Keyshia Cole

Cole was adopted at the age of two by family friends Leon and Yvonne Cole, taking their surname. Her biological mother was Francine "Frankie" Lons, and her biological father is boxing trainer Virgil Hunter, whom she met after a paternity test confirmed their relationship in 2016. Cole has also identified Sean, Sam, Elite Noel and Neffeteria "Neffe" Pugh as siblings.

Cole was married to professional basketball player Daniel Gibson from 2011 until their divorce was finalized in 2020. They have a son, Daniel Hiram "DJ" Gibson Jr., who was born on March 2, 2010. Cole's second son, Tobias Khalé, was born on August 1, 2019, to Cole and her then-boyfriend Niko Khale.

Cole's family life became part of her public story through reality programs including Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Keyshia & Daniel: Family First and Keyshia Cole: All In. Her biological mother died in 2021, and her adoptive father, Leon Cole, died later that year.

Cole moved from Oakland to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue music. Before signing with A&M Records in 2002, she worked with Bay Area artists and producers, appeared on Messy Marv's "Nubian Queen" remix and contributed backing vocals to the soundtrack for Me & Mrs. Jones. Ron Fair signed her after hearing an unfinished demo and became an important mentor during her early development.

Her debut album, The Way It Is, was released in 2005 and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200. Certified platinum by the RIAA, it produced the singles "I Changed My Mind", "I Should Have Cheated" and "Love". The album's success led to the BET reality series Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, which followed her career, family dynamics and personal life from 2006 to 2008.

Cole also appeared on Sean Paul's "(When You Gonna) Give It Up to Me", from the Step Up soundtrack. The song reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, giving Cole one of her earliest major chart successes as a featured artist.

Cole's second studio album, Just like You, arrived in 2007 and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its lead single, "Let It Go", featuring Missy Elliott and Lil' Kim, became Cole's first top-ten Billboard Hot 100 hit as a lead artist and reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album earned four Grammy Award nominations.

Her third album, A Different Me, was released in 2008 and also debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. It received a platinum certification and included "Playa Cardz Right", featuring Tupac Shakur, "You Complete Me" and "Trust", featuring Monica. Cole supported the album on Lil Wayne's I Am Music Tour before headlining her own A Different Me Tour in 2009.

Cole's music is rooted in R&B, soul and hip-hop. Critics have emphasized her raspy soprano, emotionally direct delivery and songwriting about romantic disappointment, vulnerability and resilience. She has named Mary J. Blige and Brandy among her principal musical influences, along with Monica, Faith Evans, Toni Braxton, Chanté Moore, Aaliyah and Alicia Keys.

Cole released Calling All Hearts in 2010 through Geffen Records. The album included collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Faith Evans, Tank, Timbaland and her adoptive mother Yvonne Cole. Cole's relationship with Daniel Gibson and the birth of their son influenced the album's themes, while the recording process was chronicled in the reality series Keyshia & Daniel: Family First.

Her fifth album, Woman to Woman, followed in 2012 and debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200. The single "Enough of No Love", featuring Lil Wayne, became Cole's 12th top-ten entry on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album was accompanied by the Woman to Woman Tour in 2013.

Cole's sixth studio album, Point of No Return, was released in 2014. It became her third number-one album on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and her sixth consecutive album to debut within the top ten in the United States. She supported it with the Point of No Return Tour and later executive-produced and starred in the BET reality series Keyshia Cole: All In.

After signing with Epic Records, Cole released her seventh studio album, 11:11 Reset, in 2017. The album included the singles "You", featuring Remy Ma and French Montana, and "Incapable". That year she joined the main cast of Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, where her storyline included her co-parenting arrangement with Daniel Gibson and preparations for the album.

Cole expanded her television work by hosting the Fox Soul talk show One on One with Keyshia Cole from 2019 to 2020. She also competed as Candelabra on the tenth season of The Masked Singer, finishing in fifth place.

In 2023, Cole executive-produced and starred in the Lifetime biographical film Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story. The film drew on major events in her life and career, including the death of her biological mother. Cole also performed with Diddy at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards and released the single "Forever Is a Thing" in connection with the film.

Cole has maintained a touring career alongside her recorded work. Her headlining tours include the A Different Me Tour, Woman to Woman Tour, Point of No Return Tour and The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour. In 2024, she headlined the Love Hard Tour with Trey Songz, with Jaheim and K. Michelle also appearing on the tour.

Her collaborations include songs with artists such as Eve, Diddy, Monica, Nicki Minaj, Lil' Kim, Lil Wayne, Faith Evans, Kehlani and E-40. She also participated in "Just Stand Up!", a cancer-benefit single performed during the 2008 Stand Up to Cancer television special.

Cole has supported community and charitable initiatives in Oakland and elsewhere. She helped establish Keyshia Cole Day activities in East Oakland, performed at the Revlon Run/Walk for Women, contributed to a school-supply event with Daniel Gibson and participated in fundraising connected to cancer research.