BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Keke Palmer
| Keke Palmer | |
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Palmer at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con International
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| Born | Lauren Keyana Palmer August 26, 1993 Harvey, Illinois, U.S. |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2002–present |
| Musical career | |
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| Website | kekepalmer |
Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer (born August 26, 1993) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. Palmer was born in Harvey, Illinois and raised in Robbins, Illinois. After Palmer's film debut, Palmer and her family moved toCalifornia to help her pursue a career in acting. Palmer released her debut album, So Uncool, on September 18, 2007 throughAtlantic Records. The album failed to chart on the US Billboard 200 but did chart at number 85 on the R&B chart. The album was preceded by the lead single "Keep It Movin'".
Apart from her work in music, Palmer is also a recognized actress. She made her acting debut in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business and rose to prominence in 2006 for her breakthrough role in Akeelah and the Bee as well as starring in Madea's Family Reunion. Palmer has also starred in films such as The Longshots (2008) and Shrink (2009). In 2012, Palmer starred in four filmsJoyful Noise, Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom, Ice Age: Continental Drift, and Virgin Mary. Besides films, Palmer has also starred in the television films Knights of the South Bronx (2005), Jump In! (2007), and Rags (2012) amongst others. Palmer has also had numerous television roles including the lead role in Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. Palmer earned $20,000 per episode of True Jackson, VP, which made her the fourth highest-paid child star on television.[1] She is currently a series regular on Scream Queens, a horror-camp television show, which debuted on the Fox Network on September 22, 2015.[
Early life
Palmer was born on August 26, 1993[3] in Harvey, Illinois.[4] Her parents, Sharon and Larry Palmer, who met in drama school, had both worked as professional actors before settling into full-time jobs. Her father works for a polyurethane company, and her mother is a high school teacher who works with autistic children.[5][6] Palmer first sang in a church but earned exposure performing at a stage show at a Chicago tourist destination.[3]
Career
2002–06: Career beginnings
In 2002, Palmer auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at age nine.[5] In 2004, she gained her first film role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business, in which she played the niece of American rapper and actress Queen Latifah. After starring in the film, Palmer and her family moved to California, so Palmer could pursue a career in acting.[3] Palmer then pursued a career in singing. In 2003, she participated in American Juniors, the American Idol spin-off series, but her audition scenes were edited out and the show was canceled that year. In 2005, Palmer signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. Her debut single, "All My Girlz", is featured in the Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack. In 2005, Palmer was featured in the television film Knights of the South Bronx, as well as starring in three television programs Second Time Around and ER. In 2005 signed with Disney Channel to star in the show Keke & Jamal, but the pilot was unaired and Palmer left the channel.
On November 18, 2006, she performed at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for VH1's Save the Music Battle of the High School Marching Bands competition, marking her first ever stadium performance in front of thousands of people. In addition, as part of her contract with Disney, Palmer sang the songs "It's My Turn Now" and "Jumpin'" featured in the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In!, in which she stars as Mary, the love interest to Corbin Bleu's character. In 2006, Palmer was featured in the music video for the Ludacris and Mary J. Blige song "Runaway Love", in which she starred as a pregnant 11-year-old girl. That same year, she recorded a song entitled "Tonight" which was featured as the first song in the end credits of Night at the Museum. Besides focusing on her music career, Palmer had the lead role in the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee, in which she played a bright 11-year-old who comes from a poor neighborhood and competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Palmer also had a supporting role in the 2006 film Madea's Family Reunion.[7]
2007–12: True Jackson, VP and musical releases
In 2007, Palmer starred in many acting roles, she was a supporting act in the thriller Cleaner alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendes.[8] Palmer also had the lead role in the television film Jump In! along with American actor Corbin Bleu. Palmer also starred in two television programs Tyler Perry's House of Payne and Just Jordan. Palmer released her debut album So Uncool on September 18, 2007, though Atlantic Records. The album failed to chart on the US Billboard 200, but did chart at number 85 on the R&B chart. The album was preceded by the lead single "Keep It Movin'". In 2008, Palmer began her starring role as the title character in Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. Palmer also wrote and performed the theme song for the series. Palmer earned $20,000 per episode of True Jackson VP, which made her the fourth highest-paid child star on television.[1] In July 2009, designer Jane Siskin created a Walmart fashion line inspired by True Jackson, VP, with all the designs being approved by Palmer. The fashion line consists of jumpers, modern dresses, knit tops, T-shirts, leggings, and more.[9] As well as starring in True Jackson, VP, Palmer starred as the lead role in the 2008 film The Longshots, along with Ice Cube, becoming their second film together after Barbershop 2: Back in Business. In 2009, Palmer had a role in the film Shrink in which she played a patient named Jemma, who is a troubled high school student, and is required to see a therapist by her school after cutting her hand by punching a mirror.
In 2010, Palmer was signed by the Chairman of Interscope Records, Jimmy Iovine, and began working on an album.[10] Between her MySpace and SayNow accounts, she has released several snippets of songs that were recorded for possible inclusion on her sophomore album. In a 2011 interview, Palmer stated the album is complete and is in the process of finalization. The self-titled album will be a mixture of R&B/hip-hop with pop undertones. Producers and writers for the album include Lil Eddie and Lucas Secon. In January 2011, Palmer released her first mixtape Awaken. The mixtape was officially released on January 10, 2011, for downloads on mixtape-downloading websites.[11] The first and only single released from the mixtape was "The One You Call".[12] A music video was also released for the song. It premiered on Palmer's official YouTube channel and iTunes. In 2011 she finished her show True Jackson, VP.
In 2012, Palmer starred alongside Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah in the film Joyful Noise, released in January 2012. She produced and starred in Rags, a Nickelodeon musical film, as well as voice characters in Ice Age: Continental Drift and Winx Club.[13] Palmer has also recently been cast in the upcoming comedy Virgin Mary, opposite Abigail Breslinand Carter Jenkins.[14] In 2012, Palmer spoke on the direction of the album saying "It's definitely a progression. What you would think I'd sound like at my age is what it is. It's a record I can say is truly my own. I was there from the beginning to the end. I was in full control of it, and it represents who I am."[15] In July 2012, Palmer released the single "You Got Me" featuring Kevin McCall. The video for the single was released on July 11, 2012.[16] Palmer has also announced a new single named "Dance Alone". Palmer released a self-titled mixtape Keke Palmer on October 1, 2012. It includes her new singles "You Got Me" & "Dance Alone" which have already been released.[17] Since the release, her mixtape has over 35,000 downloads.[18]
2013–present: Television
In 2013 Palmer portrayed Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas in the TLC VH1-biopic CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story.[19] The film was completed in April 2013 and aired in October on the VH1 network, as well as being released in select theaters soon after.[20] On May 16, Palmer released a video showing her recording and performing a cover of Alicia Keys song "If I Ain't Got You".[21] She recently took part in a cover of "The Other Side" with Max Schneider. The video was released on YouTube in late June 2013 and is on iTunes without Derulo's part.[22][23] In 2013, she also portrayed Elizabeth Royce Harwood in four episodes of 90210. Palmer starred in the horror filmAnimal. Produced by Drew Barrymore, the film co-stars Elizabeth Gilles, Jeremy Sumpter, and Eve and is scheduled for a limited release on June 17, 2014 in theatres and VOD.[24] In addition to being in the film, Palmer also performed and wrote a song entitled "Animal", which is the main theme of the movie of the same name. Palmer was cast in a recurring role in the second season ofShowtime's Masters of Sex.
She played Coral, a nanny hired by the Masters to care for their new baby.[25] Palmer is currently working with record producer andrecording artist Bangladesh on her second studio album.[26] It was announced on 21 April 2014, that Palmer was hosting her own daytime talk show on BET called Just Keke (formerly The Keke Palmer Project). The show covered a variety of topics including fashion, pop culture, relationships, social issues, celebrity interviews, and much more. The show premiered on June 30, 2014 and it runs on Monday-Friday at 5pm ET/PT.[27] In August 2014, it was announced that Palmer would be the first African-American to star as Cinderella on Broadway in September 2014.[28] She performed her first show on September 9, 2014. Her last show was on a closing night of the show's run on January 4, 2015.[29] In January 2015, she was cast in one of the leading roles in the Fox horror series Scream Queens.[30]
On August 21, 2015 Keke announced on Twitter that she has signed a record deal with one of Universals major labels Island.
Artistry
Palmer's first studio album So Uncool was heavily influenced by contemporary R&B, being described as "bright, bouncy, and melodic enough to appeal to teens and pre-teens. Fans of dancey teen pop will want to give this auspicious debut a listen" by cduniverse.com.[31] Palmer was heavily influenced by American R&B singers Beyoncé, Ciara, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Aaliyah, Brandy, Whitney Houston, and R. Kelly, as well as girl group TLC.[32]
Following the release of her single I Don't Belong to You on October 25th 2015, Keke took to interviewers to explain the meaning behind her song. “I don’t belong to anyone else but myself. I have to make my own decisions. Happiness is defined by me. My sexuality is defined by me. And that can change and this can change and I can make it what I want to make it because I’m the one who makes that choice. So that’s what ‘I Don’t Belong to You’ is saying. This song feels right. It feels right and it’s telling who I am. And it captures my identity." Following the interview, she shared with the world via social media that she now identifies as no label.
Philanthropy
Palmer works with the Boys' and Girls' Clubs of the American charity Cool To Be Smart program, speaking to children about the importance of learning. She is also a supporter of Urban Farming and the Girl Scouts.[33] She has worked with such charities as the YWCA and with Saving Our Daughters. Palmer spoke on the charity saying “We are so excited about having such an extraordinary singer & actress as Keke Palmer, to address these issues of bullying & abuse worldwide with the YWCA USA and with both our missions” stated CEO of Saving Our Daughters, Curtis Benjamin.[34] In 2009, she attended the Stars and Strikes benefit for A Place Called Home.[33] As of late 2010, Palmer, along with many other widely known celebrities, has been an avid representative for the "Saving Our Daughters" oath project, an anti-bullying campaign that allows people all over the world to take an oath to stop bullying.[35]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Barbershop 2: Back in Business | Gina's niece | |
| 2006 | Akeelah and the Bee | Akeelah Anderson | |
| 2006 | Madea's Family Reunion | Nikki Grady | |
| 2007 | Cleaner | Rose Cutler | |
| 2008 | The Longshots | Jasmine Plummer | |
| 2008 | Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare | Crystal Tortoise | Voice |
| 2009 | Shrink | Jemma | |
| 2012 | Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom | Aisha | Voice |
| 2012 | Joyful Noise | Olivia Hill | |
| 2012 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Peaches | Voice |
| 2013 | Curdled | Tara | Short film |
| 2014 | Imperial Dreams | Samaara | |
| 2014 | Animal | Alissa | |
| 2015 | Brotherly Love | Jackie | |
| 2015 | Tobacco Valley | Diana Davis (Young) | Post-production |
| 2016 | Barbershop 3 | Cassie | Post-production |
| 2016 | Ice Age: Collision Course | Peaches | Post-production; Voice |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Cold Case | Arlene Marion | "The Letter" (Season 1, Episode 13) |
| 2004 | Strong Medicine | Sarina | "Healing Touch" (Season 5, Episode 7) |
| 2004 | The Wool Cap | Lou | TV film |
| 2005 | Knights of the South Bronx | Kenya Russell | TV film |
| 2005 | Second Time Around | Sharlene | "Big Bank, Little Bank" (Season 1, Episode 11) |
| 2005 | ER | Janell Parkerson | "The Show Must Go On" (Season 11, Episode 22) |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Tasha Wright | "Storm" (Season 7, Episode 10) |
| 2007 | Jump In! | Mary Thomas | TV film |
| 2007 | Tyler Perry's House of Payne | Nikki | "Bully and the Beast" (Season 2, Episode 1) |
| 2007 | Just Jordan | C.C. Livingston | "Fame Game" (Season 2, Episode 4) |
| 2008–11 | True Jackson, VP | True Jackson | Lead role |
| 2010 | The Cleveland Show | Candice | Voice; "Harder, Better, Faster, Browner" (Season 2, Episode 1) |
| 2011 | Degrassi: The Next Generation | Herself | "Boom Boom Pow: Part 1" (Season 11, Episode 1) "Boom Boom Pow: Part 2" (Season 11, Episode 2) |
| 2011–15 | Winx Club | Aisha | Voice; Main role |
| 2012 | Rags | Kadee Worth | TV film |
| 2012 | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | Carlina White | TV film |
| 2013 | CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story | Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas | TV film |
| 2013 | Key & Peele | Malia Obama's anger translator | "Obama Shutdown" (Season 3, Episode 5) |
| 2013 | Full Circle | Chan'dra Stevens | "Jace & Chan'dra" (Season 1, Episode 4) "Chan'dra & Cliff" (Season 1, Episode 5) |
| 2013 | 90210 | Elizabeth Royce Harwood | Recurring role (Season 5) |
| 2014 | Single Ladies | Herself | "The Girl Most Likely To..." (Season 3, Episode 3) |
| 2014 | Grey's Anatomy | Cheryl | "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" (Season 10, Episode 16) |
| 2014 | Family Guy | Pam | Voice; "Baby Got Black" (Season 12, Episode 18) |
| 2014 | The Trip to Bountiful | Thelma | TV film |
| 2014 | Just Keke | Herself / Host | |
| 2014 | Masters of Sex | Coral Anders | Recurring role (Season 2) |
| 2015–present | Scream Queens[36] | Zayday Williams | Main role |
| 2015 | Grease Live | Marty Maraschino | TV film |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Cinderella | Ella | Broadway musical |
Discography
Main article: Keke Palmer discography
- So Uncool (2007)
Concert tours
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Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in TV Movie, Miniseries or Special - Leading Young Actress | The Wool Cap | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Won | ||
| 2006 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Performer | Akeelah and the Bee | |
| Black Movie Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | |||
| 2007 | Young Artist Award | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress | ||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture | |||
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Best Young Actress | Nominated | ||
| Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | Won | ||
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | |||
| 2008 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actress | Cleaner | |
| Black Reel Awards | Best Actress | The Longshots | ||
| 2009 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | True Jackson, VP | Won |
| 2010 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | ||
| Kids Choice Awards | Favorite TV Actress | Nominated | ||
| BET Awards | YoungStars Award | Won | ||
| 2011 | Young Artist Awards | Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading Young Actress | Nominated | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Won | ||
| BET Awards | YoungStars Award | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Won | |
| BET Awards | YoungStars Award | Joyful Noise | Nominated | |
| 2013 | Black Reel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Miniseries or Movie | Abducted: The Carlina White Story | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | |||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's Series or Special | Winx Club: Enchantix | ||
| 2014 | Black Reel Awards | Best Actress in a Television Miniseries or Movie | CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special |
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