Nick Cannon isn’t shy when it comes to talking about the complexities and chaos of being a father to 12 children. In a recent Vulture interview, the 44-year-old entertainer opened up about what it’s actually like parenting a dozen kids from six different women. And having five kids in one year.

First off, Cannon wants to clear one thing up, “It’s not like I’m trying to be Elon Musk,” he said, pushing back on the narrative that he’s intentionally trying to set a population record. Instead, he described his large family as more of a “by-product” of his deep desire to please the people in his life, whether that meant romantic partners or friends who wanted children.

But it wasn’t always that deep. Some of it, Cannon admits, came down to impulsivity. “It was also a little bit of, like, Okay, God, how did I have five kids in one year? Probably careless activity,” he confessed.

The Wild ‘N Out host welcomed five children in 2022 alone. That includes Legendary Love with Bre Tiesi in July, Onyx Ice Cole with LaNisha Cole in September, and Rise Messiah with Brittany Bell, also in September. He and Bell also share two other kids: Golden Sagon and Powerful Queen. Then there’s Beautiful Zeppelin, born in November to Abby De La Rosa, with whom Cannon also shares twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir. And finally, Halo Marie, born in December to Alyssa Scott, who also shared baby Zen with Cannon before the little one tragically passed at five months old due to brain cancer.

Cannon shares his oldest twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with ex-wife Mariah Carey.

So, is he finally done? Well, maybe not. 

Cannon said in the interview that, “The world is a crazy place. I never say ‘never.’”

In a separate People Magazine interview back in March, Cannon echoed that same uncertainty, explaining, “There was a point in time where I was just like, ‘Nah, I’m done.’ And then I was like, ‘Who am I to say that?’”

“I never imagined that I would have 12 kids,” he added. “So, it’s one of those things where I love children. I love my life, and if it could keep going in the direction that it’s going, why not?”

Only time will tell if Cannon, one day, welcomes lucky number 13 to the world. 

Photo Credit: Nick Cannon Instagram