Kelly Cherelle Price (born April 4, 1973) is an American R&B and

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

singer. Beginning her career in 1992, Price originally performed backing vocals for

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey ( ; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Songbird Supreme" by ''Guinness World Records'', Carey is known for her five-octave voc ...

on multiple songs, including Carey's ''Billboard'' Hot 100-number one singles " All I Want for Christmas Is You" and "

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction that involves supernatural or Magic (supernatural), magical elements, often including Fictional universe, imaginary places and Legendary creature, creatures. The genre's roots lie in oral traditions, ...

." Price rose to wider prominence in 1997 following her uncredited performances on the number-one single " Mo Money Mo Problems" by the Notorious B.I.G. and the top-five single " Feel So Good" by

Mase Mason Durell Betha (born August 27, 1975), better known by his stage name Mase (often stylized as Ma$e), is an American rapper. Best known for his work with Sean Combs, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records, he signed with the label in 1996 ...

, prompting her to record as a lead artist. Her debut studio album, ''Soul of a Woman'' (1998), received

platinum Platinum is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a density, dense, malleable, ductility, ductile, highly unreactive, precious metal, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name origina ...

certification by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

(RIAA); its lead single, " Friend of Mine" (featuring R. Kelly and Ronald Isley) peaked within the top 20 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Price guest featured alongside Faith Evans on

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist. Commonly referred to as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the Voice", she is List of awards and no ...

's 1998 single " Heartbreak Hotel," which peaked at number two on the chart and earned a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or a Group with Vocals. Her second and fourth albums, ''Mirror Mirror'' (2000) and '' Priceless'' (2003), both peaked within the top ten of the ''Billboard'' 200. She provided uncredited guest performances on

Kanye West Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...

's 2016 songs " Ultralight Beam" and " Low Lights" (recording a sample of "So Alive" by Kings of Tomorrow), both from his album '' The Life of Pablo''. Price has won a

Soul Train Music Award The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards ceremony which honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the production company of ''Soul Train'', the program from which it takes its name, and ...

, and received nine Grammy Award nominations.

Life and music career

Price was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in Far Rockaway, Queens, and she sang in church as a youngster. Her first professional engagement was with singer

George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as a pop culture icon, he is one of the List of best-selling music artists, best-selling rec ...

at Madison Square Garden in New York City in January 1992. During rehearsals for the 1992 Grammy Awards the next month, Price was overheard singing in the rehearsal hall by

. Price was later introduced to Carey's then-husband, Sony Columbia's then CEO Tommy Mottola, and was offered a gig as a background singer for Carey, which she did until 1997. Her second album, '' Mirror Mirror'', was released in 2000 on the Def Soul imprint of Def Jam Records. Island Records and Def Jam Records had merged in 1999, with Price and some other labelmates being reassigned to the Island Def Jam subsidiary Def Soul. ''Mirror Mirror'' featured the singles "You Should've Told Me" and the

nominated "As We Lay". In October 2005, Price recorded her first live gospel album. The '' This Is Who I Am'' album has been released on October 24, 2006, on her own label, EcclecticSounds Records. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Charts and peaked at No. 9 on the R&B album chart. Price was inducted as an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority in July 2006. In early 2007, Price kicked off a tour with the 'Sisters in the Spirit 2007'. In 2006, she recorded the song "Why?" for the soundtrack '' Why Did I Get Married?'', the film version of ''Why Did I Get Married? Priceless Secrets from The Soul of A Woman'', in which Price created the role of Sheila alongside

Tyler Perry Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of Madea, Mabel "Madea" Simmons, a tough elderly woman, and also portrays her brother Joe Simmons and her ...

who used the song titles and lyrical content of Price's hit recordings to develop the story. In early 2009, she was featured on Coko's gospel album entitled '' The Winner in Me'' on the track "Oh Mary". In June 2010, Price promoted her single "Tired" on The Jazz Joy and Roy syndicated radio show as "some of the best work of my career to date." The song was also featured in Tyler Perry's 2011 film '' Madea's Big Happy Family''. On February 9, 2012, in a pre- Grammy party to celebrate Price's nominations, the singer sang " Jesus Loves Me" with

in what turned out to be Houston's last public performance two days before her death. In September 2009, it was announced she would be joining Deborah Cox and

Tamia Tamia Marilyn Washington Hill (born May 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Windsor, Ontario, Tamia performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. In 1994, after signing a development deal with War ...

to form the group The Queen Project. The women seek to empower women of all ages, races, and backgrounds by doing a number of community service projects. In 2016, Kelly was included in several songs on rapper

's album, '' The Life of Pablo''. Kelly was a co-writer with American R&B singer K. Michelle, on her single Not a Little Bit which was released on January 22, 2016. It is the lead single from the singer's third studio album, '' More Issues Than Vogue''. In September 2021, Price was declared missing as reported by TMZ. Her attorney later stated she was privately recuperating from a severe COVID-19 infection. During the R. Kelly sexual abuse cases Price opened up about witnessing R. Kelly's behaviour, during concerts and events and confirmed the allegations against him.

Personal life

Price grew up in the Edgemere Projects located in New York City in Far Rockaway, Queens. Her father died when she was nine years old. She resides in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. Price's grandfather was Jerome Norman, Bishop and Pastor of the Full Gospel Mission Church of God in Christ in Queens and Jurisdictional Prelate of the

Barbados Barbados, officially the Republic of Barbados, is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and the easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American ...

First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, since 1985. He was installed by the late Presiding Bishop J.O. Patterson. Her mother, Claudia (1951–2020), was the former musical director of the church. Price's sister, Shanrae Price, is also a singer and served as a background vocalist for

. In 2020, Price lost her grandfather to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

Breast cancer activism

In December 2000, Price donated $250,000 to fight breast cancer. She presented a check to Tony Martell of the T.J. Martell Foundation and Denise Rich of G&P Foundation For Cancer Research to help with the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Price donated the proceeds from her single "Love Sets You Free" which she recorded in January 2000. In April 1999, Price volunteered to showcase her fashion designs during a special charity gala and fashion show to help the National Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative raise money for breast cancer education for minority women. The previous year, in 1998, Price learned that both her mother and her mother-in-law had been diagnosed with breast cancer, which would later claim her mother-in-law's life. Price's mother was a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer and an activist in educating the public about the disease. She was the chairwoman of the seventh annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival held in

Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, Texas which was sponsored by the Celebrating Life Foundation. Claudia experienced pain in her breast in 1997, but said fear and a lack of insurance kept her from seeking immediate medical attention. Instead, she waited two years before seeing a doctor. While at work one day in 1999, her doctor called and said she had inflammatory breast cancer. Doctors gave her two months to live. She underwent chemotherapy, and the disease was in remission as of October 2006.

Discography

;Studio albums * '' Soul of a Woman'' (1998) * '' Mirror Mirror'' (2000) * ''One Family: A Christmas Album'' (2001) * '' Priceless'' (2003) * '' This Is Who I Am'' (2006) * '' Kelly'' (2011) * '' Sing Pray Love, Vol. 1: Sing'' (2014) * ''Grace'' (2021)

Awards and nominations

!Ref. , - , rowspan=2, 2016 , rowspan=2, " Ultralight Beam" (with

, Chance the Rapper,

Kirk Franklin Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American Gospel music, gospel musician. One of the List of best-selling gospel music artists, best-selling gospel music artists, his accolades include 20 Grammy Awards. ''Variety (magazine), Var ...

and The-Dream) , Best Rap Song , , rowspan=2, , - , Best Rap Duo/Group Performance , !Ref. , - ,

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

, Kelly Price , Top Hot R&B Singles Artists – Female , , , - , rowspan=3,

1999 1999 was designated as the International Year of Older Persons. Events January * January 1 – The euro currency is established and the European Central Bank assumes its full powers. * January 3 – The Mars Polar Lander is launc ...

, rowspan=3, " Heartbreak Hotel" (with

and Faith Evans) , Top Hot 100 Song , , rowspan=3, , - , Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single , , - , Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single Sales , , - ,

2000 2000 was designated as the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the World Mathematics, Mathematical Year. Popular culture holds the year 2000 as the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millennium, because of a tende ...

, " Heartbreak Hotel" (with

and Faith Evans) , Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals , , - ,

2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...

, "As We Lay" , Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , , - ,

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...

, "He Proposed" , Best Traditional R&B Performance , , - ,

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

, "Tired" , Best Female R&B Vocal Performance , , - , rowspan="3",

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

, rowspan="2", "Not My Daddy" (feat. Stokley Williams) , Best R&B Performance , , - , Best R&B Song , , - , ''Kelly'' , Best R&B Album , , - , rowspan="2", 2017 , rowspan="2", " Ultralight Beam" (with

, Chance the Rapper,

and The-Dream) , Best Rap/Sung Performance , , - , Best Rap Song ,

References

External links

* *
Kelly Price Interview with Benji Irby
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Kelly 1973 births Living people African-American women singers African-American Christians American dance musicians American gospel singers American mezzo-sopranos American Pentecostals American soul singers Def Jam Recordings artists Members of the Church of God in Christ People from Far Rockaway, Queens People from DeKalb County, Georgia American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters American contemporary R&B singers 20th-century American women singers 21st-century American women singers American ballad musicians 21st-century American singer-songwriters 20th-century American singer-songwriters African-American songwriters Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)