Kelly Key

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Kelly Key

| image = Kelly_Key_Lemonade.jpg

| background = solo_singer

| caption = Key at fitness event in 2016.

| birth_name = Kelly de Almeida Afonso Freitas

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|3|3}}

| birth_place = Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

| origin =

| genre = {{hlist|Pop|R&B|dance-pop}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|youtuber|television personality}}

| instrument = Vocals

| years_active = 2001–present

| label = {{hlist|Warner (2001–2007; 2019–present)|Som Livre (2007–2009)|Sony Music (2012–2014)|Deckdisc (2014–2018)}}

| website = {{URL|kellykey.com.br}}

}}

Kelly de Almeida Afonso Freitas (born March 3, 1983), better known professionally as Kelly Key, is a Brazilian pop singer-songwriter, YouTuber, and television personality. She rose to prominence in 2001 with her singles "Baba" and "Cachorrinho" which became defining hits of the early 2000s Brazilian pop music scene. Known for her blend of pop, dance, and funk music, she quickly established herself as a pop icon in Brazil.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-20 |title=Por que estreia de Kelly Key antecipou pop de divas no Brasil com empoderamento dançante? |url=https://g1.globo.com/pop-arte/musica/noticia/2021/12/20/por-que-estreia-de-kelly-key-antecipou-pop-de-divas-no-brasil-com-empoderamento-dancante.ghtml |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}} Over the course of her career, she has sold millions of records, earned numerous awards, and helped shape the genre of Brazilian pop for a new generation.{{Cite web |date=2015-04-27 |title=Contém POP entrevista Kelly Key! ~ Contém POP |url=http://www.contempop.com.br/2015/04/contem-pop-entrevista-kelly-key.html |access-date=2024-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124713/http://www.contempop.com.br/2015/04/contem-pop-entrevista-kelly-key.html |archive-date=April 27, 2015 }} Often compared to American contemporaries like Britney Spears for her playful and provocative image,{{Cite magazine |title=No começo de sua carreira, Kelly Key foi sondada para ser a 'Britney Spears brasileira' |url=https://www.purepeople.com.br/midia/no-comeco-de-sua-carreira-kelly-key-foi_m4491403 |access-date=July 7, 2020 |magazine=Purepeople |language=pt-br}} Kelly Key has remained a fixture in Brazilian popular culture.

Biography

= 1999–2002: Career beginnings and breakthrough with debut album K''elly Key'' =

Kelly Key’s career began in 1999 when she worked as host on the TV show Samba Pagode & Cia.{{Cite web |title=KELLY KEY: SÓ SEI QUE ARREBENTEI |url=https://www.cmjornal.pt/cultura/detalhe/kelly-key-so-sei-que-arrebentei |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=www.cmjornal.pt |date=October 22, 2002 |language=pt-PT}} In early 2000, she recorded a demo, which was picked up by Warner Music.{{cite web |date=June 28, 2011 |title=Que susto! Fãs de Kelly Key já fizeram loucuras por ela |url=http://www.redetv.uol.com.br/lucianabynight/video/336500/que-susto-fas-de-kelly-key-ja-fizeram-loucuras-por-ela.html |accessdate=November 16, 2013 |work=Rede TV }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web |date=June 30, 2012 |title=Kelly Key: Average |url=http://www.music-online-store.com/favr/2SKAVBIDBD83V.html |accessdate=November 16, 2013 |work=Music-Online}} Her eponymous debut album was released in 2001{{cite web |date=October 17, 2014 |title=Official release of Kelly Key debut Album |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/kelly-key-r983878 |accessdate=November 18, 2014 |work=All Music}} to great commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies within six months of its release{{Cite web |date=2014-11-06 |title=Revista da Folha - A RAINHA DO "TCHU, TCHU, RU, RU" - 16/02/2003 |url=http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/revista/rf1602200303.htm |access-date=2024-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106224331/http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/revista/rf1602200303.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2014 }} and earning a platinum certification.{{Cite web |title=CERTIFICADOS |url=https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/certificados/?busca_artista=Kelly_Key |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Pro-Música Brasil |language=pt-BR}} The album's themes of female empowerment and independence set it apart from previous Brazilian pop music, giving it lasting influence.

While her debut single, "Escondido," was only a minor radio hit, it generated significant buzz{{Cite web |date=2015-04-27 |title=Contém POP entrevista Kelly Key! ~ Contém POP |url=http://www.contempop.com.br/2015/04/contem-pop-entrevista-kelly-key.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124713/http://www.contempop.com.br/2015/04/contem-pop-entrevista-kelly-key.html |archive-date=April 27, 2015 |access-date=2024-10-20}} prompting her record label to release a follow-up single, "Baba Baby." The song became a massive hit,{{Cite web |title=Diario de Cuiabá |url=https://www.diariodecuiaba.com.br |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Diario de Cuiabá |language=pt-br}} catapulting her to national stardom and earning comparisons to international stars like Britney Spears. Subsequent singles, "Cachorrinho" and "Anjo," continued her success, reinforcing her image as a strong, independent voice for young women.

In 2002, Kelly Key expanded her reach to Hispanic America with Kelly Key en Español, a Spanish-language version of her debut album, which helped her establish a fan base in countries like Chile and Argentina.{{Cite web |title=Kelly Key - Baba |url=https://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=3540 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Top40-Charts.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Kelly Key - Cachorrinho |url=https://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=4901 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Top40-Charts.com |language=en}} That same year, she also released a remix album called Remix Hits{{Cite web |title= |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/remix-hits/1513868}} and posed nude for the December 2002 issue of Brazilian Playboy.{{cite web | url =https://observatoriodosfamosos.com.br/musica/kelly-key-relembra-foto-picante-de-sua-playboy-de-2002-e-bomba-na-web-3|title=Kelly Key relembra foto picante de sua Playboy de 2002 e bomba na web|publisher=Observatório dos Famosos|language=Portuguese| date=May 9, 2020| accessdate =4 January 2025}}

= 2003–2004: ''Do Meu Jeito'' and live album =

Kelly Key began working on her sophomore album in 2002. Do Meu Jeito was released the following year. The album continued to explore familiar themes from her debut but also expanded into socially conscious issues, such as racial prejudice. Do Meu Jeito was both a commercial and critical success, selling over 300,000 copies,{{Cite web |last=Nobrega |first=Eliane |date=April 21, 2008 |title=Jornal do Brasil |url=http://memoria.bn.br/DocReader/DocReader.aspx?bib=030015_12&pesq=%22Kelly%20Key%20faz%20show%20hoje%20na%20Lona%20Cultural%22&pasta=ano%20200 |language=Brazilian Portuguese}} and producing several hit singles, including "Adoleta" and "Chic, Chic." In 2004, she released a live album.

=2005–2009: ''Kelly Key'', ''Por Que Não?'' and music hiatus=

File:Kelly_Key_2.jpg

In 2005, after changing the writers and producers of her first works, Key went through a transformation to her third studio album, Kelly Key 2005 which featured teen pop songs. The album featured the hits "Escuta Aqui, Rapaz" ("Listen Hear, Boy") and a remake of Aqua's 1997 hit "Barbie Girl", selling about 100,000 copies in Brazil. In 2006 she released her last album on the Warner Music label, Por Que Não? (English: Why Not?), selling 45,000 copies. The album spawned the hits "Pegue e Puxe" ("Grab and Pull"), "Shake Boom" and "Analista" ("Analyst").

In 2007 Key released her first compilation, 100% Kelly Key, by Som Livre ("Free Sound") Records, her new label, selling 50,000 copies. The album released the smash "Você é o Cara" ("You're the guy"), reaching her seventh number one single in Brazil. In 2008 Key released her fifth studio album Kelly Key, rescuing adult themes and selling 40,000 copies. In 2009, Key left Som Livre Records to become a presenter.

=2010–2019: Television career and ''No Controle''=

In 2009 she became host of the Rede Record's TV show Hoje em Dia with other presenters. In 2010, she became host of her own TV show, the Game Show de Verão. In 2011 she returned to music and released her first house music single, "O Problema é Meu" ("The Problem is Mine"), which featured DJ and producer Mister Jam. On November 15, she released her debut English single, "Shaking (Party People).{{cite web |url=http://ficaquietinho.com/kelly-key-se-lanca-no-mercado-internacional-com-shaking/|title=Kelly Key se lança no mercado internacional com Shaking|work=Fica Quietinho|date=17 August 2011|accessdate= 18 December 2010}}

In 2014 Kelly announced return to the stage; the single "Controle" marked her return to music after five years dedicating herself exclusively to television. On February 3, 2015, the singer released her sixth studio album {{ill|No Controle|pt|No Controle|italic=y}}, which features a sound inspired by the rhythms kizomba, zouk and electronic music. In 2019, she released an EP titled {{ill|Do Jeito Delas (EP)|pt|Do Jeito Delas|lt=Do Jeito Delas|italic=y}}, and the following year expanded it into an {{ill|Do Jeito Delas (album)|pt|Do Jeito Delas (álbum)|lt=album of the same name}}.

Philanthropy and other activities

Key has a great success with the LGBT people in Brazil, and she supports same-sex marriage in the country. She was a spokesperson to high-school age young adults in a campaign in which she said, "Show how you've grown up. This Carnaval, use condoms."{{cite journal|last=Okie|first=Susan|title=Fighting HIV – Lessons from Brazil|journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |publisher=Massachusetts Medical Society |date=May 11, 2006|volume=354|issue=19|pages=1977–1981|doi=10.1056/NEJMp068069|pmid=16687709|doi-access=free}}

Key became a friend and business partner of singer and digital influencer Clei Ribeiro and shared videos by him.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-08 |title=Kelly Key dubla áudio de Clei Ribeiro |url=https://celebs.com.br/9628/viral-kelly-key-dubla-audio-de-clei-ribeiro/ |website=Celebs}}