Kesha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kesha
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Kesha in 2018
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Kesha Rose Sebert
March 1, 1987 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Ke$ha |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
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| Awards | Full list |
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Kesha Rose Sebert (born March 1, 1987), who used to be known as Ke$ha, is an American singer and songwriter. She first became famous in 2009 when she sang on the hit song "Right Round" by rapper Flo Rida.
Kesha's fun music and unique style made her a star very quickly. Her first album, Animal (2010), and her third album, Rainbow (2017), both reached number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. She has had many top-ten hit songs, including "Tik Tok" and "Timber" with Pitbull.
For a while, Kesha's career was paused because of a long legal disagreement with her former producer, Dr. Luke. The case started in 2014 and was settled in 2023. After this difficult time, she released more music, including the album Gag Order (2023). She then started her own record label and released her first independent album, Period (2025).
Kesha has won many awards and has also written songs for other famous artists like Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, and Miley Cyrus.
Early life
Kesha Rose Sebert was born on March 1, 1987, in Los Angeles. Her mother, Pebe Sebert, is also a singer and songwriter. Pebe wrote the song "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You", which became a big hit for country star Dolly Parton.
As a single mother, Pebe sometimes struggled to make ends meet. When Kesha was a baby, her mom would sometimes bring her on stage during performances. In 1991, the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, a city famous for music. Pebe encouraged Kesha to sing and write songs.
Kesha went to Brentwood High School. She said she felt like she didn't fit in because of her unique style, like wearing homemade purple velvet pants. She played the trumpet and saxophone in the school band and was a good student.
At 17, she was convinced by producer Max Martin to move back to Los Angeles to start her music career. She was offered a scholarship to Barnard College, part of Columbia University, but she chose to follow her dream of making music.
Career
2005–2011: Career Beginnings and Animal
"I was so happy being broke. And I'm happy not being broke. It doesn't really affect me either way. I care about taking care of people that have taken care of me – that's important to me. But to be honest, I'm kind of repulsed by the gluttony and excesses of a lot of people in the limelight."
At 18, Kesha signed a deal with a music company. She sang background vocals for artists like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. To make money, she also worked as a waitress. During this time, she started spelling her name 'Ke$ha'. She said the dollar sign was meant to be an ironic joke.
In 2009, she was featured on Flo Rida's number-one song "Right Round". This was her big break, but she wasn't credited on the song in the U.S. and didn't want to be in the music video. She wanted to become famous on her own terms.
Soon after, Kesha signed her own record deal and released her first single, "Tik Tok". The song was a huge international success and became one of the best-selling digital singles in history. Her debut album, Animal, came out in 2010 and went straight to number one in the U.S. It included other hits like "Blah Blah Blah" and "Your Love Is My ...".
2012–2013: Warrior and More Hits
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Kesha's second album, Warrior, was released in 2012. She worked with famous producers and even collaborated with Wayne Coyne from the rock band The Flaming Lips. The album's first single, "Die Young", was a top-ten hit around the world.
Other singles from the album included "C'Mon" and "Crazy Kids". In 2013, she went on a North American tour with the rapper Pitbull. They also released the song "Timber" together, which became another number-one hit for Kesha.
2014–2018: A Difficult Time and a Powerful Comeback
In 2014, Kesha faced some personal and professional challenges. She checked into a treatment center to get help for an eating disorder. After treatment, she started using her birth name, Kesha, instead of Ke$ha.
Around this time, she entered into a serious legal disagreement with her producer, Dr. Luke. This dispute meant she was unable to release new music for several years. Many other artists, like Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and Adele, showed their support for Kesha during this period.
Despite the legal battle, Kesha began performing again. In 2017, she made a powerful comeback with her third album, Rainbow. The album debuted at number one in the U.S. The lead single, "Praying", is a powerful ballad about overcoming hardship and finding strength. The album earned Kesha her first Grammy nominations.
2019–2022: High Road and Other Projects
Kesha's fourth album, High Road, was released in 2020. The album mixed the fun, party style of her early music with the more emotional style of Rainbow.
In 2020, her 2010 song "Cannibal" suddenly became very popular on the social media app TikTok. This introduced her music to a new generation of fans. During this time, she also started a podcast called Kesha and the Creepies, where she talked about supernatural subjects with guests. In 2022, she starred in a TV show called Conjuring Kesha, where she explored paranormal locations.
2023–Present: A New Chapter with Gag Order and Period
In 2023, Kesha released her fifth album, Gag Order. The album was produced by the famous Rick Rubin and explored the difficult emotions she felt during her legal battle.
In June 2023, Kesha and Dr. Luke announced that they had settled their legal case. In a statement, Kesha said she was looking forward to moving on with her life. After the settlement, she parted ways with her record label.
Now a fully independent artist, Kesha started her own label, Kesha Records. Her first single as an independent artist, "Joyride", was released in July 2024. On July 4, 2025, she released her sixth studio album, Period.
Artistry
Musical Style
Kesha is known for her electropop and dance-pop music, with catchy hooks that are great for dancing. She is also a talented songwriter and has written or co-written almost all of her songs. Her voice has a unique yodeling quality, which can be heard on songs like "Tik Tok".
While her first album, Animal, used a lot of Auto-Tune, her later albums showed off her natural singing voice more. Her music has also included influences from pop rock, country, and even dubstep. Her lyrics often talk about having fun, being an individual, and her own life experiences.
Influences
Kesha has been inspired by many different artists and genres. Her influences include pop stars like Madonna and Janet Jackson, rock bands like Queen and The Rolling Stones, and hip hop groups like the Beastie Boys.
Her mother's career in country music influenced her love for storytelling in songs, with Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash being major inspirations. She has also been inspired by films. For example, her famous glitter makeup over one eye was inspired by the movie A Clockwork Orange.
Personal Life
Kesha is a strong supporter of the LGBT community and animal rights. She has often spoken about the importance of equality and loving people for who they are. She has performed commitment ceremonies for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.
She has been open about her health. In 2014, she received treatment for an eating disorder. She has shared her story to help others who might be struggling. In 2022, she was diagnosed with a health condition called CVID. She also had a serious health scare in 2023 after a medical procedure but has since recovered.
Kesha has also been outspoken on social issues. In 2023, she changed a lyric in her hit song "Tik Tok" that mentioned Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, after he faced serious accusations. She said she plans to perform the new version of the song from now on.
Discography
Studio albums
- Animal (2010)
- Warrior (2012)
- Rainbow (2017)
- High Road (2020)
- Gag Order (2023)
- Period (2025)
Tours
Headlining
- Get Sleazy Tour (2011)
- Warrior Tour (2013–2015)
- Kesha and the Creepies: ... the World Tour (2016–2017)
- Rainbow Tour (2017–2019)
- Kesha Live (2021)
- Only Love Tour (2023)
- House of Kesha (2024–2025)
Co-headlining
- North American Tour 2013 (with Pitbull) (2013)
- The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore (with Macklemore) (2018)
- The ... Out Tour (with Scissor Sisters) (2025–2026)
Supporting
- Rihanna – Last Girl on Earth (2010)
Cancelled
- High Road Tour (2020)
Filmography
- Bravo Supershow (2007)
- Final Flesh (2009)
- Walt Disney's Princess Ke$ha (2011)
- Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012)
- Jem and the Holograms (2015)
- A Ghost Story (2017)
- Rainbow: The Film (2018)
See also
In Spanish: Kesha para niños
- List of artists who reached number one in the United States
