When Cheyenne Jolene steps on stage in the shoes of her alter ego, the singer-songwriter’s voice carries both raw emotion and unapologetic truth.
Performing as BodaciousThang, Jolene blends R&B, hip hop, rock, and soul into what she describes as “genre bending” music. Her songs are steeped in authenticity and storytelling, offering listeners intimate glimpses into her personal journey.
She acknowledges that honesty can sometimes be uncomfortable. One of her signature songs, “Melanin Pride,” celebrates Black womanhood and self-love. Performing it in certain spaces can feel vulnerable, but Jolene insists on sharing it anyway.
“It’s still so important to express who you truly are,” she said.
Click here for tickets to Startland News’ Startup Crawl, where BodaciousThang is set to take the stage Friday, Sept. 19 at Spark Kansas City.
Homecoming fueled by family, loss, and growth
After 15 years in Los Angeles, Jolene recently returned to Kansas City, guided by family ties, personal loss, and a sense of unfinished business.
Originally from Kinston, North Carolina, she spent her teenage years in Kansas City, attending Paseo Academy before heading to LA immediately after graduation. This spring, she came back to the city where her music career first took root.
“My family is here; my grandma passed away; my partner’s here as well, and I just started to put some things in perspective,” she said
The move was also shaped by her experience living in California during the state’s devastating wildfires.
“I love LA, but my heart was definitely being pulled back to Kansas City,” she added.
Jolene’s passion for music revealed itself early. At just 4 years old, her father overheard her singing in the car and encouraged her to share her voice with their church congregation.
“I was very, very shy, but when it came to singing, I wasn’t shy anymore,” she said. “I always daydreamed about performing on stage and being like Whitney Houston. I just always loved to sing.”
Cheyenne Jolene, BodaciousThang; courtesy photo
Staying true
Her commitment to authenticity wasn’t always easy, said Jolene. The industry brought plenty of challenges, from unstable housing to pressure to change her appearance.
“When I first moved to Los Angeles, I didn’t have any friends or family at all. I was 18; and I had no idea what I was doing,” she said.
Despite the struggles, Jolene leaned on spiritual practices and a supportive community to stay grounded.
“Meditation, praying, reading, and having a good team of people around you, that’s definitely been the saving grace for me,” she said. “It does take a lot out of you, but you just have to have that faith and just keep pushing.”
Click here to follow BodaciousThang on Instagram.
Finding her voice
Jolene’s early experiences performing in Kansas City laid the groundwork for her career.
“My first performance was at The Blue Room, where I actually got some money,” she recalled with a laugh. “I had a duo as well, where we were doing original music, and we played behind the jazz museum too.”
Now, returning after so many years, she’s struck by how the city has evolved, and what has stayed the same.
“When I’m here, I know I’m going to hear good jazz; and there’s an authenticity here that sometimes I feel can be lacking in those big, big, big cities,” she said. “But there’s definitely room for more things to grow here in the music realm.”
Writing for Netflix
While Kansas City grounded her beginnings, Jolene’s time in Los Angeles expanded her reach. In 2020, she began writing consistently for television. Her music found a wider audience through placements on Netflix’s “Love Is Blind,” exposing her voice to millions of viewers.
“It feels amazing. I’m never bored of hearing my music on TV,” she said. “I almost didn’t even take that first gig because I thought the world was ending. But then they called me again and said, ‘Are you gonna do this or not?’ So I calmed down and got to work. And yeah, it worked out.”
One scene in particular stands out.
“A couple is about to break up, and then you just hear my voice,” she said, laughing.
On stage with icons
Television opened doors, but Jolene also treasures her moments performing alongside musical legends. She recalls a surreal evening, singing at Stevie Wonder’s Toys for Tots fundraiser.
“That was a wild moment with Stevie Wonder,” said Jolene. “He was just really, really nice, he was so kind, and I’ve seen him out a couple of times since that moment, and he’s always just so beautiful.”
Performing with artists like Pat Benatar and Idina Menzel also deepened her appreciation for artistic integrity and perseverance.
Building a future in KC
Now, back in Kansas City, Jolene hopes her music will serve as more than just entertainment. She wants her story to inspire others who are navigating their own battles.
“I want them to feel like anything they want in their life is possible, no matter what you’ve been through, that you can come back from anything,” she said. “When people see me being vulnerable and telling my story, I want them to be inspired to do whatever they want to do.”
Her newest music video Dreamin, a song about falling deeper into a love, carries that mission forward with her heartfelt storytelling.
This Friday, she’ll take the stage at Startland News’ Startup Crawl event, an opportunity to reconnect with her hometown audience.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “The next thing is to keep performing and keep putting out cool music.”
Click here for free access to BodaciousThang’s Sept. 19 performance.
