Kesha's had a rollercoaster ride over the last couple of years. Though her name has fallen out of the headlines recently, she remains an icon in music and beyond. Here's a crash course in what you need to know about the girl behind the glitter.
1. She's unapologetically proud to be a woman and uses her platform to stand up for all of us.
Following her long and public battle with Dr. Luke, her former producer who, in her words, "sexually, physically, verbally, and emotionally abused [her] to the point where [she] nearly lost her life," Kesha has become an icon for women everywhere, taking a public stand against sexual assault and encouraging survivors to speak out. If you're looking for something powerful enough to move you to tears, watch her performance at this year's Grammys here.
If you're looking for a kickass song to get you ready to dismantle the patriarchy – "I'm a motherfucking woman, baby, alright / I don't need a man to be holding me too tight" – listen to one of my favs on her album, Woman, here.
2. She's not afraid to be weird.
Her brand since the beginning has been all about being yourself regardless of what people think. It's good to see that even as she matures, moving away from the days of brushing her teeth with a bottle of Jack, she still holds onto her unabashedly weird and childlike spirit.
3. She makes spirituality and oneness with the universe top priorities.
One look at Kesha's new album cover riddled with spaceships and floating eyeballs will key you into the fact that she's very in touch with her place in the world. In one song on the album, Spaceship, she sings, "I always said when I'm gone, when I'm dead / Don't lay me down with the dirt on my head / I'm waiting for my spaceship to come back to me / It's coming back for me." So if you're searching for another believer, Kesha's your girl.
4. She's an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ* rights.
If you follow Kesha on any social media platform, you'll see how often she posts in support of the LGBTQ* community. Since coming out as bisexual in 2010, she continues to be outspoken about marriage equality and fighting discrimination at home and abroad. In this photo posted on her Instagram, she's holding a GLAAD shirt in support of transgender individuals being allowed to serve in the military.
5. She truly believes in recovery and the resilience of the human spirit – starting with herself.
Not only is she a survivor of sexual and emotional abuse at the hands of Dr. Luke, but Kesha is also an eating disorder survivor, having entered treatment for her disorder in 2014. While recovery is a lifelong battle, she reminds fans through both her music and her online presence that it is a battle worth fighting for. Songs that carry this message on her new album include "Woman," "Praying," "Learn To Let Go," and "Rainbow."
6. She uses her voice to shed light on important topics such as gun violence and animal cruelty.
Kesha doesn't shy away from discussing the biggest questions and concerns facing society today. When asked about gun violence in a recent interview with Glamour, she responded, "We cannot ignore all of the mass shootings and lives lost due to the lack of gun control. We need change immediately." She's also a major advocate for animal rights, having said, “Advocating for animals is second nature to me. My affinity with animals and the natural world inspires me and my music."
Kesha is passionate about issues and causes outside of herself and encourages her fans to be, as well.
7. She makes some bomb music.
This one speaks for itself. If you think you know Kesha's music from back in the day when "Tik Tok" was topping the charts, you have a big surprise coming your way. Next time you feel like you're in a new music slump, do yourself a favor and give Kesha's "Rainbow" a listen. I promise you won't be disappointed.
