Kesha.

Kesha Rose Sebert

Kesha — Activist

Born 1 Mar 1987 Los Angeles, United States

Citizenship United States

Age 39 yr Today

14 min read

Reading time

2,704

Words

Jun 2, 2026

Published

56

Film credits

1

Book

2

Awards

TL;DR

Kesha broke through in 2009 after appearing on Flo Rida’s number one hit ‘Right Round’ and releasing her own chart-topping single ‘TiK ToK’. Her debut album ‘Animal’, released in January 2010, reached the top of the charts. She earned a Genesis Award and a spot on the Time 100 list. Beyond music, she is an ordained minister and animal rights advocate.

Identity & family.

KIN · 2

Names, aliases, and relatives of Kesha — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Kesha Rose Sebert

Nicknames K Money, Ke Dollarsign Ha

Aliases Rose, Kesha Sebert, Serbet

PARENTS: Pebe Sebert
SIBLINGS: Lagan Sebert

At a glance.

STATS

Kesha by the numbers — life, work, and family.

39 Age

56 Film credits

1 Book

2 Awards

Who is Kesha?

BIOGRAPHY

Kesha — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Born Kesha Rose Sebert on March 1, 1987 in Los Angeles, California, Kesha spent her early childhood in poverty. Her mother Pebe Sebert, a songwriter, struggled to support Kesha and her older brother, relying on welfare and food stamps. When Kesha was four, the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where her mother had secured a songwriting contract. Surrounded by country music, Kesha drew inspiration from Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline while attending music school to learn songwriting. At age 17, she dropped out of high school to pursue a music career, moving back to Los Angeles to work with producer Dr. Luke.

Career

Kesha’s big break came from a cameo on rapper Flo Rida’s 2009 number one hit Right Round. She then signed with RCA and released her debut single TiK ToK in 2009, which became one of the most downloaded songs in America and reached the top of the Billboard pop charts in January 2010. Her debut album Animal, released that month, also hit number one. She followed with the EP Cannibal and scored top ten hits Blah Blah Blah featuring 3OH!3 and Your Love Is My Drug. Her second studio album Warrior in 2012 included the single Die Young. She released a companion EP Deconstructed in 2013.

Personal life

Kesha has one sibling, a brother named Lagan Sebert, and her mother Pebe Sebert is a songwriter. Her biological father is not publicly identified. An ordained minister, she once performed a wedding for two lesbian friends. A vegetarian and animal lover, she serves as an ambassador for the Humane Society International. She has struggled with bulimia and attended rehab for treatment. She has a dog named Bakon and enjoys living in nature.

Legacy

Kesha’s chart-topping debut and party-rock edge influenced pop music. She received the Genesis Award for animal rights advocacy and was named to the Time 100 list. Her music still streams widely, and she remains a vocal advocate for artists’ rights and mental health awareness. She is most remembered for her hit TiK ToK and her unapologetic individuality.

Filmography.

FILMS · 56

Browse the complete filmography of Kesha — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

TV

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

2014
TV

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014
TV

Conan

2010
TV

The Graham Norton Show

2007
TV

The Jennifer Hudson Show

2022
TV

The Kelly Clarkson Show

2019
TV

Saturday Night Live

1975
TV

Robot Chicken

2005
TV

RuPaul's Drag Race

2009
TV

Victorious

2010
TV

Jane the Virgin

2014
TV

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

2003
TV

MTV Video Music Awards

1984
TV

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

2009

Could not load more credits.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 2

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Kesha — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Genesis Award
Time 100

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 1

Kesha's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

My Crazy Beautiful Life

by Ke$ha

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 50

A wall of memorable lines from Kesha — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

I Do Think I Have a Rebellious, Metal Loving Rock Chick Inside of Me.
You Don’t Have to Carry a Designer Bag That Costs More Than a Car to Look Cool.
Every Weird Thing About You Is Beautiful and Makes Life Interesting.
You Have to Have a Sense of Humor About Life to Get Through It.
Be Yourself. Unapologetically.
I Just Like Playing with Makeup and Clothes so I Really Don’t Feel Like There Are Rules, and If There Are Rules, Then I Think It’s up to You to Break Them.
I Like Vintage a Lot.
I Love Country Music, Blues, and Punk, and One Day I Might Make Those Kinds of Records.
My Band and I, We Cover Our Bodies in Hairspray and Glitter. We Use the Hairspray to Make Sure the Glitter Sticks.
I Hope to Bring Much More Attention to Important Issues and Change for Issues and Practices That Are Harming Animals.
I Love Wearing the Exact Same Thing All the Time Because I Think It Makes You Like a Cartoon Character. They Always Wear the Same Outfit and Everybody Always Remembers Them for It, so I Feel Like I Should Do the Same Thing.
I’m Not Saying I’m the Perfect Role Model. but I’m Honest. Period.
When You’re Around Me, You’re Going to Get Glitter on You.
I Am so Not a Proper, Good Female. I Can’t Dance in High Heels and I’m Just so Not Girly, but Then I See These Men with These Banging Bodies, Dancing in Heels, Singing, and Having so Much Fun with so Much Make up On. That Makes Me Honestly Want to Be a Better Woman.
I Just Think That Gay Men Have Much Better Taste Than Any Straight Man I Have Met. I Have Never Gotten Any Grief About Having a Good Time, Being Unapologetic, and Irreverent from a Gay Man.
I Think People Need to Have Fun with Whatever They’re Doing Makeup, Their Clothes, Music, Live Shows Anything You Don’t Need to Take Too Seriously, Don’t Take Too Seriously.
I Deal with Haters on a Daily Basis.
I Understand I’m Supposed to Be Feminine and Dainty, but I’m Not. There Are Two Sides to the Coin. People Are More Impressed with Things That I Do Because They Almost Treat You as If You’re Handicapped If You’re a Woman… People Can Be Impressed That I Can Play a Few Chords on the Guitar.
I Want a Pig. I Want a Pig on a Leash. a Baby Pig on a Leash.
Glitter Is My Makeup of Choice.
I Don’t Get Embarrassed.
I Want to Reconnect to My Animal Life.
I Believe in Karma, and I Believe If You Put Out Positive Vibes to Everybody, That’s All You’re Going to Get Back.
Of Course There Are Certain Things That Get to Me, but I Try and Lead by Example and Show People That, Especially with Haters, That You Should Just Ignore Them.
I Could Party in a Cardboard Box with People Who Are Funny and Don’t Care. for Me, It’s Really About Who I Surround Myself With, so I Just Try to Always Be with Hilarious People.
Just Because I’m Sassy and Have a Mouth on Me Doesn’t Mean I’m Coming from a Negative Place.
I Think If You Are Going to Be a Singer, You Should Sing. If You Are Going to Be a Dancer, You Should Dance. If You Are Going to Do a Combination of the Two, You Should Make It Very Clear When You Are Singing and Very Clear When You Are Dancing.
I Am a Huge Fan of the Transgender Community.
I Can’t Walk in High Heels, Never Mind Dance in Them.
I Do Destroy Men on a Weekly Basis. It’s Like a Hobby. I’m Like a Praying Mantis.
I Do Have a Stylist Who Helps Me Shop, Because I Don’t Have Time to Shop.
I Do Love Country Music.
I Don’t Want Young People to Think They Can’t Make a Difference Because They Don’t Have Money.
I Embrace the Imperfections and Celebrate Them.
I Have Haters. I Have so Many Haters.
I Have Rock ‘N’ Roll Pumping Through My Veins.
I Love Creepy Old Dudes. I Love That They Have so Much Self Confidence, Despite Having No Evidence Whatsoever to Back It Up.
You Really Can’t Stereotype People or Put Them in Boxes, It’s Unfair.
A Friend of Mine Has a Big Farm in the Desert, and She Picks up Feathers and Roadkill for Me, Then Makes It into Clothes. I Think It’s Cool to Wear Roadkill. If I Died and Somebody Wanted to Wear My Teeth Around Their Neck to VMAs, I’d Feel Honored.
All Men That Date Me Have to Know That Their Name May End up in a Pop Song.
Eventually, I Would Love to Be on My Deathbed and Looked at as an Icon. Right Now I’m Still at the Baby Stages of My Career. but That Is the Goal.
Everything I Write Is Based on Something I’ve Personally Experienced, or Things That My Friends Have Experienced That I Just Find Horribly Entertaining.
I Never Want to Be Pretentious.
I’m a Singer and a Writer First. I Started to Rap by Accident, Being Playful.
I’m Not Saying I Look Cool, but Every Single Time I Go Onstage, It Is a Fail If I Don’t Feel Like I’m Going to Pass Out at Least Twice.
I’m Really Fun. I’m Ridiculously Fun. I Hope I’m Infectiously Fun.
I’m Writing Constantly About All My Crazy Experiences Across the World, so I Have a Lot of Music I’ve Already Written.
I Don’t Want to Treat My Fans Like They Are Stupid.
I Don’t Wear a Lot of High Heels.
I Grew up in the Bible Belt and I Made My Own Clothes and Dyed My Hair Purple. Nobody Ever Knew What to Do with Me.

Did you know?

FACTS · 26

Little-known facts about Kesha — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Before she was famous, she found and sneaked into Prince’s house and left a demo tape on his table.
She is an ordained minister and once performed a wedding between two lesbian friends.
Kesha loves and respects animals; she is a vegetarian, only wears fake fur, and is one of Humane Society International’s ambassadors.
She once vomited in Paris Hilton’s closet.
She said that she did not fit in at school in the Brentwood suburb of Nashville, which she called the Bible Belt. Her unconventional dress sense, including homemade purple velvet pants and purple hair, did not warm her to other students.
She is allergic to mangoes.
She doesn’t know who her biological father is.
Her maternal grandfather was of German descent, and her maternal grandmother was of Hungarian ancestry.
She is an avid history buff and has taken classes on the Cold War out of interest.
She achieved near-perfect SAT scores.
She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range.
Her mother Pebe Sebert struggled financially as she brought Kesha and her siblings up; they had to rely on welfare payments and food stamps.
She is a childhood fan of the Jem 1985 cartoon; she played the role of Pizzazz in the live-action Jem and the Holograms 2015 film in a mid-credits scene, a role she wanted.
She ranked #56 in the 2010 Maxim list of Hot 100 Women.
She has struggled with bulimia and attended rehab for treatment.
She has cited Beck, Dolly Parton, Iggy Pop, Queen, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Elton John, Aaron Neville, Britney Spears, Bob Dylan, The Damned, Velvet Underground, Blondie, and graffiti artist Banksy as influences. She listed Iggy Pop’s The Idiot and Led Zeppelin and AC/DC as inspirations for her second studio album Warrior, which includes a duet with Iggy Pop.
Her family was featured on The Simple Life 2003.
She worked as a waitress while furthering her music career.
She is the sister of Lagan Sebert and Louie Sebert.
She dropped out of high school at seventeen after music producers Dr. Luke and Max Martin convinced her.
Per her biological father Bob Chamberlain, Kesha’s mom Pebe Sebert inherited a fortune from her family.
She has a dog named Bakon.
She is the aunt of Rio Sebert.
She was born at 12:34 AM PST.
She is a pop singer.
She likes to live in nature.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 40

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Kesha.

When was Kesha born?

Kesha was born on March 1, 1987. She was born at 12:34 AM PST in Los Angeles, California.
Where was Kesha born?

Kesha was born in Los Angeles, California, USA. She later moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age four.
How old is Kesha?

Kesha is 39 years old as of 2026. She was born in 1987.
What is Kesha's real name?

Kesha’s real name is Kesha Rose Sebert. She also uses the aliases Rose and Kesha Sebert.
What does Kesha do for a living?

Kesha is a recording artist, actor, and composer. She is best known for her pop music career.
What nationality is Kesha?

Kesha is an American. She holds citizenship in the United States.
What language does Kesha speak?

Kesha’s native language is English. She was raised in the United States.
Who are Kesha's parents?

Kesha’s mother is Pebe Sebert, a songwriter. Her biological father is Bob Chamberlain, though Kesha has said she doesn’t know him.
Does Kesha have any siblings?

Kesha has two siblings: a brother named Lagan Sebert and a brother named Louie Sebert. She also has an aunt of Rio Sebert.
Where did Kesha go to school?

Kesha attended Franklin High School and Brentwood High School. She also studied at Barnard College.
What awards has Kesha won?

Kesha has won the Genesis Award and was named to the Time 100 list. The Genesis Award recognizes her animal rights advocacy.
How many awards has Kesha won?

Kesha has won two major awards: the Genesis Award and a spot on Time 100. She also has numerous nominations.
What is Kesha best known for?

Kesha is best known for her music, particularly her 2009 debut single TiK ToK and her debut album Animal. She has also appeared on TV shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
What is Kesha's Instagram?

Kesha’s Instagram handle is @kesha. She also has a Twitter account @KeshaRose and a Facebook page at kesha.
How tall is Kesha?

Kesha stands 5 feet 9 inches tall, which is 1.74 meters. Her height is often noted in her public appearances.
What are Kesha's nicknames?

Kesha goes by the nicknames K Money and Ke Dollarsign Ha. The dollar sign motif references her stage name Ke$ha.
Why does Kesha use the name Ke$ha?

Kesha originally used the stage name Ke$ha with a dollar sign, reflecting her early struggles and desire for financial success. She later dropped the dollar sign.
What are Kesha's aliases?

Kesha has used the aliases Rose, Kesha Sebert, and Serbet. Rose is her middle name.
What is Kesha's vocal range?

Kesha has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. This allows her to sing in a lower register with power.
Is Kesha a vegetarian?

Yes, Kesha is a vegetarian. She only wears fake fur and is an ambassador for the Humane Society International.
Does Kesha have a dog?

Yes, Kesha has a dog named Bakon. She often shares her love for animals.
What did Kesha study in school?

Kesha attended music school to learn songwriting. She also took classes on the Cold War out of interest.
Did Kesha attend college?

Kesha attended Barnard College, but she dropped out at age 17 to pursue music. She had near-perfect SAT scores.
What was Kesha's breakthrough moment?

Kesha’s big break came from a cameo on Flo Rida’s 2009 number-one hit Right Round. This led to her own single TiK ToK.
What is Kesha's debut album?

Kesha’s debut album is Animal, released in January 2010. It reached number one on the charts.
What are some of Kesha's biggest hits?

Kesha’s biggest hits include TiK ToK, Blah Blah Blah featuring 3OH!3, Your Love Is My Drug, and Die Young.
Who produced Kesha's early music?

Kesha’s early music was produced by Dr. Luke, who also worked with Katy Perry and Kelly Clarkson. Max Martin also contributed.
Has Kesha acted in any movies?

Kesha has acted in several TV shows and movies, including a cameo in Jem and the Holograms 2015 and appearances on Robot Chicken.
What is Kesha's favorite music?

Kesha cites Beck, Dolly Parton, Iggy Pop, Queen, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, and many others as influences.
Is Kesha an ordained minister?

Yes, Kesha is an ordained minister. She once performed a wedding ceremony for two lesbian friends.
Has Kesha ever worked as a waitress?

Yes, Kesha worked as a waitress while trying to advance her music career. She persevered despite the struggles.
What did Kesha do before fame?

Before fame, Kesha sneaked into Prince’s house to leave a demo tape. She also worked as a backup vocalist for Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
Does Kesha have any allergies?

Yes, Kesha is allergic to mangoes. This is a lesser-known fact about her.
What is Kesha's ethnicity?

Kesha’s maternal grandfather was of German descent and her maternal grandmother was of Hungarian ancestry. She is white.
Has Kesha struggled with eating disorders?

Yes, Kesha has struggled with bulimia and attended rehab for treatment. She has been open about her mental health journey.
What is Kesha's role in 'Jem and the Holograms'?

Kesha played Pizzazz, the leader of The Misfits, in a mid-credits scene of Jem and the Holograms 2015. She was a childhood fan of the cartoon.
Did Kesha appear on 'The Simple Life'?

Yes, Kesha’s family was featured on the reality show The Simple Life 2003. She was a child at the time.
What is Kesha's SAT score?

Kesha achieved near-perfect SAT scores. This shows her academic aptitude despite dropping out.
How many siblings does Kesha have?

Kesha has two brothers: Lagan Sebert and Louie Sebert. She is also an aunt to Rio Sebert.
What is Kesha's connection to Prince?

Kesha once sneaked into Prince’s house by paying off a gardener and left a demo tape. Prince did not respond, but it shows her determination.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on June 2, 2026

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