Kelis

August 21, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Kelis Rogers, famously known as Kelis, is an American singer, songwriter, and chef. She debuted with the album “Kaleidoscope” in 1999, inspired by the jazz music of the 1970s; the album was a success and earned her her first gold certification. Some of her most popular singles include ‘Bossy’ and ‘Milkshake.’ She has collaborated with other artists such as Calvin Harris, Busta Rhymes, and Enrique Iglesias. Kelis was inspired by her mother, Eveliss Rogers, a fashion designer, to pursue music.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Kelis Rogers-Mora

Birth date:

August 21, 1979

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

5' 10.08"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$4 million

Background

Kelis was born Kelis Rogers, on August 21, 1979, in Harlem, New York. Her Zodiac sign is Leo, and she is Christian. At the age of two, the singer began studying classical violin. At age four, she was already performing alongside her father, Kenneth Rogers, an American jazz musician. At 14, Kelis joined Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she formed the singing group BLU- Black Ladies United.

Kelis did not waste time after school; in 1999, the singer released her first album, “Kaleidoscope,” under Virgin Records. The album did well, ranking on the top 200 billboard charts, and the single ‘Caught Out There’ became the best-performing song on the album.

Kelis’s songs received wide airplay with the release of her second album, “Wanderland,” in 2001. The album faced several controversies, as it was only supposed to be released in Europe. Notwithstanding, it was a commercial success. Her rise to stardom came after her third album, titled “Tasty,” dropped in 2003. The album’s lead single, ‘Milkshake,’ became an anthem in American culture. The song was also nominated for a Grammy in 2006. She released her fourth album, “Kelis Was Here,” which earned her another Grammy Award nomination for Best Contemporary R$B album. Her fifth album, “Flesh Tone,” marked Kelis’s transition to dance and pop music. ‘Acapella,’ the lead single, was in the top five of the U.K. Singles Chart.

Apart from singing, Kelis also engaged in culinary, between 2006 and 2010, having graduated from Le Cordon Bleu culinary school. In 2015, Kelis published a book, “My Life on a Plate: Recipes from around the World.” In 2020, Netflix launched a cooking competition called “Cooked with Cannabis,” in which Kelis appears. The singer has also tried fashion by designing her fashion accessories.

Kelis’s personal life is well documented, as the singer does not shy away from the media. She got married to rapper Nas in 2005, and they have a child, but they divorced in 2010. Kelis noted that her marriage to the rapper was physically and emotionally abusive. In 2014, the singer got married to Mike Mora and gave birth to her second son in 2015.

Career timeline

1998

She Records Her Debut Album

The singer begins recording the album “Kaleidoscope,” which is later released by Virgin Records and was a success, reaching number 144 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

2001

Brit Award for International Breakthrough

Kelis wins the Brit Awards for International Breakthrough Act and N.M.E. Award for the Best R&B/Soul Act in the same year.

2003

Her Third Album is Released

Kelis's third album, “Tasty,” drops and is a critical success, with the album’s single ‘Milkshake’ sitting in the top three in the Billboard Top 100 and earning her a Grammy nomination.

2006

Kelis Ventures into Cookery

The singer explores cooking as her new passion from 2006 to 2010, having graduated from the Le Cordon Bleu cooking school as a qualified chef.

2010

Her Fifth Album

Kelis's fifth album, “Flesh Tone,” drops, in which she collaborates with several producers, including Ammo, Jean, and Benny Benassi.

2020

A Biographical Animated Short Story

A biographical animated short story about Kelis’s life is posted on her YouTube channel.

Why We Love Kelis

She’s confident and passionate about music
Kelis's confidence and passion are expressed in the way she sings. Can you forget her hit single, ‘Bossy?’
She’s a skilled chef
The singer graduated from culinary school, and between 2006 and 2010, she was a chef. She even wrote a cookbook, “My Life on a Plate: Recipes from Around the World.”
Kelis is loving and caring
Kelis loves and cares for her family. She also loves her fans.

5 Surprising Facts

Her father was a music professor
Kelis’s father, Kenneth Rogers, was a jazz musician and music professor at the University of Connecticut.
Kelis does not like ‘Milkshake’
Though the single ‘Milkshake’ was career-defining for Kelis, the singer has said she dislikes the song.
She changes her hairstyle frequently
Kelis switches her hairstyle very often, as she gets bored with it easily.
She hates Los Angeles
Most celebrities enjoy living in Los Angeles, but Kelis is not one of them; she prefers life outside the city.
Her name
The name ‘Kelis’ was coined by her father.