Who is singer, rapper, and songwriter Kesha?
Kesha Rose Sebert, known professionally as Kesha and previously stylized as Ke$ha, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. Born on March 1, 1987, in Los Angeles, California, she became known for her blend of electropop, dance-pop, pop-rock, rap-influenced vocals, and outspoken songwriting. Kesha achieved international success with songs including “Tik Tok,” “Your Love Is My Drug,” “Die Young,” “Praying,” and “Woman,” and has received Grammy Award nominations for her work.
Background/biography
Kesha was raised primarily in Nashville, Tennessee. Her mother, Pebe Sebert, is a songwriter who worked in the music industry and helped introduce Kesha to songwriting and recording from an early age. Kesha has said that music was a central part of her upbringing, and she began writing songs as a teenager.
She attended Brentwood High School in Tennessee and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. Before becoming a solo star, she wrote songs, made demo recordings, and worked with producers and artists in the pop music industry. Her early work included an appearance on Flo Rida’s 2009 hit “Right Round,” although she was not credited as a featured artist on the single.
Music career
- “Tik Tok” (2009) — Kesha’s breakthrough single, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Animal (2010) — Her debut studio album, featuring “Tik Tok,” “Blah Blah Blah,” “Your Love Is My Drug,” and “Take It Off.”
- Cannibal (2010) — A companion release to Animal that included the number-one single “We R Who We R.”
- Warrior (2012) — Included the hit single “Die Young.”
- Rainbow (2017) — Included “Praying” and “Woman” and earned Grammy Award nominations, including Best Pop Vocal Album.
- High Road (2020) — An album that combined pop, rock, country, and dance influences.
- Gag Order (2023) — An album co-produced with Rick Rubin that drew attention for its more introspective and experimental sound.
Kesha became one of the defining pop artists of the late 2000s and early 2010s, especially through party-oriented electronic pop songs that mixed sung hooks with spoken and rap-style delivery. Over time, her work expanded to include more personal ballads, rock-influenced material, country elements, and reflective songwriting.
Her career was also shaped by a widely reported legal dispute with producer Dr. Luke and related parties. The conflict affected the release of music and became a major topic in public discussions about artist contracts, creative control, and allegations within the music industry. The parties announced a settlement in 2023.
A shift toward personal songwriting
While Kesha first became widely associated with upbeat dance-pop singles, later releases highlighted a more vulnerable side of her songwriting. “Praying,” released in 2017, was particularly noted for its emotional vocal performance and its departure from the sound of her earliest hits. Her later albums continued to explore themes of recovery, identity, anger, resilience, and artistic independence.
Fun facts about Kesha
- Kesha’s birth name is Kesha Rose Sebert.
- She used the stylized name Ke$ha during much of her early commercial breakthrough before returning to the spelling Kesha.
- Her mother, songwriter Pebe Sebert, has been involved in Kesha’s musical life and songwriting career.
- Kesha has said that she was born with a small vestigial tail, which was removed shortly after her birth.
- She has publicly supported LGBTQ+ rights and has identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
