Keshia Chanté Harper (born June 16, 1988) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, television host, actress and entrepreneur.
She has served as a judge on the international music competition series The World's Best, hosted The Legacy Awards, been an on-air reporter and host for Entertainment Tonight Canada, and is listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards.
Chanté has appeared on, or hosted, several television programs including the BET Awards, ParamountâÂÂs Peak of the Week, hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother on CBS, and Battle of the Blades. She has also participated in community and charitable initiatives, including hosting We Day and supporting campaigns focused on mental health awareness. In 2022, she founded the hair care brand KHAIR.
In 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame for her contributions to Canadian entertainment.
Keshia Chanté Harper was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, and spent summers with her grandparents in Hinesville, Georgia. Her father is of Afro-Trinidadian descent and her mother is of Puerto Rican and Portuguese descent.
She moved to the Greater Toronto Area as a teenager and graduated from Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School in 2006.
In 2003, Chanté released the singles "Shook (The Answer)," and "Unpredictable", in response to Shawn DesmanâÂÂs "Shook". The video for her single "Bad Boy" was directed by Director X.
Her selfâÂÂtitled debut album was released in 2004. In October 2004, at the Canadian Urban Music Awards, Chanté won Best New Artist, Video of the Year (for "Bad Boy"), and the FanâÂÂs Choice Award. That month she also performed the national anthem at the CFLâÂÂs Grey Cup championship game.
Her second album, 2U, was released by Sony Music Canada in 2006, in Canada and Japan. That same year, her MTV special "The Diary of Keshia Chanté" aired in December.
Her third album, Night & Day, was released in 2011 by Universal Music Canada. Singles "Test Drive" and "Table Dancer" received Juno Award nominations (R&B/Soul Recording of the Year and Dance Recording of the Year, respectively). She performed on ET CanadaâÂÂs New YearâÂÂs Eve show in Niagara Falls. In late 2012, "Table Dancer" reached the Billboard Japan charts, including Hot 100 and Digital & Airplay.
Chanté coâÂÂhosted 106 & Park on BET alongside Bow Wow during 2013âÂÂ2014, and appeared as an onâÂÂair correspondent at BET events. In December 2014, she received a star on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame.
BET premiered ChantéâÂÂs song "The Valley" in November 2016. In March 2017, Noisey premiered "Red Light" and A.Side (AUX) premiered "Harmless", followed by the release of the EP Unbound 01 (2017) and Unbound 02 (2018). Unbound 01 received a Juno nomination in 2018.
In 2020, Chanté hosted Battle of the Blades with Ron MacLean on CBC Television. She also hosted BB Rewind, the official after show of season 22 of Big Brother.
In 2022, Chanté launched the hair care brand KHAIR. In April 2023, she was listed as an International Voter for the Golden Globe Awards. In April 2025, she appeared in the Lifetime film Fame: A Temptations Story alongside Keri Hilson.
In June 2025, Chanté participated in the 25thâÂÂanniversary 106 & Park tribute segment at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.
Tara Henley of The Georgia Straight wrote that Chanté has "an arresting voice, magnetic charisma, and driving ambition." Denise Sheppard of Amazon.ca described Chanté as "a teenâÂÂtargeted pop phenom" whose "music has the oneâÂÂtwo punch of melodic hooks and the voice to back them up; a combination that can and will appeal to dance/pop music fans of any age."
Chanté has cited Beyoncé, Aaliyah, and Brandy among her childhood influences, as well as Tupac Shakur, with whom she shares a birthday.
In Canada, Chanté has been described as a fashionista by national outlets, performing at MarchesaâÂÂs first Toronto runway show and appearing at a Chanel event during the Toronto International Film Festival. She later served as a judge on CanadaâÂÂs Best Beauty Talent alongside Coco Rocha and Flare editorâÂÂinâÂÂchief Lisa Tant.
Chanté has endorsed brands such as CANON, Pepsi, Bacardi, Nestlé, Bell, Rogers, Stila Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, Ecko Red and Sony. In 2007, Chanté served as the face of Ontario Tourism and sang the theme song in their commercials. In November 2010, Chanté became the face of the Pepsi Refresh Project campaign.
Chanté divides her time between West Hollywood, California, and Toronto, Ontario.
Chanté has supported HIV/AIDS awareness and youth initiatives in Canada and abroad.
She has worked with World Vision in the Dominican Republic. She also participated in an AIDS awareness fundraiser with Alicia Keys in support of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
In 2014, Chanté appeared in an NBC public service announcement for Mariska HargitayâÂÂs Joyful Heart Foundation alongside Eli Manning and Hilary Swank to raise awareness of domestic violence. She has hosted We Day events in Calgary and Ottawa and spoken about mental health awareness, including depression and anxiety.
Studio albums