Ta'RhondaJones
Ta'Rhonda Jones with both hands on the brim of her hat, looking up
  • Actress
  • Rapper
  • Director
  • Philanthropist

Ta'RhondaJonesChicago's daughter.

Dr. Ta'Rhonda Jones. Empire's Porsha. Host of OWN's The Never Ever Mets. Eight independent records. And a foundation planting seeds on the South and West Sides she came up on.

Hear the new album Book Ta'Rhonda
Ta'Rhonda Jones in a sage suit and wide-brim hat against black
The story of Dr. Ta'Rhonda Jones

From Auburn Gresham to Empire, and back home on purpose.

Raised by her grandmother on Chicago's South Side, Ta'Rhonda was a butcher at Jewel-Osco and the assistant director of nutritional services at a Roseland nursing home when her brother told her Terrence Howard was looking for female rappers. She thought it was a record deal. It was Empire. Lee Daniels cast her as Porsha Taylor, Cookie Lyon's assistant, and a bit part became six seasons and 99 episodes.

Since then: a Lifetime lead in Stolen by My Mother, a BET Her directing credit, two seasons hosting OWN's The Never Ever Mets, a MasterChef celebrity title, and a rap catalog she has released entirely on her own label since 2018.

She still lives and works in Chicago, where she runs free acting classes for kids through the S.E.E.D. Foundation and Project H.O.O.D. Activist, actress, director, producer, celebrity MasterChef champion, fashion designer, host, rapper, songwriter, philanthropist, and doctor: a woman with many hats.

  • 99episodes of Empire
  • 8independent records
  • 2M+followers
A Jacktress of all trades

Four lanes. One woman.

Breaking Character album cover

Music

New album Breaking Character, out now. Seven albums and an EP, all self-released.

Discography →
 Ta'Rhonda Jones beside a vintage film camera

Acting

Empire, Lifetime, OWN, BET. Reel, credits, directing and hosting.

Reel & credits →
 Ta'Rhonda Jones beside her director's chair

Directing & Hosting

BET Her, her own music videos, OWN's The Never Ever Mets, The Real, E! News.

Behind & in front →
 Ta'Rhonda Jones Seed Foundation

Philanthropy

The S.E.E.D. Foundation and the J(Actress) Hub youth program.

Plant a seed →
Out now

Breaking Character

Thirteen tracks on who she is when the cameras stop. Features Teefa, SandyRedd, Joel Q, GLC, VAADI, Nathan Palmer, Mg Marz and Philmore Greene. Released June 6, 2026 on Ta'Rhonda Jones, LLC.

Spotify Apple Music YouTube Tidal Amazon Music

Full discography, videos and the Empire soundtrack →

On screen

The reel.

All credits →
  • 2015–20EmpirePorsha Taylor · 99 episodesFOX
  • 2024–25The Never Ever MetsHost · Seasons 1 & 2OWN
  • 2020Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley StoryShanara Mobley · leadLifetime
  • 2021The Waiting Room — "It Takes Two"DirectorBET Her
Ta'Rhonda Jones S.E.E.D. Foundation

Planted a seed, then grew we.

Self-Empowerment Educational Development. A 501(c)(3) putting cameras, studios, grants and free acting classes in the hands of young creatives on Chicago's South and West Sides.

Donate The J(Actress) Hub
In her words

Heard.

Marie Claire"My motto is: I refuse to be basic."On Porsha, rap, and season two of Empire theGrio"Music always came first for me."On the rap career that started before Empire Medill Reports"This is my home."Hosting the Empire cast's anti-violence game at Simeon
Ta'Rhonda Jones in a brown puffer coat and leather gloves
Follow

Two million people already do.

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Booking & press kit