Biography
Who is Kehlani?
Early life and background
Kehlani Ashley Parrish was born on April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California. Their parents both struggled with drug addiction, and their father passed away when they were a toddler. An aunt raised them after they were adopted. During their teenage years, they attended the Oakland School for the Arts. They originally studied dance, including ballet and modern styles, hoping to train at the Juilliard School.
A knee injury in junior high school caused a shift in focus toward singing. While living with their aunt, they listened to R&B and neo soul artists like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott. These artists became early musical influences. At age 14, they joined a local pop cover band called PopLyfe.
Rise to fame with PopLyfe
The singing career began as a lead vocalist for PopLyfe, a group produced by D'Wayne Wiggins. Within two years, the band performed across the Bay Area. In 2011, the group auditioned for the sixth season of America's Got Talent. They finished the competition in fourth place. During the final show, judge Piers Morgan encouraged a solo career.
Following the show, contractual and managerial disputes led to a departure from the group. They spent six months avoiding music-related work to steer clear of potential lawsuits. During 2012 and 2013, they faced housing instability and moved frequently. Eventually, they moved to Los Angeles without a legal guardian during their senior year of high school. A brief attempt to join a rap group organized by Nick Cannon did not work out, and they returned to Oakland before finding solo success on SoundCloud.
Solo career and studio albums
After releasing early tracks online, they received support from Nick Cannon for studio time and housing in Los Angeles. The 2014 mixtape Cloud 19 brought early attention. The 2015 project You Should Be Here earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. They later signed with Atlantic Records. Their debut studio album, SweetSexySavage, arrived in 2017 and reached number three on the Billboard 200.
The follow-up album, It Was Good Until It Wasn't, reached number two on the Billboard 200 in 2020. They continued to release music, including the 2022 project Blue Water Road and the 2024 album Crash. In 2025, the single Folded helped them win Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. Throughout this period, they collaborated with artists like Justin Bieber, Cardi B, and Zayn.
Tours and live performances
Extensive touring has been a major part of their career. The You Should Be Here tour sold out every North American date and select European dates. They also served as an opening act on major tours for artists like Demi Lovato and Halsey. In 2022, they headlined the Blue Water Road Trip tour across the United States and Europe.
Beyond solo tours, they have performed at prominent sporting events. In 2023, they headlined concert performances at both the WNBA All-Star Game and the MLS All-Star Game. These appearances helped expand their reach beyond traditional music venues.
Birthday and age
Kehlani was born on April 24, 1995, which makes Kehlani 31 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Kehlani shares the date with 37 other famous people.
Explore more
