On July 11, 2021, Keyshia Cole lost a part of her world with her mother’s passing.

Reports indicate that the mother of Keyshia Cole, Frankie Lons, lost her life to a drug overdose on her 61st birthday. It was Keyshia’s sister who broke the news over social media.

Anyone who remembers Cole’s show “The Way it Is” is well familiar with Frankie and her battles with addiction. And it seemed that Frankie had been winning the fight. However, on her 61st birthday, Lons had a relapse ending that war. 

Keyshia is a warrior on and off stage.

Keyshia Coles stole hearts in the 2000s with her beautiful vocals and stunning image. Her career was so bright that people compared her to the Queen of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige. It seemed that Cole, much like Mary, had a knack for using pain and heartache as a springboard to success. And her fans were in tune with her artistry. It was as if she was “Heaven Sent.” Coles was a kindred spirit with shared pain. Her ability to convey such depth of emotion in a song was her superpower. Her releases, The Way it Is” and “Love,” was evidence of her success as a platinum artist. And a string of Grammy nominations would evidence her drive, talent, and durability in the industry. And years later, she continues to make music with a 2021 release of “I Don’t Wanna Be in Love.”

Keyshia Coles hasn’t had it easy.

And her fans are more than familiar with her struggles. A chunk of her life has been an open book making her vulnerability tremendous strength. And we admire that raw courage. Many are not as forthcoming about their pain. But Keyshia is cut from a different cloth. And she let her fans in with The Way it is, All In, and Keyshia and Daniel: Family First.

This Period is without a doubt a time of incomparable pain for Keyshia.

Sadly, our hearts break for Cole. Coles has not been silent about her mom’s addiction and the accompanying pain. In a 2018 interview, she bore her soul, revealing her open wounds to the world. “Every time my mom relapse, it breaks my heart more than it’s already been broken.” So surely, the death of her mother to a relapse only salts the wound that much more. And so, we extend our deepest condolences to Keyshia and her family during these times. And we hope that she will find peace, light, comfort, and love.

Renae Richardson|