BET FEATURES JAYDON AS APRIL 2026 AMPLIFIED ARTIST

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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 7, 2026 – BET has named 18-year-old singer, dancer, and actor JayDon as its BET Amplified Artist for April 2026. BET's dedicated platform for emerging talent shines a spotlight on rising artists through original content, live performances, and multiplatform visibility. JayDon's exclusive BET Amplified Live performance is now streaming on BET.com and BET’s YouTube channel.

BET Amplified is designed to elevate rising artists through original content, live performances, and multiplatform storytelling, connecting emerging voices with BET’s audience of music fans. The program has helped introduce audiences to some of the most exciting new artists across hip-hop, R&B, and genre-defying music, offering a powerful launchpad for the next wave of cultural tastemakers.

Born JayDon Howard McCrary on July 18, 2007, in Granada Hills, California, JayDon is an 18-year-old R&B artist and entertainer based in Los Angeles. A true triple-threat, he first captured national attention as a child actor, voicing young Simba in Disney’s 2019 live-action remake of The Lion King, starring in the comedy film Little, and appearing on Tyler Perry’s The Paynes. He also collaborated with Childish Gambino on the Grammy-nominated album Awaken, My Love! and performed alongside him at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2024, McCrary rebranded under his birth name JayDon to signal a new chapter as an adult contemporary R&B artist. In 2025, he signed with Usher and L.A. Reid's record label mega, in partnership with Larry Jackson's gamma, gaining invaluable mentorship from two of the industry's most influential figures. His debut EP, Me My Songs & I, arrived in October 2025 and quickly made waves. The standout single 'Lullaby' featuring Paradise climbed to No. 1 at Urban Mediabase and No. 13 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, while sparking viral moments across TikTok. His sound, rooted in '90s and early-2000s R&B nostalgia with modern production, has drawn co-signs from artists like Chris Brown, Justin Bieber, and his mentor Usher, who joined him on the official remix of 'Lullaby'.

Now with his latest single 'I'll Be Good' quickly climbing the radio charts, a headlining tour underway that included two sold-out shows at The Blue Note in LA, and a standout performance on BET Amplified, JayDon continues to build momentum as one of R&B's most exciting emerging voices. His dynamic performances, signature choreography, and vocal maturity have positioned him as the real deal, an artist honoring the tradition of R&B while pushing it forward for a new generation.

Fans can watch JayDon’s BET Amplified Live performance on BET.com and BET’s YouTube channel and follow BET Amplified for additional content celebrating emerging voices shaping the future of music.

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP
The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), is the world’s largest media company rooted in community, culture, and connection for the Black community. For over four decades, BET has served as a trusted home for Black audiences, amplifying authentic stories, elevating Black voices, and creating spaces where culture thrives and community comes together.

Through a powerful portfolio of brands—including BET, BET Her, BET Studios, and VH1—along with FAST channels such as BET Tyler Perry Comedy, BET Tyler Perry Drama, BET Comedy Movies, BET Cinema, BET Classics, BET Visionaries, BET Throwbacks, and BET Pluto, BET connects audiences across cable, digital, live events, studios, and global platforms. Together, these platforms deliver culturally resonant content that reflects the depth, creativity, and impact of the Black experience.

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