Louisiana-native Jade Johnson, aka Jade de Lafleur's passion for music & entertainment started at 5 years old. It was then that her mother, a soloist with the local church choir, introduced Jade to performing through the music of Whitney Houston.

Eventually, Jade would join the youth choir herself, where she also became a soloist. Jade received her first big break when she signed to J Records (Clive Davis), as a member of the girl group Sophia Fresh. While beginning her professional recording career, she also studied theatre at Prairie View A&M University, graduating with a B.