the lowest first-week sales amongst her first six albums. After appearing in the US talent show, I Can Do That, she host the 2016 edition of the Billboard Music Awards. A few months later, she announced during the red-carpet of the American Music Awards that she was pregnant. 2017–2021: Beauty Marks and entrepreneur projects During 2016, Ciara worked on her seventh studio album and stated that the album would feature her undertaking a new musical direction. On January 27, 2017, it was announced that Ciara had signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. On July 17, 2018, Ciara released the single and its accompanying music video, "Level Up". The song was the first single from her seventh studio album Beauty Marks, released on May 10, 2019. In addition to "Level Up", the album spawned the singles "Freak Me", "Dose", "Greatest Love" and "Thinkin Bout You". Ciara performed "Thinkin Bout You" at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. In July 2019, it was announced that Ciara would appear as a judge alongside David Dobrik and Debbie Gibson in a new musical competition on Nickelodeon titled America's Most Musical Family. On December 23, 2019, Ciara featured on the remix of longtime friend Blanco Brown's "The Git Up". After taking a break from music to focus on her pregnancy, Ciara released a new song and video titled "Rooted", featuring Ester Dean, on August 13, 2020. Between 2020 and 2021, Ciara and her husband Russell Wilson embarked on several business projects, opening the fashion house The House of LR&C, and signed a first look deal with Amazon Studios to start Why Not You Productions. 2022–present: New record deal and eighth studio album In May 2022, it was announced that Ciara would appear on the cover of the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, making her the third musician to do so since the issue launched in 1964. On June 29, 2022, it was announced that Ciara had signed a new record deal with Republic and Uptown Records, in partnership with her label, Beauty Marks Entertainment. Ciara's eighth studio album will be released through the partnership. The first release from the deal was announced to be the single, "Jump", released on July 8, 2022. In September 2022, it was insinuated that Ciara had collaborated with Summer Walker for a second time. On September 28, 2022, Ciara released the uptempo single "Better Thangs", which features Walker. The official