Keri Hilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keri Hilson
Hilson in 2022
Born	Keri Lynn Hilson (1982-12-05) December 5, 1982 (age 42) Decatur, Georgia, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer actress
Years active	2002–present
Works	Discography production
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	R&B pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Mosley Zone 4 Interscope

Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and started her career writing songs and singing backup for other famous artists. Before becoming a star, she wrote hit songs for singers like Britney Spears, Usher, and Mary J. Blige.

In 2004, she joined a songwriting group called The Clutch. She got her big break when she was featured on producer Timbaland's 2007 hit single, "The Way I Are". The song was a huge success around the world and made her famous.

Her first album, In a Perfect World... (2009), was very popular. It included the hit song "Knock You Down", which featured Kanye West and Ne-Yo. This song earned her two Grammy Award nominations. Her second album, No Boys Allowed (2010), had the hit single "Pretty Girl Rock".

After a long break from releasing her own music, she returned in 2025 with her third album, We Need to Talk. Besides music, Hilson is also an actress and has appeared in movies like Think Like a Man. She is also known for her charity work, helping with causes like HIV/AIDS awareness and disaster relief.

Life and Career

1982–2007: A Star in the Making

Keri Lynn Hilson was born on December 5, 1982, in Decatur, Georgia. Her mother ran a day care center, and her father was a developer who had served in the Army. From a young age, Keri loved music. When she was 12, she started taking piano lessons but quickly turned them into singing lessons.

At 14, she joined a girl group called D'Signe, but they broke up before releasing any music. In her teens, she began working as a songwriter and a background singer for famous artists like Usher and Kelly Rowland. She even went to Emory University to study theater while still writing songs.

In 2004, she joined a team of songwriters and producers called The Clutch. They wrote hit songs for many stars, including "Gimme More" for Britney Spears and "Take Me as I Am" for Mary J. Blige.

In 2006, producer Polow da Don introduced her to the famous producer Timbaland. Timbaland signed her to his record label, Mosley Music Group. Her big moment came in 2007 when she was featured on Timbaland's song "The Way I Are". The song became a worldwide hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and number one in many other countries.

2008–2009: In a Perfect World...

Hilson in 2009

After her success with Timbaland, Keri Hilson was ready to release her own music. Her first album, In a Perfect World..., came out on March 24, 2009. The album was a mix of R&B and pop music. It did very well, reaching number four on the Billboard 200 chart and selling over 94,000 copies in its first week.

The album had several hit singles. "Energy" was her first solo single. Then came "Turnin Me On" with Lil Wayne, which became a platinum hit in the U.S.

Her biggest hit from the album was "Knock You Down", featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo. The song climbed to number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It was so popular that it earned Hilson two Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best New Artist.

In 2009, Hilson won the BET Award for Best New Artist. She also toured with Lil Wayne on his I Am Music Tour, performing for huge crowds across North America.

2010–2014: No Boys Allowed and Acting

Hilson performing at the 2010 VH1 Divas Salute the Troops concert

Hilson released her second album, No Boys Allowed, on December 21, 2010. She described it as a "girl power album." The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart.

The most famous song from this album was "Pretty Girl Rock". It became a platinum-certified hit and was popular in many countries. Hilson performed the song on shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman.

During this time, Hilson also started her acting career. She made her movie debut in the 2012 comedy Think Like a Man. The next year, she appeared in the science fiction movie Riddick with Vin Diesel. She also toured with Lil Wayne again on his I Am Still Music Tour in 2011.

2015–2024: A Long Break and New Music

In 2018, Hilson performed at Capital Pride Festival and Concert in Washington, D.C.

After her second album, Hilson took a long break from releasing her own music. She later explained that she needed time to deal with personal challenges and wanted more control over her art.

Even though she wasn't releasing albums, she didn't stop making music. She collaborated with other artists, like Ghanaian musician Stonebwoy on his 2020 song "Nominate".

In 2019, she announced she would be releasing new music soon. She also went on the Femme It Forward Tour with other R&B stars like Brandy and Monica. Fans were excited to hear what she had been working on during her break.

2025: The Return with We Need To Talk

On March 27, 2025, Hilson made her official comeback by releasing the single "Bae". On the same day, she announced that her third album, We Need to Talk, would be released on April 18, 2025.

She shared videos explaining her return, saying she wanted to release her music without pressure from the industry. She said, "I’d love nothing more than to release this incredible music I’ve been ‘sitting on.'"

In April 2025, she also acted in the Lifetime movie Fame: A Temptations Story. She also released a song called "Can't Wait" with singer Eric Benét.

Music and Style

Keri Hilson's music is a mix of R&B, hip hop, and pop. Her songs often talk about relationships, love, and being an independent woman. Her first album, In a Perfect World..., had many songs about love and attraction.

Her second album, No Boys Allowed, had a stronger "girl power" theme. The songs were about being confident and not settling for bad relationships.

Hilson has a smooth singing voice. She has said that her musical influences include her father's side of the family and legendary artists like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Lauryn Hill.

Charity Work

Hilson is also known for her work with charities. In 2010, she was part of the charity single "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

She has worked to raise awareness and money for HIV/AIDS prevention. In 2011, she became an ambassador for MTV's Staying Alive foundation. She also supported First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign to fight childhood obesity.

Hilson has also worked with programs to encourage young people to read and stay in school. During a visit to Africa, she visited an orphanage and gave out school supplies and other gifts to the children.

Discography

Studio albums

• In a Perfect World... (2009)
• No Boys Allowed (2010)
• We Need to Talk (2025)

Filmography

Tours

Headlining

• European Tour (2011)

Supporting

• I Am Music Tour (2009) (with Lil Wayne)
• I Am Still Music Tour (2011) (with Lil Wayne)
• Femme It Forward Tour (2019) (with various artists)
• The Millennium Tour: Turned Up! (2022) (with various artists)

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Keri Hilson para niños