Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Keyshia Cole has gone from making hits in the 2000s to being a reality TV star. Her latest venture, however, adds executive producer to her list of talents as she teamed up with Lifetime to release a new biopic about her life, Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story.
Raised in Oakland, California and adopted at a young age, Keyshia overcame a difficult childhood to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. As she rose to fame, Keyshia reunited with her two sisters while struggling to keep her biological mother, Frankie Lons out of drugs and in rehab.
To help bring Cole’s story to life, beloved actress Debbi Morgan played Frankie, while Cindi Davis and Brittney Level played Cole’s sisters Neffeteria and Elite. Others in the well-rounded film are Douglas Dickerman as Fair, Aspen Kennedy as Boobie, Alfred E. Rutherford as Manny, Andrew Discostanzo as A&R executive Ron Fair, and Yvonne and Joseph C. Phillips as Cole’s adoptive parents.
Last Wednesday (June 21) the Celeb Secrets team headed to The GRAMMY Museum in Downtown Los Angeles for a special screening of Keyshia Cole: This Is My Story followed by an intimate conversation with “The Way It Is” singer moderated by Vibe’s Mya Abraham.
During the Q&A, Cole shared how making her acting debut in this film was meant for her. “I always wanted to play myself because I felt like I could do that the best. Better than anybody, so like that was always my goal.”
Cole explained how this film helped her as a 41-year-old mother of two. “I’ve done a lot of crying and reflecting and everything like that,” she said. “For the most part, I think it’s just a reflection of my life and my love that I have for my mom. I hate that it ended the way that it did but the truth is you know it’s my life.”
Despite having so many obstacles in her life, Cole said becoming a singer was always the goal and there was no second plan. “It had to work work out,” she explained. “I didn’t have nothing else. There’s nowhere else for me to go. It had to work so that was my mind frame.”
And although, Cole had a struggling relationship with her mother, this film is a love letter to her.
“This is a story of a daughter’s love for her mother, and although my heart remains broken from her untimely passing, I am honored to be sharing it with the world,” the singer said.
“Playing the role of myself was a unique opportunity to re-live special moments in my life that also gave me the chance to process her loss in ways I did not expect,” she added. “I miss her every day, and even though she is not here, her presence was felt throughout this film. Mom, I love you.”
Towards the end of the film, Cole delivered an original song title “Forever Is A Thing.” In the song, she painfully comes to terms with the fact that her mother’s imperfections.
“Shoulda known the day would come when you would go away / But I was too wrapped up in your love to ever know, how would I know? / That you didn’t wanna stay / You were ready to leave / Am I just a fool / To ever think forever is a thing?” Cole sings with emotion.
You can catch Keyshia Cole: This is My Story on Lifetime now. In the meantime, you can listen to “Forever Is A Thing” below and let us know if you’re loving it by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
