Kehlani Bio
Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995), known professionally as Kehlani, is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer from Oakland, California. They first gained attention as the lead vocalist of the teen pop group PopLyfe before building a solo career rooted in R&B, pop, hip-hop, and neo-soul. After releasing two critically acclaimed mixtapes, Kehlani signed with Atlantic Records and has since built a catalog of studio albums and singles that have charted on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100. Beyond music, Kehlani is recognized for their advocacy on social issues and for their openness about gender, sexuality, and mental health.
Early Life and Background
Kehlani Ashley Parrish was born on April 24, 1995, in Oakland, California, to Kehlani Sr. and Elon Parrish. They were adopted and raised by their aunt after their mother, who struggled with drug addiction, served time in jail. Their father, who also had a drug addiction, died when Kehlani was a toddler. Raised in Oakland, Kehlani grew up surrounded by a tight-knit family environment shaped by these early challenges.
During their teenage years, Kehlani attended the Oakland School for the Arts, where they initially focused on dance, studying ballet and modern dance. They had hoped to train at the Juilliard School, but a knee injury in junior high redirected their energy toward singing. While living with their aunt, they listened almost exclusively to R&B and neo-soul artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott, who remain key influences on their songwriting.
At age 14, Kehlani was recruited to join a local pop cover band, giving them their first taste of performing in front of live audiences. The experience laid the groundwork for what would soon become a professional music career.
Path to Music
Kehlani’s professional career began when they joined the teen pop group PopLyfe, whose music was produced by former Tony! Toni! Toné! member D’Wayne Wiggins. Within two years, the group performed across the Bay Area and beyond. In 2011, they auditioned for the sixth season of America’s Got Talent, finishing in fourth place. Judge Piers Morgan told Kehlani during their final appearance that they had real talent but did not need the group, an observation that foreshadowed their solo path.
After the show, Kehlani left PopLyfe due to managerial and contractual disputes and spent the next six months away from music to avoid legal issues. In 2012 and 2013, they experienced a period of housing instability, moving between homes and often sleeping on couches. During their senior year, they relocated to Los Angeles without a legal guardian. After a brief, unhappy stint in a rap group put together by Nick Cannon, they returned to Oakland and, struggling for money, resorted to stealing iPhones and groceries for a short time before releasing their first solo track, “ANTISUMMERLUV,” on SoundCloud. Cannon, who had hosted America’s Got Talent during PopLyfe’s run, bought them an apartment in Los Angeles and studio time, setting the stage for their breakthrough.
Kehlani Career
Early Career (2009–2017)
In 2014, Kehlani released their debut mixtape, Cloud 19, which included guest appearances from Kyle Dion and production support from Jahaan Sweet. Complex ranked it among the “50 Best Albums of 2014,” and Pitchfork included it among the year’s “Overlooked Mixtapes.” In 2015, Kehlani opened for G-Eazy on the second leg of his From the Bay to the Universe tour.
On April 28, 2015, they released their second mixtape, You Should Be Here, which Billboard called “the year’s first great R&B album.” The project debuted at number five on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. A week after its release, Kehlani signed with Atlantic Records and embarked on a sold-out North American and select European tour.
Breakthrough (2017–Present)
Kehlani released their debut studio album, SweetSexySavage, on January 27, 2017, via Atlantic Records. The album peaked at number three on the Billboard 200. In 2018, they opened for Demi Lovato on the North American leg of the Tell Me You Love Me World Tour and later joined Halsey’s Hopless Fountain Kingdom World Tour in Oceania. Guest features on Charlie Puth’s “Done for Me” and Cardi B’s “Ring” brought their first entry into the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
Their second studio album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, arrived on May 8, 2020, and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. In 2022, Kehlani released their third studio album, Blue Water Road, supported by the Blue Water Road Trip tour across the United States and Europe. In 2023, they headlined performances at both the WNBA All-Star Game and the MLS All-Star Game. Their fourth studio album, Crash, was released on June 21, 2024, and was followed by the mixtape While We Wait 2 on August 28, 2024.
On June 11, 2025, Kehlani released the single “Folded,” which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The song won Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. A “Folded Homage Pack” with remixes featuring Brandy, JoJo, Mario, Ne-Yo, Tank, and Toni Braxton followed in October 2025, with “Out the Window” released on November 7, 2025.
Notable Works and Milestones
Kehlani’s signature works include the mixtapes Cloud 19 and You Should Be Here, both of which earned RIAA gold certifications, and the studio albums SweetSexySavage, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, Blue Water Road, and Crash. Their feature on Cardi B’s “Ring” marked their first top-40 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, while “Folded” stands as their highest-charting solo single and earned them their first Grammy Awards.
Kehlani Award Nominations
Kehlani has earned nominations across major music awards ceremonies. Their 2015 mixtape You Should Be Here received a nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, marking their first Grammy recognition.
Kehlani Awards Won
Kehlani won two Grammy Awards at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025 for the single “Folded.” The song received Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song, becoming their first Grammy wins.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance | 1 | 2025 |
| Grammy Award for Best R&B Song | 1 | 2025 |
Kehlani Family
Kehlani was born to Kehlani Sr. and Elon Parrish. They were raised by their aunt after their mother served time in jail and their father died when Kehlani was a toddler. They have spoken about their Māori heritage and received a traditional kirituhi tattoo representing their whānau.
Personal Life
Kehlani has a daughter, born in 2019, with guitarist Javaughn Young-White. They live with their daughter on a small farm in Simi Valley, California. Kehlani has been open about their past experiences as a survivor of sexual assault and about their journey with mental health, including a publicly discussed attempted suicide in 2016 following online harassment.
In relationships, Kehlani was previously linked to NBA player Kyrie Irving in 2016 and rapper YG in 2019. They were briefly married to music executive Mariel Gomerez in 2024 before the marriage was annulled. Kehlani has also spoken publicly about past relationships, including with 070 Shake. In October 2025, they confirmed they are in a relationship with British singer and rapper Kwn. Kehlani identifies as non-binary and has used she/they pronouns, having previously identified as queer and pansexual.