Keke Palmer's Journey: From Teen Star to Motherhood and Beyond
From her Nickelodeon fame to becoming a mother and beyond, witness Keke Palmer's incredible journey Explore her rise in the film industry, music career, clothing line collaboration, hosting the VMAs, and her empowering voice for change Stay tuned as this multi-talented boss babe continues to redefine success
Keke Palmer has consistently pushed boundaries and shown that there are no limits to her career. From her early start in the church choir at the age of 5 to her rapid rise to success in acting after moving to Los Angeles, Palmer has proven her talent time and time again. One major breakthrough came with her starring role in the Nickelodeon series True Jackson, VP, which catapulted her to fame from 2008 to 2011. But Palmer didn't stop there. She made history by becoming the first Black actress to play Cinderella on Broadway, all while hosting her own talk show on BET. Clearly, Palmer is just getting started and is poised to achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.
Palmer's rise in Hollywood led her to make the decision of being an independent force by establishing her own record label, Big Boss Entertainment. In February 2020, she shared her aspirations of pursuing stand-up comedy, revealing her future career goal. "Yikes!" she exclaimed.
Fast forward three years, Palmer proudly embraced the title of "mom" when she joyfully welcomed her first child, a son named Leodis.
Scroll down to see the evolution of Palmer’s career:
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Keke Palmer Through the Years: From Nickelodeon Star to Motherhood and Beyond
Keke Palmer's career has showcased her limitless potential, and there's no sign of her slowing down.
From a young age, Palmer displayed her passion for singing in the church choir. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, she swiftly achieved recognition for her acting talents. The breakthrough in her career came with her starring role in the Nickelodeon series, True Jackson, VP, which spanned from 2008 to 2011. Even after wrapping up the show, Palmer continued to make history. She secured her own talk show on BET and became the first Black actress to take on the iconic role of Cinderella on Broadway.
As Palmer's career flourished in Hollywood, she made the decision to become independent and founded her own record label called Big Boss Entertainment. In February 2020, Palmer shared her aspiration of pursuing stand-up comedy one day. "Yikes!" she exclaimed. Three years later, Palmer expanded her resume by embracing the role of a mother with the arrival of her first child, son Leodis.
Scroll down to see the evolution of Palmer’s career:
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Big Screen Beginnings
After relocating from Illinois, Palmer's acting journey took off with her debut role as Queen Latifah's niece in the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business. Continuing her momentum, she made several TV appearances and secured a part as Nikki in Madea's Family Reunion in 2005.
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Breakout Role
2006 saw Palmer's breakthrough as she took on her first major role in the film Akeelah and the Bee. In this captivating story, she played the character of Akeelah, an 11-year-old girl with aspirations to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Simultaneously, in that very same year, Palmer embarked on another creative venture as she lent her voice to the character Aisha in the widely adored Winx Club series. Her vocal talents continued to grace the show for an impressive six seasons.
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Music to Her Ears
The music industry was taken by storm when the child star released her first album, So Uncool, in 2007. Since then, she has captured the attention of fans with a series of mixtapes and EPs, while her music continues to make waves on film soundtracks.
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Nickelodeon Superstar
Palmer’s career took off after she landed her own series on Nickelodeon when she was 15. She played True Jackson on True Jackson, VP for three seasons, from 2008 to 2011.
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Clothing Line Collab
In 2009, Nickelodeon teamed up with Walmart to create a fashion line, Mad Style by True Jackson, inspired by the hit show.
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Worlds Collide
Palmer went back to her choir roots with 2012’s Joyful Noise, which was the first time the star both acted and sang in a film.
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Making History
In 2014, Palmer made history as the youngest-ever talk show host with Just Keke on BET. She also starred as the first Black Cinderella on Broadway the same year.
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Her Life, Her Rules
After unveiling her music video for “I Don’t Belong to You” in October 2015, which showcases her departure from her boyfriend for a woman, the artist disclosed that she chooses not to categorize her sexuality. "The primary intention of the video was to convey to people that my sexuality is solely my own," Palmer conveyed to Cosmopolitan in its November 2015 edition. "That's really the crux – it's about female autonomy and the freedom to be unapologetically oneself; there are no limitations imposed, she's simply living her truth! She doesn't owe an explanation to anyone because ultimately, she is the one who determines her own choices and identity!"
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On a Roll
The singer of “Yellow Lights” further challenged herself in her career, appearing on Scream Queens from 2015 to 2016, and releasing her Lauren EP in November 2016. In that same year, she also portrayed Marty Maraschino, a member of the Pink Ladies, in Grease: Live!
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Read All About It
The Illinois native released her first book, I Don’t Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice, in January 2017.
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Fashion Forward
In May 2017, the actress from Ice Age: Collision Course made a daring move by shaving off her hair and later dyeing it purple. Palmer confidently stated to Refinery 29 about her transformation, "As you can see from my track record... I am passionate about discovering new facets of myself." This change greatly inspires her, as she further explained, "I have come to a point in my life where I have realized that there are no limitations to expressing myself in any aspect, and this brings me joy."
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Boss Babe
The “Bossy” singer launched the independent record label, Big Boss Entertainment, in 2018 after being a part of three other labels in her youth. She was 24 at the time.
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Working Woman
As Palmer's music career progressed, she also expanded her acting repertoire. From 2017 to 2019, she portrayed the characters of April Lewis in Berlin Station and Gigi in Star. Without delay, following the conclusion of those roles, the actress swiftly secured the parts of Kym in Scream: The Series and Mercedes in Hustlers.
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Morning Show Move
In 2019, the 2 Minutes of Fame star transitioned into the role of the third cohost for the third hour of Good Morning America. However, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the show came to a halt. In August 2020, she confirmed that the network had canceled the show. Nonetheless, her work as host earned her a nomination for a Daytime Emmy before its cancellation.
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Woman to Watch
Palmer's inclusion on the prestigious Time 100 Next 2019 list recognized her as a prominent figure in the industry. The publication hailed her as a "phenom," placing her in the same league as renowned individuals like tennis star Coco Gauff and rapper Lil Nas X, among others.
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A Voice for Change
During the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020, Palmer called upon members of the National Guard to join the peaceful demonstrators in solidarity. “In this moment, it is crucial for you all to stand united with the community, with society, against oppressive governance. There is no room for negotiation. We need your support,” she expressed during her active participation in a protest held in Hollywood. “March beside us. Walk hand in hand with us. Rally your comrades. ... Let the revolution be captured on television. Stand beside us and demonstrate your commitment. Help us make history together, please. Let’s take action now by initiating the march, and you marching alongside us.”
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Back in the Music Game
The Singled Out host released her third EP, Virgo Tendencies, Pt.1, in August 2020, featuring 12 new tracks.
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VMAs Host
In August, Palmer was announced as the host for the MTV Video Music Awards, scheduled to take place on August 30. "I will be hosting in my own unique style, bringing you the VMAs, and shaking up the scene. Get ready to rock out of quarantine," the actress sang in an Instagram video after her appointment as the awards show host.
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Scream Queen
In July 2022, Palmer appeared in Jordan Peele's horror movie Nope alongside Daniel Kaluuya and Steven Yeun.
In the same month, the actress responded strongly after someone compared her career to Zendaya's. "To think that I can be compared to anyone is a clear representation of colorism," she posted on Twitter. "I hold the title of being the youngest talk show host ever, the first Black woman to have her own show on Nickelodeon, and the youngest and first Black Cinderella on Broadway. My talent is unmatched. I am Keke Palmer, and there is no one else like me."
She stated,"I have been a leading lady since I was 11 years old. With over 100+ credits to my name, I am currently starring in an original screenplay that is the number one film at the box office #NOPE. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had such a successful career thus far, and I am grateful for all the surprises that God has in store for me."
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Bump Debut
The Nope star made a pregnancy announcement on Saturday Night Live in December 2022. During her monologue, Keke Palmer confirmed the rumors and proudly showed off her baby bump. She mentioned that she had been trying to keep the news a secret due to various commitments, but people kept congratulating her. She jokingly requested everyone to wait for her liquor sponsorship check to clear before discussing the baby shower.
She exclaimed, "But honestly, this has been an incredible blessing, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Everyone, I have some amazing news to share—I'm going to be a mother! Although there might be some people who find it a little strange that I, as a former child actor, am now having a baby, I just want to assure them that I am a 29-year-old grown woman. I have a life filled with adulthood experiences, such as having a fulfilling sex life and even being a homeowner. So, you see, I am fully capable of embracing this new chapter as a parent."
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Mom Mode Activated
The Nope star and her then-boyfriend Darius Jackson welcomed son Leodis Andrellton in February 2023.
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Calling It Quits
In November 2023, it was confirmed by the US that Palmer had filed for a restraining order against Jackson. Palmer alleged that their two-year relationship was filled with instances of violence. She claimed that Jackson had engaged in multiple acts of physical violence, such as destroying her personal belongings, including diaries and prescription eyeglasses. He also threw her belongings into the street and prevented her from driving away by taking her car keys. Additionally, Jackson had hit Palmer in front of their son, spewed profanities about her to their son, and even made threats of suicide with a gun if she were to leave him. Palmer also mentioned experiencing harassment, as well as other forms of physical and emotional abuse. Alongside the restraining order, Palmer requested full custody of their son.
