Keyshia Cole has announced the upcoming arrival of her first album in nearly seven years during an emotional onstage moment over the weekend.
The revelation came as the singer performed her set on the Los Angeles stop of The Love Hard Tour at the Peacock Theater on Saturday night (March 30).
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As her backup dancers took the stage with the announcement on the back of their jackets, Cole paused between songs to acknowledge her fans, as well as her late mother, Frankie Lons.
“I’m wanna say I appreciate you. If you ever bought an album,” she said before tearfully counting her past seven releases. “Album eight right now on the way. I wanna give a shout out to my mom Frankie. If you watched the reality show, if you watched her: I just wanna say thank you. You helped change my life. Thank you.”
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She then went into a rendition of “I’ve Changed,” her duet with Jaheim, who also appears on the tour organized by the Black Promoters Collective — along with Trey Songz, and K. Michelle.
Watch the announcement in full below.
Keyshia Cole announces 8th album during tearful fan thank you & tribute to late mother pic.twitter.com/IY75IwyI10
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) March 31, 2024
Prior to this upcoming effort, for which she has yet to reveal a title, Keyshia Cole’s last full-length album was 2017’s 11:11 Reset, which marked her first release as part of a new deal at Epic Records.
Supported by two singles, “You” and “Incapable,” the album peaked at no. 37 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
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This means the new project will also be the Bay Area native’s first offering since her mother’s passing.
Early last year, Keyshia Cole responded to an accusation that she was ‘degrading’ her late mother, amid news that the singer had started working on a biopic.
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In November 2022, The Jasmine Brand reported that Lifetime had begun production on a film that would examine Cole’s life, including her tumultuous relationship with her biological mother, who passed away in July 2021 of an apparent overdose. The following month, veteran actress Debbie Morgan shared a behind the scenes shot on Instagram that saw her appearing on camera as Frankie alongside Keyshia Cole.
A Twitter user who seemingly just learned of the project, shared her criticism of the “Heaven Sent” singer’s decision to document her life on Friday (January 13), writing: “I said it! As soon as
@KeyshiaCole momma died she was going to used [sic] that opportunity as she always does and make it work for her. Now she is making a movie about Frankie she always degrading them for her benefit”
Keyshia Cole quickly responded, balking at the idea that she would dishonor Frankie Lons’ memory in any way and defending her right to share her story. She also revealed that the as-yet-untitled biopic would feature a new song dedicated to the late reality star.
“Degrading my mother. ? I wanted the best for my mom,” the singer tweeted. “You prefer my story not be my story? At times I have too. But my truth is my truth. I just live mine loud. (while some suffer in silence. But This will come wit all that I do, So speak YOUR TRUTH, but yours ain’t mine. [heart emoji]”
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She continued: “And I’m addition to that I have recorded a record that will be in the movie dedicated to my mother. (You all may or may not like it) but….. This movie was healing in some ways for me, so very appreciative of having this happen.”
The biopic in question, This Is My Story — which found Cole playing double duty as both its star and executive producer — premiered on Lifetime in June of last year.
