Editing Blu Cantrell (section)

===2005–present===
[[File:Academy Awards afterparty CUN Blu Cantrell.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Cantrell in 2007]]
In 2005, following the formation of the joint venture of [[Bertelsmann Music Group|BMG]] and [[Sony Music Entertainment]], Arista merged with [[J Records]] and began operating under the newly formed [[RCA Music Group]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantic Records Group|publisher=[[Warner Music Group]]|url=http://mobile.wmg.com/wmglinks?page=recordedmusic&subpage=atlanticrecordsgroup&viewFullPage=true|date=August 22, 2014|access-date=May 11, 2015|archive-date=July 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708065759/http://mobile.wmg.com/wmglinks?page=recordedmusic&subpage=atlanticrecordsgroup&viewFullPage=true|url-status=dead}}</ref> At about the same time, Cantrell's recording deal was up for renewal and though she was in a position to re-sign with the label, the singer chose to leave the company following the resignation of her mentor [[L.A. Reid]].<ref name="yknigs"/> She then toured intensively as a free agent.<ref name="yknigs"/> Cantrell also starred alongside [[LisaRaye McCoy|LisaRaye]] and [[Kenya Moore]] in the musical stage play ''Gossip, Lies and Secrets'' which ran from September until November in 2007. The following year, she appeared in [[NBC]]'s ''[[Celebrity Circus (U.S. TV series)|Celebrity Circus]]'', becoming the first celebrity to be eliminated from the show in the season's second week.

In 2013, Cantrell confirmed that she was working independently on her third studio album.<ref name="yknigs"/> In December 2016, she told ''Fuse'' that she was still working on a new album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fuse.tv/2016/12/blu-cantrell-interview-then-now-hit-em-up-style-new-album|title=Then & Now: Blu Cantrell on 'Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)' & Recording a New Album|website=Fuse.tv|access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref>

Despite the lack of US success after her one big hit, Cantrell continues to perform in Australia and Europe.