Zen, Cannon’s seventh child, died at five months old in 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Nick Cannon honors late son Zen on what would have been his 5th birthday: ‘We love you’

Zen, Cannon's seventh child, died at five months old in 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

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June 26, 2026 11:52 a.m. ET

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Nick Cannon in 2024. Credit:

Julia Beverly/Getty

- Nick Cannon is honoring his late son Zen.

- The child died at five months old after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2021.

- "Zen’s Light will forever shine in our hearts. We love you my son," Cannon wrote.

Nick Cannon is paying tribute to his late son Zen on what would’ve been his fifth birthday.

The 45-year-old *Masked Singer* host shared a series of snapshots that featured himself and ex Alyssa Scott surrounded by loved ones as they honored their little one, who died in 2021 after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

“What a beautiful celebration of life for our Angel Zen Scott Cannon. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts,’” Cannon captioned his Instagram post, which included the corresponding Bible verse. “Zen’s Light will forever shine in our hearts. We love you my son.”

Nick Cannon and his family.

Nick Cannon/Instagram

The service comes after Cannon published an emotional message on Zen’s birthday, June 23, which he declared will “forever be a day light” to him.

“Turning our pain to purpose! We celebrate the life of our Young King Zen Scott Cannon!” he wrote. “We honor our beautiful son and the precious moments we got to share in the physical and the constant energy we share in the Spirit daily.”

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The *Wild ’N Out* star continued, “We are always reminded that ‘To be absent from the body is to be present with the Most High’ 2 Corinthians 5:8🙏🏾❤️🕊️ We love you son.”

Cannon, who has 12 children, announced on a December 2021 episode of his talk show that Zen, his seventh child, had died of brain cancer, just three months after doctors discovered a malignant tumor and fluid building in his head.

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The following year, Cannon and Scott announced in a joint social media statement that they had formed a foundation in Zen’s honor. In addition to Zen, the pair also share a daughter, Halo.

“We are proud to announce his new foundation that will help so many others in this world,” he wrote in part at the time. “‘Zen's Light' mission is to foster global excellence in hope, grief care and pediatric healthcare for families and children in need.”

Last year, Cannon revealed that they’d partnered with design studio ReisField to create a candle in honor of Zen’s fourth birthday, with all proceeds going toward “supporting families affected by childhood cancer and other diseases.”

“Today, we celebrate what would have been my son Zen’s fourth birthday,” he wrote. “Though he was with us for a brief time, his light continues to inspire others through the work of the Zen’s Light Foundation.”

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