Keyshia Cole Net Worth

Keyshia Cole’s Net Worth: A Look at the R&B Star’s Career and Life

What is Keyshia Cole’s Net Worth?

Keyshia Cole, the celebrated American R&B singer-songwriter and record producer, has built a successful career, resulting in a net worth of $8 million. This financial standing is a testament to her enduring presence in the music industry, highlighted by multiple platinum albums and successful ventures in television.

Keyshia Cole has seen immense success in her music career, having three of her seven albums achieving platinum status. Her magnetic personality led to her starring role in the popular BET reality series “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” (2006-2008). She rose to national fame with her debut album, “The Way It Is,” released in 2005. Her next two albums, “Just like You” (2007) and “A Different Me” (2008), both reached the #2 spot on the Billboard 200 chart and soared to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, further solidifying her place in the industry.

Cole’s talent has also earned her several accolades and recognition. In 2009, she received a Soul Train Award nomination for Best Collaboration for “Trust” (shared with Monica). Moreover, she has garnered four Grammy nominations: Best Contemporary R&B Album for “Just Like You,” Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Let It Go” (shared with Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim), and Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Heaven Sent.”

Her ventures extend beyond music into television and film. Cole has appeared in projects such as “How She Move” (2007), “Keyshia Cole: All In” (2015), “Lip Sync Battle” (2017), and “Keyshia Cole: My New Life” (2019), showcasing her versatility as an entertainer. She also lent her voice to the computer-animated film “Charming” in 2018. In 2017, she participated in 16 episodes of “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood,” followed by her hosting debut on the talk show “One on One with Keyshia Cole” on Fox Soul in 2019. In a significant announcement in March 2021, Cole expressed her intention to retire from the music business after releasing one final album, marking a pivotal moment in her career.

Early Life and Influences

Keyshia Cole was born Keyshia Myeshia Johnson on October 15, 1981, in Oakland, California. Her biological parents are Francine Lons and boxing trainer Virgil Hunter. Cole’s journey to discover her biological father was a significant event in her life, which she didn’t experience until 2016 at the age of 34. Francine reportedly had six children with six different fathers. At age two, Keyshia was adopted by Leon and Yvonne Cole, family friends, providing her with a stable and loving environment.

Her early life included formative experiences that shaped her musical aspirations. At age 12, Cole and her brother Sean collaborated with MC Hammer, marking her initial entry into the music world. She later befriended Tupac Shakur, who recognized her talent and planned a collaboration, which tragically never came to fruition due to his untimely death. At 16, Cole became involved with the East Oakland Youth Development Center and attended Fremont High School but did not graduate, later pursuing her GED in 2015. At 18, she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked with Bay Area artists like Messy Marv and D’Wayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone. Her introduction to Ron Fair of A&M Records, who became her mentor, led to her signing with the label, marking the beginning of her professional career.

(Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images)

Career Breakthroughs and Album Success

Keyshia Cole’s career took off with her first single, “Never,” from the 2004 “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” soundtrack. This single was later included on her debut album, “The Way It Is,” released on June 21, 2005. The album achieved remarkable success, reaching #6 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It featured popular singles such as “I Changed My Mind,” “(I Just Want It) To Be Over,” “I Should Have Cheated,” and “Love.” The single “Love” earned Platinum certification, followed by another Platinum single, “Let It Go” (featuring Lil’ Kim and Missy Elliott), released in 2007.

Her second album, “Just like You,” was released in September 2007 by Geffen Records. The album continued her streak of success, with singles “Let It Go,” “I Remember,” and “Heaven Sent” all reaching #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2008, Cole’s third album, “A Different Me,” included a posthumous collaboration with Tupac on the track “Playa Cardz Right” and a collaboration with Monica on the song “Trust.” The year 2009 saw the launch of her first headlining tour, the “A Different Me Tour.” She graced the covers of prominent magazines such as “Vibe,” “Sister 2 Sister,” “WordUp!,” and “King.” Cole’s album “Calling All Hearts” was released in December 2010, with the first single “I Ain’t Thru” featuring Nicki Minaj.

Keyshia Cole’s musical journey continued with the release of her fifth album, “Woman to Woman,” in November 2012, which peaked at #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album included the single “Enough of No Love,” featuring Lil Wayne. Her 2014 album, “Point of No Return,” topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2017, her seventh album, “11:11 Reset,” was released on Sony’s Epic Records. A highly anticipated Verzuz battle between Cole and Ashanti was announced in late 2020 but was postponed until January 21, 2021, after Ashanti tested positive for COVID-19. In February 2021, Cole released the single “I Don’t Wanna Be in Love,” which she debuted during the Verzuz battle. In addition to her solo work, Cole has been featured on tracks by numerous artists, including “Impossible” by Kanye West (2006), “Last Night” by Diddy (2007), “Game’s Pain” by The Game (2008), and “Legendary” by DJ Khaled (2011), showcasing her versatility and collaborative spirit.

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Personal Life and Relationships

Keyshia Cole’s personal life has been a subject of public interest, particularly her relationships. In May 2009, she began dating former NBA player Daniel Gibson, and they became engaged on New Year’s Day in 2010. They welcomed their son, Daniel Jr., on March 2, 2010. Cole and Gibson were married on May 21, 2011, in a private ceremony, followed by another in Hawaii to fulfill Keyshia’s dream wedding. The wedding weekend was documented in the BET reality series “Keyshia and Daniel: Family First,” which premiered in October 2012.

In March 2014, Cole revealed that she and Gibson had separated, finalizing their divorce in 2020. Following this, Cole began dating Niko Khale in 2018, and they had a son, Tobias, born on August 1, 2019, before ending their relationship in October 2020. These significant life events, including her marriages and the birth of her children, have been integral parts of her public persona, often discussed in her music and reality television appearances.

Conclusion

Keyshia Cole’s journey from Oakland to R&B stardom highlights her resilience, talent, and ability to connect with audiences through her music and personal narratives. With a net worth of $8 million, a successful music career, and diverse ventures in television and film, Keyshia Cole has solidified her position as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. While she announced her intention to retire after releasing one last album, her impact on the music scene and popular culture remains undeniable.