In the latest episode of Baby, This is Keke Palmer, the actress, singer and TV personality sat down with H.E.R. to talk about the musician’s roots, and even got a hint at a new collaboration.
Listen Now: Ladies and Gentlemen: H.E.R.! - Baby, This is Keke Palmer
Gabi Wilson, known by the stage name H.E.R., has been performing since she was nearly 7 years old. Growing up in the California Bay Area to a Black father and Filipino mother, she signed a record deal with RCA Records at age 14 before rebranding as H.E.R. in 2016. Since then, she has skyrocketed into the R&B and Soul scene as a leader of the genre. Despite having won five GRAMMYs, four Billboard Music Awards, and even an Academy award, H.E.R. has maintained that visiting her family and California roots are essential to stay grounded.
“You know, in this industry that we’re in, it gets really crazy and sometimes they make you forget who you are. And I don’t like that,” she told Keke Palmer on her latest podcast episode. “I think it’s so important to stay close to your family, it’s so important to stay close to where you come from because it just gets crazy, you get caught up in the noise of everything.” And, despite its occasional struggles, H.E.R. expressed that she’s incredibly humbled and grateful to make music.
As the two talked, Keke couldn’t help but make a request of the GRAMMY-winning musician. “In terms of collaborations, which I hope could happen some day at some point, is you and Chloe and Halle Bailey” she said. “Y’all would eat!”
“Yes, I love Chloe and Hailey” H.E.R. replied shyly, before adding in, “You know, we’ve actually been in the studio so you never know what could come from that.” Palmer gasped and was immediately excited. “Can we just talk about the fact that I know, that I get what's going on!” she cheered, practically jumping out of her seat.
H.E.R. was smiling ear to ear, and joked, “You understand, you picking up what I’m putting down? But look, it’s special. They’re really dope, and very similar to us, they’ve been doing this such a long time. I’ve known them since we were kids.”
Halle and Chloe Bailey also began their careers as child performers, and along the way, bumped into H.E.R. doing the same thing. While the three of them aren’t super close given their careers and busy lives, H.E.R. explained that she was incredibly grateful to have them as friends. “It’s just really cool to be able to, I don’t know, just like coming up with your friends and watching them do their thing and they’re watching you do your thing, supporting from afar. Those little moments that you have with people you’ve known for so long, it just makes all the difference in the world.” She continued on to say her “journey” throughout music stardom “can be lonely” and having that support and similarities with the Baileys, despite unique career circumstances, also kept her grounded as well.
To hear more about H.E.R. and how she feels that being biracial is a “blessing and super power”, you can listen to the full episode on the free Audacy app.