Monica Denise Arnold, born October 24, 1980, is an American singer, rapper, and actress from College Park, Georgia. Ever since an early age, Arnold has started performing. When she was 10, she was a part of a traveling gospel choir. Arnold started getting more attention and finally signed with Rowdy Records in 1993. Two years later, she released her debut album, “Miss Thang,” which performed well in the market. She followed it with a series of other successful albums, including “The Boy Is Mine,” “After the Storm,” “The Makings of Me,” and “Still Standing.” Of course, Arnold is not a stranger to getting her singles to reach number one in various charts. Her fame is further magnified by her roles in several television shows. In the United States (U.S.) alone, Arnold sold 5.3 million albums and was recognized as one of the most successful R&B female singers in the mid to late 1990s. She also received a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Today, on her birthday, we’ll delve into the facts and life of this incredible singer!
Fast Facts
Full Name:
Monica Denise Arnold
Birth date:
October 24, 1980
Age:
44
Zodiac Sign:
Scorpio
Height:
5' 8"
Relationship Status:
Divorced
Net Worth:
$8 million
Background
Monica Denise Arnold, simply and professionally known as Monica, was born in College Park, Georgia. Her mother, Marilyn Best, was a Delta Airline customer service and a former church singer, and her father, M.C. ‘Billy’ Arnold, was a mechanic. She had a younger brother named Montez and a half-brother named Jermond Grant. At an early age, Arnold had already started following in her mother’s footsteps by performing regularly at her church in Marilyn’s hometown of Newnan, Georgia. Her parents would later part ways, but that did not stop Arnold from continuing her singing career. The young Arnold won over 20 local singing competitions when she was just a teenager. At the age of 10, Arnold was involved in the Charles Thompson and the Majestics traveling 12-person gospel choir. It was apparent that Arnold had a bright future with her singing career.
Sure enough, when she was 11 years old, Arnold caught the attention of music producer Dallas Austin after she performed a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love of All’ (1991). After listening to Arnold’s astounding vocal performance, Dallas offered her a deal with Rowdy Records, which she accepted. Not wasting any time, Arnold was brought into the studio to start the production process of her debut album, “Miss Thang.” Once the album was finally released, Arnold was bound to get famous (1995). “Miss Thang” sat at number 36 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and went to number seven on the Top R&B Albums chart. It sold many copies, earning her a triple-platinum certification by the R.I.A.A. With all these accolades, it was not a surprise that her debut album won her a Billboard Music Award. Arnold later switched her label to Arista Records, and her name gained more recognition in the mainstream audience. Her song ‘For You I Will’ was featured as a part of the movie “Space Jam” soundtrack (1996). Later on, she collaborated with Brandy on the hit R&B classic ‘The Boy Is Mine’ (1998). The song won them a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Her album of the same name became her highest-selling one, earning her another triple-platinum certification by the R.I.A.A. Over the years, Arnold also appeared in several television shows, such as “Living Single” (1996) and “Beverly Hills: 90210” (1997, 1999). Arnold also starred in a film named “Love Song.” The film features her song ‘What My Heart Says,’ which was a part of the promotion of her next album, “All Eyez On Me” (2002). After her successful run, Arnold continued releasing well-performing albums, including “After the Storm” (2003), “The Makings of Me” (2006), “Still Standing” (2010), “New Life” (2012), and “Code Red” (2015).
Arnold’s relationships were once subjects of public interest. Her first known relationship was with her boyfriend, Jarvis Weems, which took a tragic turn. In 2000, as they were at the gravesite of Weems’s brother, Weems pulled out a gun and committed suicide. It was something that shook Arnold. She briefly dated rapper C-Murder, but later separated after he went to jail. Arnold then met rapper Rodney ‘Rocko’ Hill, with whom she had her first two children. The couple, however, separated in 2010. Arnold also got married to an N.B.A. player, Shannon Brown, with whom she had her third child. The couple filed for divorce in 2019.
Career timeline
Arnold becomes the youngest member of a traveling gospel choir group called Charles Thompson and the Majestics.
After performing a cover of Whitney Houston’s ‘Greatest Love of All,’ Arnold amazes the music producer, Dallas Austin, who signs her to Rowdy Records.
Arnold releases her debut studio album, “Miss Thang,” gaining popularity in the music industry.
Arnold’s collaborative track with Brandy, ‘The Boy Is Mine,’ is released and becomes one of her most iconic songs.
Arnold plays in the M.T.V. movie, “Love Song,” playing the main role of Camille Livingston.
Why We Love Monica Arnold
She has contagious confidence
Her songs are not the only things that draw people to love Arnold. She carries herself with confidence in everything that she does, which inspires her fans.
She sings about her life
The records that Arnold made felt realistic. This is because she always sings about real-life experiences. To do that, she works with songwriters who provide her with songs to which she can relate.
She has a sense of authenticity
Arnold is known for staying true to herself. Even with a lot of artists trying to sell records by making provocative songs, Arnold still chooses to make records that genuinely come from her heart.
5 Surprising Facts
She is related to Ludacris
Arnold has family relations with rapper Ludacris through her mother’s second marriage to a Methodist minister named Reverend Edward Best.
She is an old friend of 2 Chainz
Arnold went to North Clayton High School, which is also where rapper 2 Chainz went to.
She had a famous first manager
Early in her career, Dallas Austin appointed Queen Latifah to be Arnold’s first manager.
The youngest on the Billboard chart
Arnold is the youngest person to ever have two chart-topping hits on the Billboard Top R&B Singles chart and is also the first artist to top the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs for three decades.
She is not cool with Brandy
Even though the duo made a successful R&B hit and won a Grammy Award together, it was rumored that Arnold and Brandy did not get along well.
Monica Arnold FAQs
What illness does Monica Arnold have?
She stated that she had to undergo surgery to remove fibroids, cysts, and a hernia after being diagnosed with endometriosis in 2017.
What is Monica's vocal range?
She is a mezzo-soprano alto with a mezzo-soprano range.
Does Monica write her own songs?
She has collaborated with other artists for duets, but she is also known to have written, recorded, and made content that was never officially published.
Monica Arnold’s birthday dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | October 24 | Friday |
2026 | October 24 | Saturday |
2027 | October 24 | Sunday |
2028 | October 24 | Tuesday |
2029 | October 24 | Wednesday |