1984–1989: Career beginnings In 1984, Shanice competed
Star Search, the largest national talent show on television at the time. Competing in the show's Junior Vocalist category, Shanice won the grand prize of $5,000 USD with her renditions of "
Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "
Greatest Love of All". The album's lead single, "
(Baby Tell Me) Can You Dance", became a top-ten
R&B hit and peaked at number fifty on the US
Billboard Hot 100. Her follow-up single, "
I'm Cryin'", peaked at number eleven on the US
Hot R&B Singles. In October 1992, she released a single titled "
Saving Forever for You" on the
soundtrack of American
teen drama television series
Beverly Hills, 90210. The song peaked at number four on the
Billboard Hot 100. as well as on "Bedtime" for
Usher's
My Way album in 1997. In January 1997, she made her theater debut as Eponine in the
Broadway production of
Les Misérables. In the summer of 1997, Shanice signed to
Arista Records but later moved to
LaFace Records at the request of label's co-owner
LA Reid. The album sales became sluggish after the release of the second single "
Yesterday". In August 1999, Shanice toured as the opening act for
NSYNC's
Boys of Summer Tour. In 2000, Shanice was dropped from her record deal with LaFace Records after she became pregnant with her first child. Following her appearance in the movie
One Special Moment in June 2001, Shanice went on a music hiatus. She made a guest appearance in the American sitcom
One on One's season one episode "Me & My Shadow".
2005–2016: Every Woman Dreams and television In 2005, Shanice re-emerged with the release of her single "Every Woman Dreams", which peaked at number 62 on the US R&B chart. In February 2006, she released her fifth album
Every Woman Dreams on her own record label Imajah Records.
Every Woman Dreams peaked at number thirty on the US
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album's singles "Take Care of U" and "So Sexy" experienced moderate success, peaking within the top seventy on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2010, she performed vocals on the track "
Behind the Mask" from
Michael Jackson's posthumous album
Michael. She recorded the song "A Midnight Rendezvous" for the 2012
Kinect game
Rhythm Party. She also performed "Love Is the Gift", the English theme song for the video game
The Bouncer. In November 2014, the
Oprah Winfrey Network began airing the reality television series
Flex & Shanice. The show ran for three seasons and chronicled the daily events of Shanice and her husband as well as their family members. During the show, Shanice began recording new music and working with several producers. To coincide with the debut of
Flex & Shanice, she released two singles: "Gotta Blame Me" and "We Can Fly" in November 2014. In July 2015, she released another single titled "Another Lonely Day in California". In 2016, she release a single titled "Breakdown".
2019–present: Current projects In 2019, Shanice returned with the single "He Won't". In 2022, she recorded the theme song for animated children's television series
Mecha Builders. In September 2025, Shanice starred as former First Lady
Michelle Obama in the
Off-Broadway production of
44: The Obama Musical. In November 2025, Shanice announced that she will appear in the
BET+ Christmas movie
A Soulful Christmas. ==Artistry==