Keke Palmer

**Keke Palmer**, born **Lauren Keyana Palmer**, is an American actress, singer, and television personality. She will voice Izzy Hawthorne in *Lightyear*.

## Biography

### Early Life

Palmer was born on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois. Her parents, Sharon and Lawrence "Larry" Palmer, had both worked as professional actors before settling into full-time jobs. Her father works for a polyurethane while her mother is a teacher who works with autistic students. Palmer first sang in a church but earned exposure performing at a stage show at a Chicago tourist destination.

## Career

### 2000-2012

In 2004, she gained her first film role in *Barbershop 2: Back in Business*, in which she played the niece of rapper and actress Queen Latifah. In 2005, Palmer signed a record deal with Atlantic Records. In 2006, Palmer had her acting breakthrough starring in the film *Akeelah and the Bee*, playing the titular Akeelah, a bright 11-year-old who comes from a poor neighborhood and competes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Palmer also starred in two television programs *Tyler Perry's House of Payne* and *Just Jordan*. Palmer released her debut album *So Uncool* on September 18, 2007.

In 2008, Palmer began her starring role as the title character in Nickelodeon sitcom *True Jackson, VP*. Palmer also wrote and performed the theme song for the series. Palmer earned $20,000 per episode of *True Jackson, VP*, which made her the fourth-highest-paid child star on television. In July 2009, designer Jane Siskin created a Walmart fashion line inspired by *True Jackson, VP*, with all the designs being approved by Palmer. *True Jackson, VP* ended in 2011. Palmer debuted as the voice of Aisha in Nickelodeon's revival of *Winx Club*. She received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her voiceover work. In 2012, Palmer starred in the film *Joyful Noise*, released in January 2012. She produced and starred in *Rags*, a television musical film, as well as voiced Peaches in *Ice Age: Continental Drift*.

In July 2012, Palmer released the single "You Got Me" featuring Kevin McCall. The video for the single was released on July 11, 2012. She released a self-titled mixtape *Keke Palmer* on October 1, 2012.

### 2013-present

She starred in the horror film *Animal*; it was released on June 17, 2014. That same year, Palmer hosted a daytime talk show on BET titled *Just Keke*. In doing so, she became the youngest talk show host in television history; the show itself has been regarded as "groundbreaking" and "refreshing". Later that year, Palmer announced that she had signed with Island Records. Between September 2015 and December 2016, she starred as Zayday Williams in the horror comedy series *Scream Queens*, created by Ryan Murphy. In January 2016, Palmer starred as Marty Maraschino in the television special *Grease: Live*. In 2017, Palmer released her memoir, *I Don't Belong to You: Quiet the Noise and Find Your Voice*.

In April 2019, Palmer began guest co-hosting ABC's daytime talk show *Strahan and Sara.* She joined the slasher television series Scream as a series regular in its third season, portraying a character named Kym Johnson, which premiered on July 8, 2019. On August 26, Palmer became a third permanent co-host of *Strahan and Sara*, which was then re-titled *Strahan, Sara and Keke*. She sang the song "Giants" as part of a virtual group named True Damage, in which she voices a character named Senna, in the video game *League of Legends* for the 2019 World Championship.

*Strahan, Sara and Keke* was taken off the air in March 2020. Palmer later received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host alongside Haines and Strahan. That same year, Palmer began starring in a web television comedy series titled *Turnt Up with the Taylors*, in which she portrays all of the characters. On August 30, Palmer hosted the 2020 MTV Video Music Awards, during which she also performed her song "Snack". The following year, Palmer won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for her performance in *Turnt Up with the Taylors*.

### Upcoming Projects

In 2022, Palmer will voice Izzy Hawthorne in the Disney Pixar animated film *Lightyear*, starring alongside Chris Evans, Taika Waititi, and James Brolin. She will also play Jill Haywood in the film *Nope*. She will voice Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins and Rochelle in the films *The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder* and *Human Resources*, respectively.

## Gallery

Palmer in 2015Palmer performing in March 2008Palmer at PaleyFest in 2016
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keke\_Palmer