Kehlani

“You are like the sun so always shine bright.

  • Name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish
  • Born: April 24, 1995
  • From: Oakland, California
  • Pronouns: She/her, they/them
  • Contribution/Impact: Kehlani is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. She identifies as a lesbian, is “definitely on the non-binary scale,” and has stated is it important for her to include female pronouns in her lyrics.
  • Occupation: singer, songwriter, dancer
  • Known For: “Gangsta” (2016), “Good Life” (2017), “Nights Like This” (2019)
  • Awards: Rule Breaker Award at the Billboard Women in Music 2017 Awards
KEHLANI
Tore Sætre, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Growing up, Kehlani Ashley Parrish wanted to be a dancer and studied dance at the Oakland School for the Arts. However, a leg injury pushed her to focus more on singing which led her to the musical group PopLyfe. Due to many behind the scenes conflicts, Kehlani left the group and avoided music for a brief time and was effectively homeless. However, Nick Cannon, impressed by her work on America’s Got Talent, gave her an apartment and studio time and helped launch her solo career. Since then, she has become a successful artist.

Handout

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