Keke Wyatt facts for kids

Ke'Tara Shavon "Keke" Wyatt (born March 10, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. She first became famous in 2000 for her duet with R&B singer Avant.

In 2001, her song "Nothing in This World" earned her a nomination for the Best New R&B/Soul/Rap Artist award at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.

In 2012, she became a star on the TV One reality show R&B Divas: Atlanta. The show followed the lives of five R&B singers from the 1990s. Wyatt was a part of all three seasons and performed with the group at big events like the Essence Music Festival.

Wyatt has released several successful albums, including Soul Sista (2001), Who Knew? (2010), Unbelievable (2011), and Rated Love (2016). She also supports non-profit groups and has been a spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), an organization that helps people in difficult family situations.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Keke Wyatt was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to a very musical family. Her mother, Lorna, was a singer, and her father, Keever, was an organist and singer. Wyatt grew up singing gospel music in church. She also listened to R&B and other types of music.

She started singing when she was only two years old and had her first live performance at age five. Wyatt grew up in Indianapolis but also lived in Kentucky and Texas. In high school, she was on the varsity wrestling team. Her biggest musical inspirations were famous artists like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Ella Fitzgerald. As a teenager, she sang in different girl groups.

Music Career

Starting Young

Wyatt's professional career began when she was just ten years old. She recorded a song called "What If" for a gospel album. People started to notice the "little girl who could sing."

During her teenage years, she worked with Chicago-based producer Steve "Stone" Huff. She also recorded demo songs for gospel record labels. Wyatt began writing her own music, but she faced a big disappointment when she wrote most of the lyrics for a hit song but did not get credit for her work.

Breakthrough with Soul Sista

In 2000, Wyatt recorded the song "My First Love" with the singer Avant. The song was a huge hit and stayed in the top 10 on the music charts for many weeks. This success led to her getting her own record deal with MCA Records.

Her first solo album, Soul Sista, was released in 2001. Her song "Nothing in This World", another duet with Avant, was very popular. It reached No. 4 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The album Soul Sista sold over a million copies and made her famous in countries like Japan, South Korea, and across Europe.

Career Challenges and New Albums

Between 2004 and 2008, Wyatt faced some challenges with her record labels. She signed with Cash Money Records and planned to release an album called Emotional Rollercoaster, but it was never released. Later, she signed with TVT Records to release an album called Ghetto Rose, but that album was also shelved when the label had problems.

In 2009, Wyatt starred in a traveling theater show called Love Overboard. She then signed with Shanachie Records and released two albums: Who Knew? in 2010 and Unbelievable in 2011.

Reality TV and More Music

In 2012, Wyatt joined the cast of the reality TV show R&B Divas: Atlanta. The show was very popular and helped introduce her to a new generation of fans. The cast recorded a charity album to honor the singer Whitney Houston.

In 2013, she worked with Avant again on the hit song "You & I," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Urban A/C chart. In 2014, she released an EP called Ke'Ke'. The EP featured artists like Pusha T and Nitty Scott.

Recent Music and TV Shows

In 2016, Wyatt released her album Rated Love. The lead single, "... Song," was a hit on the Adult R&B charts. That same year, she and her husband at the time, Michael Ford, appeared on the reality show Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.

In 2017, she released a covers album called Keke Covers, featuring her versions of popular songs. In 2023, she starred in her own reality series, Keke Wyatt's World, on the WE tv network. The show followed her life as a mother of 11 and her work on a new album. She also released a new single called "Water into Wine."

Personal Life

Keke Wyatt has been married three times and is a mother to eleven children. She often shares her life experiences to help and inspire others. She is a supporter of the organization Saving our Daughters, which helps young women.

Awards and Nominations

Discography

• Soul Sista (2001)
• Who Knew? (2010)
• Unbelievable (2011)
• Rated Love (2016)
• Keke Covers (2017)

Filmography and Theater

See also

• Keke Wyatt discography
• List of songs recorded by Keke Wyatt
• List of soul musicians