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Nick Cannon joins "America's Got Talent" as the new host of the fourth season of NBC's summer reality competition series, which brings the variety format back to the forefront of American culture.

Cited by People magazine as one of the "Top Ten Most Successful Young People in Hollywood," Cannon also was featured on the cover of Black Enterprises' "40 Under 40." Cannon, 28, is a successful, multi-faceted entertainer: film star, comedian, musician, writer and executive producer of his own hit TV shows.

A San Diego native, Cannon began performing at the age of eight after his grandfather left him several instruments as gifts. Through what Cannon recalls as "a lot of trial and failure," he recorded his first song at home on his boom box. Soon after, Cannon took to the stage to perform his music along with standup comedy.

Cannon headed for Hollywood at age 15 and landed gigs at world-renowned comedy venues, including the Improv, the Laugh Factory and the Comedy Store. Cannon went on to share the stage with the likes of Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle and Chris Rock before landing his first television gig as a standup audience warm-up for the long-running Nickelodeon hit show "All That." Producers quickly recognized Cannon's calling was in front of the camera and he became a regular on the show as well as a writer, making him the youngest staff writer in television history at the age of 17. This path culminated in the creation of "The Nick Cannon Show"" in which he starred, directed and executive produced -- all of which earned him his first Kids' Choice Award.

Cannon's powerful stage presence captivated more than just pint-sized audiences. While he enjoyed tremendous success on Nickelodeon, Cannon's career catapulted onto the big screen in 2002. He made an appearance alongside Will Smith in "Men in Black II" before landing a leading role in the feature "Drumline." That same year he released his own self-titled debut album, and has collaborated with a host of other musicians, such as Kanye West, the Neptunes, Diddy, Mary J. Blige, Will Smith, R. Kelly and E-40, on soundtracks and other projects.