Kelly Cherelle Price (born April 4, 1973) is an American R&B and gospel singer, songwriter, and actress from Queens, New York. She built her name as a background vocalist for Mariah Carey before her own booming voice landed her a solo deal, a platinum debut album, and a spot among the most respected big voices in Black music. Decades later, fans still search her name daily, from her biggest hits to her health, her marriage, and the strange fact that a rap group turned her name into a punchline.
At a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kelly Cherelle Price |
| Born | April 4, 1973, Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, USA |
| Age | 52 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’6″ |
| Spouse | Darrell Crump (m. 2022); previously Jeffrey Rolle Sr. (m. 1992, div. 2016) |
| Children | Three, from her first marriage |
| Parents | Rev. Joseph Price (father); Claudia Norman Price (mother) |
| Siblings | Shanrae Price (sister, also a background vocalist for Mariah Carey) |
| Career | |
| Genres | R&B, soul, gospel |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Debut album | Soul of a Woman (1998) |
| Biggest hit | “Friend of Mine” (feat. R. Kelly & Ronald Isley) |
| Awards | Soul Train Music Award; 9 Grammy nominations |
| Net Worth | Unverified online estimates only; no confirmed figure |
Early Life and Background
Kelly Price grew up in the Edgemere Houses in Far Rockaway, Queens. Her father, Rev. Joseph Price, and her mother, Claudia, married in 1970 and raised three children in a house built on church music. Her mother served as musical director at their family church, and her grandfather, Bishop Jerome Norman, pastored the Full Gospel Mission Church of God in Christ in Queens.
She wrote her first song at age seven and made her first recording at ten. A few weeks before her tenth birthday, in March 1983, her father died. Music became the thread that held the family together. By 18, Price was already touring the world, singing background for Mariah Carey.
Career and Rise to Prominence
Backup Vocals That Changed Everything
Price’s first professional gig was backing George Michael at Madison Square Garden in January 1992. A month later, during rehearsals for the Grammy Awards, Mariah Carey overheard her singing and brought her on as a backing vocalist. Price went on to sing behind Carey on “Fantasy” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” two of the biggest hits of the 1990s.
She kept working behind the scenes with the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, and Mary J. Blige. Then in 1997, her uncredited vocals on The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Mo Money Mo Problems” and Mase’s “Feel So Good” put her voice, if not yet her name, in front of the whole country.
Soul of a Woman and “Friend of Mine”
Price stepped out as a lead artist with her 1998 debut, Soul of a Woman, which went platinum. Its lead single, “Friend of Mine,” featuring R. Kelly and Ronald Isley, cracked the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and became her signature record. Ask any longtime fan what Kelly Price is famous for and this song is usually the first answer.
The momentum kept building. Her 1999 collaboration with Whitney Houston and Faith Evans, “Heartbreak Hotel,” hit number one on the R&B chart and earned Price a Grammy nomination. She also recorded “The Gods Love Nubia” for Elton John and Tim Rice’s Broadway musical Aida, launched her own label, Big Mama Records, and started two plus-size clothing lines.
A Second Act in Gospel
Price never left the church, even as her R&B career took off. Her faith runs through much of her catalog, and she has released full gospel projects and features that sit comfortably next to her secular hits. That dual identity, R&B powerhouse and gospel daughter, is a big part of why people still describe her as “the Aretha Franklin of her generation.”
Kelly Price and Migos: Setting the Record Straight
One of the most searched questions about Price has nothing to do with a collaboration. In 2017, the hip-hop trio Migos released a song simply titled “Kelly Price,” featuring Travis Scott, on their album Culture. The lyrics reference her name and legendary vocal range rather than featuring her voice on the track. Price never appeared on the song; it name-drops her as a comparison for a woman’s singing voice. Migos’ Nicki Minaj and Cardi B collaboration “MotorSport,” released later that year, is a separate, unrelated track. The two are commonly confused because of the similar titles.
Personal Life
Marriage and Family
Price married her first husband, Jeffrey Rolle Sr., in 1992. The marriage lasted 23 years before ending in divorce, finalized in 2016. She raised three children from that relationship.
In 2022, Price married Darrell Crump, a man she says she first met more than 15 years earlier while still married to Rolle. She has described the proposal, made in the middle of a heart shape formed from rose petals, in warm detail during interviews. The couple shares a joint Instagram account, “Crump Like Us,” and Price frequently credits Crump with helping her through a difficult health season.
Health Journey
In 2021, Price was hospitalized with a severe case of COVID-19 and spent time in intensive care. A breakdown in communication during her recovery led her sister, Shanrae, to report her missing. Price later confirmed through her attorney and directly to press that she was safe and simply recovering; HIPAA privacy rules had kept hospital staff from confirming her status to concerned family and fans. She has since spoken openly about “getting stronger every day” and returning to music with a renewed sense of focus.
“Sis is following dr’s orders. Sis is getting stronger every day. I thank God for another chance at life,” Price wrote to fans after her recovery.
Theology and Personal Philosophy
Price grew up the granddaughter of a bishop and the daughter of a church musical director, and that foundation still shapes how she talks about her career. She frames her health struggles, her divorce, and her second marriage as chapters God carried her through rather than setbacks to hide. That honesty, paired with an unwillingness to soften her opinions online, has become part of her public identity in recent years.
Influence and Legacy
Price’s vocal runs shaped a generation of R&B singers who came up in the late 1990s and 2000s. Her crossover between secular R&B and gospel music opened a lane that artists like Tamela Mann and Erica Campbell have also walked, artists equally comfortable on Sunday morning and Saturday night radio. Her nine Grammy nominations, without a win, are often cited by fans and critics as one of the more glaring gaps in the award’s gospel and R&B history.
Net Worth and Financial Information
Online estimates of Kelly Price’s net worth vary widely and are not independently verified. Her income has come from album sales, songwriting royalties, touring, acting roles, and past business ventures including her Big Mama Records label and clothing lines. Readers should treat any specific dollar figure attached to her name as an unverified online estimate rather than a confirmed fact.
Interesting Facts
- Price wrote her first song at age seven and recorded for the first time at ten.
- Her sister Shanrae also sang backup for Mariah Carey.
- She donated $250,000 to breast cancer research in December 2000 after both her mother and mother-in-law were diagnosed with the disease.
- She sang “Jesus Loves Me” with Whitney Houston at a pre-Grammy party in February 2012, two days before Houston’s death, in what turned out to be one of Houston’s final public performances.
- Price appeared, uncredited, on Kanye West’s 2016 album The Life of Pablo.
- A 2026 celebrity death hoax falsely claimed Price had died; her representatives confirmed she was alive and well within a day.
Timeline
- 1973 – Born April 4 in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York.
- 1983 – Her father, Rev. Joseph Price, passes away.
- 1992 – Begins her professional career backing George Michael, then Mariah Carey; marries Jeffrey Rolle Sr.
- 1997 – Uncredited vocals on “Mo Money Mo Problems” and “Feel So Good” bring her wider recognition.
- 1998 – Releases her platinum debut album, Soul of a Woman, featuring “Friend of Mine.”
- 1999 – “Heartbreak Hotel” with Whitney Houston and Faith Evans hits number one on the R&B chart.
- 2016 – Divorce from Jeffrey Rolle Sr. is finalized.
- 2017 – Migos releases “Kelly Price” featuring Travis Scott, name-checking her in the lyrics.
- 2021 – Hospitalized with severe COVID-19; briefly reported missing during recovery.
- 2022 – Marries Darrell Crump.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kelly Price famous for?
She is best known as an R&B and gospel singer, first as a background vocalist for Mariah Carey, then as a solo artist behind hits like “Friend of Mine” and “Heartbreak Hotel.”
What is Kelly Price’s biggest hit?
“Friend of Mine,” featuring R. Kelly and Ronald Isley, from her 1998 debut album Soul of a Woman, is widely considered her signature song.
How old is Kelly Price now?
Kelly Price was born on April 4, 1973, making her 52 years old as of 2026.
What is Kelly Price doing today?
She continues to release music, perform select concerts and tribute events, and stay active on social media, where she is open about her health recovery and her marriage.
Is Kelly Price married?
Yes. She married Darrell Crump in 2022. She was previously married to Jeffrey Rolle Sr. from 1992 until their divorce in 2016.
How many children does Kelly Price have?
She has three adult children from her first marriage to Jeffrey Rolle Sr.
Where is Kelly Price originally from?
She was born and raised in Far Rockaway, Queens, in New York City.
Is Kelly Price connected to Migos?
Only by name. The group’s 2017 song “Kelly Price,” featuring Travis Scott, references her as a vocal comparison. She did not perform on the track.
