KEYSHIA Cole is an R&B and pop singer who began her career when she met MC Hammer at the age of 12.
Keyshia is the biological daughter of Francine “Frankie” Lons and boxing trainer Virgil Hunter.
2
Who was Keyshia Cole’s mom Frankie?
At the age of two, Keyshia was put up for adoption by Frankie and Hunter – and ended up in the care of family friends Leon and Yvonne.
After her adoption, the R&B star official changed her last name to Cole.
Keyshia reunited with her birth parents later in life as an adult after hitting it big on the music scene.
Frankie dealt with a decades-long struggle with addiction.
In 2006 Frankie appeared in Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is back and had her own spin-off series Frankie & Neffe, featuring Cole’s older sister, Neffeteria Pugh.
Keyshia’s family struggles were captured on video for the BET reality TV show Keyshia Cole: My New Life.
The show portrayed heart-to-heart moments between Keyshia and her mother.
The singer was also quite vocal on her mother’s addiction struggles, keeping tabs on her checking into rehab and encouraging her to stay on the straight and narrow.
Keyshia often posted photos and videos of her mom before her time at a facility and cheering on her success.
Read Related Also: Britney Spears says she’s visited estranged sister Jamie Lynn Spears after feud
As well as Keyshia and Neffe, Frankie had another daughter, Elite Noel.
How did she die?
According to TMZ, Keyshia’s mother tragically passed away on July 18, 2021, the R&B singer’s brother, Sam, confirmed to the outlet.
Sam told the outlet that Frankie overdosed at her Oakland home on July 18, the same day she celebrated her birthday.
According to Sam, Frankie apparently took drugs while partying, relapsing on a long, hard-fought journey to sobriety.
Frankie was 61-years-old at the time of her death.
Sam also shared that he “wants the world to remember Frankie as someone who loved her kids and who wanted her children to be together,” despite their difficult past.
2
Who will portray Frankie Lons in Keyshia Cole’s Lifetime movie?
Debbi Morgan will play the role of Frankie Lons in Keyshia Cole’s Lifetime movie, Keyshia Cole: This is My Story.
The movie shows how Keyshia Cole overcomes a difficult childhood to pursue her desire of becoming a singer.
As she makes a conscious effort to keep her biological mother in rehab, the movie also highlights how she reunites with her sisters.
Keyshia Cole: This is My Story premiers on June 24, 2023, on Lifetime at 8pm ET.
It will also be available the next day on the Lifetime App.
Music video for Heaven Sent by Keyshia Cole
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;
n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,
document,’script’,’
fbq(‘init’, ‘752905198150451’);
fbq(‘track’, “PageView”);
