# Kehlani

> Kehlani Ashley Parrish is an Oakland-born R&B and neo-soul singer-songwriter who turned a childhood of hardship into one of the most compelling careers in contemporary music. After finishing fourth on America's Got Talent as a teen, surviving homelessness, and years of near-misses with mainstream recognition, she finally broke through with 'Folded' - a Grammy-winning hit that charted in the top 10 for 33 weeks in 2026 and led to her landmark self-titled album. Known for radical emotional honesty, political outspokenness, and a voice that channels Brandy and Erykah Badu simultaneously, Kehlani has become both a commercial force and a genuine cultural touchstone for queer communities and R&B lovers worldwide.

- **Role:** Recording Artist at Atlantic Records
- **Organizations:** Atlantic Records
- **From:** Oakland, California, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** High School (dance and performing arts focus), Oakland School for the Arts
- **Known for:** Won Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance ('Folded') at 68th Annual Grammy Awards (2026), Won Grammy Award for Best R&B Song ('Folded') at 68th Annual Grammy Awards (2026), 'Folded' charted in the top 10 for 33 weeks in 2026 - her first solo top 10 hit

## Career timeline

- **2011** — Performed with PopLyfe on America's Got Talent Season 6, finishing 4th place
- **2012-2013** — Experienced homelessness after leaving PopLyfe; received help from Nick Cannon
- **2014** — Released debut mixtape Cloud 19, earning critical acclaim and RIAA Gold certification
- **2015** — Released You Should Be Here mixtape; earned first Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album
- **2016** — 'Gangsta' featured on Suicide Squad soundtrack; suicide attempt following social media harassment
- **2017** — Debut studio album SweetSexySavage peaked at #3 on Billboard 200
- **2019** — Daughter Adeya Nomi born; While We Wait mixtape peaked at #9 Billboard 200
- **2020** — It Was Good Until It Wasn't peaked at #2 Billboard 200; came out publicly as queer
- **2021** — Came out as 'gay, gay, gay, gay, gay' on TikTok
- **2022** — Blue Water Road released to critical acclaim
- **2024** — Crash released; While We Wait 2 released; brief marriage to Mariel Gomerez annulled
- **2025** — Released 'Folded' (June 13); disclosed BPD and Bipolar disorder diagnoses on 30th birthday
- **2025** — Folded Homage Pack EP released featuring Brandy, JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo, Tank, and Toni Braxton
- **2026** — Won first Grammy Awards (Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song) for 'Folded' at 68th Grammys
- **2026** — Self-titled album released on 31st birthday (April 24); received critical acclaim
- **2026** — Received Billboard Women in Music Impact Award (April 29)

## Achievements

- Won Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance ('Folded') at 68th Annual Grammy Awards (2026)
- Won Grammy Award for Best R&B Song ('Folded') at 68th Annual Grammy Awards (2026)
- 'Folded' charted in the top 10 for 33 weeks in 2026 - her first solo top 10 hit
- Billboard Women in Music Impact Award recipient (2026)
- You Should Be Here nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at 58th Grammy Awards (2015)
- Billboard Women in Music Rulebreaker Award (2017)
- It Was Good Until It Wasn't peaked at #2 on Billboard 200
- SweetSexySavage peaked at #3 on Billboard 200
- 17 million Instagram followers
- Self-titled album released on 31st birthday with legendary collaborators including Brandy, Missy Elliott, Usher

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Self-titled album released on 31st birthday (April 24, 2026) to critical acclaim; received Billboard Women in Music Impact Award (April 29)
- **2026-02** — Won first Grammy Awards - Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for 'Folded' at 68th Annual Grammy Awards; gave politically charged acceptance speech calling out ICE
- **2025-10** — Confirmed relationship with British artist Kwn; released 'Folded Homage Pack' EP featuring R&B legends Brandy, JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo, Tank, and Toni Braxton
- **2025-11** — Released single 'Out the Window'; performed 'Folded' on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with laundromat-themed staging
- **2025-06** — Released 'Folded' (June 13), which would go on to become her first solo top 10 hit

## Links

- Website: https://www.kehlani.com/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/Kehlani
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Kehlani
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kehlani/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kehlani
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honeyladykehlani

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/kehlani
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-25