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Bridget Kelly (born April 8, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter from New York City. In 2008, Kelly, a
pop Pop or POP may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * Pop music, a musical genre Artists * POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade * Pop!, a UK pop group * Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band Albums * ''Pop'' (G ...
and R&B recording artist, who has written songs for fellow American singers such as
Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, author, and television personality. She rose to fame after winning the first season of '' American Idol'' in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her de ...
, secured a recording contract with American rapper and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z's record label
Roc Nation Roc Nation is an entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z in 2008. The company is headquartered in Manhattan and has additional offices in Los Angeles and London. Roc Nation comprises a comprehensive talent agency, sports agency, record label, ma ...
.


Biography


1986–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Bridget Kelly, who is of a biracial background of Bahamian and Irish descent, was born on April 8, 1986, in New York City. She is a graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in
Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of co ...
. In 2008, she signed a record deal with Jay-Z's
Roc Nation Roc Nation is an entertainment agency founded by Jay-Z in 2008. The company is headquartered in Manhattan and has additional offices in Los Angeles and London. Roc Nation comprises a comprehensive talent agency, sports agency, record label, ma ...
. Kelly has regularly filled in for
Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Colu ...
, when performing the song " Empire State of Mind" with Jay-Z, including performances on the ''
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross ''Friday Night with Jonathan Ross'' is a British chat show presented by Jonathan Ross and broadcast on BBC One between 2001 and 2010. The programme features Ross' take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews (usually three per show ...
'', as well as '' Later...with Jools Holland'' show, the
Coldplay Coldplay are a British Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey (manager), Phil H ...
,
Viva la Vida "Viva la Vida" (, ; ) is a song by British rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, '' Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends'' (2008). The lyrics to the song contain historical and Christian re ...
tour, and the 9/11 memorial service. Kelly also performed with Jay Z during a performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2009. She performed "Empire State of Mind" at
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly called the Coachella Festival or simply Coachella) is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. ...
as well as Bonnaroo Music Festival in summer 2010, with Jay-Z. Kelly also performed "Empire State of Mind" with Jay-Z on
Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serve ...
on May 8, 2010, as well as
Rock am Ring The (German language, German for "Rock at the Ring") and ("Rock in the Park") festivals are two simultaneous rock music festivals held annually. While ''Rock am Ring'' takes place at the Nürburgring race track, ''Rock im Park'' takes place at ...
on June 4 and
T in the Park T in the Park festival was a major Scottish music festival that was held annually from 1994 to 2016. It was named after its main sponsor, Tennents. The event was held at Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire, until 1996. It then moved to the disused ...
on June 12, 2010. She subsequently performed with Jay-Z during "Empire State of Mind" at Peace & Love in Borlänge, Sweden. Also at Summer Sonic 2010 in Chiba, Japan in August 2010 at Chiba Marine Stadium. Also at Yankee Stadium, September 13, 2010. Kelly made her first magazine cover appearance in the September 2010 issue of Honey Magazine. In the interview to go along with the cover shoot, she describes her music as a fusion of R&B, soul and rock with influences coming from Alicia Keys, Alanis Morissette and Pink.


2011–2013: ''Every Girl'' and ''Cut to... Bridget Kelly''

In early 2011, Kelly and her production team had approached
Frank Ocean Christopher Francis "Frank" Ocean (born Christopher Edwin Breaux; October 28, 1987), is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His works are noted by music critics for featuring avant-garde styles and introspective, elliptical lyrics. Ocean ...
to write a song for her debut studio album. The song in question eventually became " Thinking Bout Forever", which Kelly commented; "it's sort of a vulnerable track and I wanted everyone to feel me on it." In July 2011, Roc Nation stated on the official site that Kelly is closing her album up and the first single would be the Frank Ocean-penned "Thinking Bout Forever". On July 28, 2011, Ocean
leaked A leak is a way (usually an opening) for fluid to escape a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container. Leaks are usuall ...
his demo version of the song onto his
tumblr Tumblr (stylized as tumblr; pronounced "tumbler") is an American microblogging and social networking website founded by David Karp in 2007 and currently owned by Automattic. The service allows users to post multimedia and other content to a ...
account, with the title reading "Thinking Bout You".Fitzmaurice, Larry (July 28, 2011)
Video: Frank Ocean: New Frank Ocean: Thinking About You
Pitchfork Media ''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog. Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
. Retrieved 2011-11-123.
The song was then promptly taken down by Ocean. Kelly has worked with high-profile producers such as
The-Dream Terius Youngdell Nash (born September 20, 1977), better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His co-writing credits include songs with " Me Against the Music" (2003) for Britney Spears, " Ri ...
,
Ne-Yo Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit " Let Me Love You ...
, Jerry Wonda, James Fauntleroy II,
Ryan Leslie Anthony Ryan Leslie (born September 25, 1978) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and entrepreneur from Washington, D.C. He has produced singles for a number of prominent artists in a variety of genres, ranging from R&B, hip ho ...
, and Shea Taylor for her debut studio album. Prior to the album's release, Kelly released her first
extended play An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record.
(EP), titled ''Every Girl'', on October 19, 2011. Kelly's version of " Thinkin Bout You" found its way onto the EP. Kelly was ultimately fine with Ocean's decision, however she noted that she didn't like how most people thought Ocean's version was the original, and how people assumed her version was a
cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song relea ...
. About the confusion of the track, Kelly stated: "Now that push has come to shove, we're going to let the song have a life of its own. I think it's an amazing, well-written record. Frank Ocean is incredibly talented, I will never say anything against that. But at the same time, you know, he's going to do what he wants to do, he's an artist as well." In August 2012, her debut single "Special Delivery", was released to Urban radio stations. Her second single "Street Dreamin", features American rapper
Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. Known for his progressive musical styles and socially conscious songwriting, he is often considered one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generat ...
and was released on May 21, 2013. Both songs were
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or "conte ...
hits on the Mediabase Urban Airplay charts. On November 26, 2013, Kelly announced she would be releasing her second EP and revealed her debut album was pushed back to a 2014 release. The EP includes six tracks as well as contributions from Jerry Wonda ("Goosebumps"), Pop Wansel, Sam Dew, Elijah Blake, and Cri$tyle. "I speak a lot about love and my feelings on these songs," said Bridget of the follow-up to her 2011 EP ''Every Girl''. "I speak to those who have been in relationships, the good and the bad, and that in the midst of turmoil, finding something you can smile about." The EP, titled ''Cut to... Bridget Kelly'', includes her debut single "Special Delivery" and was made available as a free download on December 17, via her official website.


2014–present: Parting Ways with Roc Nation and ''All or Nothing''

In June 2014, Kelly confirmed her split after six years with Roc Nation and she is about releasing her album independently. After the split, Kelly released two singles, "I Won't Cry" and "Almost More", which are the exclusive previews of her upcoming music. She is working with Jerry Wonda on the new album and changed the album title from ''Something Different'' to ''All or Nothing'', which is set to release in 2017. She appeared on '' Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood'' from 2017 to 2018 as a supporting cast member for two seasons. In October 2020, Kelly began hosting the ''See, The Thing Is'' Podcast on the
Joe Budden Joseph Anthony Budden II (born August 31, 1980) is an American media personality and former rapper. He first gained recognition as a rapper with his 2003 top 40 single " Pump It Up" and as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse. In ...
Network alongside cohosts Mandii B and Olivia Dope. The podcast now only stars Bridget Kelly and Mandii B after Olivia Dope claimed Joe Budden sexually harassed her during taping, forcing her to quit her position on the show.


Discography


Studio albums

*''All or Nothing'' (2017) *''Reality Bites'' (2018)


EPs

*''Every Girl'' (2011) *''Cut to... Bridget Kelly'' (2013) *''Summer of 17'' (2015) *''The Great Escape'' (2019)


Singles


As a lead artist


As featured artist


Guest appearances


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Bridget 1986 births Living people Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni Singers from New York City American contemporary R&B singers Songwriters from New York (state) Roc Nation artists American women pop singers African-American women songwriters 21st-century American women singers 21st-century American singers