Keshia Chanté
Backgroundsolo_singer
Birth nameKeshia Chanté Harper
Birth dateJune 16, 1988 (age 38)
Birth placeOttawa, Ontario, Canada
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada[1]
GenreR&B · pop · hip hop · soul
OccupationSinger-songwriter · actress · television personality · businesswoman
Years active2002–present
LabelSony Music Canada · Universal Music Canada · Sony Urban Music

Keshia Chanté Harper (born June 16, 1988) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, television host, actress and entrepreneur.

She has served as a judge on the international music competition series The World's Best,[2] hosted The Legacy Awards,[3] been an on-air reporter and host for Entertainment Tonight Canada,[4][5] and is listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards.[6]

Chanté has appeared on, or hosted, several television programs including the BET Awards,[7] Paramount’s Peak of the Week,[2] hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother on CBS,[8] and Battle of the Blades.[9] She has also participated in community and charitable initiatives, including hosting We Day and supporting campaigns focused on mental health awareness.[10][11] In 2022, she founded the hair care brand KHAIR.[12]

In 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame for her contributions to Canadian entertainment.[13]

Early life

Keshia Chanté Harper was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and spent summers with her grandparents in Hinesville, Georgia. Her father is of Afro-Trinidadian descent and her mother is of Portuguese descent.[14]

She moved to the Greater Toronto Area as a teenager and graduated from Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School in 2006.[15]

Career

2003–2012

In 2003, Chanté released the singles "Shook (The Answer)," and "Unpredictable",[16] in response to Shawn Desman’s "Shook".[17] The video for her single "Bad Boy"[18] was directed by Director X.[5]

Her self‑titled debut album was released in 2004.[17] In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards, Chanté won Best New Artist, Video of the Year (for "Bad Boy"), and the Fan’s Choice Award.[19] That month she also performed the national anthem at the CFL’s Grey Cup championship game.[20]

Her second album, 2U, was released by Sony Music Canada in 2006, in Canada and Japan. That same year, her MTV special "The Diary of Keshia Chanté" aired in December.[21][22]

Her third album, Night & Day, was released in 2011 by Universal Music Canada.[23] Singles "Test Drive" and "Table Dancer" received Juno Award nominations (R&B/Soul Recording of the Year and Dance Recording of the Year, respectively).[24] She performed on ET Canada’s New Year’s Eve show in Niagara Falls.[25] In late 2012, "Table Dancer" reached the Billboard Japan charts, including Hot 100 and Digital & Airplay.[26][27]

2013–2015

Chanté co‑hosted 106 & Park on BET alongside Bow Wow during 2013–2014, and appeared as an on‑air correspondent at BET events.[28] In December 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame.[29][30]

2016–2022

BET premiered Chanté’s song "The Valley" in November 2016.[31] In March 2017, Noisey premiered "Red Light"[32] and A.Side (AUX) premiered "Harmless",[33] followed by the release of the EP Unbound 01 (2017) and Unbound 02 (2018).[32][34] Unbound 01 received a Juno nomination in 2018.[35]

In 2020, Chanté hosted Battle of the Blades with Ron MacLean on CBC Television.[36] She also hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother.[8]

2023–present

In 2022, Chanté launched the hair care brand KHAIR.[37] In April 2023, she was listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards.[38] In April 2025, she appeared in the Lifetime film Fame: A Temptations Story alongside Keri Hilson.[39]

In June 2025, Chanté participated in the 25th‑anniversary 106 & Park tribute segment at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.[40][41][42]

Musical style

Tara Henley of The Georgia Straight wrote that Chanté has "an arresting voice, magnetic charisma, and driving ambition."[43] Denise Sheppard of Amazon.ca described Chanté as "a teen‑targeted pop phenom" whose "music has the one‑two punch of melodic hooks and the voice to back them up; a combination that can and will appeal to dance/pop music fans of any age."[44]

Influences

Chanté has cited Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Brandy among her childhood influences, as well as Tupac Shakur, with whom she shares a birthday.[45]

Public image

In Canada, Chanté has been described as a fashionista by national outlets, performing at Marchesa’s first Toronto runway show and appearing at a Chanel event during the Toronto International Film Festival.[46][30] She later served as a judge on Canada’s Best Beauty Talent alongside Coco Rocha and Flare editor‑in‑chief Lisa Tant.[47]

Endorsements

Chanté has endorsed brands such as CANON, Pepsi, Bacardi, Nestlé, Bell, Rogers, Stila Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Ecko Red and Sony.[30] In 2007, Chanté served as the face of Ontario Tourism and sang the theme song in their commercials.[48] In November 2010, Chanté became the face of the Pepsi Refresh Project campaign.[30]

Personal life

Chanté divides her time between West Hollywood, California, and Toronto, Ontario.[49]

Philanthropy

Chanté has supported HIV/AIDS awareness and youth initiatives in Canada and abroad.[50]

She has worked with World Vision in the Dominican Republic.[51] She also participated in an AIDS awareness fundraiser with Alicia Keys in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.[52][53]

In 2014, Chanté appeared in an NBC public service announcement for Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation alongside Eli Manning and Hilary Swank to raise awareness of domestic violence.[30] She has hosted We Day events in Calgary and Ottawa and spoken about mental health awareness, including depression and anxiety.[10][11]

Discography

Main article: Keshia Chanté discography

Studio albums

EPs

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2007da Kink in My HairDahliaEpisode: "Empty Bag Can't Stand Up"; 1 epiode
2009SoulMahalia BrownLead role; 6 episodes
2011Top Chef CanadaJudge2 episodes
2012Match GameGuest star5 episodes
2012Sunshine Sketches of a Little TownVocalistTV film
2012–2013The Next StarJudge2 seasons; 24 episodes
2013–2015106 & ParkHost390 episodes
2014BET Awards Pre-ShowHost
2014BET AwardsPresenter
2014BET Hip Hop AwardsPresenter
2014BethennyHerself3 episodes
2014106 & Park: New Year's EveHost
2014BET: NotarizedHostTV special; Best 100 Videos of 2014
2015Hockey WivesHerself5 episodes
2015BET Awards Pre-ShowHost
2015106 & Party: New Year's EveHostTV special
2015BET: NotarizedHostTV special; Best 100 Videos of 2015
2016106 & Party: New Year's EveHostTV special
2016Chopped CanadaGuest star1 episode
2018–presentET CanadaHostHollywood correspondent; 300+ episodes
2019The World's BestInternational music judgeSeason 1; 10 episodes
2020–presentBig Brother aftershow "BB Rewind"Host14 episodes
2021–2022Peak of the Week (Paramount+)Host2 seasons; 20 episodes
2020–2021JannRecurring guest star
2020Private EyesRecurring guest star
2025Fame: A Temptations StoryRoxyLifetime film

Awards and nominations

2003

  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single for "Shook (The Answer)" – Won [30]
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (Dance/Urban/Rhythmic) – Won [54]
  • Canadian Radio Music Award for "Best New Solo Artist" (CHR) – Won [54]

2004

  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Best New Artist – Won [19]
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Video of the Year for "Bad Boy" – Won [19]
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for Fans’ Choice – Won [19]
  • Rising Star Award for Rising Star of the Year – Won [30]
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best R&B Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [55]

2005

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" – Won [56]
  • Juno Award for "New Artist of the Year" – Nominee [57]
  • Canadian Urban Music Award for "Video of the Year" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [55]
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "People's Choice: Favourite Canadian Artist" – Won [30]
  • MuchMusic Video Award for "Best Pop Video" for "Does He Love Me?" – Won [30]

2007

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for "Been Gone" – Nominee [58]

2008

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for "2U" – Nominee [59]

2011

  • Juno Award for "Dance Recording of the Year" for "Table Dancer" – Nominee [60]
  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for "Test Drive" – Nominee [61]

2018

  • Juno Award for "R&B/Soul Recording of the Year" for Unbound 01 (EP) – Nominee [62]

2022

  • Canadian Screen Award — Best Entertainment News Program or Series for ET Canada – Winner [63]

2023

  • Canadian Screen Award — Best Host, Web Program or Series for ET Canada Live – Winner [64]

2024

  • Canadian Screen Award — Best Host, Live Entertainment Special for The Legacy Awards – Nominee [65]
  • Canadian Screen Award — Best Host, Entertainment News Program for Entertainment Tonight Canada – Nominee [66]

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