can you forward a current email address so that only a copy of the email goes to another account?
i.e. existing account bob@example.com
forward to both bob@example.com and jj@n2.com

make sense?

You should use Cpanel - Mail - Forwarders if you have linux account.

i do have a linux account, but i don't want to only forward the mail. i want to keep a copy on my local linux email account, AND forward a copy to an external email address. is that possible?

It will store mail to your local mail account.

thanks, you are right. it does say however when you do it that all mail will be redirected. i dont know if you can change that message to make it more accurate or not, but it works. thanks!