American actress, singer, and entrepreneur Keke Palmer has been appointed to the BET Board of Advisors. This appointment, announced on Thursday, places the 32-year-old star alongside a prestigious group of cultural and business leaders, including Queen Latifah, LL Cool J, Troy Vincent, Raymond J. McGuire, and George Cheeks.
The Board of Advisors, formed earlier this month under the leadership of BET President Louis Carr, serves as a strategic and cultural sounding board to help guide the 45-year-old network’s ongoing growth.
According to Carr, “Keke Palmer represents the future of entertainment.”
“She understands audiences, embraces innovation, and has consistently used her platform to open doors for others. Her insight, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset will be invaluable as we continue positioning BET for the next generation.”
Entertainment and music have been central to Keke’s story from the beginning. From her early single “Bottoms Up” to co-writing the “True Jackson, V.P.” theme that became a generational anthem, through the “Virgo Tendencies” EPs on her own Big Bosses Record Label, to her deeply personal 2025 album “Just Keke”, she has used music as a vehicle, bringing her lived experience into the work that resonates with others.
Born Lauren Keyana Palmer on August 26, 1993, in Harvey, Illinois, Keke Palmer has spent over two decades in the spotlight, establishing herself as one of the most versatile forces in the entertainment industry. Her journey began in 2004 with a debut film role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business, where she played the niece of her new board colleague, Queen Latifah.
She achieved her acting breakthrough in 2006, starring as Akeelah Anderson in the critically acclaimed drama Akeelah and the Bee. Her performance in this role earned her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress. Over the years, she has continued to build an impressive filmography, with notable projects including Madea’s Family Reunion; Jump In!; True Jackson, VP, where she became one of the highest-paid child stars on television; and more recent successes like Hustlers, Alice, and Jordan Peele’s Nope.
Her milestones extend beyond the screen to the stage, where she made history as the first Black actress to portray Cinderella on Broadway.
Beyond her accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards, Palmer has become a prominent entrepreneur, launching her own digital network, KeyTV, and a 2026 wellness platform, Practice by Palmer.
This appointment marks a meaningful homecoming for Palmer, who previously hosted her own talk show, Just Keke, on the network as one of the youngest people to ever do so.
The role of advisor serves as a continuation of her longstanding relationship with BET.
Outside of her professional triumphs, Palmer is a devoted mother to her son, Leodis Andrellton Jackson, born in February 2023.
Palmer remains a powerful voice in the industry, continuing to use her influence to champion stories and opportunities for the next generation of creators.
