Maite Kelly

Maite Kelly is a German-born Irish-American singer, actress, and author best known as the second youngest member of the family band The Kelly Family, with whom she rose to international fame in the 1990s before launching a successful solo career.^[1][2] Born Maite Star Kelly on December 4, 1979, in Berlin, Germany, she is the only child in her family of twelve to have been born there, growing up in a nomadic lifestyle with her Irish-American parents, Dan and Barbara Ann Kelly, and siblings as they traveled Europe performing folk-pop music from a converted bus.^[1][3] Her mother died of breast cancer in 1982 when Maite was just three years old, an event that profoundly shaped her life and later advocacy work as an ambassador for Deutsche Krebshilfe.^[2][1] Kelly began performing with The Kelly Family as a child, contributing vocals and energy to hits like "Over the Hump" (1994), which propelled the group to sell over 20 million records worldwide and dominate European charts.^[3][1] She left the band in 2000 at age 20 to complete high school in the United States and explore personal independence, but returned to music with her solo debut album The Unofficial Album in 2009, marking her transition to a more mature, pop-oriented style.^[2][4] Her solo breakthrough came in 2014 with the duet "Warum hast du nicht nein gesagt" alongside Roland Kaiser, which topped German charts and earned her a Smago! Award; subsequent albums such as Hello! (2021, reaching No. 1 in Germany and Austria) and Love, Maite (2023) have solidified her status as a Schlager and pop icon, with themes often exploring love, resilience, and femininity.^[3][5][2] Kelly has also distinguished herself in acting, starring in the German musical production of Hairspray (2009–2010), guest roles in TV series like In aller Freundschaft (2013), and the family film Wuff – Folge dem Hund (2018).^[1][2] On a personal note, Kelly was married to Italian businessman Florent Michel Raimond from 2005 until their divorce in 2018, with whom she has three daughters: Agnès (born 2006), Joséphine (2008), and Solène (2014); she resides in Cologne, Germany, and has been open about her experiences with divorce and single motherhood in her music and interviews.^[3][1][6] Her accolades include winning the German reality show Let's Dance in 2011, receiving the Verdienstorden des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen in 2012 for her cultural contributions, and multiple Smago! Awards for her musical achievements.^[1][3] Beyond entertainment, she has engaged in humanitarian efforts, including volunteer work in Togo in 2003 and ongoing support for cancer research.^[1] As of 2025, Kelly continues to tour arenas across Europe, released the single "Der Morgen danach" in 2025, and is preparing for her upcoming album 24/7 in 2026 and an arena tour in 2027, emphasizing empowerment and emotional depth.^[7][5][8]

Early life

Family and childhood

Maite Star Kelly was born on December 4, 1979, in West Berlin, West Germany, as the eleventh of twelve siblings to parents Daniel Jerome Kelly, an Irish-American musician born in Pennsylvania, and Barbara Ann Kelly, an American ballet dancer.^[9][10][2] Her father, a former teacher and musician of Irish descent, had moved the family from the United States to Europe in the 1960s, initially settling in Spain before nomadic travels began.^[11] Barbara Ann gave birth to eight of the children, including Maite, before her death from breast cancer in 1982, when Maite was just under three years old.^[2][12] Unlike her siblings, who were born primarily in the United States or during earlier European travels, Maite holds the unique position as the only Kelly child born in Germany, and she is the sole sibling to have attended formal schooling, albeit briefly in her early years there before the family's continued movements.^[13][14] This contrasted sharply with the nomadic lifestyle of the Kelly Family, which emphasized self-education and music over traditional academics; her father, wary of formal systems, taught the children reading, writing, and musical skills himself during their journeys.^[11] Following her mother's passing, Maite's childhood from age three onward was dominated by extensive touring across Europe and the United States, where the family performed free street concerts to sustain themselves, often in modest conditions like campsites or houseboats.^[15][2] From a young age, Maite was immersed in music through her family's performances and her father's guidance, who encouraged all siblings to learn instruments as part of their daily routine and band formation.^[11] She developed early skills on the bass guitar and percussion, accompanying her older siblings on stage with simple instruments during street shows, fostering her passion for performance amid the challenges of their itinerant life.^[16][17] This environment of constant travel and familial music-making shaped her foundational influences, blending Irish folk traditions with American roots and European experiences.^[18]

Involvement with The Kelly Family

Maite Kelly joined The Kelly Family around the age of 10 in 1989, contributing as a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist during the band's formative years. She played bass guitar and provided backing vocals on several tracks, including the hit "Every Baby" from the 1996 album Almost Heaven, where she also took lead vocals on select songs.^[19][20] The band's ascent to prominence occurred in the 1990s, marked by the commercial breakthrough of their 1994 album Over the Hump, which sold over 2.5 million copies in Germany alone and featured Kelly's instrumental and vocal support.^[21] This period included extensive European tours and free concerts, such as the sold-out 1994 Dortmund performance that solidified their folk-pop appeal. Kelly continued her involvement through subsequent releases, including Growin' Up (1997) and From Their Hearts (1998), where she handled bass, shaker, and lead vocals on tracks like "Dance to the Rock'n'Roll."^[22][23] These albums reinforced the band's folk-pop style amid growing commercial achievements, with Kelly's youthful energy contributing to their dynamic live performances. In 2002, she participated in the German Eurovision Song Contest pre-selection, performing lead vocals on "I Wanna Be Loved," which placed fourth.^[24] In the early 2000s, amid family hiatuses following the death of patriarch Dan Kelly in 2002, Maite Kelly departed the group to pursue personal endeavors and solo ambitions.^[21]

Solo career

Debut and early work

Maite Kelly began her solo career in 2007, recording material for an initial album that was not commercially released at the time, while performing at two major gala events in Berlin and Stuttgart in May of that year to build momentum toward artistic independence.^[25] These early efforts marked her gradual transition away from the folk and pop-rock sound of The Kelly Family, her family's group that had provided her professional foundation.^[25] Her official debut studio album, Das volle Programm, was released on September 16, 2011, by Polydor Records, featuring upbeat pop tracks inspired by 1930s and 1940s revue and jazz styles, a deliberate shift from her family's folk influences.^[26][27] The album peaked at number 23 on the German charts, reflecting a modest but positive initial reception as Kelly established her individual voice.^[28] Accompanied by promotional singles like the title track and a supporting tour titled "Die Maite Kelly Revue," it highlighted her emerging pop persona through energetic performances across Germany.^[29][30] Shortly after, on October 1, 2011, Kelly released The Unofficial Album via Delta Music, an English-language pop collection of original songs that further showcased her versatility beyond family collaborations.^[31] This follow-up reinforced her transitional phase, blending rock and pop elements in tracks such as "What Can I Say" and "What Have I Done," and received attention through media appearances and live promotions. In 2013, Kelly issued her second German-language album, Wie ich bin, on March 29 via Seven Days Music, which introduced subtle Schlager influences while maintaining a pop foundation, peaking at number 87 on the German charts.^[32][33] Early singles from the album, including "Weil du mich lässt," supported regional tours and helped solidify her reception as an artist evolving from her Kelly Family legacy into a more personal pop-Schlager hybrid.^[34]

Later releases and style shift

Following the exploratory phase of her early solo work, Maite Kelly solidified her presence in the Schlager genre with her 2016 album Sieben Leben für dich, released on October 14 by Electrola. The record debuted at number 8 on the German album charts and achieved gold certification in Germany, with over 300,000 units sold.^{[35][36][37][38]} This release marked a clear embrace of Schlager-pop, blending upbeat rhythms with heartfelt lyrics that resonated with audiences seeking emotional depth in popular music. Kelly's commercial momentum continued with Die Liebe siegt sowieso, released on October 12, 2018, also by Electrola, which peaked at number 3 in Germany and earned platinum certification in Germany.^[39][40][41] Her 2021 album Hello!, out on March 19 via Electrola, became her first number-one debut in both Germany and Austria, later receiving gold certification.^[42][43] These successes highlighted her growing appeal in the Schlager market, where her vocal delivery and thematic focus on love and resilience drove sustained chart performance. In 2024, Kelly released Nur Liebe on March 28 through Electrola, debuting at number 2 in both Germany and Austria.^[44][45][46] This album exemplified her stylistic evolution toward more introspective Schlager ballads, incorporating emotional narratives and ballad structures while retaining pop accessibility, a shift from her earlier pop-leaning roots.^[47] In 2025, she followed up with the expanded edition Nur Liebe XXL on January 31 and the single "Der Morgen danach" in October, continuing her focus on themes of love and personal growth.^[48][49] Supporting this mature phase, Kelly launched the "Die wunderbare Welt der Maite Kelly" tour in 2019, which featured sold-out arenas and showcased her Schlager hits in expansive live productions.^[50]

Performing arts

Musical theatre

Kelly debuted in musical theatre with the lead role of Tracy Turnblad in the German-language production of Hairspray, which premiered on December 6, 2009, at the Musical Dome in Cologne.^[51] She co-starred alongside Uwe Ochsenknecht, who took on the role of Edna Turnblad in drag.^[52] The production ran for 284 performances, concluding in September 2010 after drawing nearly 300,000 spectators.^[53] Her portrayal emphasized a dynamic blend of powerful vocals and energetic dance routines, showcasing her versatility beyond her roots in The Kelly Family.^[51] Critics commended Kelly for her credible depiction of the spirited, overweight teenager, highlighting her successful shift from ensemble band performances to demanding solo stage work.^[51] This role demonstrated her ability to integrate singing with intricate choreography, earning praise for its authenticity and vigor.^[51] The Hairspray engagement markedly elevated Kelly's public profile, bridging her family band legacy with individual artistic pursuits and aligning with the timing of her solo album Das Volle Programm, released in 2011.^[17]

Television and film appearances

Maite Kelly gained prominence in German television through her participation in competitive formats and subsequent judging roles. In 2011, she competed in the fourth season of the RTL dance competition Let's Dance, the German adaptation of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with professional dancer Christian Polanc. Kelly and Polanc performed various styles including paso doble and contemporary, ultimately winning the season finale on May 19, 2011, after six final-round dances.^[54][55] Kelly later transitioned to a judging position on Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS), RTL's flagship talent show, serving as a main juror for the 18th season in 2021 alongside Dieter Bohlen and Mike Singer. Her role involved evaluating contestants during auditions and live shows, contributing to the selection process for emerging artists.^[56][57] On the acting front, Kelly made her television debut in 2014 with a guest role in the long-running medical drama In aller Freundschaft on ARD. She portrayed Katharina Nowak, a patient navigating romantic complications with her boss, in the episode "Ostern mit Tücken," aired on April 8, 2014.^[58][59] In animation, Kelly provided song contributions to the 2009 Disney direct-to-video film Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (German title: Tinkerbell – Die Suche nach dem verlorenen Schatz). She sang the track "Ein Freund, der zu dir steht" for the German soundtrack, enhancing the film's themes of friendship and adventure.^[60] Kelly expanded into live-action film with her role as Lulu in the 2018 family comedy Wuff – Folge dem Hund, directed by Detlev Buck. In this ensemble piece about intertwined lives influenced by pets, her character is one of four friends whose relationships are complicated by dogs, blending humor and romance.^[61][62] Beyond competitions and scripted roles, Kelly has made guest appearances on variety and game shows. In November 2011, she participated in a celebrity special of RTL's Wer wird Millionär?, answering questions to win 125,000 euros for the RTL Spendenmarathon charity.^[63][64]

Other activities

Writing and literature

Maite Kelly co-authored the children's book series Die kleine Hummel Bommel with writer Britta Sabbag, starting with the debut volume in 2015, illustrated by Joëlle Tourlonias. Published by ars edition, the series centers on the young bumblebee Bommel, who learns to fly despite her small wings, emphasizing themes of adventure, friendship, courage, and self-belief for readers aged 3 and older.^[65][66] By 2025, the series comprises 14 volumes, including titles like Die kleine Hummel Bommel sucht das Glück (2016) and Die kleine Hummel Bommel lernt Abschied zu nehmen (2021), which explore emotional growth through Bommel's meadow-based escapades with her insect friends. The books have been adapted into audiobooks narrated by Kelly and Sabbag, enhancing their accessibility and appeal.^[66][67] The series achieved bestseller status in Germany, with the inaugural book topping charts and subsequent releases praised for their uplifting messages. It won the LovelyBooks Leserpreis in the children's book category in 2018 for Die kleine Hummel Bommel und die Zeit, and the 2015 edition was also recognized in the same award. This success has fostered cultural impact through merchandise, songs, and storytime programs promoting individuality and resilience among young audiences.^[68][69]

Business and philanthropy

In addition to her music career, Maite Kelly has pursued entrepreneurial opportunities in the fashion industry through design collaborations. Beginning in the early 2010s, she partnered with the German clothing retailer Bonprix to create plus-size capsule collections, featuring casual-chic styles tailored for curvy women; these lines were presented biannually at events in Hamburg, emphasizing feminine and youthful designs.^[70][71] More recently, in 2024, Kelly launched a sneaker collection in collaboration with the footwear brand Sioux, incorporating high-quality lamb nappa and metallic leather for stylish, comfortable options that blend fashion with everyday wear.^[72][73] Kelly's philanthropic work focuses on education and health initiatives. In the early 2000s, she became involved in a social project in Togo, spending several months there to support the establishment of pastoral care and educational facilities for students in Lomé, including efforts to build a university and youth center.^[74][14] Since 2011, she has served as an ambassador for Deutsche Krebshilfe, Germany's leading cancer aid organization, leading awareness campaigns motivated by her mother's death from breast cancer and her sister Patricia's diagnosis; through advertisements and events, she has advocated for research funding and early detection.^[75][76] In 2019, Kelly was awarded the SWR4 Durchstarter des Jahres title at the broadcaster's Gläserne Vier event, honoring her artistic success and social engagement.^[1]

Discography

Studio albums

Maite Kelly's solo studio albums span pop and schlager genres, marking her transition from family band member to independent artist with growing commercial acclaim in German-speaking markets.

Notable singles

Maite Kelly's solo career has produced several notable singles that highlight her transition to schlager and pop styles, often serving as title tracks for her albums and achieving commercial success in Germany. One of her breakthrough singles, "Warum hast du nicht nein gesagt", a duet with Roland Kaiser released in September 2014 from her album Wie ich bin, peaked at number 55 on the German Singles Chart and spent 12 weeks on the chart. The track was certified platinum by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) in October 2020 for sales and streaming exceeding 400,000 units in Germany.^[77][78] In 2016, Kelly released "Sieben Leben für dich" as the title track and lead single from her album of the same name, which peaked at number 60 on the German Singles Chart. The single contributed to the album's strong performance, certified triple gold by the BVMI.^[79][80] The 2018 single "Die Liebe siegt sowieso", also the title track from her album, entered the German Singles Chart at number 92, reflecting her continued presence in the schlager market. It was accompanied by a music video emphasizing themes of resilience and love.^[81] "Hello!", released in 2021 as the title track from her album, reached number 100 on the German Singles Chart, marking a multilingual shift with English influences while maintaining her signature emotional delivery.^[82] More recently, in January 2023, Kelly collaborated again with Roland Kaiser on the duet "Ich brauch einen Mann", which topped the German Airplay Charts and became a staple in her live performances, though it did not enter the top 100 sales chart. The song's music video featured vibrant staging.

Awards and honors

Maite Kelly has received several awards for her musical achievements, television appearances, and social contributions.

• 2011: Winner of the fourth season of the German reality show Let's Dance.
• 2012: Best TV Star Award at "Mein Star des Jahres".^[83]
• 2012: Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, for her role as an artist and socially committed citizen.^[84]
• 2014: Smago! Award for the duet "Warum hast du nicht nein gesagt" with Roland Kaiser.
• 2016: Die Eins der Besten Award.^[85]
• 2017: Smago! Award for "Die Schlager-Sensation des Jahres" and "Das Referenzalbum im Schlager" (Sieben Leben für dich).
• 2019: Smago! Award for "Das neue Referenzalbum im Schlager" (Die Liebe siegt sowieso).
• 2019: SWR4 Star of the Year Award.^[86]
• 2021: Smago! Award for "Erfolgreichste Schlager-Duett-Single" and "Erfolgreichstes Schlagervideo aller Zeiten" ("Warum hast du nicht nein gesagt").