather, Nick Cannon has a great relationship with his father. James Cannon is proud of Nick’s many children; he has openly asked the TV host to have as many kids as he desires. His only concern is for him to be able to provide for them and raise them to know God.
Who Is Nick Cannon’s Mother, Beth Gardner?
Nick Cannon’s mother, Beth Gardner, is an African American woman who is an actress, vocalist, and accountant. Much isn’t known about her early life and family background, not even her age. She gave birth to Nick at a young age in San Deigo, California. Although she left him with his father and paternal grandparents, she remained involved in his life and has a good relationship with the versatile entertainer.
Over the years, Nick Cannon’s mother has worked in the entertainment industry as an actress, vocalist, and camera operator. She has acting credits in productions like The Bad (2014), Smash Bros Fight Club Trailer (2012), and Continue? (2012). She also worked in the camera and electrical department of the TV series, Continue?, as a camera operator.
Beth Gardner has been seen attending industry events with her famous son on several occasions. Back in 2014, she took pictures with him on the orange carpet of the Nickelodeon HALO Awards.
Beth also attended the same award event with Nick in 2015 and 2017. In the former year, she was as well seen beside her son at the New York Premiere of the musical crime comedy-drama film, Chi-Raq.
Nick Cannon’s Parents and Family
| Family Member | Relation to Nick Cannon | Details |
|---|---|---|
| James Cannon | Father | A televangelist. |
| Beth Hackett | Mother | An accountant. |
| Gabriel Cannon | Brother | Nick’s younger brother. |
| Reuben Cannon | Half-Brother | From his father’s other marriage. |
Nick Cannon’s Parents Never Got Married and Were Only Together for a While
Several reports have claimed or suggested that Nick Cannon’s parents were once married; this is not true. James Cannon and Beth Gardner never got married. In fact, they only dated for a while as they learned they were pregnant with Nick in the early stage of their relationship, and it brought an end to their romance.
As the story goes, Nick’s parents met on the 1st of January 1980. His father confirmed this in an interview with The Sun. According to James Cannon, he met Beth on the aforementioned date at a friend’s house. They got acquainted with each other and became a thing. If they anticipated a long romance, it was cut short when Beth disclosed to James that she was pregnant just weeks after they had met.
At the time, James was only 17 years old, and it was hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that he had gotten a girl pregnant. In hindsight, James admitted that Beth was more mature about the incident than he was. While he was willing to talk about the situation, he made it clear that marriage was not in question. Nick’s mother contemplated abortion but eventually decided to keep the child.
Nick Was Mostly Raised By His Paternal Grandparents
Beth Gardner eventually gave birth to Nick Cannon on the 8th of October 1980. Nick was only two months old when his mother left California for North Carolina, leaving him in the care of his father and paternal grandparents. However, she stayed in touch with him, and he visited North Carolina to be with her from time to time.
Even though the famous entertainer spent most of his early life away from his mother, he holds nothing against her. He understands that it was hard for her to be a mother while she was practically a child as well.
Nick Cannon’s parents never reconciled, but they are on good terms and regard each other as friends. While Nick is the only child they had together, Jame Cannon went on to have four more sons with another partner. Their names are Gabriel, Reuben, Caleb, and Javen. They are the only siblings Nick has, and they get along.
What do Nick Cannon’s Parents do?
Nick Cannon’s parents have been involved in so many things in their lifetime. As discussed above, Nick Cannon’s father, James Cannon, is said to be a TV evangelist who was once either a city sanitation worker or a postal worker.
On the other hand, his mother, Beth Gardner, is an accountant who also works in the entertainment industry. Beth has worked as a vocalist, actress, and camera operator in the movie industry.