Rashida Jones Says Music Career Was the 'Last Thing' She Wanted with Quincy Jones as Her Dad: 'I'll Never Be Good Enough'

Mar. 15, 2025

Quincy Jones and Rashida Jones attend the “Celeste and Jesse Forever” dinner on January 20, 2012 in Park City, Utah.Photo:Jerod Harris/GettyQuincy Jonesis widely considered one of the greatest music producers of all time — so forgive his daughter,Rashida Jones, for not wanting to follow in his shadow.The actress opened up about her decision not to pursue a career in music like her famous dad, 91, on theSmartLesspodcast, telling hostsJason Bateman,Sean HayesandWill Arnettthat Quincy’s legacy is simply too legendary.“My dad’s a musical genius. That’s like, the last thing I want to do, is try my hand at that,” said Jones, 48. “But I love it. Like, I have a deep ache for music and I just don’t ever feel like I’m good enough to do it. Like I’ll never be good enough to do it, so I just don’t.”Though Jones made her name as an actress in shows likeParks and Recreation, she has dabbled in music, and even sang backup onMaroon 5’s first two records,Songs About JaneandIt Won’t Be Soon Before Long.“I love it so much and I kind of like, sing for fun,” she said. “I’ve written for fun, and I’ve sung backup on some albums and things like that… I can write [music], my reading is limited.”Rashida Jones and dad Quincy Jones at an event in West Hollywood in February 2019.Arnold Turner/Getty ImagesQuincy, who started his career as a jazz musician, has 28 Grammy Awards to his name, and is known for his collaborations with stars likeFrank SinatraandMichael Jackson, including Jackson’s iconic 1982 albumThriller. In 2018, Jones — whose mother is the late actress and modelPeggy Lipton— wrote and directed a documentary calledQuincyabout her father’s life and career.“He’s so well-documented, he’s so accomplished, that it’s almost impossible to spend any time storytelling who he is as a person. You have to cover so much ground with just what he’s contributed to the world and culture,” she said of her documentary. “I wanted to do something that felt like it captured his personality, ‘cause nothing ever has… My dad is a beast, and he has cheated death so many times. Ninety-one and still crushing it.”Though Jones may not have chosen a career in music, she did choose a partner in the industry; she has been dating Vampire Weekend frontmanEzra Koenigsince 2016, and the two share a 5-year-old son named Isaiah.“I’m sure we’ll get married at some point, but we basically are,” sherecently toldThe New Yorker.

Quincy Jones and Rashida Jones attend the “Celeste and Jesse Forever” dinner on January 20, 2012 in Park City, Utah.Photo:Jerod Harris/Getty

Jerod Harris/Getty

Quincy Jonesis widely considered one of the greatest music producers of all time — so forgive his daughter,Rashida Jones, for not wanting to follow in his shadow.The actress opened up about her decision not to pursue a career in music like her famous dad, 91, on theSmartLesspodcast, telling hostsJason Bateman,Sean HayesandWill Arnettthat Quincy’s legacy is simply too legendary.“My dad’s a musical genius. That’s like, the last thing I want to do, is try my hand at that,” said Jones, 48. “But I love it. Like, I have a deep ache for music and I just don’t ever feel like I’m good enough to do it. Like I’ll never be good enough to do it, so I just don’t.”Though Jones made her name as an actress in shows likeParks and Recreation, she has dabbled in music, and even sang backup onMaroon 5’s first two records,Songs About JaneandIt Won’t Be Soon Before Long.“I love it so much and I kind of like, sing for fun,” she said. “I’ve written for fun, and I’ve sung backup on some albums and things like that… I can write [music], my reading is limited.”Rashida Jones and dad Quincy Jones at an event in West Hollywood in February 2019.Arnold Turner/Getty ImagesQuincy, who started his career as a jazz musician, has 28 Grammy Awards to his name, and is known for his collaborations with stars likeFrank SinatraandMichael Jackson, including Jackson’s iconic 1982 albumThriller. In 2018, Jones — whose mother is the late actress and modelPeggy Lipton— wrote and directed a documentary calledQuincyabout her father’s life and career.“He’s so well-documented, he’s so accomplished, that it’s almost impossible to spend any time storytelling who he is as a person. You have to cover so much ground with just what he’s contributed to the world and culture,” she said of her documentary. “I wanted to do something that felt like it captured his personality, ‘cause nothing ever has… My dad is a beast, and he has cheated death so many times. Ninety-one and still crushing it.”Though Jones may not have chosen a career in music, she did choose a partner in the industry; she has been dating Vampire Weekend frontmanEzra Koenigsince 2016, and the two share a 5-year-old son named Isaiah.“I’m sure we’ll get married at some point, but we basically are,” sherecently toldThe New Yorker.

Quincy Jonesis widely considered one of the greatest music producers of all time — so forgive his daughter,Rashida Jones, for not wanting to follow in his shadow.

The actress opened up about her decision not to pursue a career in music like her famous dad, 91, on theSmartLesspodcast, telling hostsJason Bateman,Sean HayesandWill Arnettthat Quincy’s legacy is simply too legendary.

“My dad’s a musical genius. That’s like, the last thing I want to do, is try my hand at that,” said Jones, 48. “But I love it. Like, I have a deep ache for music and I just don’t ever feel like I’m good enough to do it. Like I’ll never be good enough to do it, so I just don’t.”

Though Jones made her name as an actress in shows likeParks and Recreation, she has dabbled in music, and even sang backup onMaroon 5’s first two records,Songs About JaneandIt Won’t Be Soon Before Long.

“I love it so much and I kind of like, sing for fun,” she said. “I’ve written for fun, and I’ve sung backup on some albums and things like that… I can write [music], my reading is limited.”

Rashida Jones and dad Quincy Jones at an event in West Hollywood in February 2019.Arnold Turner/Getty Images

Arnold Turner/Getty Images

Quincy, who started his career as a jazz musician, has 28 Grammy Awards to his name, and is known for his collaborations with stars likeFrank SinatraandMichael Jackson, including Jackson’s iconic 1982 albumThriller. In 2018, Jones — whose mother is the late actress and modelPeggy Lipton— wrote and directed a documentary calledQuincyabout her father’s life and career.

“He’s so well-documented, he’s so accomplished, that it’s almost impossible to spend any time storytelling who he is as a person. You have to cover so much ground with just what he’s contributed to the world and culture,” she said of her documentary. “I wanted to do something that felt like it captured his personality, ‘cause nothing ever has… My dad is a beast, and he has cheated death so many times. Ninety-one and still crushing it.”

Though Jones may not have chosen a career in music, she did choose a partner in the industry; she has been dating Vampire Weekend frontmanEzra Koenigsince 2016, and the two share a 5-year-old son named Isaiah.

“I’m sure we’ll get married at some point, but we basically are,” sherecently toldThe New Yorker.

source: people.com