Keke Palmer is a multi-talented American entertainer known for her work as an actress, singer, and television host. She's recognized for her versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles and for her podcast. Her accomplishments have earned her numerous awards, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and five NAACP Image Awards, as well as nominations for a Daytime Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award. In 2019, Time magazine recognized her global influence by including her in their list of the world's most influential people.
August 26, 1993: Birth of Keke Palmer
On August 26, 1993, Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer was born in Harvey, Illinois.
2002: Auditions for "The Lion King"
At the age of nine, Keke Palmer pursued her passion for performing by auditioning for a stage production of "The Lion King" in 2002.
2004: Film Debut in "Barbershop 2: Back in Business"
Keke Palmer made her acting debut in 2004 with a role in the comedy film "Barbershop 2: Back in Business."
2005: Signs with Atlantic Records and Appears in "Knights of the South Bronx"
In 2005, Keke Palmer secured a record deal with Atlantic Records and appeared in the television film "Knights of the South Bronx."
2006: Breakthrough Role in "Akeelah and the Bee"
Keke Palmer's breakthrough role came in 2006 when she starred as Akeelah in the acclaimed drama film "Akeelah and the Bee."
2007: Debut Album Release: "So Uncool"
On September 18, 2007, Keke Palmer released her debut studio album titled "So Uncool."
2008: Starring Role in Nickelodeon's "True Jackson, VP"
In 2008, Keke Palmer took on the lead role in the Nickelodeon sitcom "True Jackson, VP," playing the titular character.
2009: "True Jackson, VP" Inspires Walmart Fashion Line
In July 2009, a fashion line inspired by "True Jackson, VP" was launched at Walmart, with all designs approved by Keke Palmer herself.
2010: Involvement with Saving Our Daughters
Keke Palmer began her involvement with the Saving Our Daughters project in 2010, serving as a representative for the anti-bullying campaign.
2011: Voice Acting Debut in Nickelodeon's "Winx Club" Revival
Keke Palmer lent her voice to the character of Aisha in Nickelodeon's revival of the animated series "Winx Club" starting in 2011.
January 2012: Stars in "Joyful Noise"
Keke Palmer starred in the film "Joyful Noise," which was released in January 2012.
2012: Release of Single "You Got Me" and Self-Titled Mixtape
Keke Palmer released the single "You Got Me" featuring Kevin McCall in July 2012. She followed this up with a self-titled mixtape, "Keke Palmer," released on October 1, 2012.
2013: Portrayal of Chilli in "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story"
Keke Palmer took on the role of Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas in the VH1 biographical film "CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story," which premiered in October 2013.
2014: Hosts BET Talk Show "Just Keke"
Breaking ground as one of the youngest talk show hosts in history, Keke Palmer hosted the daytime talk show "Just Keke" on BET in 2014.
2014: Voice Role in "Ice Age: Continental Drift"
Keke Palmer provided the voice for the character Peaches in the animated film "Ice Age: Continental Drift," released in 2012.
2014: Starring Role in Horror Film "Animal"
Keke Palmer starred in the horror film "Animal," which hit theaters on June 17, 2014.
2015: Broadway Debut as Cinderella
In a historic moment, Keke Palmer became the first African American to portray the title role in the Broadway musical "Cinderella" in September 2014. Her run in the production concluded on January 4, 2015.
2016: Role in Fox's "Scream Queens"
From September 2015 to December 2016, Keke Palmer portrayed Zayday Williams in the horror comedy series "Scream Queens," created by Ryan Murphy.
2016: Release of EP "Lauren" and Short Film
On November 4, Keke Palmer released her second extended play, "Lauren." This release was accompanied by a 17-minute short film of the same name, launched exclusively on Billboard's website.
February 2017: Openness About Sexuality
During an appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show" in February 2017, Keke Palmer addressed questions about her sexuality, expressing that she doesn't feel the need to label herself and believes in the fluidity of love and attraction.
2017: Joins Epix's "Berlin Station"
Keke Palmer became a cast member of the drama series "Berlin Station" during its second season in 2017.
2018: Appearance in the Movie "Pimp"
Keke Palmer appeared in the movie "Pimp" in 2018.
April 2019: Guest Co-hosting on Strahan and Sara
Keke Palmer began guest co-hosting ABC's daytime talk show "Strahan and Sara" in April 2019, filling in for Michael Strahan.
July 8, 2019: Premiere of Scream Season 3
On July 8, 2019, the third season of the slasher television series "Scream" premiered, featuring Keke Palmer as a series regular playing the character Kym Johnson.
November 2019: Inclusion in Time's 100 Next List
Recognizing her rising influence and impact, Keke Palmer was included in Time magazine's prestigious "100 Next" list in November 2019, highlighting her as one of the 100 emerging stars shaping the future across various fields.
2019: Sharing Personal Experience with Abortion
As part of the #YouKnowMe campaign in 2019, Keke Palmer courageously shared her personal experience of having an abortion at the age of 24, contributing to the ongoing conversation surrounding reproductive rights and women's health.
2019: Release of "Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1" and Co-Hosts "Strahan, Sara and Keke"
Keke Palmer released the first part of her EP series, "Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 1," in 2019. That same year, she also began co-hosting the talk show "Strahan, Sara and Keke."
2019: Roles in "Hustlers" and "Scream"
Keke Palmer had a notable year in 2019, appearing in the films "Hustlers" and "Scream."
2019: Keke Palmer Named One of Time's Most Influential People
In 2019, Keke Palmer was recognized for her impact and influence when Time magazine included her on their list of the most influential people in the world.
March 2020: End of "Strahan, Sara and Keke" and Daytime Emmy Nomination
The talk show "Strahan, Sara and Keke" ended abruptly in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on live television production. Despite the show's cancellation, Palmer received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host alongside her co-hosts Sara Haines and Michael Strahan.
December 2020: Release of Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2
In December 2020, Keke Palmer continued to showcase her musical talents by releasing "Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2," a follow-up to her August EP.
2020: Participation in George Floyd Protests and Advocacy at MTV VMAs
In 2020, Keke Palmer actively participated in the George Floyd protests in Hollywood, California, demonstrating her support for the Black Lives Matter movement. She also used her platform to address the movement during her opening monologue as the host of the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards.
2020: Release of "Virgo Tendencies, Pt. 2"
Keke Palmer continued the "Virgo Tendencies" series with the release of "Pt. 2" in 2020.
June 2021: Beginning Relationship with Darius Jackson
Keke Palmer's romantic journey took a new turn in June 2021 when she began dating Darius Jackson, a fitness instructor.
2021: Stars in Facebook Watch Series "Turnt Up with the Taylors"
Keke Palmer starred in the Facebook Watch series "Turnt Up with the Taylors" in 2021, a role that earned her a Primetime Emmy Award.
2021: Hosting "Foodtastic" and Other Projects
Keke Palmer expanded her hosting repertoire in 2021 by taking on the role of host for the Disney+ reality competition series "Foodtastic."
September 2022: Voice Role in "Karma's World"
Keke Palmer lent her voice to the character Cece Dupree, a cunning and ruthless rapper, in the final three episodes of the animated series "Karma's World" in September 2022.
December 3, 2022: Pregnancy Announcement
While hosting "Saturday Night Live" on December 3, 2022, Keke Palmer joyfully announced that she was expecting her first child with her boyfriend, Darius Jackson.
2022: Appearance in Jordan Peele's "Nope"
Keke Palmer was featured in Jordan Peele's horror film "Nope," released in 2022.
February 9, 2023: Casting in "Super Toys"
On February 9, 2023, it was announced that Keke Palmer would be starring alongside Sacha Baron Cohen in David O. Russell's film "Super Toys," a period piece set in the 1970s.
February 2023: Birth of First Child
In February 2023, Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson welcomed their first child together, marking a significant milestone in their lives.
June 2023: Invitation to Join the Academy
In June 2023, Keke Palmer received an invitation to join The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognizing her contributions to the film industry.
August 16, 2023: Appearance in Usher's "Boyfriend" Music Video
Keke Palmer starred in the music video for Usher's single "Boyfriend," which was released on August 16, 2023.
October 2023: Separation from Darius Jackson
Keke Palmer and Darius Jackson separated in October 2023 after allegations of domestic violence surfaced.