Kesha
A pop rebel who transformed party anthems into a platform for raw honesty, battling industry constraints to reclaim her artistic voice.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American singer and rapper·Birthday: March 1·Millennials
Biography
Kesha burst from the speakers in 2009 with 'Tik Tok,' a glitter-covered, brash declaration of hedonistic independence that became a global phenomenon. The Ke$ha persona was a calculated explosion of neon and bravado, defining the turn-of-the-decade pop scene. But behind the electro-pop hits was a skilled songwriter who, after a very public and grueling legal battle with her former producer, fought to reveal her fuller self. Her 2017 album 'Rainbow' was a watershed—a genre-blending catharsis that traded pure party for rock, country, and balladry, earning critical acclaim and a Grammy nomination. Kesha's journey from pop's wild child to a vocal advocate for mental health and artistic autonomy marks one of the music industry's most compelling narratives of resilience and reinvention.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Kesha was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kesha Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Kesha's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut single 'Tik Tok' was the best-selling digital single worldwide in 2010, with over 15 million copies sold.
- Her album 'Rainbow' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2017 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
- Has achieved ten top-ten singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including number-one hits 'Tik Tok' and 'Right Round' (featured).
- Co-wrote the number-one hit 'Till the World Ends' for Britney Spears.
Did You Know?
She lived in a shed without running water while writing songs early in her career.
She is an avid painter and has sold her artwork for charity.
She dropped the dollar sign from her stage name in 2014.
Her mother, Pebe Sebert, is a songwriter who co-wrote several of Kesha's early hits.
“I am not a stereotype. I am not what you think I am. I am so much more.”
