Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer (born August 26, 1993) is an
American actress and singer who rose to fame for her performance in
the 2006 film Akeelah and the Bee.
She also starred as the title
character in the Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. Palmer earns
$20,000 per episode of True Jackson VP, making her the fourth highest
paid child star on television. She cites Brandy and Aaliyah as her
musical inspiration.
Palmer was born in Harvey, Illinois.[1] Her father, Larry, works for a polyurethane
company, and her mother, Sharon, is a high school teacher who works with children
with mental disabilities.[4][5]
In 2002, Palmer auditioned for a stage production of The Lion King at the
age of nine. Although she did not win the role, her family moved to Los Angeles
in 2004 so Palmer could pursue a screen career.[6]
Palmer then pursued a career in singing. In 2003, she participated in American
Juniors, the American Idol spin-off series, but her audition scenes were edited
out and the show was canceled that year. In 2005, Palmer signed a record deal
with Atlantic Records. Her debut single, "All My Girlz", is featured
in the Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack. On November 18, 2006, she performed
at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California for VH1's Save the Music Battle
of the High School Marching Bands competition, marking her first ever stadium
performance in front of thousands of people. In addition, as part of her contract
with Disney, Palmer sang the songs "It's My Turn Now" and "Jumpin'" featured
in the Disney Channel Original Movie Jump In!, in which she stars as Mary,
the love interest to Corbin Bleu's character. In 2006, Palmer was featured
in the music video for the Ludacris and Mary J. Blige song "Runaway Love,
in which she starred as a pregnant 11-year-old girl. That same year, she recorded
a song entitled "Tonight" which was featured as the first song in
the end credits of Night at the Museum.
Her debut album So Uncool was released on September 18, 2007, on Atlantic
Records, with the single "Keep It Movin'" preceding the album release.
The album failed commercially and Palmer parted ways with Atlantic the next
year. 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. The series ended in 2011, after two seasons with sixty episodes
produced.
In 2010, Palmer was signed by the Chairman of Interscope Records Jimmy Iovine
and began working on an album.[7] Between her MySpace and SayNow accounts she
has released several snippets of songs that were recorded for possible inclusion
on her sophmore album. In a 2011 interview, Palmer stated the album is complete
and is in the process of finalization. The self titled album will be a mixture
of R&B/Hip-Hop with pop undertones. Producers and writers for the album
include, Oak, Lil Eddie, Lucas Secon, and others. Palmer stated that the album
itself will be released in early 2012.
She will be starring in a film alongside Dolly Parton and Queen Latifah called
Joyful Noise to be released in January 2012. She will produce and star in Rags,
a Nickelodeon musical film, as well as voice characters in Ice Age: Continental
Drift and Winx Club.[8] Palmer has also recently been cast in the upcoming
comedy Virgin Mary, opposite Abigail Breslin and Carter Jenkins.[9]
[edit] Fashion career
In July 2009, Palmer launched a Wal-Mart fashion line inspired by her Nickelodeon
show, True Jackson, VP. The fashion line consists of jumpers, modern dresses,
knit tops, T-shirts, leggings, jeans and more for under $14.[10]
[edit] Filmography
Film
Year Film Role Notes
2004 Barbershop 2: Back in Business Gina's Niece Credited as Lauren Keyana
Palmer
2006 Akeelah and the Bee Akeelah Anderson Lead Role
Madea's Family Reunion Nikki Grady Supporting Role
2007 Cleaner Rose Cutler Supporting Role
2008 The Longshots Jasmine Plummer Main Role
2009 Shrink Jemma Supporting Role
2012 Joyful Noise[11] Olivia Hill Supporting Role
2012 Ice Age: Continental Drift Peaches Supporting Role
2012 Virgin Mary[12] TBA Supporting Role
Television films
Year Title Role Notes
2004 The Wool Cap Lou Main Role
2005 Knights of the South Bronx Kenya Russell Supporting Role
2007 Jump In! Mary Thomas Main Role
2012 Rags Kadee Worth Lead Role
Straight-to-DVD
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare Crystal Tortoise Voice
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Cold Case Arlene Marion "The Letter" (Episode 13, Season 1)
Strong Medicine Sarina "Race for a Cure" (Episode 7, Season 5)
2005 Second Time Around Sharlene "Big Bank, Little Bank" (Episode
11, Season 1)
ER Janell Parkerson "The Show Must Go On" (Episode 22, Season 11)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Tasha Wright "Storm" (Episode
10, Season 7)
Keke & Jamal Keke Stewart Unsold TV Pilot (Disney Channel/Walt Disney Television)
2007 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Nikki "Bully and the Beast" (Episode
1, Season 2)
Just Jordan C.C. Livingston "Fame Game" (Episode 17, Season 2)
2008–2011 True Jackson, VP True Jackson Lead Role/Title Role
2009 Cribs Herself
2009–present Brainsurge Herself - Featuring Nana
2010 The Cleveland Show Brandi "Harder, Better, Faster, Browner" (Episode
22, Season 2)
2011 Degrassi Herself (Season 11 - Episodes 1 & 2; "Spring Fever")
2011 Winx Club Layla/Aisha Regular Role
[edit] Discography
Main article: Keke Palmer discography
EPs
2007: Keke Palmer
Albums
2007: So Uncool
2012: Keke Palmer
Mixtapes
2011: Awaken
[edit] Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Motive Result
2005 Young Artist Award "Best Performance in TV Movie, Miniseries or Special
- Leading Young Actress" The Wool Cap Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards "Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor
in a Television Movie or Miniseries" Nominated
Image Awards "Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or
Dramatic Special" Nominated
2006 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards "Most Promising Performer" Akeelah
and the Bee Nominated
Black Movie Awards "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading
Role" Won
2007 Young Artist Award "Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading
Young Actress" Won
Image Awards "Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture" Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards "Best Young Actress" Nominated
Black Reel Awards "Best Actress" Won
"
Best Breakthrough Performance" Nominated
2008
Young Artist Awards "Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young
Actress" Cleaner Nominated
Black Reel Awards "Best Actress" The Longshots Nominated
2009 NAACP Awards "NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a
Youth/Children's Series or Special" True Jackson, VP Won
2010 NAACP Awards "NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a
Youth/Children's Series or Special" Won
Kids Choice Awards "Favorite TV Actress" Nominated
BET Awards "YoungStars Award" Won
2011 Young Artist Awards "Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Leading
Young Actress" Nominated
NAACP Awards "NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance in a Youth/Children's
Series or Special" Won
2011 BET Awards "YoungStars Award"