Kelis in a sequined top and a black bow, highlighting her career.

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons

Kelis

Born

August 21, 1979

Died
Birthplace

Harlem, New York City, New York, US

Age

47 Years Old

Horoscope

Leo

Who Is Kelis?

Kelis Rogers is an American singer and chef known for her distinctive voice and genre-blending musical style. Her fearless approach to artistry consistently sets her apart.

Her breakout moment arrived with the 2003 hit single “Milkshake,” which captivated audiences globally and became a cultural phenomenon. This infectious track quickly climbed charts, solidifying her mainstream appeal.

Full NameKelis Rogers
GenderFemale
Height5 feet 10 inches (178 cm)
Relationship StatusWidowed
Net Worth$5 million
NationalityAmerican
EthnicityAfrican American, Chinese, Puerto Rican
EducationManhattan Country School, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Le Cordon Bleu
FatherKenneth G. Rogers
MotherEveliss Rogers
SiblingsThree sisters
KidsKnight Jones, Shepherd, Galilee

Early Life and Education

Kelis Rogers grew up in Harlem, New York City, influenced by her father, Kenneth G. Rogers, a jazz musician and Pentecostal minister, and her mother, Eveliss Rogers, a Chinese-Puerto Rican fashion designer. This diverse upbringing fostered her early artistic interests.

She attended the private Manhattan Country School, where she studied various instruments, and later Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. There, she refined her musical talents, joining the Girls Choir of Harlem and forming an R&B trio. After a hiatus from music, Kelis also trained at the renowned Le Cordon Bleu culinary school.

Notable Relationships

A string of high-profile romances has marked Kelis Rogers’s public life, including her marriage to rapper Nas from 2005 to 2010. Their relationship was often a subject of media attention.

Kelis shares her eldest son, Knight Jones, with Nas, with whom she co-parents. She later married Mike Mora in 2014, and they welcomed a son, Shepherd, and a daughter, Galilee, before Mora’s untimely passing in 2022.

Career Highlights

Kelis Rogers burst onto the music scene with her debut album, Kaleidoscope, in 1999, but it was her 2003 album, Tasty, that brought mainstream success. The lead single, “Milkshake,” became a global hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beyond music, Kelis expanded into the culinary world, graduating from Le Cordon Bleu and launching her food ventures. She released a cookbook, My Life on a Plate, and hosted a cooking show, demonstrating her diverse talents.

To date, Kelis has received Brit and NME Awards, and two Grammy Award nominations, cementing her multifaceted career in music and beyond.

Signature Quote

“Life is too short for bad food and bad music!”

See Also


Recent Celebrity Birthdays


For more daily birthday lists, explore our Celebrity Birthdays Hub.