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Kesha Rose Sebert[a] (born March 1, 1987), known mononymously as Kesha (formerly stylized as Ke$ha), is an American singer and songwriter. Her first major success came in 2009 when she was featured on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round".

Key Information

Kesha's music and image propelled her to immediate success. She has earned two number-one albums on the US Billboard 200 with Animal (2010) and Rainbow (2017), and the top-ten records Warrior (2012) and High Road (2020). She attained ten top-ten singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Tik Tok", "Right Round" with Flo Rida, "My First Kiss" with 3OH!3, "Blah Blah Blah", "Your Love Is My Drug", "Take It Off", "We R Who We R", "Blow", "Die Young", and "Timber" with Pitbull. Her 2009 single "Tik Tok" was the best-selling digital single in history, selling over 14 million units internationally, until surpassed in 2011.[1] She fulfilled her five-album contract with Kemosabe Records by releasing the album Gag Order (2023), and released her first independent album, Period (2025), under her own label Kesha Records.

Kesha's career was halted between Warrior and Rainbow due to a legal dispute with her former producer Dr. Luke, which began in 2014. A series of lawsuits, known collectively as Kesha v. Dr. Luke, were exchanged between the two parties in which Kesha accused him of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and employment discrimination against her, while Dr. Luke claimed breach of contract and defamation. The case was settled out of court in June 2023.

Kesha is listed as the 26th top artist on Billboard's 2010s decade-end charts.[2] She has received various awards and nominations, including the MTV Europe Music Award for Best New Act in 2010. Kesha has also co-written songs for other artists, including "Till the World Ends" (2011) for Britney Spears and songs for Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Miranda Cosgrove.

Early life

[edit]

Kesha Rose Sebert was born on March 1, 1987, in Los Angeles.[3][4] Her mother, Rosemary Patricia "Pebe" Sebert, is a singer-songwriter who co-wrote the 1978 single "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You"[5] with Hugh Moffatt for Joe Sun, made popular by country music artist Dolly Parton on her 1980 album Dolly, Dolly, Dolly. Pebe, a single mother, struggled financially while supporting herself, Kesha, and Kesha's older brother Lagan; they relied on welfare payments and food stamps to get by.[6] When Kesha was an infant, Pebe would often have to look after her onstage while performing.[7] Kesha says she has no knowledge of her father's identity.[6] In 2011, a man named Bob Chamberlain who called himself her father approached Star with pictures and letters, claiming they proved that he and Kesha had been in regular contact as father and daughter before she turned 19.[8] Her mother is mostly of Hungarian descent.[9] One of Kesha's great-grandfathers was Polish.[10]

Pebe moved the family to Nashville in 1991 after securing a new publishing deal for her songwriting. She frequently brought Kesha and her brothers along to recording studios and encouraged Kesha to sing after noticing Kesha do so.[6] Kesha attended Franklin High School and Brentwood High School, and said she did not fit in, explaining that her unconventional style (such as homemade purple velvet pants and purple hair) did not endear her to other students.[11] She played the trumpet and later the saxophone in the school marching band, and has said she was a diligent student.[12]

She dropped out of school at 17 after Max Martin convinced her to return to Los Angeles to pursue a music career and earned her General Educational Development (GED) after.[13] In a 2024 interview, Kesha contradicted past statements, saying that she never earned her GED.[14] After attaining a near-perfect score on her SAT, she was offered a scholarship to Barnard College, an affiliate college of Columbia University, but decided to pursue her music career.[12][15][16][17][18]

In addition to taking songwriting classes,[19] Kesha was also taught how to write songs by Pebe, and they often wrote together when she returned home from high school.[6][15] Kesha began recording demos, which Pebe gave to people she knew in the music business.[19] Kesha was also in a band with Lagan.[20][18] Kesha and Pebe co-wrote the song "Stephen" when Kesha was 16. Kesha then tracked down David Gamson, a producer she admired from Scritti Politti, who agreed to produce the song.[18] Around this time, Pebe answered an advertisement from the American reality TV series The Simple Life looking for an "eccentric" family to host Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie.[21] The episode featuring the Sebert family aired in 2005.[22] Martin had received one of Kesha's demos from Samantha Cox, senior director of writer/publisher relations at Broadcast Music Incorporated, and was impressed. Billboard described two of the demos in a cover story, the first as "a gorgeously sung, self-penned country ballad" and the second as "a gobsmackingly awful trip-hop track" where Kesha raps ad lib for a minute after running out of lyrics. It was the latter track that attracted attention.[23]

Career

[edit]
See also: List of awards and nominations received by Kesha

2005–2009: Career beginnings

[edit]

"I was so happy being broke. And I'm happy not being broke. It doesn't really affect me either way. I care about taking care of people that have taken care of me – that's important to me. But to be honest, I'm kind of repulsed by the gluttony and excesses of a lot of people in the limelight."[24]

 —Kesha explaining the dollar sign in her stylized name.

In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to the music publishing company Prescription Songs.[23] Kesha later sang background vocals for Paris Hilton's single, "Nothing in This World".[21] Kesha then signed with David Sonenberg's management company, DAS Communications Inc., in 2006. DAS was tasked with obtaining a major label record deal for Kesha in a year's time in exchange for 20 percent of her music income, with her having the option of ending the relationship if they failed.[25] She worked with several writers and producers while at the company and ended up co-writing Australian pop group the Veronicas' single "This Love" with producer Toby Gad.[23][26] While furthering her career in the studio, Kesha earned her living as a waitress.[6] While struggling to get by, she began stylizing her name as 'Ke$ha', explaining the dollar sign as an ironic gesture.[24]

In 2008, Kesha appeared in the video for her friend Katy Perry's single "I Kissed a Girl", and sang background vocals for Britney Spears' "Lace and Leather".[27] DAS soon attracted the attention of songwriter and A&R Kara DioGuardi, who wanted to sign Kesha to Warner Bros. Records.[23] The deal fell through due to her existing contract with Kemosabe.[23] Kesha parted ways with DAS and returned to Dr. Luke.[23] Kesha would appear on rapper Flo Rida's number-one single "Right Round" in early 2009, which exposed her to some mainstream attention.[28] According to the parties present, the collaboration happened by accident; she had simply walked into a recording session for the song and Flo Rida happened to have wanted a female voice on it.[29] It was reported that Flo Rida liked the result so much that he recorded one more track with Kesha for his album.[30] However, she is not credited for her feature on the United States release of "Right Round" and did not collect any money for the part.[23][28] She also refused to appear in the video, explaining to men's magazine Esquire that she wanted to make a name for herself on her own terms.[27]

2009–2011: Breakthrough, Animal, and Cannibal

[edit]
Kesha at French radio station NRJ, 2010

After failing to negotiate with Lava Records and Atlantic Records in 2009, Kesha signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records.[23] Having spent the previous 6 years working on material for her debut album,[31] she began putting finishing touches to the album. For the album, she wrote approximately 200 songs.[31] It was certified Platinum in the United States and had sold two million albums worldwide by September of that year.[32] The album's lead single, "Tik Tok", broke the record in the United States for the highest sales week for a single, with 610,000 digital downloads sold in a single week, the highest ever by a female artist since digital download tracking began in 2003.[33]

It spent nine weeks at number one in the country and became the longest running number-one by a female artist on her debut single since Debby Boone and "You Light Up My Life" in 1977.[34] As of 2019, "Tik Tok" has sold about 14 million copies worldwide,[35] becoming the best-selling single in digital history and the best-selling digital single in history by a female solo artist.[36][37] Subsequent singles from the album ("Blah Blah Blah", "Your Love Is My Drug" and "Take It Off") achieved similar commercial success, each reaching the top ten in Australia,[38][39][40] Canada,[41] and the United States.[42] Kesha was also featured on two top ten singles by musician Taio Cruz and electropop duo 3OH!3.[43]

Kesha's deliberately unpolished aesthetic and juvenile stage persona,[20][44] which she described as her own personality "times ten", quickly made her a deeply polarizing figure.[20][44] Some of her critics found her output to be unsophisticated,[20] while others felt that she was manufactured and lacked credibility.[45][46][47] In May 2010, Kesha's former managers from DAS Communications Inc. filed a lawsuit against her, seeking $14 million from her for commissions on her RCA Records deal, alleging that she had extended the deadline for them to get her a major record label contract and squeezed them out of her career.[25]

Kesha launched her own lawsuit in October, citing the California-exclusive Talent Agencies Act and asking the California Labor Commissioner to declare her contract with DAS void because it had acted as an unlicensed talent agent while procuring work for her in California, where only licensed agents can do so.[48] The case was settled in 2012 before the release of her second album.[49] Kesha held a benefit concert on June 16, 2010, where all proceeds went to aid victims of the 2010 Tennessee floods in her hometown Nashville.[50] She raised close to $70,000 from the event.[12] She was a supporting act on the summer North American leg of Rihanna's Last Girl on Earth and was awarded Best New Act at the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards.[51][52]

Kesha performing live during the Get Sleazy Tour, her first headlining tour, 2011

In November 2010, Animal was re-released with a companion extended play, Cannibal.[53] The lead single taken from Cannibal, "We R Who We R", debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States.[54] With two number ones and four top ten hits (among them her featured spot on 3OH!3's "My First Kiss") Kesha was named Hot 100 Artist of 2010 by Billboard magazine, with "Tik Tok" ranked as the best-performing song of the year in the US.[55] The follow-up single from Cannibal, "Blow", also charted in the top ten on the Hot 100.[42] By June 2011, Kesha had sold almost 21 million digital single downloads in the United States alone.[56]

In February 2011, Kesha embarked on her first headlining world tour, the Get Sleazy Tour.[57] The tour was expanded with a summer leg due to the first leg selling out and spanned three continents.[58] Kesha co-wrote the song "Till the World Ends" for American popstar Britney Spears and was featured on the remix of the song along with rapper Nicki Minaj.[59] After meeting Kesha at the 2010 Grammy Awards and guesting at a number of her concerts, rock singer Alice Cooper asked her to write lyrics for and vocally perform as a devil character on their duet track, "What Baby Wants", on Cooper's album Welcome 2 My Nightmare (2011).[60]

Kesha was named rights group Humane Society of the United States's first global ambassador for animal rights, for which she is expected to bring attention to such practices as cosmetics testing on animals and shark finning.[61] Kesha received the Wyler Award presented by The Humane Society as a celebrity or public figure who increases awareness of animal issues via the media. She received the award March 23, 2013, at The 2013 Genesis Awards Benefit Gala.[62] She appeared alongside rock singer Iggy Pop in a campaign for PETA, protesting the clubbing of baby seals in Canada and later wrote on behalf of the organization to McDonald's over the conditions of their slaughterhouses.[63][64]

2012–2013: Warrior and other projects

[edit]
Kesha during her Warrior Tour

Kesha's second studio album, Warrior, was released on November 30, 2012.[65] She began writing for the album while on her own headlining tour in 2011.[66] The album featured productions from Max Martin,[67] as well as a song by Wayne Coyne, the lead singer of the alternative band The Flaming Lips.[68] Coyne had reached out to Kesha for a collaboration after hearing that she was a fan of the band.[69] Besides working on Kesha's album, they recorded the song "2012 (You Must Be Upgraded)" for the band's album, The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends (2012). To coincide with the release of the album, Kesha released the illustrated autobiography My Crazy Beautiful Life through Touchstone Books in November 2012. The first single taken from Warrior was "Die Young".[70] The song debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually peaked at number 2.[71][72] The song also charted across Europe and the English-speaking world and reached the top ten in Australia, Canada, and Belgium.[73]

"C'Mon", the album's second single,[74] underperformed commercially, only peaking at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and ending her string of top ten hits on the chart. Despite this, "C'Mon" continued Kesha's streak of top ten hits (with nine) on the Mainstream Top 40 Pop Songs chart, also graphed by Billboard.[75][76] In July 2013, Kesha started the Warrior Tour, which would support the album. The North American leg was co-headlined with American rapper Pitbull.[77] Kesha's third single from Warrior, "Crazy Kids", was released in April 2013 and also under-performed, peaking at number 40 on the Hot 100, number 19 on the Mainstream Top 40, yet did achieve massive success in South Korea and Belgium, peaking at numbers 2 and 5 in those countries, respectively. A TV documentary, Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life, began airing on MTV also in April 2013.[78]

In July 2013, The Flaming Lips stated their intention of releasing a full-length collaborative album with Kesha, called Lipsha. However, the project eventually cancelled in the winter of the same year.[79] Kesha sent a message to a fan expressing how it was out of her control and that she wanted to release the material, even for free, saying that she did not care about the money.[80] On October 7, 2013, Kesha and Pitbull released a collaboration, "Timber", which became an international commercial success and Kesha's third number-one and tenth top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100.[81]

2014–2016: Lawsuit and personal struggles

[edit]
Further information: Kesha v. Dr. Luke
Kesha arrives at Supreme Court in 2016

In January 2014, Kesha checked into a rehabilitation center for bulimia nervosa and began to work on her third studio album. After rehab, she switched to using her birth name, Kesha, rather than her previous moniker, Ke$ha.[82] In her 2014 Teen Vogue cover interview, Kesha revealed she recorded 14 new songs while in rehab.[83] In June 2014, Kesha claimed a seat as an expert in the American television singing competition Rising Star, alongside Brad Paisley and Ludacris.[84] In October 2014, Kesha sued producer Dr. Luke for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse, and violation of California business practices which had occurred over 10 years working together. The lawsuit went on for nearly a year before Kesha sought a preliminary injunction to release her from Kemosabe Records. On February 19, 2016, New York Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich ruled against this request.[85] On April 6, 2016, Kornreich dismissed the case, saying that even if the allegations of sexual assault were accepted as true, the five-year statute of limitations had run out on the two most specific rape allegations; one occurring in 2005 and the other in 2008.[86]

On August 4, 2015, Kesha signed with American performance rights organization SESAC Inc.[87] Kesha guest starred in the second season of the U.S. television series Jane the Virgin, which aired on October 12, 2015. The singer played Annabelle, the show's protagonist's hostile neighbor.[88] In December 2015, Kesha revealed that she had formed a country music and classic rock-influenced band called Yeast Infection and performed a live show with the band in Nashville on December 23.[89][90]

2016–2018: Rainbow and touring

[edit]

Kesha appeared during Zedd's slot at the 2016 Coachella music festival to perform "True Colors", a track from Zedd's second studio album. The cameo marked her first high-profile public performance since her ongoing legal battle with Dr. Luke.[91] A studio version of the collaboration was released as a single on April 29, 2016.[92] On May 22, 2016, Kesha covered Bob Dylan's song "It Ain't Me Babe" at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.[93] On June 11, 2016, Kesha performed at Pride in the Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Afterwards, Kesha embarked on her third worldwide concert tour, the Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour (2016–2017). The tour commenced on July 23, 2016, in Las Vegas and ended on July 21, 2017, in Aurora, Illinois, after various shows in China as well. The tour included various covers of songs and several rock and country reworks of Kesha's own hit singles.[94][95] During this time, it was revealed that Kesha had recorded 22 songs on her own and had given them to her label, and was in the process of recording a third studio album.[96][97][98][99]

Kesha at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards

On July 6, 2017, Kesha released a single, titled "Praying".[100][101][102][103] The single charted successfully at number 6 on the music charts of Australia, selling over 140,000 copies and being certified 2× Platinum in the country.[104][105] The single charted at number 22[106] and number 11[107] in the United States and Canada respectively, and subsequently was certified Platinum in both territories.[108] "Praying" was released as the lead single from Kesha's third studio album, Rainbow, which was released on August 11, 2017.[101][102][103] Rainbow debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, becoming her second number-one album in the country,[109] and was the subject of universal acclaim from music critics, with several complimenting the album's feminist angle and uniqueness as well as Kesha's vocal performance and ability to interweave different music genres.[110] Three tracks from Rainbow were released as promotional singles ahead of the album's release; "Woman",[111] "Learn to Let Go",[112] and "Hymn",[113] all of which have accompanying music videos.[111][112][114] "Woman" was later released as the second single from the album in January 2018, charting in the lower regions of the record charts in the United States, Canada and Australia, and became the second platinum-certified single from the album in the US.[115] The album received nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance (for "Praying") at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, marking Kesha's first Grammy nominations.[116]

To promote Rainbow, Kesha embarked on the Rainbow Tour (2017–2019),[117] which began on September 26, 2017, in Birmingham, Alabama, and visited North America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. She furthered promotion by joining a co-headlining concert tour with American rapper Macklemore named The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore (2018).[118] This tour took place in North America between June 6, 2018, and August 5, 2018.[118] Kesha's documentary film, Rainbow: The Film, was released on Apple Music on August 10, 2018.[119] The documentary chronicles her stint in rehab for her eating disorder and the creation of Rainbow.[120] In the same month, Kesha collaborated with British rock band The Struts on the remix of their song "Body Talks", released as a single from their album Young & Dangerous (2018).[121] On September 19, 2018, Kesha released her song "Here Comes the Change", which served as a single to promote On the Basis of Sex (2018), a biographical film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg.[122] In October 2018, Kesha collaborated, wrote, and performed on the song "Safe" with her younger brother Sage Sebert and rapper Chika as an homage for the Parkland high school shooting.[123][124]

2019–2022: High Road

[edit]

In February 2019, Kesha hosted a 4-day-long cruise called Kesha's Weird and Wonderful Rainbow Ride. Sailing on the Norwegian Pearl, the cruise set off in Tampa, Florida, and ended in Nassau, Bahamas. Special guests included Wrabel, Jonathan Van Ness, Betty Who, Detox, and Superfruit, among others.[125][126] On June 2, Kesha released a digital single titled "Rich, White, Straight Men".[127][128] On July 25, Kesha released the promo single "Best Day" for the film The Angry Birds Movie 2.[129] On November 7, Kesha officially announced her own cosmetics line in partnership with indie makeup brand Hipdot, Kesha Rose Beauty, which was released December 3. The line features an eyeshadow palette with each color named after her songs, two double-ended waterproof eyeliners, a red lipstick, and a lipgloss.[130]

Kesha at the 2019 American Music Awards

High Road, Kesha's fourth studio album, was released January 31, 2020.[131] The album performed moderately commercially and received positive reviews. Originally slated for December 2019,[132] Kesha released a trailer on October 21, 2019, to confirm the album's title as High Road.[133] Prior to its release, the album saw the release of four singles: "Raising Hell" featuring Big Freedia,[134][135] "My Own Dance",[136] "Resentment" featuring Brian Wilson, Sturgill Simpson and Wrabel,[137] and "Tonight".[138] She was to embark on her fifth headlining tour, the High Road Tour in 2020, but it was ultimately cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.[139]

In February 2020, Kesha's 2010 promotional single "Cannibal" gained viral status following a dance trend using it on the video sharing platform TikTok. Following this, the song became a top 40 single in Canada and a new lyric video for the song was released.[140][141][142] While self-isolating in her home due to the coronavirus pandemic, Kesha created a song titled "Home Alone".[143] On April 18, 2020, she performed at the One World: Together at Home benefit event.[144]

Kesha announced the creation of her own podcast, Kesha and the Creepies, with an announcement video on November 13, 2020.[145][146] The podcast explores supernatural subjects and alternative lifestyles with pop culture guests and supernatural experts such as Alice Cooper,[145] Demi Lovato,[147] Tyler Henry,[145] Ben Folds and more.[148] The series launched on November 20, 2020, with new episodes premiering almost every Friday.[145][146] The first season ran for 30 episodes, with the final episode airing on June 10, 2021.[149]

She later released several collaborations throughout 2020 and 2021, including "Chasing Rainbows" with Big Freedia,[150] "Since I Was Young" with Wrabel,[151] "Stronger" with Dutch DJ, Sam Feldt,[152] and remixes of Walker Hayes' single, "Fancy Like",[153] and Grandson's "Drop Dead".[154]

Following the cancellation of the High Road Tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kesha embarked on her fifth headlining tour, Kesha Live (2021) with Betty Who serving as the opening act. The tour began on August 13, 2021, in Billings, Montana, and was originally to have 11 shows in the U.S. but got extended to 22, ending on September 12, 2021.[155] Seven more tour dates were announced for late March 2022, which was to be followed by Kesha's second cruise tour, scheduled to set sail on April 1, 2022.[156] However, the cruise and the spring tour dates were cancelled due to undisclosed reasons.[157]

In late August 2021, Kesha served as executive producer and starred in the scripted podcast, Electric Easy, a musical neo-noir science fiction show set in a futuristic Los Angeles in which humans struggle to co-exist with robots, known as "electrics". The podcast also starred actor Mason Gooding and singer Chloe Bailey and featured original music from Kesha.[158][159] The show was created by Vanya Asher and executively produced by Kesha.[160] The podcast premiered on August 30, 2021.[160]

Kesha provided vocals for the song, "Taste So Good", which also featured Hayley Kiyoko, Vincint, and MNEK.[161] The song was released on June 1, 2022, and was used to promote the cannabis infused drink, Cann.[161] She starred in and produced the show, Conjuring Kesha, which premiered on July 8, 2022, on Discovery+. In the show, Kesha and her guests explore paranormal hotspots.[162][163]

2023–present: Gag Order, lawsuit settlement and Period

[edit]

On an Instagram Livestream in February 2023, Kesha previewed a 30-second snippet of a new song.[164] On her 36th birthday, the singer wiped her Instagram feed, and updated her profile picture to her new logo. In a second livestream, she revealed four new song titles: "Living in My Head", "Fine Line", "The Drama", and "Eat the Acid", and shared snippets of the latter two.[165]

The singer announced the album's title to be Gag Order, along with unveiling its artwork on April 25, 2023.[166][167][168] The album was released on May 19, 2023, and three singles, "Eat the Acid", "Fine Line", both were released as a dual single,[166][167] and "Only Love Can Save Us Now".[168] Produced by Rick Rubin, the project sees Kesha at her most vulnerable and digs into her "uglier" emotions.[167] The album focused on overcoming trauma and depression from the lawsuit with her former producer, Dr. Luke.[169][170] To promote the album, Kesha would embark on her sixth headlining tour, the Gag Order Tour, which would later be renamed the Only Love Tour, following the settlement of her lawsuit.[171] Through a joint statement, Kesha and Dr. Luke announced on June 22, 2023, that their case was officially settled, a month before the case was to go to trial. In her statement, Kesha says while she doesn't recall everything that happened the night of the alleged assault, she is looking forward to moving on with her life and wishes peace to all parties involved. Dr. Luke continued to deny Kesha's original claims in his statement. Details of the settlement were not revealed immediately.[172] This came after The Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Dr. Luke is a limited public figure. Dr. Luke would have needed to prove that Kesha acted in malice when she filed her lawsuit, and she would've been able to recover fees for the litigation beginning in 2020.[173]

Following the settlement, Kesha went on her social media and expressed her gratitude to her supporters and said she was excited for the "beautiful things to come".[174] The next day, she announced her third extended play, Gag Order (Live Acoustic EP from Space) and revealed its cover art. The EP contains four live acoustic performances from her album.[175] In June 2023, Kesha was featured in the season 1 finale of the YouTube adult animated series, Helluva Boss, where she voiced Beelzebub "Queen Bee".[176][177] On December 18, 2023, seven months after the release of her last contractual album, Variety reported Kesha had parted ways with Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records and distributor RCA as their contract expired. At the same time, Kesha also amicably split with Vector Management. She released a statement thanking her former manager, Jack Rovner.[178]

Kesha performs Praying during the Tits Out Tour (2025)

Kesha taught a two-and-a-half week songwriting course called 'The Alchemy of Pop Music' at the Esalen Institute in early 2024.[14] It was reported in early February 2024 that Kesha had officially signed with Crush Management.[179] In an interview with V magazine, Kesha shared that she has been writing new music and stated, "There is a day marked on my calendar when I am free to release music."[14] On June 29, 2024, Kesha announced her new single, "Joyride", which was released on July 4 through her self-titled label, Kesha Records. This marks her first release after parting ways with Kemosabe and RCA Records.[180] "Joyride" became her first song to chart on the UK Singles Chart since 2017, while also reaching the top-ten on three component charts in the United States, and has accumulated over 100 million streams on Spotify.[181] Kesha's independent record label entered a distribution deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance, owned by Warner Music Group, in September 2024.[182]

On October 14, 2024, Kesha was featured on the remix of Charli XCX's song, "Spring Breakers", which was featured on the latter's album, Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat.[183] The following day, a cover of Lindsey Buckingham's song, "Holiday Road" was released as part of Spotify Singles Holiday.[184] "Holiday Road" reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart and number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100, making it her first song to chart on the US Billboard Hot 100 since her 2017 collaboration with Macklemore, "Good Old Days".[185] She released "Delusional" on November 29 as the second single from her sixth album.[186][187] On January 24, 2025, Kesha released the song, "Dear Me", which was written by Diane Warren.[188] On March 27, 2025, Kesha released the single, "Yippee-Ki-Yay", featuring T-Pain.[189] On the same day, Kesha announced her sixth studio album, Period, which was released on July 4, 2025.[190] Kesha announced The Tits Out Tour on April 3, 2025, co-headlined by the Scissor Sisters, with dates in the United States and Canada. In April 2025, the dating app Feeld announced that it was the official partner of the tour.[191] The tour started on July 1 and ends on August 10.[191] On May 16, 2025, the album's fourth single, "Boy Crazy", was released.[192] On June 20, 2025, Kesha released "Attention!", a song with Rose Gray and Slayyyter.[193] On July 8, 2025, Kesha surprise released a deluxe version of the Period album, with the stylized title . (...), which featured three new songs.[194] One of the new tracks was "Attention!", alongside a new version of "Boy Crazy" featuring Jade of British girl group Little Mix. The deluxe album also featured several remixes of tracks from Period. On October 2, 2025, Kesha signed a new management deal with Red Light Management, represented by Mary Hillard Harrington.[195]

Artistry

[edit]

Musical style and image

[edit]
"Tik Tok"
Kesha's debut single combines yodeling and video game music, with its lyricism centering around alcohol consumption and parties.
"Dinosaur"
"Dinosaur", following a verse-chorus formula, mixes dance-pop with rapping and is composed in a jungle-beat-tempo and incorporates a whistle-synth. The lyrics discuss an older gentleman attempting to hit on younger women, adding carnivory and predatory behavior as motifs to further the metaphor.[196]
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Kesha's music has been described as electropop,[3][197][198] dance-pop,[199][200] synth-pop,[201] pop rock,[202] pop rap,[138] country,[202] and EDM.[138] Kesha wrote or co-wrote every song on her first two albums and considers herself a songwriter primarily,[203] writing for artists including Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus.[67] Along with a mezzo-soprano voice,[204][205] she possesses a "strong, sneering vibrato",[44] with a distinct yodel-like quality to her voice;[206] she employs actual yodeling on the songs "Tik Tok" and "Cannibal".[207][208] Having previously done country, pop rock, and electro,[202] she had a clear idea of the synth-pop sound that she wanted for her debut album.[209] The genre was popular at the time with many of her peers releasing similar sounds.[45] Both of those albums are of the genre with catchy hooks and synthesized productions often compared to pop singer Dev by music critics, creating misunderstandings among the fans of the two.[44][210][211] "Party at a Rich Dude's House" and "C U Next Tuesday" have 1980s derived backing,[210][212] while "Stephen" begins with "Kansas-style vocal harmonies".[213] "Dinosaur" follows a verse-chorus formula, and has a "cheerleader-type tune" reminiscent of "Hollaback Girl" (2005) by Gwen Stefani and "Girlfriend" (2007) by Avril Lavigne;[214] the song uses the overt symbolism of dinosaurs, carnivory, and other primitive motifs to tell the story of an older man who preys on younger women.[215] According to Kesha, the song is based on true events.[215] While her vocals on Animal were heavily processed with auto-tune, often to produce rapid stuttering or over-pitch corrected vocal effects, leading to questions on vocal talent,[216] she also expressed confidence in her abilities.[217]

Kesha's second studio album Warrior used considerably less auto-tune, although it was still present in a number of songs. The album contained piano and guitar-driven ballads such as "Love into the Light", "Wonderland", and "Past Lives" that showcase non-auto-tuned vocals. Kesha also uses a trademark talky "white-girl" rapping style with exaggerated discordant phrasing and enunciation.[44][202] This technique has led her to be recognized as a rapper, a designation that she did not embrace until fellow rappers André 3000, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg endorsed her. On the subject, she said: "The first time someone called me a rapper, I started laughing. I was shocked, and thought it was hilarious. It's crazy and funny to me."[218]

Kesha performing Tik Tok during the Tits Out Tour (2025)

The New York Times said Kesha "threatens to become the most influential female rapper of the day, or at least the most popular. Pretending Kesha isn't a rapper is no longer feasible."[219] "Crazy Kids" and "C'Mon" took greater shifts into "party rap".[220] Most of her lyrics chronicle her relationships and partying; the lighthearted subject matter of the latter and her unfiltered language saw many critics criticizing her for releasing frivolous and crass music.[46] Jonah Weiner of Slate, however, stated that her jarring lyrics allowed her songs to become more memorable.[44]

In "Blah Blah Blah" and "Boots & Boys", she objectifies men to poke fun at how male fronted rock bands and rappers can get away with objectifying women and not vice versa.[6][24] The title track to her debut, "Animal", is more aspirational and is intended to inspire people to embrace their individuality.[221] Much more experimental than Animal, her second album, Warrior, employs dubstep elements, and contains some surrealism, including Kesha's erotic experiences with ghosts on the song "Supernatural" and reincarnation in the song "Past Lives".[222][223][224] Overall, Kesha said the theme of Warrior is magic.[225]

Critics praised Warrior for its rock music influences,[220][226] despite the album being deeply rooted in technopop.[227] Applauding the album's rock sound, Rolling Stone called the album Kesha's rock manifesto.[226] Rock artists such as The Flaming Lips, Iggy Pop, and Alice Cooper have collaborated with Kesha, endorsing her as a rock singer. Cooper told Billboard, "I immediately looked at her and went, 'This girl is not a pop diva. She's a rock singer.' She would much rather be the female Robert Plant than the next Britney Spears."[228] Kesha has stated that she wanted to pursue a more rock-oriented sound on this album but was prevented by her label. The A.V. Club said that Warrior proved Kesha a capable vocalist and songwriter.[227] The Washington Post said that the album is "pure fun", opining that Kesha can write good hooks despite her sometimes vapid lyricism.[226]

Her third album, Rainbow displayed a significant departure from the electro-pop sound from Kesha's previous two albums. While still primarily a pop album, it contained elements of glam rock, country pop, and pop rock. Its lyrical themes range from letting go of the past, finding forgiveness within oneself for past mistakes, self-worth, and female empowerment.[229]

For her fourth album, High Road, Kesha blended her party-girl image and her more optimistic and sentimental approach on her previous album to show more range.[230]

Gag Order saw her take a much darker approach, in both her music and lyrics. The album primarily drew from the art pop, experimental,psychedelic and electronic genres, while lyrically she dove deep into her negative emotions due to the lawsuit with Dr. Luke.[231][232][233]

Period (.) saw Kesha explore themes of liberation, identity, and creative independence. Musically, the album incorporates elements of pop, disco, and electronic music, reflecting a return to her earlier playful and experimental sound.[234]

Influence

[edit]
Artists like Iggy Pop (left) and Dolly Parton (right) have influenced Kesha.

Kesha has been influenced by various genres and artists; Madonna, Queen, the Rolling Stones, the Killers, Neutral Milk Hotel, the Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Gary Glitter, and Beck have all influenced her music.[235] Her vocal style draws heavily from the song "Tthhee Ppaarrttyy" from the 2007 Justice album Cross. After experimenting with country, pop rock, and electronic music, Kesha stuck with the latter. Thematically, her music generally revolves around escapism, partying, individuality, supernatural moments, rebellion, and grief.[236]

Kesha's musical influences also consist of hip hop, punk rock, crunkcore, glam rock, pop, dance music, and classic country.[237] Her country influences of Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash come from her mother's country songwriting, while her older brother exposed her to hip-hop and punk bands, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr. and the Beastie Boys.[30][238][239] She credits her straightforward story-based lyrics to her love for the honest storytelling style of country music,[239] while the title track from her debut album was created with music of alternative rock bands The Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire in mind.[18]

She singled out the Beastie Boys as a major influence, telling Newsweek that she had always wanted to be like them and aspired to make "youthful, irreverent anthems" as well.[20] She called her debut album, Animal, a homage to the Beastie Boys' Licensed to Ill and credited the creation of the rap driven "Tik Tok" to her love for the Beastie Boys' rap music.[202][240] For her first headlining tour, Kesha wanted to emulate the stage theatrics of Iggy Pop.[241] She listed Pop's The Idiot as well as Led Zeppelin and AC/DC as inspirations for her second studio album, Warrior, intended to feature 1970s rock inspired music.[67] Warrior, to this effect, includes a collaboration with Pop himself.[236]

She draws inspiration from films as well. Her stage makeup is characterized by dramatic glitter makeup at her right eye, inspired by A Clockwork Orange.[242] The video for "Your Love Is My Drug" features animated sequences inspired by the Beatles' film, Yellow Submarine,[243] while the Get Sleazy tour was described as having a "post-apocalyptic Mad Max vibe".[241]

Personal life

[edit]

Kesha is a member of the LGBT community. She has previously identified as bisexual.[244] However, in 2022, she clarified that she preferred not to label her sexuality, stating, "I'm not gay. I'm not straight. I don't know what I am. I love people ... I refuse to be anything, really, except for open to it all."[245] She made similar statements in both 2010 and 2013.[246]

In her 2019 Attitude article, she goes deeper in discussing her sexuality, saying: "I have always been attracted to the soul behind a person's eyes. It has never occurred to me to care about a specific gender, or how someone is identifying, to make me wonder about whether or not I'm attracted to them."[247] She has performed legal commitment ceremonies for both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.[248][249] She has been involved with LGBT activism as well as animal rights.[250][251] Kesha stated that she was born with a quarter inch vestigial tail, "I had a tail when I was born...they chopped it off and stole my tail...I'm really sad about that story."[252]

Advocacy

[edit]

Kesha supports Time's Up, an advocacy group against sexual harassment. At the 2018 Grammys, she performed "Praying" with other notable women in music in support of the movement.[253]

While performing in November 2023, Kesha altered the lyrics to her song "Tik Tok" from "Wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy" to "Wake up in the morning feeling just like me" to remove a reference to Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, a response to a lawsuit from Cassie Ventura that accused Combs of perpetuating several forms of abuse against her, including rape, over a decade-long period.[254] During a guest appearance at singer Reneé Rapp's Coachella set in April 2024, she further altered the lyric to "wake up in the morning, like, 'Fuck P. Diddy'". This occurred after additional lawsuits had been filed against Combs.[255] Kesha has stated that she plans to permanently perform the song with this lyrical change going forward.[256]

Health problems

[edit]

On January 3, 2014, Kesha checked into Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center in Lemont, Illinois, for eating disorder treatment.[257] Kesha's mother confirmed that Kesha was suffering from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa and that she has struggled with it since she was signed. She also alleged that Dr. Luke was partly to blame, saying Luke had told her to lose weight after he signed her, comparing the shape of her body to a refrigerator.[258][259] Kesha completed her treatment on March 6, 2014, after spending two months in rehab.[260]

In her Self magazine cover, Kesha revealed that in 2022, she was diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency, which made her feel fatigued every day. She assumed this was a result of being overworked. Kesha also revealed she almost died in January 2023 after a complication with freezing her eggs, and a few weeks later, she felt weak after a performance and was sent to the hospital for nine days.[261] In an interview for Flood magazine, she revealed she was diagnosed with complex PTSD in 2023.[262]

Spiritual views

[edit]

Writing for Lenny Letter, Kesha stated that she views God as "nature and space and energy and the universe. My own interpretation of spirituality isn't important, because we all have our own. What matters is that I have something greater than me as an individual that helps bring me peace."[263] According to pop culture magazine Paper, "Homophobia and false piety eventually alienated [her] from Christianity and she's since settled on a non-denominational cocktail of meditation, mindfulness, and astrology." Kesha said she is occasionally a nihilist. She is "obsessed with religion".[264]

Politics

[edit]

Kesha has been an outspoken critic of president Donald Trump. She had written her 2018 single, "Woman" in protest of his "pussy grabbing comment", according to her interview with Metro.co.uk.[265] She endorsed Joe Biden for the 2020 US Presidential Election[266] and Kamala Harris for the 2024 US Presidential election.[267]

Discography

[edit]
Main articles: Kesha discography and songs recorded

Studio albums

Tours

[edit]

Headlining

Co-headlining

Supporting

Cancelled

Filmography

[edit]
Main article: Kesha videography

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Kesha

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Kesha

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Kesha Sebert (born , 1987), known professionally as Kesha (formerly stylized as Ke$ha), is an American , and rapper.
Her career breakthrough occurred in 2009 with a featured vocal on Flo Rida's "," followed by her debut single "TiK ToK," which topped the and became one of the best-selling digital singles in history with over 14 million copies sold worldwide.
The release of her debut album in 2010 marked her as a leading figure in and , with the record debuting at number one on the and spawning additional hits like "" and "."
Subsequent albums, including (2012) and the introspective (2017), demonstrated her versatility, with the latter earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Kesha's public image initially emphasized a hedonistic party lifestyle, but it later shifted amid personal struggles and a high-profile legal dispute with producer Lukasz Gottwald (), whom she sued in 2014 alleging , drugging, and emotional abuse stemming from their professional relationship; Gottwald denied the claims, countersued for and , and the protracted litigation restricted her ability to record and release music independently until a mutual settlement in June 2023, under which both parties dismissed all remaining claims without admission of liability.

Early life

Family background and upbringing

Kesha Rose Sebert was born on March 1, 1987, in , , to Patricia Rose "Pebe" Sebert, a of German and Hungarian descent who began performing publicly as a child and later wrote songs for artists including . Her biological father has never been publicly identified, with Sebert stating she has no knowledge of his identity and no desire to pursue it, despite unverified claims such as that of Bob Chamberlain in 2011. Sebert's older half-brother, Lagan Sebert (born circa 1982), is from Pebe's marriage to country singer Hugh Moffat, which ended in ; her younger brother, Louie Sebert (born circa 2000), was later adopted into the family. Following the , Pebe raised the children as a single mother amid ongoing financial hardship, including periods of reliance on welfare payments and food stamps. The family relocated to , during Sebert's , where they lived in poverty, with the household often struggling to afford basics despite Pebe's sporadic songwriting income from hits like those recorded by and . Sebert was exposed to the music industry from infancy, accompanying her mother to recording studios and absorbing influences from Pebe's demos and collaborations, which instilled an early affinity for songwriting and performance.

Education and early interests

Kesha Rose Sebert attended Franklin High School and Brentwood High School in during her teenage years. There, she participated in the program, excelled academically in subjects like , and played the in the . She later described herself as studious but struggled socially, often feeling like an outsider due to her unconventional style, including homemade clothing that drew from peers. Sebert achieved a near-perfect score of 1500 on her SATs, earning acceptance to , an affiliate of , where she planned to study and . However, at age 17, she dropped out of high school one month before graduation to relocate to and pursue a music career, later obtaining her GED. From childhood, Sebert's primary interests centered on , shaped by her mother, Rosemary "Pebe" Sebert, a professional who exposed her to recording studios and co-wrote early demos with her. She received informal songwriting instruction from her mother and enrolled in formal songwriting classes, fostering her aspiration to enter the industry professionally over higher education. This early immersion, combined with her academic aptitude, underscored her pivot toward as a teenager.

Musical career

Career beginnings (2005–2009)

In September 2005, Kesha Rose Sebert, then 18 years old, signed a multi-album recording contract with producer Łukasz Gottwald (professionally known as Dr. Luke) through his imprint Kasz Money, a precursor to Kemosabe Entertainment, after dropping out of high school and relocating to Los Angeles to pursue music professionally. The deal, which encompassed songwriting, recording, and publishing rights, marked her entry into the industry as a signed artist, following earlier demo submissions that caught Dr. Luke's attention when she was 17. From 2005 to 2008, Kesha focused on songwriting and background contributions while developing her own material under Dr. Luke's guidance, though she had no major solo releases during this period. She co-wrote tracks for other artists, including "This Love" for Australian duo , featured on their 2008 remix album This Is Me... Remixes, demonstrating her early pop songcraft emphasizing party themes and hooks. Additional writing credits from this era included contributions to demos and uncredited vocal work, as she honed a raw, hedonistic style influenced by her mother's background and urban LA experiences, but commercial output remained limited to behind-the-scenes roles. Early 2009 brought Kesha's first significant exposure when she provided uncredited guest vocals on Flo Rida's single "," a of 1980s track "You (Like a Record)" by Dead or Alive, which co-produced. Released on February 10, 2009, the song debuted at number one on the , selling over 636,000 digital copies in its first week and marking Kesha's industry breakthrough through association rather than a solo vehicle. This feature, recorded amid ongoing sessions for her debut material, highlighted her distinctive vocal —a slurred, auto-tuned delivery—and positioned her for impending solo promotion, though it did not immediately yield a personal contract release.

Breakthrough success (2009–2011)

Kesha achieved her breakthrough with the release of her debut single "TiK ToK" on August 7, 2009, through RCA Records, following an uncredited feature on Flo Rida's "Right Round" earlier that year that helped build her profile. The track, produced by Dr. Luke, Benny Blanco, and Kesha, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 and quickly ascended, marking the largest digital sales week for a debut single at that time with 610,000 downloads in late December 2009. "TiK ToK" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks and became the best-selling digital single of 2010 worldwide, with 12.8 million copies sold. Her debut studio album, Animal, followed on January 1, 2010, featuring electropop production emphasizing party anthems and auto-tuned vocals. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 152,000 copies in its first week, and produced additional top-ten singles including "Your Love Is My Drug" (peaking at number 4), "Blah Blah Blah" (featuring 3OH!3, number 7), and "Take It Off" (number 20). Animal has since been certified four-times platinum by the RIAA for equivalent units exceeding 4 million in the United States as of September 16, 2024. In October 2010, Kesha released the lead single "We R Who We R" from her companion EP Cannibal, which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 3, 2010—the seventeenth song in chart history to achieve this and her second number-one hit. Cannibal, issued on November 19, 2010, extended her success with tracks like "Sleazy" and "Blow," peaking at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and contributing to bundled sales with Animal. During this period, Kesha launched her first headlining tour, the Get $leazy Tour, in January 2011, supporting Animal and Cannibal with performances emphasizing high-energy, hedonistic themes. By the end of 2011, her singles had amassed over 20 million digital sales in the U.S. alone, solidifying her as a dominant force in pop music.

Warrior era and initial setbacks (2012–2013)

Kesha released her second studio album, Warrior, on December 4, 2012, through Kemosabe and RCA Records. The album incorporated rock elements alongside her signature electropop sound, featuring collaborations with artists such as will.i.am, Ellie Goulding, and The Flaming Lips. Recording sessions occurred from January to August 2012, following songwriting that began in late 2011. The lead single, "Die Young," debuted on September 25, 2012, and reached number 2 on the , selling 188,000 copies in its first week. Subsequent singles "C'Mon" (October 2012) and (March 2013) underperformed commercially, with "C'Mon" peaking at number 27 on the Hot 100 and "Crazy Kids" failing to crack the top 40 amid intense competition from contemporaries like and . Warrior debuted at number 6 on the , projected to sell 80,000–90,000 copies in its first week, marking a decline from the debut position and initial sales of her 2010 album . Year-end U.S. sales for 2012 totaled 166,315 units, with the album ranking 92nd in 2013, reflecting overall muted performance. Critical reception was mixed; reviewers commended the lyrical depth and rock-infused production but noted similarities to Animal, limiting perceived innovation. Multiple release delays contributed to promotional challenges, alongside Kesha's constrained creative input under her production deal. In May 2013, Kesha launched the North American leg of the Warrior Tour, performing at venues like the Comcast Center in Boston on May 23 and extending shows through August and September, supported by acts including Mike Posner and Semi Precious Weapons. The tour continued into Asia later that year, though the era's momentum waned due to faltering single follow-ups and album sales.

Independent releases and Period era (2024–present)

Following the settlement of her legal disputes with in June 2023, Kesha fulfilled her contractual obligations to and RCA by releasing Gag Order in May 2023, after which she was released from her with Kemosabe in March 2024. This marked her transition to , allowing full creative control and ownership of future music. Her first release as an independent artist was the single "Joyride" on July 4, 2024, a high-energy pop track emphasizing themes of liberation and . In September 2024, Kesha launched her own imprint, Kesha Records, through a global distribution partnership with Warner Music Group's ADA, enabling her to retain ownership while handling distribution for upcoming projects, including a new album slated for 2025. The Period era, named after her sixth studio album . (Period)—released July 4, 2025, via Kesha Records—represents a deliberate return to the exuberant, party-centric style of her early career, contrasting the introspective tone of . The album comprises 11 tracks, including "Joyride," "Delusional" (released as a single November 29, 2024), "Yippee-Ki-Yay" (March 27, 2025), and "Boy Crazy," blending pop, , EDM, , and elements with and influences for a genre-defying sound. Kesha described the project as a reclamation of joy, stating she aimed to embody her "wildest era yet" after years of litigation constrained her output. Additional releases included a cover of "" for Singles in October 2024, underscoring her pivot toward unfiltered, celebratory expression. Critics noted the album's buffet-like variety and humorous edge, with The Guardian praising it as a "smart, funny return to her hedonistic hot mess" persona, featuring rare allusions to past traumas amid tracks like "Freedom" and "Red Flag." Reviews were generally favorable, earning descriptors like "frisky pop record" that "delights in throwing things at the wall," though some outlets critiqued inconsistencies in cohesion. By late 2025, the era solidified Kesha's independent trajectory, with no further major releases announced as of October, focusing instead on ownership and artistic autonomy over commercial metrics.

Initial allegations and contract disputes (2014)

On October 14, 2014, Kesha Rose Sebert filed a civil lawsuit against music producer Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald, professionally known as , in , accusing him of , battery, , gender violence, emotional abuse, and violation of California's unfair business practices law. The complaint detailed that Gottwald had drugged her with what she described as a date-rape drug and raped her on at least two occasions, including an incident in 2005 shortly after she signed a with his company at age 18; additional claims included repeated physical assaults, verbal degradation such as calling her fat and ugly, coercion into substance abuse, and threats to sabotage her career and harm her family if she disclosed the abuse. Sebert's suit sought to void her 2005 recording agreement with Gottwald's , which had been licensed to subsidiaries including and his imprint (established in 2011), arguing the alleged abuse constituted a material breach that invalidated the multi-album deal requiring her to deliver additional records under his oversight. Gottwald immediately denied the allegations, asserting through his representatives that Sebert fabricated the claims as a pretext to escape her contractual obligations after failing to deliver a third studio album as stipulated in the agreement, which he described as a standard industry deal providing her substantial advances and royalties. On October 21, 2014, his legal team filed a notice asserting the dispute belonged in New York courts due to a forum-selection clause in the contract favoring Manhattan jurisdiction, leading to a temporary halt of the California proceedings. By October 29, 2014, Gottwald countersued Sebert and her mother, Pebe Sebert, for defamation, breach of contract, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in New York Supreme Court, claiming the public accusations—disseminated via the lawsuit and media—falsely portrayed him as a criminal to pressure Sony Music and Kemosabe into terminating his involvement without financial penalty. Sony Music Entertainment, as distributor for Kemosabe, declined to intervene directly or release Sebert from the deal in late , citing the binding nature of the and ongoing litigation, which prevented her from recording or releasing new material independently despite her requests for accommodation amid reported impacts from the dispute. The initial filings highlighted tensions over artistic control, with Sebert alleging Gottwald withheld approvals for projects and imposed punitive terms, while his camp maintained the 's enforceability and accused her of strategic timing to coincide with stalled career momentum post her 2012 album .

Countersuits and defamation claims

On October 14, 2014, six days after Kesha filed her civil suit in , producer Lukasz Gottwald, known professionally as , initiated a countersuit in against Kesha Sebert, her mother , and her former manager Jack Rovner. The filing accused Kesha of , , and , asserting that her allegations of , drugging, , and emotional manipulation were fabricated to coerce him into terminating her recording contracts with his companies, and KSR Music. maintained that the claims were "completely untrue and deeply hurtful," designed as an extortionate tactic rather than a genuine grievance, and he sought compensatory and exceeding available limits under New York . The defamation claims specifically targeted statements in Kesha's complaint and related public disclosures, which argued constituted per se by imputing criminal conduct—such as and battery—without factual basis, thereby damaging his professional reputation in the music industry. He further alleged that and Rovner aided in propagating these falsehoods, including through media interviews and posts that amplified the accusations. No criminal charges were ever filed against stemming from Kesha's allegations, and he consistently denied any wrongdoing throughout the proceedings. In a related action, on October 29, 2014, filed a separate lawsuit against in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of , where she resided, preemptively addressing potential jurisdictional maneuvers and reiterating claims that her public statements falsely portrayed him as a . This suit accused her of making libelous remarks to media outlets, including assertions of 's alleged assaults on other artists, which he contended were baseless and intended to bolster Kesha's narrative. The case was later consolidated or influenced the broader New York litigation, contributing to the multi-jurisdictional nature of the dispute.

Key court rulings and appeals

In response to Kesha's October 2014 California lawsuit alleging , battery, and employment contract violations against Łukasz Gottwald (), the superior court stayed proceedings and compelled or litigation in New York due to a forum selection clause in her with his imprint. On February 19, 2016, Justice Shirley P. Kornreich denied Kesha's motion for a preliminary to suspend her contractual obligation to deliver six albums to Kemosabe, ruling that she failed to demonstrate irreparable harm or a likelihood of success on her claims, and emphasizing a lack of contemporaneous supporting her allegation despite text messages indicating otherwise. The judge clarified that Kesha could record music independently but required Gottwald's approval for commercial release under the contract terms. Kesha appealed the injunction denial to the Appellate Division, First Department, which upheld the 's decision on April 7, 2016, finding no of discretion and reiterating that favored enforcing valid contracts absent extraordinary circumstances, even amid serious abuse allegations without sufficient evidentiary support for interim relief. In Gottwald's parallel New York defamation action against Kesha and her mother , the granted partial to Gottwald in February 2020, determining that certain statements—such as Kesha's claim to that Gottwald raped her—were per se and false, while ruling he was not a and thus not required to prove . The court denied Kesha's cross-motion asserting Gottwald's public figure status or anti-SLAPP protections. The Appellate Division affirmed the 's partial summary judgment and denial of Kesha's anti-SLAPP motion in April 2021, holding that New York's pre-2020 anti-SLAPP law applied and did not shield her statements made in the course of litigation. On June 13, 2023, the reversed the Appellate Division's public figure determination, classifying Gottwald as a limited public figure due to his prominence in the music industry and access to media channels, thereby imposing a higher burden on him to demonstrate by clear and convincing that Kesha's statements were made with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. The court separately ruled that 2020 amendments expanding anti-SLAPP remedies did not retroactively apply to pre-amendment attorney fees in the ongoing suit, though Kesha could pursue post-amendment costs via ; battery and emotional distress claims against Gottwald remained viable for .

Settlement and professional aftermath (2023)

On June 22, 2023, Kesha and announced a settlement that resolved their ongoing and related lawsuits, which had stemmed from Kesha's 2014 allegations of and Dr. Luke's countersuits claiming . The agreement resulted in mutual dismissal of all claims without any admission of liability or detailed public disclosure of terms. Kesha issued a statement expressing gratitude to supporters and anticipation for future creative work, while Dr. Luke similarly noted relief at the conclusion of the matter. The settlement followed prior court decisions unfavorable to Kesha, including rulings that certain of her public statements were and denials of her requests to void her on grounds of duress or . Earlier, in April 2023, had proposed releasing Kesha from her contract in exchange for retracting her rape allegation, an offer she publicly rejected on , asserting the truth of her account could not be undone. The June resolution did not require such a retraction but effectively ended judicial proceedings, including appeals over verdicts. Professionally, the settlement coincided with Kesha's completion of her five-album obligation to via the release of on May 19, 2023, after which she was freed from the label by December 2023. This liberation removed longstanding contractual constraints that had compelled her to deliver music through Dr. Luke's imprint despite the disputes, though her output during the litigation—limited to one full ( in 2017) and —reflected diminished commercial output compared to her pre-2014 peak, with debuting at number 22 on the Billboard 200. Post-settlement in 2023, Kesha maintained touring commitments but faced divided fan reactions, with some criticizing the outcome as a concession absent , contributing to ongoing scrutiny of her public image.

Artistry

Musical style and vocal technique

Kesha's music primarily encompasses and , often infused with elements and electronic production. Her debut album (2010) exemplifies this through high-energy tracks featuring synthesized beats, repetitive hooks, and themes of and partying, as classified in music databases. Subsequent works like (2012) incorporated rock influences, including guitar riffs and harder-edged rhythms, expanding her sound while retaining pop accessibility. In her vocal delivery, Kesha frequently employs a hybrid of , talk-singing, and melodic phrasing, utilizing her mid-range register for a characterful, attitude-driven tone. Early recordings heavily feature and pitch correction not merely for correction but as an aesthetic choice to achieve a stylized, robotic suited to electro-pop production, though unprocessed demos demonstrate her natural ability. Her vocal range spans approximately three octaves from D3 to F6, allowing for chest-dominant power in upbeat tracks and mixed registers in more emotive pieces. Later albums, such as (2017), showcase reduced processing, highlighting breathy textures, , and dynamic control to convey vulnerability, as analyzed in her "Praying." This evolution reflects a shift from processed party anthems to rawer, interpretive , with phrasing noted for its emotional precision.

Influences and songwriting approach

Kesha's musical influences draw from a diverse array of genres, including , , , and pop, reflecting her exposure to her mother Pebe Sebert's songwriting career and broader artistic explorations. Early listings on her page in 2008 cited artists such as , Madonna's , ' , , and , indicating a blend of hip-hop, , and foundations. For her 2017 album , Kesha highlighted inspirations like , The ' "Yellow Submarine," The ' "God Only Knows," Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing," and T. Rex's "Cosmic Dancer," emphasizing raw emotional expression and genre defiance. Country icon has been a particularly profound influence, whom Kesha has described as a "guiding light" since childhood, shaping her appreciation for resilient, narrative-driven songcraft amid personal adversity. Similarly, punk pioneer Pop's unapologetic rebellion inspired Kesha's early career, leading to their 2012 collaboration on "Dirty Love" from the album Warrior, where Pop's rule-breaking ethos encouraged her to infuse pop with gritty, nonconformist energy. These influences underscore Kesha's shift from hedonistic party anthems to introspective works, prioritizing authenticity over commercial polish. Kesha's songwriting approach is rooted in autobiographical honesty and emotional catharsis, a method she attributes to lifelong mentorship from her mother, , a professional songwriter whose techniques Kesha absorbed from childhood. She emphasizes truthfulness as essential, stating in a 2024 TED Talk that songs lacking genuine vulnerability "will suck," positioning writing as a tool for processing trauma and experiences rather than fabrication. This process evolved notably in albums like (2023), where sessions focused on self-exploration in her late thirties, channeling personal struggles into raw, unfiltered lyrics without external co-writers dominating the narrative. In practice, Kesha integrates music as therapeutic outlet, using retreats and solo reflection to handle emotions safely, as evidenced by her role teaching songwriting at professional camps by 2024, where she shares iterative, instinct-driven methods tailored to individual authenticity over formulaic hits. Her breakthrough single "Tik Tok" (2009) exemplifies this, originating from childhood-forged passion and familial guidance, prioritizing experiential immediacy—such as testing tracks in real-time social settings—over prolonged studio refinement. This approach contrasts with industry norms of collaborative efficiency, favoring depth and personal agency, though it has occasionally extended production timelines amid legal and health challenges.

Public image evolution and criticisms

Kesha's public image initially emerged in 2009 with the release of "TiK ToK," establishing her as a provocative party girl archetype characterized by glitter-drenched aesthetics, hedonistic lyrics celebrating alcohol and casual encounters, and a deliberate rejection of polished pop conventions. This persona, amplified through her debut album Animal (January 19, 2010), which sold over 610,000 copies in its first week, positioned her as an unapologetic symbol of youthful excess, though she later revealed in 2023 that industry pressures compelled her to sustain it to meet fan expectations of "joy" and "hot and dangerous" escapism, despite personal discomfort. The 2014 onset of her legal disputes with producer marked a pivotal shift, transforming her from carefree reveler to a figure of resilience amid allegations of abuse, which she detailed in subsequent music like "Praying" from (August 11, 2017), earning a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2018. During this period, spanning roughly 2014 to 2023, Kesha's image evolved toward vulnerability and advocacy, openly addressing eating disorders—she checked into rehab in 2014 for bulimia, nearly dying from related complications—and struggles, including trauma , as reflected in her adoption of a softer, less performative style by age 30 around 2017, where she prioritized authenticity over toughness. Post-settlement in June 2023, Kesha emphasized liberation and self-ownership, launching independent ventures under Kesha Records, including the album Period (July 4, 2025) and the "Tits Out Tour" starting July 1, 2025, which sold 391,617 tickets across 25 of 26 dates for $14.1 million gross, reworking early hits into a narrative of healing divided into acts like "Freedom Cunt." She described this era as reclaiming a body and story long "serving something else," blending warrior motifs with introspective crooning, though critics noted persistent echoes of her party roots in tracks affirming ongoing revelry. Criticisms of Kesha's image have centered on its early glorification of substance-fueled debauchery, with detractors arguing songs like those on Cannibal (November 19, 2010) normalized risky behaviors for young audiences, contributing to perceptions of her as emblematic of lowbrow pop excess rather than artistic depth. In the legal context, skepticism arose over inconsistencies, such as her 2011 deposition in a separate suit stating "never made sexual advances at me," contrasted with later allegations; courts denied her 2016 request and dismissed portions of her claims, while prevailed on counters, fostering views among some observers that the dispute served more as a contract-escape tactic than substantiated grievance, ultimately stalling her career momentum post-2014 peak. The 2023 settlement, issuing mutual non-guilt statements without admission, left public opinion divided, with mainstream narratives amplifying victimhood—potentially influenced by #MeToo sympathies—while empirical lacks like absent criminal charges and evidentiary setbacks prompted accusations of narrative overreach. Recent perceptions critique her post-lawsuit reinventions as attempts at revisionism, diluting the original wild appeal that fueled her 2010 dominance, amid diminished mainstream relevance.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Kesha Rose Sebert was born on March 1, 1987, in , , to Rosemary Patricia "Pebe" Sebert, a known for co-writing the 1978 single "Old Flames Can't Hold a Candle to You" with Hugh Moffatt. Pebe raised Kesha as a single mother amid financial struggles, relying on welfare payments and food stamps to support her children while pursuing her music career. The family frequently relocated, eventually settling in , where Pebe continued songwriting and involved her children in recording sessions from a young age. Kesha has two brothers: an older half-brother, Lagan Sebert (born circa 1982), from Pebe's brief marriage to a singer, and a younger brother, Louie "Milo" Sebert (born circa 2001), whom Pebe helped raise after he was born to another family member. The Sebert family maintained close ties, with Pebe collaborating professionally with Kesha and her siblings, including advancing their music careers through connections like those with producer . Kesha's biological father remains unidentified publicly, and she has described growing up without a , attributing her resilience to her mother's influence. Kesha has not married and has as of 2025. She has kept her romantic life largely private, avoiding public disclosures of partners to protect amid her high-profile career. One confirmed long-term relationship was with businessman Brad Ashenfelter, which lasted from 2014 to 2021; Kesha credited him with providing stability during her legal battles. In a , Kesha described a recent ex-boyfriend as a "starf**ker" who ended the relationship upon her career resurgence, highlighting her wariness of fame-motivated partners in ' dating scene, which she likened to "digging through the garbage." Earlier rumored links, such as brief associations with musicians in 2011 or Alex Carapetis in 2010, lack substantiation beyond tabloid speculation and were not acknowledged by Kesha.

Health challenges

In January 2014, Kesha entered a rehabilitation facility in the United States to receive treatment for an , primarily exacerbated by body dysmorphia. She had reportedly been struggling with the condition for years, during which she induced vomiting after most meals and once experienced esophageal tears leading to her vomiting blood, an incident she later described as nearly fatal. Her physician recommended extended , prompting her to postpone tour dates through April 2014 to prioritize recovery. Kesha completed the initial 30-day program and was released in March 2014, after approximately two months of treatment, during which she reported gaining weight and beginning to address underlying psychological factors, including industry pressures that equated thinness with professional viability. Kesha has publicly attributed her eating disorder in part to distorted influences from her career, including repeated compliments on her weight loss despite deteriorating . In subsequent years, she advocated for awareness, releasing a during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in March 2017 and stating she had been in active recovery since her 2014 treatment. By 2023, she described her recovery as an ongoing process involving and , though she continued to experience relapses tied to stress. Parallel to these issues, Kesha has reported severe challenges, including anxiety, depression, and attacks, which she linked in legal filings to alleged emotional and by producer , claims he has denied. In a 2017 essay, she detailed how exacerbated her anxiety and depression, contributing to patterns during her early career. Kesha recounted mistaking intense anxiety episodes for psychotic breaks, particularly around 2023, and emphasized routines like and for management. She has also disclosed a of (CVID), an autoimmune disorder impairing immune function, which compounded her physical vulnerabilities but was managed through medical intervention post-2014.

Spiritual and philosophical views

Kesha Sebert has articulated a pantheistic understanding of , stating in 2017 that "God is nature and space and energy and the universe," emphasizing personal interpretation over institutional dogma. Her spirituality draws from diverse traditions, including a reported belief in karma as a causal mechanism of moral reciprocity. Sebert identifies as a lifelong spiritual seeker, having studied in high school and explored multiple faiths without formal affiliation to any one. She has described experiences with , viewing cats as potential past-life connections, and claims occasional communication with ghosts or spirits. Her early exposure to esoteric practices stemmed from family influences, such as her mother's study of and deliberate timing of Sebert's birth under the Pisces zodiac sign, associated with ancient souls. Sebert has distanced herself from , citing alienation due to observed homophobia and insincere piety within its communities, opting instead for a syncretic practice involving and self-directed rituals. In April 2023, amid personal and legal recovery, Sebert reported an intense spiritual awakening, describing direct communion with her "highest self" or a divine presence, which informed her album . Philosophically, she has expressed intermittent , asserting in 2020 that "nothing matters" as a perspective amid existential reflection. Her 2017 single reflects this outlook, serving as an anthem for the religiously unaffiliated and promoting individualized focused on resilience and equality.

Political positions and activism

Kesha has expressed support for Democratic candidates, endorsing in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and citing her advocacy for and equality as key reasons. In July 2024, she endorsed for president while criticizing Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance over his comments on "childless cat ladies." She has encouraged voter participation, particularly among young people, in essays and videos promoting midterm elections and general as means to effect change. Her activism prominently features advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, including gay marriage during its legalization push in the U.S. and ongoing support for communities. In April 2025, amid state-level restrictions on healthcare and youth sports participation, Kesha described government measures as "terrifying attacks" on trans people and pledged not to remain silent on "basic ." She urged the LGBTQ+ community to respond "radically" to "hate and chaos," emphasizing and resilience during statements in 2022 and 2023. Kesha has also addressed broader equality issues through music and public statements, releasing a 2019 song video honoring political activists like who fought for civil rights. In a 2017 essay tied to her single "Woman," she discussed female empowerment and inner strength amid personal challenges, framing it as a call for self-reliance rather than institutional dependence. She serves as an ambassador for animal rights organizations, aligning with her contributions to related campaigns. These positions reflect a consistent emphasis on individual agency and targeted social causes over comprehensive policy platforms.

Professional works

Discography

Kesha has released six studio albums, beginning with her debut Animal in 2010, which established her as a commercial force in pop music through its lead single "TiK ToK," certified diamond by the RIAA. Her subsequent releases include the EP Cannibal in 2010, which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, and later albums reflecting shifts in style amid legal battles with producer Dr. Luke, culminating in the independent release .(Period) in 2025. Overall, her discography features electropop and dance tracks with evolving themes of party anthems, personal struggle, and empowerment, achieving multiple top-10 entries on the Billboard 200.

Studio albums

TitleRelease dateLabel(s)Peak chart positions (Billboard 200)Sales and certifications
AnimalJanuary 19, 2010RCA Records1First-week sales: 152,000 copies
WarriorNovember 30, 2012Kemosabe, RCA RecordsTop 10—
RainbowAugust 11, 2017Kemosabe, RCA Records1First-week units: 116,000 (89,000 pure sales)
High RoadJanuary 10, 2020Kemosabe, RCA Records7First-week units: 45,000 (35,000 pure sales)
Gag OrderMay 19, 2023Kemosabe, RCA Records168—
.(Period)July 4, 2025Kesha Records17No. 1 Top Album Sales, Vinyl Albums, Top Dance/Electronic Albums

Extended plays

  • Cannibal (November 19, 2010; Epic Records): Peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200; included singles "We R Who We R" (No. 1 Billboard Hot 100) and "Sleazy" (No. 44).

Singles

As lead artist, Kesha has released over 20 singles, with key hits including "TiK ToK" (2009; No. 1 Hot 100 for two weeks, diamond certified), "Your Love Is My Drug" (2010; No. 4), "Die Young" (2012; No. 3), "Timber" (with Pitbull; 2013; No. 1 for three weeks, 14× platinum), "Praying" (2017; No. 22), and "Joyride" (2024; lead single from .(Period)). Her singles have amassed over 75 million RIAA certifications in the US, reflecting strong streaming and sales performance despite periods of limited promotion due to contractual disputes.

Concert tours

Kesha's debut headlining tour, the , supported her album (2010) and EP Cannibal (2010), commencing on February 15, 2011. The tour featured performances of tracks like "TiK ToK" and "Your Love Is My Drug," emphasizing her high-energy party aesthetic with elements such as confetti cannons and . The , her second headlining outing, promoted the album (2012) and ran primarily in 2013, marking her first extensive international run. It included co-headlining dates in with Pitbull from May 23 to June 28, 2013, before extending to , , and other regions through November. Performances highlighted tracks like "Crazy Kids" and incorporated theatrical elements, including warrior-themed costumes and guest appearances. Following a hiatus due to legal disputes, Kesha launched the Rainbow Tour in 2017, her first solo headlining trek since 2013, supporting (2017). The 21-date North American run began September 26 in , and concluded November 1 at the in , featuring acoustic renditions and fan sing-alongs for emotional resonance. Reviews noted its cathartic tone, blending new material like "Praying" with hits. The High Road Tour, announced to support High Road (2020), was scheduled for 26 North American dates starting April 23, 2020, in . It was canceled in May 2020 amid the , with Kesha citing health and safety concerns. Subsequent tours included co-headlining efforts like The Adventures of Kesha and (2018) supporting , and The Tits Out Tour with . In 2023, the Only Love Tour promoted Gag Order (2023), running from October 15 in , Texas, to November 26 in . Kesha has also performed at festivals and one-off shows during periods without full tours.

Filmography and other media

Kesha's screen credits are sparse relative to her music career, consisting mainly of cameo roles, voice work, and self-focused documentaries. Her earliest notable television appearance was in the 2011 Victorious episode "Ice Cream for Ke$ha," which centered on characters exploiting a contest promotion tied to her music video for free ice cream. In film, Kesha played Aubrey Shea, a holographic clone, in the 2015 musical Jem and the Holograms. She followed with a minor role as Spirit Girl in the 2017 supernatural drama . On television, she guest-starred as the character Annabelle, a rival pop singer, in the 2015 second-season episode of . More recently, Kesha voiced Queen in the animated series starting in 2024 and appeared as herself in the 2023 Disney+ series . She also provided voice work as Laura in the adult animated series Animals. during its 2016–2018 run.
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011HerselfEpisode: "Ice Cream for Ke$ha"
2015Jem and the HologramsAubrey SheaHolographic clone character
2015AnnabelleGuest star, fictional pop rival
2016–2018Animals. (TV series)Laura (voice)Recurring voice role
2017Spirit GirlBrief acting role
2023KeshaGuest appearance as herself
2024–Queen (voice)Animated role
Kesha has also starred in music-centric documentaries, including Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life (2013), an production detailing her rise to fame and party-heavy lifestyle, and Rainbow: The Film (2018), which covered her personal recovery, album creation post-legal disputes, and rehab for an . These projects emphasize her narrative of resilience amid career highs and lows, though critics have noted their promotional tone aligns closely with her branding rather than independent journalism.

Awards and nominations

Kesha has received limited competitive wins in major music award ceremonies but has earned nominations across several prestigious events, reflecting her commercial success and later artistic pivot. Her recognition includes two Grammy nominations in 2018, multiple nods from and in her debut years, and special honors for trailblazing influence and advocacy. At the 60th Annual Grammy Awards held on January 28, 2018, Kesha was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album for her third studio album Rainbow and Best Pop Solo Performance for the single "Praying." She did not win either category. In 2010, during her breakthrough year, Kesha secured a win for Best New Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards. She also received nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards that year for Best New Artist, Best Pop Video, and Best Female Video, all for "TiK ToK," though she did not win. Additionally, she was nominated for Best Collaboration for "Timber" with Pitbull at the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards. For the 2010 American Music Awards, Kesha earned nominations for Artist of the Year and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist. She faced similar competitive fields at the , with multiple nominations in 2011 including Top New Artist, Top Female Artist, and Top Hot 100 Artist, but no reported wins in these fan-voted categories. Beyond competitive music awards, Kesha received the Trailblazer Award at event on December 9, 2016, recognizing her pioneering role in amid personal and professional challenges. In March 2016, she was honored with the Visibility Award from the for advancing LGBT equality through her platform and advocacy against youth harassment. She also won the iHeartRadio Music Award for Best Collaboration in 2014 for "Timber."

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  104. https://people.com/health/kesha-on-eating-disorder-rolling-stone/
  105. https://www.cnn.com/2014/02/04/showbiz/kesha-treatment-eating-disorder
  106. https://www.scrippsnews.com/entertainment/kesha-leaves-rehab-after-receiving-eating-disorder-treatment
  107. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kesha-opens-up-about-her-eating-disorder-and-experience-in-rehab-189818/
  108. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kesha-on-battle-with-body-dysmorphia-and-bulimia-i-almost-died-180228001.html
  109. https://www.glamour.com/story/kesha-speaks-out-on-her-personal-struggle-with-eating-disorders-in-a-new-psa
  110. https://hollywoodlife.com/feature/kesha-health-5123413/
  111. https://www.self.com/story/kesha-tv-essay
  112. https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/kesha-anxiety-apple-music-interview-b2345956.html
  113. https://pantheism.com/singer-kesha-declares-her-god-is-nature-coinciding-release-of-her-new-spiritual-themed-single-praying/
  114. https://hollowverse.com/kesha
  115. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kesha-god-reincarnation-cats-1234722612/
  116. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kesha-talks-ghost-communication-rich-white-straight-men-10-lobotomies-in-another-era-023530674.html
  117. https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2022/07/28/conjuring-kesha-pop-star-and-friends-discovery-spiritual-journey/10140916002/
  118. https://www.papermag.com/kesha-high-road
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  120. https://www.mic.com/articles/183195/kesha-essay-new-single-hymn-for-people-who-feel-like-outcasts
  121. https://www.glamour.com/story/kesha-on-gun-control-equality-and-that-obamaclinton-mashup-of-timber
  122. https://pagesix.com/2024/07/26/entertainment/kesha-blasts-jd-vance-endorses-kamala-harris/
  123. https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/09/208707/kesha-young-voters-change-midterm-elections-essay
  124. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfJ5apfdGCQ
  125. https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/kesha-talks-album-government-attacks-trans-people-1235938917/
  126. https://www.attitude.co.uk/culture/music/kesha-on-protecting-trans-people-482159/
  127. https://people.com/kesha-urges-lgbtq-community-to-be-radical-against-hate-11714932
  128. https://www.papermag.com/kesha-pride-stonewall-lgbtq
  129. https://www.pride.com/culture/music/kesha-pride-month-statement
  130. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/kesha-delivers-rallying-cry-change-ruth-bader-ginsburg/story?id=57934531
  131. https://www.salon.com/2017/07/13/kesha-woman-lyrics-video-rainbow-release-date/
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  133. https://grammy.com/news/kesha-rainbow-hits-no-1-billboard-200
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  141. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/keha-will-cover-beastie-boys-assault-all-your-senses-on-get-leazy-tour-473576/
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  143. https://www.setlist.fm/stats/average-setlist/kesha-7bd43a28.html?tour=13d46d5d
  144. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kesha-unveils-rainbow-tour-her-first-solo-trek-since-2013-300497118.html
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  148. https://tv.apple.com/us/person/kesha/umc.cpc.4vvbhsd7n3sngkjhpyo0eflio
  149. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kesha
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  153. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUNJTi_jU8A
  154. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3732465/awards/
  155. https://x.com/WORLDMUSICAWARD/status/1895959879237431807
  156. https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/kesha-trailblazer-award-billboard-women-in-music-2016-7580571/
  157. https://people.com/celebrity/kesha-receives-hrcs-visibility-award-thanks-supporters-in-dr-luke-suit/
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