Kehlani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kehlani
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Kehlani in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kehlani Ashley Parrish |
| Born | April 24, 1995 Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Education | Oakland School for the Arts |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
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Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer from Oakland, California. They first became known as a member of the teen pop group PopLyfe in 2011.
Kehlani's first mixtape, Cloud 19 (2014), was named one of the best albums of the year by Complex magazine. Their next mixtape, You Should Be Here (2015), was a big success. It appeared on the Billboard 200 chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
After signing with Atlantic Records, Kehlani released their first studio album, SweetSexySavage (2017). It reached number three on the Billboard 200. Their second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020), did even better, reaching number two. Their third album, Blue Water Road (2022), and fourth album, Crash (2024), were also popular with fans and critics.
Contents
Early Life
Kehlani Ashley Parrish was born in Oakland, California. Their aunt adopted and raised them because their parents faced serious personal struggles. Their father passed away when they were a toddler.
As a teenager, Kehlani went to the Oakland School for the Arts. They first focused on dance, especially ballet and modern dance. They dreamed of studying at the famous Juilliard School. However, a knee injury in junior high made them switch their focus to singing.
Living with their aunt, Kehlani listened to a lot of R&B and neo soul music. Artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott became their biggest musical influences. At age 14, Kehlani joined a local pop group called PopLyfe.
Music Career
2009–2013: Starting with PopLyfe
Kehlani's career began as the lead singer of the group PopLyfe. The group performed around the Bay Area for two years. In 2011, they competed on the sixth season of America's Got Talent and finished in fourth place. During the show, judge Piers Morgan told Kehlani, "You've got real talent, but I don't think you need the group."
After the show, Kehlani left PopLyfe due to disagreements. For six months, they couldn't make music because of contract issues. They faced a difficult time and were briefly homeless, moving between friends' houses.
In 2013, Nick Cannon, the host of America's Got Talent, called Kehlani. He had heard their first solo song, "ANTISUMMERLUV," on SoundCloud. Impressed, Cannon helped them get an apartment in Los Angeles and paid for studio time so they could record more music.
2014–2017: Cloud 19 and SweetSexySavage
In 2014, Kehlani released their first mixtape, Cloud 19. It was praised by critics and named one of the "50 Best Albums of 2014" by Complex magazine. In 2015, they opened for rapper G-Eazy on his tour.
On April 28, 2015, Kehlani released their second mixtape, You Should Be Here. Billboard magazine called it the "year's first great R&B album." It featured artists like Chance the Rapper and BJ the Chicago Kid. Soon after, Kehlani announced they had signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. Their tour for the mixtape sold out across North America. The mixtape also earned them a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
In 2016, Kehlani was featured on the song "Wrong" by Zayn. Their song "Gangsta" was on the soundtrack for the movie Suicide Squad, which made them even more famous.
On January 27, 2017, Kehlani released their first studio album, SweetSexySavage. It was a huge success and showed their growth as an artist.
2018–2023: More Albums and Tours
In 2018, Kehlani toured with popular singers Demi Lovato and Halsey. They were also featured on hit songs like "Done for Me" by Charlie Puth and "Ring" by Cardi B. "Ring" became Kehlani's first song to reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
On February 22, 2019, they released a mixtape called While We Wait. It reached number nine on the Billboard 200 chart. In 2020, Kehlani was featured on Justin Bieber's song "Get Me".
Kehlani's second album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't, came out on May 8, 2020. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, becoming their highest-charting album.
They began working on their next album, Blue Water Road, which was released on April 29, 2022. It featured a collaboration with Justin Bieber called "Up at Night." To support the album, Kehlani went on the Blue Water Road Trip tour across the U.S. and Europe.
2024–Present: Crash and Activism
On April 4, 2024, Kehlani released the single "After Hours" from their next album. They also used their music to show support for Palestine. Their music video for "Next 2 U" included a poem by a Palestinian-American writer and a message for the children affected by the conflict in Gaza.
Kehlani's fourth album, Crash, was released on June 21, 2024. It featured collaborations with artists like Jill Scott and Young Miko.
Just two months later, on August 28, 2024, they released a surprise mixtape called While We Wait 2. Kehlani said they recorded the entire project in just two weeks at home.
Personal Life
Kehlani has a daughter, who was born in 2019. They have spoken about the importance of family in their life. In 2020, Kehlani bought a small farm in California, where they live with their daughter.
Kehlani is a vegan. They have many tattoos, including portraits of artists who inspire them, like Lauryn Hill and Frida Kahlo. One special tattoo is a Māori design called a Kirituhi, which represents their family and strength.
Activism and Charity
Kehlani has used their platform to support causes they care about. They have been a strong voice for Palestine, calling for peace and helping those in need. They have expressed their views in social media posts and through their music.
In 2024, with the release of their song "Next 2 U," Kehlani also launched special merchandise. All the money from the sales went to help families in Palestine, Congo, and Sudan through a project called Operation Olive Branch.
Because of their activism, some of Kehlani's performances were canceled in 2025. Organizers cited disagreements over their public statements. Kehlani responded by saying they are against violence and support all people.
Discography
Studio albums
- SweetSexySavage (2017)
- It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020)
- Blue Water Road (2022)
- Crash (2024)
Tours
- Headlining
- SweetSexySavage World Tour (2017)
- Blue Water Road Trip (2022)
- Crash World Tour (2024–2025)
- Supporting
- Demi Lovato – Tell Me You Love Me World Tour (2018)
- Halsey – Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour (2018)
Images for kids
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Kehlani in July 2016
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See also
In Spanish: Kehlani para niños
