Kelly Price

Price was born in New York City in Far Rockaway, Queens, and she sang in church as a youngster. Her first professional engagement was with singer George Michael 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 Mariah Carey. 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.{{cite web|title=Kelly Price on Meeting Mariah Carey|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbr-dMb13Ps |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/gbr-dMb13Ps| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|work=YouTube| date=May 23, 2014 }}{{cbignore}}

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 Grammy Award nominated "As We Lay".[http://www.livedaily.com/news/2402.html Livedaily.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060315101353/http://www.livedaily.com/news/2402.html |date=March 15, 2006 }}

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'.[http://www.livedaily.com/news/Sisters_in_the_Spirit_tour_back_in_2007-11192.html?t=1 Live Daily News report on Kelly Price] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217194826/http://www.livedaily.com/news/Sisters_in_the_Spirit_tour_back_in_2007-11192.html|date=December 17, 2006 }}

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 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."{{cite magazine|last=Gail Mitchell|title=Kelly Price Returns to R&B Roots on New Album|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471805/kelly-price-returns-to-rb-roots-on-new-album|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 9, 2012}} 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 Whitney Houston 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 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.{{cite web|last=Krista Henry|title='The Queen Project' to debut at Jazz and Blues Fest|date=January 26, 2010|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100126/ent/ent1.html|publisher=The Gleaner|access-date=January 9, 2012}}

In 2016, Kelly was included in several songs on rapper Kanye West's album, The Life of Pablo.{{cite web|url=http://theb3.net/2013/watch-kelly-price-defends-saying-im-booked-shades-lil-mo|title=Watch: Kelly Price Defends Saying 'I'm Booked,' Shades Lil Mo?|work=theb3.net}} 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.{{cite web|title=Not a Little Bit – Single by K. Michelle|date=January 22, 2016|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/not-a-little-bit-single/1076718354|publisher=iTunes Store|access-date=February 18, 2016}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/28/kelly-price-covid-not-missing|website=TheGuardian.com|title=Kelly Price says she almost died from Covid – and was never missing|date=September 28, 2021}}

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. {{cite web | url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/403267-kelly-price-speaks-on-r-kelly-ive-seen-mothers-bring-their-daughters-backstage-news | title=Kelly Price Speaks on R. Kelly: "I've Seen Mothers Bring Their Daughters Backstage" | website=HNHH | date=January 22, 2022 }}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.urblife.com/the-life/parent-trap-kelly-price|title=Parent Trap! Kelly Price Gets Real on Teen Sex, Breaking Cycles and More!|work=UrbLife.com|date=December 30, 2010}} 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 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 Mariah Carey.{{Cite web|url=https://www.babbie.com/shanrae-price|title=Shanrae Price|website=Babbie.com|access-date=April 4, 2025}}

In 2020, Price lost her grandfather to COVID-19.{{Cite web|date=May 20, 2020|title=Kelly Price on The Quarantine Chronicles (Part 1, 2 and 3)|url=https://houstonradio.thecore94.com/kelly-price-on-the-quarantine-chronicles-part-1-2-and-3/|access-date=May 13, 2021|website=The Core 94!|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12049506|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312042443/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12049506|url-status=dead|title=Yahoo News coverage of Kelly Price|archive-date=March 12, 2007}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427556/19990407/story.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010822011949/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1427556/19990407/story.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 22, 2001|title=Deborah Cox, Kelly Price, Mase Get Stylish For Cancer Awareness|publisher=MTV News}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/971668/06052000/jordan_montell.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021018194210/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/971668/06052000/jordan_montell.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 18, 2002|title=VH1 News|website=Vh1.com|access-date=February 13, 2020}}

Price's mother was a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer{{cite web|url=http://www.ibcsurvivors.org/claudia.html|title=ibcsurvivors.org|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929175006/http://www.ibcsurvivors.org/claudia.html|archive-date=September 29, 2007}} 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, 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.Price is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho sorority [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/southdallas/stories/DN-ocfocus_07met.ART.Central.Edition1.3e9162d.html Dallas News profile of Claudia Price]

{{Main|Kelly Price 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){{cite web|title=Kelly Price Signs With Motown Gospel, Announces New Album "Grace"|url=https://youknowigotsoul.com/kelly-price-signs-with-motown-gospel-announces-new-album-grace|website=Youknowigotsoul.com|access-date=February 22, 2021}}

{{award table|caption=AMFT Awards nominations for Kelly Price}}

!Ref.

|-

| rowspan=2|2016

| rowspan=2|"Ultralight Beam" (with Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin and The-Dream)

| Best Rap Song

| {{won}}

| rowspan=2|{{Cite web|url=https://amft-awards.jimdosite.com/winners/|title=Winners|website=Amft-awards.jimdosite.com|access-date=April 4, 2025}}

|-

| Best Rap Duo/Group Performance

| {{won}}

{{end}}

{{award table|caption=Billboard Music Awards nominations for Kelly Price}}

!Ref.

|-

| 1998

| Kelly Price

| Top Hot R&B Singles Artists – Female

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1998/bbyearend.htm|title=Rock On The Net: Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1998|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=April 4, 2025}}

|-

| rowspan=3|1999

| rowspan=3|"Heartbreak Hotel" (with Whitney Houston and Faith Evans)

| Top Hot 100 Song

| {{nom}}

|rowspan=3|{{Cite web|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1999/bbyearend.htm|title=Rock On The Net: Billboard Year-End Chart-Toppers: 1999|website=Rockonthenet.com|access-date=April 4, 2025}}

|-

| Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single

| {{nom}}

|-

| Top Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Single Sales

| {{nom}}

{{end}}

{{awards table|caption=Grammy Award nominations for Kelly Price{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/kelly-price/13903 |title=Kelly Price {{!}} Artist |publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=2023-06-12 |language=en-US}}}}

|-

|2000

|"Heartbreak Hotel" (with Whitney Houston and Faith Evans)

|Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals{{cite web | url = http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/grammys.htm | title = 2000 The 42nd Grammy Award Winners & Nominees | publisher = rockonthenet.com | date = February 23, 2000 | access-date = July 4, 2010}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/faith-evans/3318 |title=Faith Evans {{!}} Artist |publisher=Grammy Awards |access-date=2023-06-12 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/faith-evans-mn0000164053/awards |title=Faith Evans {{!}} Awards |language=en-US |access-date=2023-06-12 |publisher=AllMusic}}

|{{nom}}

|-

|2001

|"As We Lay"

|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|2004

|"He Proposed"

|Best Traditional R&B Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|2011

|"Tired"

|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan="3"|2012

|rowspan="2"|"Not My Daddy" (feat. Stokley Williams)

|Best R&B Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best R&B Song

|{{nom}}

|-

|Kelly

|Best R&B Album

|{{nom}}

|-

|rowspan="2"|2017

|rowspan="2"|"Ultralight Beam" (with Kanye West, Chance the Rapper, Kirk Franklin and The-Dream)

|Best Rap/Sung Performance

|{{nom}}

|-

|Best Rap Song

|{{nom}}

|}

• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart

{{reflist}}

{{reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{Discogs artist|Kelly Price}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140802161420/http://benji.cc/confessions-of-an-rb-diva-my-chat-with-kelly-price/ Kelly Price Interview with Benji Irby]
• {{IMDb name|1014288}}

{{Kelly Price|state=expanded}}

{{Def Jam Recordings}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Price, Kelly}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American women singers

Category:African-American Christians

Category:American dance musicians

Category:American gospel singers

Category:American mezzo-sopranos

Category:American Pentecostals

Category:American soul singers

Category:Def Jam Recordings artists

Category:Members of the Church of God in Christ

Category:People from Far Rockaway, Queens

Category:People from DeKalb County, Georgia

Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters

Category:American contemporary R&B singers

Category:20th-century American women singers

Category:21st-century American women singers

Category:American ballad musicians

Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters

Category:African-American songwriters

Category:Singer-songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)