Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kesha
How Kesha built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Kesha Rose Sebert, known professionally as Kesha (formerly Ke$ha), is an American singer and songwriter. She gained initial recognition in 2009 through her collaboration with Flo Rida on the hit song "Right Round."
2003: Digital download tracking started
In 2003, digital download tracking began, setting the stage for Kesha's later record-breaking sales.
2005: Signed with Prescription Songs
In 2005, at age 18, Kesha was signed to the music publishing company Prescription Songs.
2006: Signed with DAS Communications Inc.
In 2006, Kesha signed with David Sonenberg's management company, DAS Communications Inc.
2008: Appearance in "I Kissed a Girl" video
In 2008, Kesha appeared in the video for Katy Perry's single "I Kissed a Girl".
2009: Featured on "Right Round"
In 2009, Kesha achieved her first major success when she was featured on Flo Rida's number-one single, "Right Round".
2009: "Tik Tok" single release
In 2009, Kesha released the single "Tik Tok".
2009: Signed with RCA Records
In 2009, after failing to negotiate with Lava Records and Atlantic Records, Kesha signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records.
June 16, 2010: Benefit concert for flood victims
On June 16, 2010, Kesha held a benefit concert, raising close to $70,000 to aid victims of the 2010 Tennessee floods in Nashville.
November 2010: Release of Cannibal EP
In November 2010, Animal was re-released with a companion extended play, Cannibal.
2010: Animal album release
In 2010, Kesha earned a number-one album on the US Billboard 200 with Animal.
February 2011: Start of Get Sleazy Tour
In February 2011, Kesha embarked on her first headlining world tour, the Get Sleazy Tour.
June 2011: Digital single downloads in the US
By June 2011, Kesha had sold almost 21 million digital single downloads in the United States alone.
2011: Co-wrote "Till the World Ends"
In 2011, Kesha co-wrote "Till the World Ends" for Britney Spears.
2011: "Tik Tok" sales record
In 2011, Kesha's 2009 single "Tik Tok" was the best-selling digital single in history.
2011: Writing for Warrior
Kesha began writing for the Warrior album while on her own headlining tour in 2011.
November 2012: Release of My Crazy Beautiful Life
In November 2012, Kesha released her illustrated autobiography My Crazy Beautiful Life.
November 30, 2012: Warrior album release
Kesha's second studio album, Warrior, was released on November 30, 2012.
2012: Warrior album release
In 2012, Kesha released the album Warrior, which reached the top-ten records on the US Billboard 200.
March 23, 2013: Wyler Award
Kesha received the Wyler Award presented by The Humane Society on March 23, 2013, for increasing awareness of animal issues via the media.
April 2013: Release of "Crazy Kids" and Airing of Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life
In April 2013, Kesha released "Crazy Kids" as the third single from "Warrior", which under-performed commercially. Also in April 2013, her TV documentary, Kesha: My Crazy Beautiful Life, began airing on MTV.
July 2013: Warrior Tour Started
In July 2013, Kesha launched the Warrior Tour to promote her album, with the North American leg co-headlined by Pitbull. The tour supported the album Warrior.
July 2013: Flaming Lips Collaboration Announced
In July 2013, The Flaming Lips announced plans to release a collaborative album with Kesha, titled Lipsha. The project was later cancelled in the winter of the same year.
October 7, 2013: Release of "Timber" with Pitbull
On October 7, 2013, Kesha and Pitbull released "Timber", a collaboration that achieved international commercial success, becoming Kesha's third number-one and tenth top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100.
January 2014: Rehabilitation Center
In January 2014, Kesha checked into a rehabilitation center for bulimia nervosa and started working on her third studio album. She later switched to using her birth name, Kesha.
June 2014: Rising Star Expert
In June 2014, Kesha joined the American television singing competition Rising Star as an expert, alongside Brad Paisley and Ludacris.
August 4, 2015: Signed with SESAC Inc.
On August 4, 2015, Kesha signed with American performance rights organization SESAC Inc.
October 12, 2015: Guest Starred in Jane the Virgin
On October 12, 2015, Kesha guest starred in the second season of the U.S. television series Jane the Virgin, playing Annabelle.
December 2015: Formation of Yeast Infection
In December 2015, Kesha revealed 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.
April 29, 2016: Release of "True Colors" with Zedd
On April 29, 2016, the studio version of the collaboration between Kesha and Zedd, "True Colors", was released as a single. Kesha had earlier appeared during Zedd's slot at the 2016 Coachella music festival to perform the song.
May 22, 2016: Billboard Music Awards Performance
On May 22, 2016, Kesha covered Bob Dylan's song "It Ain't Me Babe" at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.
June 11, 2016: Pride in the Street Performance
On June 11, 2016, Kesha performed at Pride in the Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
July 23, 2016: Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour Commenced
On July 23, 2016, Kesha started her third worldwide concert tour, Kesha and the Creepies: Fuck the World Tour, in Las Vegas.
July 6, 2017: Release of "Praying"
On July 6, 2017, Kesha released "Praying" as the lead single from her third studio album, Rainbow. The single achieved chart success in several countries.
August 11, 2017: Release of Rainbow
On August 11, 2017, Kesha's third studio album, Rainbow, was released to universal acclaim, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States. The album was lauded for its feminist themes and Kesha's vocal performance.
September 26, 2017: Rainbow Tour Began
On September 26, 2017, Kesha began the Rainbow Tour to promote her album Rainbow, starting in Birmingham, Alabama.
2017: Record sales
As of 2017, Kesha had sold over 100 million records worldwide, including 87 million tracks and streams.
2017: Rainbow album release
In 2017, Kesha earned a number-one album on the US Billboard 200 with Rainbow.
2017: Last Chart on the UK Singles Chart
In 2017, Kesha's "Joyride" became her first song to chart on the UK Singles Chart since 2017.
June 6, 2018: The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore Tour Started
On June 6, 2018, Kesha began a co-headlining concert tour with American rapper Macklemore named The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore in North America.
August 5, 2018: The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore Tour Ended
On August 5, 2018, the co-headlining tour with Macklemore, called The Adventures of Kesha and Macklemore, ended in North America.
August 10, 2018: Rainbow: The Film Released
On August 10, 2018, Kesha's documentary film, Rainbow: The Film, was released on Apple Music. The documentary chronicles her time in rehab and the creation of Rainbow.
September 19, 2018: "Here Comes the Change" Released
On September 19, 2018, Kesha released her song "Here Comes the Change", which served as a single to promote On the Basis of Sex, a biographical film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
October 2018: "Safe" Released
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.
2018: Kesha Performs "Praying" at the Grammys
At the 2018 Grammys, Kesha performed "Praying" with other notable women in music in support of the Time's Up movement.
2018: Kesha Writes "Woman" in Protest of Donald Trump
In 2018, Kesha wrote her single, "Woman", in protest of President Donald Trump's "pussy grabbing comment", according to her interview with Metro.co.uk.
February 2019: Kesha's Weird and Wonderful Rainbow Ride Cruise
In February 2019, Kesha hosted a 4-day-long cruise called Kesha's Weird and Wonderful Rainbow Ride. The cruise set off in Tampa, Florida, and ended in Nassau, Bahamas.
October 21, 2019: High Road Album Title Confirmed
On October 21, 2019, Kesha released a trailer confirming the title of her fourth album as High Road, which was originally slated for December 2019.
2019: "Tik Tok" sales
As of 2019, "Tik Tok" had sold about 14 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling single in digital history.
January 31, 2020: Release of High Road
On January 31, 2020, Kesha's fourth studio album, High Road, was released. The album performed moderately commercially and received positive reviews.
April 18, 2020: One World: Together at Home Performance
On April 18, 2020, Kesha performed at the One World: Together at Home benefit event.
November 13, 2020: Announcement of Kesha and the Creepies Podcast
On November 13, 2020, Kesha announced the creation of her own podcast, Kesha and the Creepies, with an announcement video. The podcast explores supernatural subjects and alternative lifestyles with pop culture guests and supernatural experts.
November 20, 2020: Launch of Kesha and the Creepies Podcast
On November 20, 2020, the first episode of Kesha's podcast, Kesha and the Creepies, was released. The series features supernatural subjects and alternative lifestyles with guests and experts.
2020: High Road album release
In 2020, Kesha released the album High Road, which reached the top-ten records on the US Billboard 200.
2020: Court Ruling in Kesha's Lawsuit
In 2020, The Court of Appeals in New York ruled that Dr. Luke is a limited public figure in the lawsuit with Kesha. This meant that 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.
August 13, 2021: Kesha Live (2021) Tour Began
On August 13, 2021, Kesha started her fifth headlining tour, Kesha Live (2021), with Betty Who as the opening act, in Billings, Montana.
August 30, 2021: Electric Easy Podcast Premiered
On August 30, 2021, the scripted podcast Electric Easy, executively produced and starred in by Kesha, premiered. The show is a musical neo-noir science fiction set in a futuristic Los Angeles.
September 12, 2021: Kesha Live (2021) Tour Ended
On September 12, 2021, the Kesha Live (2021) tour concluded, featuring 22 shows in the U.S.
June 1, 2022: Release of "Taste So Good"
On June 1, 2022, Kesha provided vocals for the song "Taste So Good", which also featured Hayley Kiyoko, Vincint, and MNEK. The song was released to promote the cannabis infused drink, Cann.
July 8, 2022: Premiere of Conjuring Kesha
On July 8, 2022, Conjuring Kesha, a show starred in and produced by Kesha, premiered on Discovery+. The show features Kesha and her guests exploring paranormal hotspots.
February 2023: New Song Snippet Previewed
In February 2023, Kesha previewed a 30-second snippet of a new song on an Instagram Livestream. On her 36th birthday, she also wiped her Instagram feed and updated her profile picture to her new logo.
April 25, 2023: Gag Order Album Title and Artwork Reveal
On April 25, 2023, Kesha announced the title of her album to be 'Gag Order' and unveiled its artwork.
May 19, 2023: Gag Order Album Release
On May 19, 2023, Kesha released her album 'Gag Order', featuring the singles "Eat the Acid", "Fine Line", and "Only Love Can Save Us Now". The album delves into Kesha's vulnerabilities and experiences overcoming trauma.
June 2023: Release of Gag Order (Live Acoustic EP from Space) and Helluva Boss Appearance
In June 2023, Kesha announced her third extended play, 'Gag Order (Live Acoustic EP from Space)', featuring live acoustic performances from her album. Additionally, Kesha was featured as Beelzebub "Queen Bee" in the season 1 finale of the YouTube animated series, 'Helluva Boss'.
June 22, 2023: Settlement of Kesha and Dr. Luke Lawsuit
On June 22, 2023, Kesha and Dr. Luke jointly announced the official settlement of their long-standing legal case. Kesha expressed her desire to move forward, while Dr. Luke continued to deny the original claims. The settlement details remained undisclosed.
November 2023: Kesha Alters "Tik Tok" Lyrics
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" in response to abuse allegations against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
December 18, 2023: Kesha Parts Ways with Kemosabe Records and Vector Management
On December 18, 2023, it was reported that Kesha had parted ways with Dr. Luke's Kemosabe Records and distributor RCA as her contract expired. Kesha also amicably split with Vector Management, expressing gratitude to her former manager, Jack Rovner.
2023: Gag Order album release
In 2023, Kesha fulfilled her five-album contract with Kemosabe Records by releasing the album Gag Order.
February 2024: Kesha Signs with Crush Management
In early February 2024, Kesha signed with Crush Management and expressed excitement about releasing new music soon.
April 2024: Further Alteration of "Tik Tok" Lyrics at Coachella
During an April 2024 guest appearance at Reneé Rapp's Coachella set, Kesha further altered the lyric to "wake up in the morning, like, 'Fuck P. Diddy'" in response to additional lawsuits filed against Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.
June 29, 2024: Kesha Announces New Single "Joyride"
On June 29, 2024, Kesha announced her new single, "Joyride", which was released on July 4 through her self-titled label, Kesha Records. This marked her first release after parting ways with Kemosabe and RCA Records.
September 2024: Distribution Deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance
In September 2024, Kesha's independent record label, Kesha Records, entered a distribution deal with Alternative Distribution Alliance, owned by Warner Music Group.
October 14, 2024: Featured on Charli XCX's Song "Spring Breakers" Remix
On October 14, 2024, Kesha was featured on the remix of Charli XCX's song, "Spring Breakers", which was featured on her album, Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat.
2024: Kesha Endorses Kamala Harris for President
In 2024, Kesha endorsed Kamala Harris for the US Presidential election.
2024: "Joyride" single release
In 2024, Kesha released her first independent single "Joyride" under her own label titled Kesha Records.
2024: Kesha Teaches Songwriting Course
In early 2024, Kesha taught a two-and-a-half week songwriting course called 'The Alchemy of Pop Music' at the Esalen Institute.
January 24, 2025: Release of the song "Dear Me"
On January 24, 2025, Kesha released the song, "Dear Me", which was written by Diane Warren.
March 27, 2025: Release of "Yippee-Ki-Yay" and Announcement of Album "Period"
On March 27, 2025, Kesha released the single, "Yippee-Ki-Yay", featuring T-Pain. On the same day, Kesha announced her sixth studio album, Period, which was released on July 4, 2025.
July 4, 2025: Release of Album "Period"
On July 4, 2025, Kesha released her sixth studio album, Period.
2025: Upcoming sixth album release
Kesha's sixth album is currently set to be released on July 4th, 2025.
2025: Slated Release of Sixth Studio Album
Kesha's sixth studio album is slated for a 2025 release.
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