Profile Text
03/11/2018 – Kehlani – 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards – Arrivals – The Forum – Inglewood, CA, USA – Photo Credit: David Gabber / PRPhotos.com
Birth Name: Kehlani Ashley Parrish
Place of Birth: Oakland, Alameda, California, United States
Date of Birth: April 24, 1995
Ethnicity: * paternal grandfather – African-American * paternal grandmother – Scottish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, distant Cornish and Irish, possibly Choctaw Native American * other ancestry – Filipino, Blackfoot and Cherokee Native American, Spanish, Mexican
Kehlani is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Her songs include “Crzy,” “Gangsta,” “Good Life,” “Can I,” “Folded,” and “Out the Window.” She is part of hip-hop collective The HBK Gang, and was a member of teen pop band PopLyfe. She appeared on the show The L Word: Generation Q .
Kehlani was adopted, and raised, by Kehlani’s maternal aunt, Tanya Marie French. Kehlani’s biological mother is evidently of Blackfoot and Cherokee Native American, and Spanish, Mexican, and Filipino, descent. A picture of Kehlani’s mother can be seen here . Kehlani’s biological father, Elon Thompson Parrish, died when she was a toddler. Kehlani’s paternal grandfather was African-American. Kehlani’s paternal grandmother was of Scottish, English, German, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, and Welsh, as well as distant Cornish, Irish, and possibly Choctaw Native American, ancestry.
Kehlani has identified as “Black, White, Native American and Spanish” in an interview on Hot 97, as well as Mexican (at 24:14 at the link); and specified that “Blackfoot Cherokee” are Kehlani’s Native American tribes.
Kehlani has also stated :
I have a [paternal] grandma by marriage who’s full Chinese and did grow up in the Philippines, and then I have a [maternal] grandma who is this much Filipino and everytime I go anywhere she’d be like ‘Kehlani, don’t forget you’re Filipino’.
I have a [paternal] grandma by marriage who’s full Chinese and did grow up in the Philippines, and then I have a [maternal] grandma who is this much Filipino and everytime I go anywhere she’d be like ‘Kehlani, don’t forget you’re Filipino’.
Kehlani has a daughter with her former partner, her guitarist Javaughn Young-White. Javaughn’s brother is comedian Jaboukie Young-White .
Kehlani’s paternal grandfather was Guy Corwin Parrish (the son of Robert Lawrence “Bob” Parrish and Jean/Jeanne Andra Thompson). Guy was born in Los Angeles, California, to African-American parents. Kehlani’s great-grandfather Bob Parrish was born in Miami, Florida, and was a successful baritone, and stage actor and singer. He was the son of James A. Parrish and Belle Way. Kehlani’s great-grandmother Jeanne was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of Jesse Thompson and Kathryn/Katie/Katherine Morris, who were from Kentucky.
Kehlani’s paternal grandmother was Ruth Suzanne Thompson (the daughter of James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace). Suzanne was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. James was the son of James Buchanan Thompson, Sr., whose own parents were Scottish; and of Barbara Adelaide Brown. Kehlani’s great-grandmother Ruth was the daughter of Baxter Boxbe Wallace and Nancy J. Jones.
Kehlani’s maternal grandfather was named Christopher French.
Kehlani in 2014, photo by Prphotos.com
Sources: https://www.facebook.com
Birth record of Kehlani’s father – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Divorce record of Kehlani’s paternal grandparents, Guy Corwin Parrish and Suzanne Ruth Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Birth record of Kehlani’s paternal grandfather, Guy Corwin Parrish – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, Robert Lawrence “Bob” Parrish and Jeana Andra Thompson – https://www.familysearch.org
Information about Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, Robert Lawrence “Bob” Parrish – https://www.jazz-on-film.com
WWII Draft Registration record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, Robert Lawrence “Bob” Parrish – https://www.familysearch.org
Death record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, Robert Lawrence “Bob” Parrish – https://www.familysearch.org
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson, Jr. and Ruth Imogene Wallace – https://www.familysearch.org
Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr., on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandfather, James Buchannan Thompson, Jr. – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com
Marriage record of Kehlani’s paternal great-great-grandparents, James Buchanan Thompson and Barbara Ade Brown – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Kehlani’s paternal great-grandmother, Ruth Imogene (Wallace) Thompson – http://www.ralphrobinsonandson.com