Pod Insights Baby, this is Keke Palmer Having It All, On Her Own Terms with Victoria Monét About this episode Baby, this one’s special. Victoria Monét—3x Grammy Award winner, and certified superstar—joins us to talk Jaguar energy, that no Plan B mindset, and the faith it takes to stand fully in your truth. From writing hits for the biggest names in music to taking center stage herself, Victoria opens up about co-parenting and creating something beautiful with her daughter Hazel—yes, the youngest Grammy nominee ever—on their new children’s book, Everywhere You Are. She’s doing motherhood, music, and making major moves on her own terms… and of course, we had to ask who she’s dating too. Let’s get into it.
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0:00 Keke Palmer? This episode is presented in partnership with Airbnb. Baby, Memorial Day weekend is all about family, food, and kicking off summer. And with Airbnb, you can celebrate in one of the most loved homes in America. All right, y'all, let's dive in.
0:22 Keke Palmer? Y'all, today's episode is fierce like a cat. I'm sitting down with someone who is like a soul sister, okay? She's a three-time Grammy Award-winning artist, a songwriter to top artist, and an amazing performer, businesswoman, mama, just like me. The mama part, I didn't write all the songs. She's got drag war energy, baby focus, fierce, and finally shining in the light she has always deserved. My girl Victoria Monet is in the building. Let's talk about everything. And welcome to Baby, this is Keke Palmer. Baby, this is Victoria Monet.
1:25 Keke Palmer? Hey boo!
1:26 Speaker 01 How are you? So good to see you.
1:31 Keke Palmer? Hair is eating, body's eating.
1:32 Speaker 01 Yes.
1:33 Keke Palmer? Look is eating.
1:34 Speaker 01 Thank you so much, look at you. Gorgeous.
1:37 Keke Palmer? How's everything been going?
1:38 Speaker 01 It's been great.
1:39 Keke Palmer? I feel like last time I saw you was at the Gold Party. You took that fire pick. With all the girls.
1:43 Speaker 01 It went viral.
1:44 Keke Palmer? It went viral!
1:46 Speaker 01 Yes, that was fun.
1:47 Keke Palmer? Yes, it was so fun. I'm so excited to talk about everywhere you are. Congratulations on this amazing book.
1:51 Speaker 01 Thank you.
1:52 Keke Palmer? But first, I want to just start with, like, the beginning. I mean, you've been doing this for so long. I feel like I met you with Taylor and Ariana when we were like, I don't know, like 17, 18.
2:02 Speaker 01 Children, yeah.
2:03 Keke Palmer? So for you, what was your entry point with music? You know, as an artist and as a songwriter?
2:09 Speaker 01 Actually, I started with... Dance. When I, when I was in, first when I was in eighth grade, my school didn't have a drill team. So I was like, we need a dance team. So my principal was like, if you can get the sponsors and the staff members to do it, then go ahead. So I wrote a letter to Coca-Cola. I started a drill team. I was out there teaching the girls. And then in high school, I was training under Jabberwocky's. I was serious. I wanted to be a dancer. Um, but I always wanted to be a triple threat. I just didn't have the confidence and courage to do it as a kid. And then dance gave me the courage to really step out on that stage.
2:42 Keke Palmer? And you know what that makes me think about? Um, the first video that I saw of you, and I'm, I'm gonna butcher the name, but the video starts with you on like a little balance type beam.
2:51 Speaker 01 Oh, Ready, Ready. Oh, my gosh.
2:54 Keke Palmer? Ready? When I tell you that I watched Ready like every day.
2:58 Speaker 01 A throwback.
2:59 Keke Palmer? I loved it. Cause I said, this, this girl, she's talented. Cause the song was fire, the singer was great, but also the performance, the enter, the, the level.
3:07 Speaker 01 We love dance.
3:08 Keke Palmer? Girl, you killed it. So to hear that you started out as a dancer as well, like I just love knowing that backstory. Because from that moment when I saw you killing it in that video, if y'all have not seen Ready, the real OG Victor Monet fans know what I'm talking about.
3:19 Speaker 01 She knows.
3:20 Keke Palmer? That video ate down.
3:22 Speaker 01 Thank you. It was choreographed by DuQuel Knight.
3:24 Keke Palmer? Oh, my gosh. Chapter 12.
3:26 Speaker 01 We met through this program called Monsters of Hip Hop, which was dance. And I was in the group with him. Paris Goble was also in that dance crew. So it was like, it's just all full circle.
3:37 Keke Palmer? It's so full circle. Well, when did you realize? I mean, obviously you started with, with the drill team dancing. But when did you realize this could be a real career? Like that this was your purpose?
3:46 Speaker 01 Um, I would say high school, the end of high school. Just really, really focusing on songwriting and starting to record my own music and write my own music then. I started with poetry as far as writing.
3:58 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
3:58 Speaker 01 And then transferred into songwriting. Um, and then I came to LA to audition to be in this girl group. Called Purple Rain.
4:05 Keke Palmer? Girl group is always the entry point.
4:06 Speaker 01 It's the old, right? We gotta be in a group first and then we go so. Yes, but it was great. It was, I just realized that I can't go a day without thinking about music and it just runs so much in my life that I was like, I need to be on stage. And I want to do something that would allow me to do the songwriting, the singing and the dancing and that's artistry, so.
4:27 Keke Palmer? Now, I also heard you were a bank teller for a while. What point in your career were you?
4:30 Speaker 01 Oh, my God.
4:31 Keke Palmer? How did you balance that? Because you need, we need that job to help us make the money so we can do the dreams. So like, at what, where were you in your career where you had to balance the real life necessities? And then still like following, you know, your dreams?
4:43 Speaker 01 I was about 18.
4:44 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
4:45 Speaker 01 Um, working at this bank called Golden One in Sacramento. And that's the job I quit to move to LA. But it was great because there was some 401K that I already had saved up and like,
4:56 Keke Palmer? That's right.
4:57 Speaker 01 Some savings that I could use for moving here. So it was perfect.
5:01 Keke Palmer? I talk to people about that a lot where it's like you sometimes think when you're following your dreams, you gotta just do everything cold turkey. But like, it's so, like, have what you need to have, you know what I'm saying? Be an entrepreneur essentially and take whatever you can from these maybe more traditional spaces that allow you to put money into your goals.
5:16 Speaker 01 Right, that's always been the case for me too, even with songwriting. I was using my songwriting money to fund my touring as an artist when I opened for Ariana, to fund music videos, to fund the ready. I was independent at the time.
5:30 Keke Palmer? Wow.
5:30 Speaker 01 So I had to pay that out of pocket and it came from other sources of income. So we gotta always balance it out.
5:36 Keke Palmer? What was that first check that you got from songwriting? What song was it where you were like, oh, wait a minute? This is also, this is a career I can write off of to help with this?
5:45 Speaker 01 Well, my first check was actually in advance. And people will laugh if you know anything about the deals that you're able to get for songwriting. It was about $2,000 for my publishing deal. And I was like, yeah! I was so excited, heck yeah! Uh, super, super excited and, um, it allowed the girl group and I to share this studio apartment that was $500 a month. I don't even know of a place in LA that cost that much.
6:09 Keke Palmer? That's why I'm like, what year were we in?
6:11 Speaker 01 It was 2009.
6:12 Keke Palmer? $500 a month is still.
6:14 Speaker 01 Crazy, crazy, but it was just one room.
6:16 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
6:17 Speaker 01 With three girls, so just had to grind it out.
6:19 Keke Palmer? Wow, wow. And so how did you balance the dream of, because I think what's interesting sometimes, like, you can be making so much money in one particular area that you sometimes forget about your, yeah, you forget about your North Star.
6:31 Speaker 01 Yeah.
6:31 Keke Palmer? So as you started to continue to grow as a songwriter, I mean, making huge hits, like seriously. I mean, people know, I'm sure they know your credentials, and if they don't, they need to find out. How did you remember that Victoria Monet is a star as well?
6:45 Speaker 01 I always took the money that from songwriting. I wasn't going out to go get the new whip and then the car, the, the house yet. I was putting it right back into my artistry. So that was always my goal and my intention.
6:57 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
6:57 Speaker 01 And I couldn't go a day without thinking about what I wanted to be on stage doing. I looked at artists like Beyonce and Janet and Aaliyah and being able to create that vision um in music videos and tour the world, doing what you love. And I always stuck to that.
7:11 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
7:11 Speaker 01 So I used music at songwriting as that conduit to do so. It never really left. So it was always on my heart to do that. I think it just took a certain process. There was an order of business that needed to happen. I think songwriting was that order of business.
7:25 Keke Palmer? You have a lot of patience.
7:26 Speaker 01 Ooh.
7:27 Keke Palmer? Yeah, because I mean, that's what it takes. And I'm sure your relationship with the record labels had to have changed as well.
7:32 Speaker 01 For sure.
7:32 Keke Palmer? That's something that, you know, anybody that knows like the trajectory of songwriting to, to uh music or anything that is a, is a in-between way to where you're trying to go, people can box you in.
7:42 Speaker 01 For sure.
7:43 Keke Palmer? How did you change your relationship with some of the people you're working with, whether it be producers or even the labels to say like, no, this is, this is not for this person's project. This is for my project.
7:52 Speaker 01 Right. I find that when you introduce yourself to people and you say, hi, my name is such and such, and this is what I do, they kind of get stuck to that vision. Um, and you have to kind of, I guess, train everybody around you to see you differently by what you're doing the most. So if you say you're a technician and then all of a sudden you're doing car sales, you, like, they're going to, you know, associate you with how they originally met you. So I try not to blame people for that and know that, well, songwriting is really successful. For me right now, but what I'm gonna show them is that so is my music. And I just had to keep beating down that door of the stereotype that they tried to box me in within. And just now, this is what I'm doing majority of, and the narrative changes slowly but surely.
8:37 Speaker 01 Just having that grace with people who want to conversate with you about what you used to do only.
8:43 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
8:43 Speaker 01 You know, making it current, keeping them up with the current events. Like, yes, this is what I used to do, but this is not what I'm doing. And this is how I'd like to be addressed. It's like someone who changes their name. Like, maybe you knew someone in their life, like, I used to call you Pookie, but now you're...
8:56 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
8:56 Speaker 01 And then slowly, you start to call them their new names, so.
8:59 Keke Palmer? And it's so interesting to me, too, because being in the industry, maybe this is why I've always known you as a termine the artist.
9:05 Speaker 01 Yeah.
9:05 Keke Palmer? And that I was always impressed that you could write, too. You know what I mean? Because I've always known you to be an amazing singer, dancer, all that type of stuff. So was there a moment for you where you were like, hmm, maybe it's easier to be behind the scenes? Or, or I'll even say, what was it like over time seeing so many people blow up off of songs you wrote?
9:30 Keke Palmer? Memorial Day is right around the corner, and there is nothing more special than gathering with the whole family together to honor this important holiday. And baby, I found the perfect way to celebrate, booking an incredible Airbnb by a lake and throwing something on the grill. So y'all remember my winter ski chalet up in Big Bear with the gagas? This spot is a year-round paradise. I mean, you're waking up to gorgeous lakeside views, breathing in crisp mountain air, all while the smell of barbecue floats up from the deck. That's the kind of magic I'm talking about. The space was everything. We had a massive deck where the grill master could show off their grilling skills, all while the rest of us played cards and splashed in the lake.
10:16 Keke Palmer? And the game room, huh, your girl might be a movie star, but everyone can catch these hands when it comes to Miss Pac-Man, okay? What makes Airbnb so special is how it brings families together, all with more space for the fam to spread out. Privacy when you need it, because you know sometimes the Palmer's need a minute. And locations that hotels could never match. The Memorial Day that's coming up is time to create the precious family memories and moments in a space that feels like home. Whether it's a lakeside retreat like my Big Bear spot, or any of Airbnb's most loved homes. These are the places where memories are made.
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12:19 Speaker 01 At first, it feels really, really, really exciting because you're a part of something big, and I do want to do things that help other people, even as an artist, like, you know, charity work and things that help other people's dreams come true as well as mine. But also, being a songwriter, you're proud, you know? My first number one, woo, I was, I made this video to Bruno Mars songs, it was celebratory for everybody involved. So I was happy to do so. I don't think I ever had a bitter moment where I was like, eh.
12:46 Keke Palmer? Yeah, yeah.
12:47 Speaker 01 You know, because it's a part, that's a part of my story as well, being able to... Translate what someone wants to say into song form and communicate in that way. And sometimes in the studio, it feels a bit like a therapy session and you want to be able to help anybody that you can really speak their truths.
13:02 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
13:03 Speaker 01 It's a part of artistry as well to me. So I always was like, this is really cool.
13:07 Keke Palmer? It definitely is because not everybody that writes songs can do it the way that I think people like you do it. Or even like Taylor Parks, a very good friend of both of ours.
13:15 Speaker 01 Incredible.
13:16 Keke Palmer? You know, she executive produced my most current album, Just Kiki. And being in the studio with her, I've known her as a friend, but being in the studio with her and that level of her artistry was, was absolutely what you just said. It's a special thing to see somebody be able to take someone's emotions and turn them into music.
13:32 Speaker 01 Do you feel like because you guys had friendship before that she was able to understand you on a different level? Like.
13:37 Keke Palmer? I mean, yeah, it reminds me of you and Ariana. Like, it's like one of those things where it's like, there will be no deeper match.
13:42 Speaker 01 Right.
13:42 Keke Palmer? Because this person has this skill and they know the ins- Yeah, they know the context and the inside scoop.
13:48 Speaker 01 Yeah, I agree.
13:49 Keke Palmer? Of, you know, what this means for me.
13:51 Speaker 01 Yeah.
13:52 Keke Palmer? Um, what was that moment where you said to yourself? Because I'm sure there had to be a moment where you were like, I gotta put the pen down for a second and really just only focus on me.
14:00 Speaker 01 Yeah.
14:01 Keke Palmer? What was that moment and was it hard for the people that you were working with? When they were like, when you were just like, I have to shut this door for now?
14:07 Speaker 01 I think it, it was, it was divine timing and it was God for sure. Because when I stopped and paused was when Thank You Next went number one and then Seven Rings went number one. Back to back. I was like, I think, I think now I could take a little pause, but.
14:23 Keke Palmer? Okay, the money was coming in.
14:25 Speaker 01 I knew it was eventually gonna hit that count. So I was like, I think I can do this and take just a month to just think about what Victoria as an artist wants to do. But also perfect timing because she had already, she was releasing her album and she wasn't gonna be in cycle yet. So it was just like that perfect window of time that just to make it happen.
14:44 Keke Palmer? Now, when you did Oh My Mama, like, did you write that right after you pooped Hazel out? Like, what was the timing of, were you in the damn, uh, labor room laughing?
14:53 Speaker 01 Yeah, yeah. Well, you know, I was working while I was in labor because I was about to release a single called F U C K. So I was in labor. It was a two day experience. So I was just on the machines, just texting my team on the group chats, just working.
15:05 Keke Palmer? Girl, yes.
15:06 Speaker 01 That's what we had to do.
15:07 Keke Palmer? That's it.
15:08 Speaker 01 Multitask, always. But all my mama came after a few sessions of, I went back into the studio about six weeks after having Hazel.
15:16 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
15:17 Speaker 01 But I was still breastfeeding and healing and all of the things. So she was in the studio with me a lot and with headphones and like, I had to take breaks and like try to feed her and then my, so my brain was really in two places. So a lot of the songs that I wrote, when I first got in the studio, I was like, I don't like, my voice sounds different. It's a bit deeper, like just feeling those emotions and my hormones were just obviously completely out of balance.
15:41 Keke Palmer? Mine too.
15:41 Speaker 01 Yeah.
15:42 Keke Palmer? I mean, yeah, I guess it's the expected. But you're just so, it feels so weird because like, damn, I was really hard as hell on myself. Like you, you think back to the things you were saying to you and you realize like, oh, it wasn't actually me that was postpartum.
15:54 Speaker 01 That wasn't me. Yeah. I was a different person. So I did need something, a song that spoke to my future self and gave myself an affirmation like, I do look, I do look good. Like I need to hear that myself and just projecting that into the future so that when other moms hear it, they can sing it and it's just an affirmation for everybody. And it didn't come easy, but it came. And all it took was to show up. You just got to show up and keep being yourself and doing it.
16:18 Keke Palmer? Now, did you know when you heard it, this is a hit?
16:22 Speaker 01 I didn't quite know.
16:24 Keke Palmer? Because you made so many hits. I mean, like, so it's like you, you know, maybe you, maybe there's a feeling that hitmakers feel where they're like, I know this.
16:30 Speaker 01 I knew I loved the song. I didn't know that it would, it was my one, you know? I, you just kind of guess. And I don't think A and R is my job. I just, my job is to just put up the shots and then let the scoreboard tell me who won. But like, I really, really am glad that that was the song that went because it was about motherhood and that was a journey that I was on. So it just was the perfect, God, again, like I did not expect a song about my mama to be. The biggest thing, so.
17:01 Keke Palmer? And I gotta talk about the visual because it was such a huge cultural moment. Like, I think it was like, obviously, the nostalgia, but then also like the current twists that you put on it. The look and the feel of the video. The choreography was obviously by, yeah, Shawn Bankier, who is exceptional. I mean, what went into that video? Like, did you immediately have that idea?
17:21 Speaker 01 Like, I did know that I wanted it to feel retro because I really, I enjoyed the 2000s so much.
17:28 Keke Palmer? Sure.
17:28 Speaker 01 Before social media, yeah, before all the things, the pagers, the Jabo jeans. I didn't have no pager, but like, I know, you know, you know, the older generation.
17:36 Keke Palmer? I wasn't that old. My older cousin.
17:38 Speaker 01 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
17:39 Keke Palmer? I watched them with a pager.
17:40 Speaker 01 Right, right. And the flip phones. And so I also love themes and costume parties and stuff. So I was like, wouldn't it just be fun to bring all that stuff, the baby fat back? And just the certain memories and nostalgia that you would see stylistically, but then with current dance moves. So I just wanted that vision to come to life. We did a lot of digging and Pinterest boarding to go back. And it was so fun to do.
18:03 Keke Palmer? It looked like you guys were having a lot of fun. And then seeing Hazel come out there, I mean, oh, my gosh. How do you feel like, I mean, you said a little bit about it, but how did becoming a mother impact your artistry and the way you moved in the industry?
18:15 Speaker 01 I think one thing motherhood definitely taught me is time management. I used to be in that studio for hours and hours and hours, 3 a.m., like, no limit. But I think the 10,000 hours that I put in before taught me that I have to do the same great work within two hours as I would have done in 10 hours now, just to make sure that I can be multiple places during the day. So it really taught me different time management and communication. Also, I feel like when I hear moms talk about having their children, and sometimes the story attached to it is, oh, I gave up everything to do, to raise the baby. And then it becomes resentment when they're older. And I never wanted that to be on Hazel or that to be her story.
18:57 Speaker 01 So I'm like, I have to raise this amazing child and be uber-present, but also make sure that I never abandon myself and my dreams and keep this thing going. So the duality. Was super important. So she doesn't feel that weight when she's older. If I'm doing an interview, I'm like, yeah, I just gave up my dreams and.
19:14 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
19:15 Speaker 01 We don't like that either.
19:17 Keke Palmer? And did you, was there any pre-roll planning? Like, did you know to yourself, like, I'm about to have Hazel this year? Or was it kind of like, oh shit, I'm pregnant and I'm gonna figure it out? So was this, yeah, it kind of came upon you and you were like, yo.
19:27 Speaker 01 That pandemic and the tequila.
19:29 Keke Palmer? Yeah, got me. Don't let it be a fine man, which all due respect.
19:34 Speaker 01 Well, well, yeah, yeah, that's how it happens. Yeah.
19:37 Keke Palmer? Literally, and obviously you guys co-parent now and it feels, I love to see that. Even the way that you came to the internet about it, it seemed all very like well thought out. I mean, it's never easy, I would imagine, separating from someone that you don't necessarily think you're gonna separate from.
19:51 Speaker 01 It's not ideal.
19:52 Keke Palmer? It's not ideal, but you seem to have been handling it well.
19:55 Speaker 01 Yeah, I feel like I'm super blessed to have a partner who understands that also that Hazel will eventually be able to see things. And he was able to, you know, compose himself and so was I. Any of the messy parts happen face to face.
20:11 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
20:11 Speaker 01 And we're able to now easily co-parent. He's super communicative. He has a great head on his shoulders. His mom did a wonderful job with him.
20:20 Keke Palmer? I love that.
20:21 Speaker 01 Yeah, so I feel blessed to have that, that and a partnership.
20:24 Keke Palmer? Yeah. We did see you connecting with Stormzy.
20:29 Speaker 01 Where is the tea?
20:30 Keke Palmer? Had to pop that out.
20:31 Speaker 01 Anybody got?
20:33 Keke Palmer? Water, anything? Yeah, and I was, I was hanging out with him at the Met Gala and I said, you know my girl Victoria.
20:39 Speaker 01 Say, yeah.
20:40 Keke Palmer? Kiki.
20:40 Speaker 01 You know my girl, you know, he's like, yeah, you know, she's amazing, you know.
20:44 Keke Palmer? You know, you're cute.
20:46 Speaker 01 Yeah, he's a really special guy. I have so much respect for him and I got to learn more about him by dating him.
20:55 Speaker 01 We'll have to talk.
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23:16 Keke Palmer? Next time I'm placing my order, you best believe I'm having mushrooms, grilled onions, and some extra peppers just to, you know, keep the vegetables on top. Now, this is the kind of commitment I'm talking about. No more pizza cheating needed when Domino's is bringing this level of excellence to the table. Order Domino's new Parmesan stuffed crust pizza on the Domino's app and use code KIKI to get any three topping Parmesan stuffed crust pizza for $11.99. Price is higher for some locations. You must ask for this limited time offer. Prices, participation, delivery area, and charges may vary. Delivery orders subject to local stores' delivery charge. I'll let you girl.
23:55 Keke Palmer? But it was cute to see y'all together.
23:57 Speaker 01 Yeah, it was my first. I felt deeply, so deeply for him. And we, we didn't even get together yet. Like, the internet doesn't know, but the first time that you saw us in that picture, if you've seen that viral picture, that's the first time of us really hanging out hard, like, in his city. So I was like, oh, my God, it's everywhere before we're even starting, so.
24:19 Keke Palmer? And that can be a lot.
24:20 Speaker 01 It's interesting to navigate, yeah.
24:21 Keke Palmer? You know, especially, like, you know, I've never really dated anybody in the press. I'm not sure how much of dating people in the industry you've done, but it's so crazy.
24:28 Speaker 01 Not that.
24:29 Keke Palmer? Yeah, when two, when two celebrities get together, it becomes such a thing.
24:33 Speaker 01 A thing, yeah.
24:34 Keke Palmer? You know, I'm sure that was difficult, you know, or weird.
24:37 Speaker 01 Yeah, because we would want, we would have wanted to announce on our own time when everything was official and, you know, roll out the red carpet for everybody to see it when it's developed at the perfect state. But that was just the beginning, so we were like, oh, my God. The rest of it, but we had a blast together. We had such a great time. I think there's mutual respect there and support and no bad blood, always love.
24:57 Keke Palmer? Yeah, I mean, he definitely had nothing but great things to say about you.
24:59 Speaker 01 And I feel the same.
25:01 Keke Palmer? You've also spoken about being bisexual. I don't know if you would call yourself bisexual or fluid, but you've, you've spoken about that as well, which I think now we're in a different time. People are more open to talk about the dualities of who they are.
25:12 Speaker 01 Yeah.
25:12 Keke Palmer? But what made you feel like that was something you wanted to share? Because people don't have to share, you know.
25:16 Speaker 01 You know, I was conflicted a lot of the ti, a lot of my life about it because. Growing up in church is restricted and
25:23 Keke Palmer? I get it.
25:24 Speaker 01 You can't, yeah, you can't talk about that and we don't do that. And it's like something wrong with you.
25:29 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
25:29 Speaker 01 But coming to LA, I feel like I found a great community of people who are supportive and have those same characteristics. So I was like, okay. Felt more empowered to do so. And also to tell my truth, I felt like a weight was lifted and my my aura changed as soon as I was able to tell my truth. And I wanted to keep that in even my artistry. Making sure that the pronouns that I'm using are, if I'm gonna talk about a woman, it's she. I don't have to be like he if the song's about a female. So I think it just was, it kinda just came out.
25:59 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
25:59 Speaker 01 I couldn't hold it any longer. And I think that's just a part of being authentic and true to ourselves.
26:04 Keke Palmer? I think as a young woman and as a black woman, and like you said, as a faithful woman, all these things sit on top of us and they sometimes stop us from bringing the nuance that we're supposed to bring to those spaces. So I love that, you know, whatever you did, you sharing it that you felt comfortable to, because I do think it shows people that you can be all those things. You can be a Christian, you can be black, you can be a woman, you could be this, you could be that and that.
26:27 Speaker 01 Yeah.
26:28 Keke Palmer? And it's not a big deal.
26:29 Speaker 01 It's amazing. It's okay to share.
26:31 Keke Palmer? Yeah, yeah. Um, what made you wanna write Everywhere You Are? Um, because it's a book about separation anxiety, which is huge for any working mom. And even, even a stay at home mom, when your baby go to school, it can be tough.
26:45 Speaker 01 Right.
26:45 Keke Palmer? So how did you come to wanting to like write this book about that?
26:49 Speaker 01 I think at first, when I started working again after having Hazel, I was experiencing a lot of mom guilt. Being away and like, you know, trying to balance your love for someone and your love for something.
27:01 Keke Palmer? Yes.
27:02 Speaker 01 And your love for yourself and what you wanna do.
27:04 Keke Palmer? Girl, that is so huge. The, I have a passion that I love.
27:08 Speaker 01 Yes.
27:08 Keke Palmer? I have a baby that I love and I have me that I love.
27:11 Speaker 01 Yeah.
27:12 Keke Palmer? How do I split that time?
27:14 Speaker 01 Mm-hmm.
27:15 Keke Palmer? It's tough.
27:15 Speaker 01 It's really, really tough. But I have to say, you, my friend, are
27:19 Keke Palmer? Killing it!
27:20 Speaker 01 You are doing amazing, amazing, amazing. It's so amazing to see you balancing. It's like you're in a hat store.
27:28 Speaker 01 Like, wow.
27:29 Keke Palmer? Girl, thank you so much. I feel like we're all giving each other energy.
27:33 Speaker 01 Yeah.
27:33 Keke Palmer? You know what I mean?
27:33 Speaker 01 Oh, you can do it.
27:34 Keke Palmer? Yeah, yeah, we're all being like, hey, girl. And it's like, you're feeling that vibe because when I'm seeing you do it, I feel, girl, for me, what did it with you was when I seen the abs. I said, Kiki, it's time to go. Because if Victoria may have abs. I need to have abs too.
27:48 Speaker 01 Yeah, and, and do.
27:50 Keke Palmer? It helps, so when you see somebody killing it.
27:53 Speaker 01 Yeah.
27:53 Keke Palmer? Like, you kill it, so thank you. I receive that because we need to see that in each other.
27:57 Speaker 01 Yeah, motherhood is the best hood, I always say.
27:59 Keke Palmer? Girl, you ain't never lie.
28:01 Speaker 01 Yes. So, the book I, I wanted her to have and other children to have, something ingrained in them from young.
28:09 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
28:09 Speaker 01 To understand that presence doesn't always have to be physical. It's with love, it's energy, and just kind of relieving some of that tension early on.
28:20 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
28:20 Speaker 01 Because sometimes, and I love you and I miss you, isn't enough. They need to read a book about it, they need to see about it. They need to see examples of people who are also having working parents, you know, leave the country.
28:31 Keke Palmer? That's right.
28:32 Speaker 01 You know, a community of people who are experiencing that. And so the book, I feel like, brings people together and allows that message to be received.
28:38 Keke Palmer? I mean, as a musician, as a songwriter, language is such an important tool.
28:43 Speaker 01 Yes.
28:43 Keke Palmer? And so putting language to things, I think, is so important.
28:46 Speaker 01 Yeah.
28:46 Keke Palmer? So, the fact that a kid can now understand even what separation anxiety is, or like, what it means when mommy is away.
28:52 Speaker 01 Yeah.
28:53 Keke Palmer? Even the mom, being able to have this kind of book to be able to explain that to the child is
28:57 Speaker 01 Right.
28:57 Keke Palmer? It's incredible. What was the process like? You're welcome.
29:00 Speaker 01 Yes, um, the process, I wrote a couple versions of the book, and Hazel was able to To experience all of them. So she kind of, you know, I would judge it based on what line she would remember and what she liked. And then, so she kind of like edit, an editor.
29:17 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
29:17 Speaker 01 You know, and I had the perfect audience, you know, test audience in my two-year-olds.
29:22 Keke Palmer? Ha ha.
29:23 Speaker 01 It was great. Now, when she reads the book, she doesn't read yet, but she knows what's on each page because we read it together so many times.
29:29 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
29:30 Speaker 01 And she's quoted the book now. She's like, I'll always be your moon, you'll always be my star. Like, so she's really remembering it. So I know that that is going to travel with other families.
29:39 Keke Palmer? Well, the book has such a poetic tone. I'm wondering, did you intentionally make? I mean, you did tell me you started in poetry, so maybe that's why. But like, did you mean to make it kind of musical?
29:47 Speaker 01 No, I just, maybe, maybe it's just a writing style.
29:50 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
29:50 Speaker 01 You know, this is my first book, so maybe I carried some of the songwriting into the book world. But it was super fun to do. I want to do so many more. I have the next concept already, so.
30:00 Keke Palmer? Yes.
30:01 Speaker 01 I'm excited.
30:01 Keke Palmer? I can't wait. And I'm taking this home with me, even if you didn't plan for me to. Because Leo needs, I was gonna steal it.
30:06 Speaker 01 Honestly, I hope you really enjoyed it.
30:08 Keke Palmer? Thank you for giving me the blessing.
30:09 Speaker 01 Yes, yes. I'm honored.
30:12 Keke Palmer? Also, I like this thing where you do in the book where the metaphor of you and Hazel are, is the moon and the star characters, they symbolize you too. What was the, what's the metaphor behind that?
30:22 Speaker 01 Well, when I look out in the night sky as a stargazer myself, who likes to just see the sunsets and just see the sky, sometimes when you look out in the sky, you don't see the moon from where you're standing. But you know logically as an adult that it is there. And so I wanted her to have that metaphor, something that she could see, that she can go outside like, okay, I'm aware that the moon isn't there, but I see some stars. So that's me and my mom somewhere in the world, in the universe, doing her thing. But stars and moon go together. There is no universe where there is no star and no moon. So it's, you know, it's a great symbolism. I feel like a kid can really understand that visual.
31:01 Keke Palmer? Oh, my gosh, Tori. You know, you give me such a feeling of like, I can't say it with words, but this is how I feel.
31:09 Keke Palmer? That's the kind of vibe that you have. And it's so sweet hearing you talk about Hazel. And I see you with Hazel online and stuff like that. But just, you know, talking about this book and, and, and hearing about it now. It's just, it's such a sweet thing. I can feel
31:21 Speaker 01 Thank you.
31:22 Keke Palmer? That special vibe.
31:22 Speaker 01 We love each other. We love each other so much. And we are trying to hang out with y'all. So whenever you're not booked and busy,
31:28 Keke Palmer? Yes.
31:29 Speaker 01 Come over swim like.
31:30 Keke Palmer? Hazel is a Grammy winner nominee. You know what I mean? Like, so, I mean, I need Leo to get on her level. So he absolutely, and he is available today.
31:37 Speaker 01 Okay.
31:37 Keke Palmer? I know she's an older woman.
31:39 Speaker 01 Oh, she is.
31:39 Keke Palmer? But, you know, he's looking for people that have made it.
31:41 Speaker 01 Yes, yes. Yeah, that's our girl.
31:43 Keke Palmer? How was that, uh, journey of like going through that Grammy process? I'm sure first of all, you've won. Congratulations.
31:49 Speaker 01 Thank you.
31:50 Keke Palmer? And then having her be a part of that.
31:52 Speaker 01 Oh, it meant the most.
31:53 Keke Palmer? That's the coolest thing ever.
31:55 Speaker 01 It because the thing is when, candidly, when you get pregnant in the music industry, I don't know how it is, you know, today, but when I got pregnant, it was a thing. It was like, are you sure that you're at the beginning of this precipice of your career? Are you sure like it's why, what's the rush? And you can't do both. And now we're seeing women on, on the stage pregnant.
32:16 Keke Palmer? It makes us stronger, actually.
32:18 Speaker 01 Actually, all of my success, my biggest success, came after my biggest blessing Hazel. So like, take that.
32:25 Keke Palmer? Clock that key. So yeah, she's the youngest Grammy nominee ever. She's co-narrating a book. I mean,
32:33 Speaker 01 She's busy.
32:34 Keke Palmer? She's busy. What would you want her to take from you? From seeing you do what you're doing and for also you putting her a part of this? Like, what do you, do you, does she talk to you about what she thinks or knows?
32:47 Speaker 01 Oh, I need to show you this video because the other day a recorder, she said, "One day when I grow up and I'm older, I'm going to be a better singer than you and we can both be better." And I was like, well, what else do you want to do? And I want to be an amazing artist and a songwriter. I'm like, oh, so you really, you know exactly what you want to do. But the one thing I want her to take is really the perseverance and patience. And why didn't, that was one thing. Perseverance, patience, and
33:11 Keke Palmer? All of it.
33:12 Speaker 01 All of it. And like happiness. Whatever she decides to do, make sure that she's happy because there's too many. Any scenarios where people are going to jobs that they don't like? And I feel like if the barista at Starbucks actually wanted to be there, they'd be much nicer. You know what I'm saying?
33:28 Keke Palmer? Yes.
33:29 Speaker 01 So like do the thing.
33:29 Keke Palmer? There's nothing wrong with being a barista.
33:31 Speaker 01 There's nothing wrong with it, but if you love making coffee, make the best coffee and make it your job. Make your passion your job and like make, do what makes you happy. So that's what I want her to have.
33:42 Keke Palmer? Speaking to that sweet spirit that I'm hearing with Hayes, but also I'm seeing and feeling with you. How did you stay that way, Victoria? Because I think a lot of people don't understand how hard it is in our industry. And you're talking about being in the studio late, late nights. I know what go down in the studio late, late nights, how hard it is. You're sometimes the only girl. Um, and people make sure you know that. You know what I mean? And it's, it's a lot of work. You know what I mean? You've been doing this for a minute. Uh, how, how did you keep your spirit so pure?
34:11 Speaker 01 I think it's God.
34:13 Keke Palmer? Yeah.
34:13 Speaker 01 I think it's really God, because there's so many dark holes, black holes that you.
34:18 Keke Palmer? There are.
34:19 Speaker 01 Go into in this music industry. And sometimes you get a little tempted, you're like, well, they're making it by doing these things. Maybe that's what I need to do. But just remain you and remain centered with God and keep your family close. Also, I realize that the most humble and successful people who are sane have their parents.
34:39 Keke Palmer? That's right.
34:40 Speaker 01 Or a relative or somebody from their childhood around.
34:42 Keke Palmer? That's right.
34:43 Speaker 01 Still. So don't lose your day ones. I think that's a big part of it too, because they can remind you that, girl, I knew you when you, you couldn't even afford a pedicure. So don't play with me. You know what I'm saying?
34:54 Keke Palmer? They knew you.
34:54 Speaker 01 Yeah.
34:55 Keke Palmer? No pedicure?
34:56 Speaker 01 Yeah.
34:58 Keke Palmer? Damn bitch. No. Um, so what were you thinking when you heard, and the Grammy goes to?
35:04 Speaker 01 Oh, my God. The, I've never felt butterflies like that before. I couldn't, I mean, I could believe it because it's everything that I wrote, I wrote down and wanted to manifest. But also like when it actually happens to you. There's just, it's a crazy feeling. So I, walking up those stairs on the way, I'm like just thinking about everything and I'm almost hyperventilating. Like, oh my god. It really, like, you can't believe it. So it was amazing, it was amazing. I wanted to bring my entire, everybody, whoever helped me on that stage. I'm like, you, you, you know, everybody come up and get your flowers too, because I did not do this alone.
35:39 Keke Palmer? Oh my gosh.
35:40 Speaker 01 I didn't do it alone, so.
35:41 Keke Palmer? I loved you there, because it's so true. It takes a village, it takes a team.
35:44 Speaker 01 Yeah.
35:44 Keke Palmer? Fifteen years, uh, you've been grinding.
35:47 Speaker 01 Yeah.
35:47 Keke Palmer? I mean, that's a long.
35:48 Speaker 01 An old soul in the music.
35:50 Keke Palmer? Seriously, me, I mean, I'm right there with you. It's like, and things keep happening. I'm, I'm curious for you, it's like, when you're checking off these things from your manifestation list, does it feel the way you thought it would? Like, when you, you know, said to yourself, I'm gonna win a Grammy one day, like, how did it, did you feel like that new person? Or was it kinda like, oh, I was already her?
36:09 Speaker 01 Um, that's a great question. I feel like, maybe it's a little bit of both. Like, it's the person that I've always been, but now people recognize me as that person. They see me as that person, so it, it just definitely changes the way people speak and, and approach, like, it changes everything. It's like a verified sticker, you know what I'm saying? Okay? Like, I've always had, it's the same album that it was yesterday, but now it's a Grammy award-winning album today. So, it does change a lot. So you, but it, stay in constant gratitude, because I sometimes forget how many things I had. Let me slow down. I wrote, I, I always write out my goals, and when I'm updating the goals,
36:54 Speaker 01 I'm deleting the old goals that I've accomplished and replacing them with new ones. So it's so nice to see what has actually transpired, because sometimes it's in the background, things that you wanted to happen, and they actually happen, but you forget that you even wished for it five years ago. You're like, oh my god, it's here. So it is nice to pause and have people around you that are willing to celebrate those little wins with you. Like, girl, do you realize what just happened today? Like, because I, even sitting here today, I'm a fan of yours. So like, talk, I'm like, okay, this is what happened today, and this is what I got to do? Lucky me, you know? Just pausing and being grateful for this.
37:30 Keke Palmer? I feel the same way. I remember just, you know, when we, when I was doing, um, Enemies video shoot, and you guys came and hung out, and I remember just being us. That's one of like my memories of me and you, is like on the Enemies set. You were like, hi, Victoria Mee. You were like, you know, and he was like, yeah. You know, I just remember, and you were always. With that wavy hair on my head and you always.
37:50 Speaker 01 Yes.
37:50 Keke Palmer? So cute.
37:51 Speaker 01 Yes.
37:53 Keke Palmer? Now, you've compared yourself to a Jaguar.
37:55 Speaker 01 Yeah.
37:56 Keke Palmer? Which is quiet, focused, and striking at the right moment.
37:59 Speaker 01 Mm-hmm.
38:00 Keke Palmer? What was your pounce moment? I'm sure you've had so many.
38:02 Speaker 01 Yeah.
38:03 Keke Palmer? But if you could think of your most recent, um, what's or that's happened in, you know, in all this most recent success. What was that pounce moment for you?
38:13 Speaker 01 Um, I think one of my biggest pounce moments was that moment going into the studio and just carving out the time for myself. It's like, okay, here's my opportunity to strike. I've got all, you know, my eyes are locked in on this, this prize. Let's go get it. So it's really been amazing to have a team that supports that vision. And because technically, what a publisher would say after a big moment of songwriting like that is like, guess what? Now everyone wants you to write their song, so you need to do more songwriting. But I did the opposite and it got me somewhere that I've always dreamed of also. So just really listening to your gut feelings, having a great team that's able to support that vision.
38:55 Speaker 01 And again, staying in constant gratitude. I start my day with a gratitude journal. I start my day reading this book called, um, Forty Days to a Joy-Filled Life. It's talking about God. It's talking about what manifests in your life when you are, when you're grateful for what you already have, um, you can find joy in the littlest things.
39:14 Keke Palmer? Yep.
39:15 Speaker 01 You know, so just, we're all wanting to have more. We're all wanting to have it fast. Instacart, Instagram, like now, now, now. But the patience and being grateful for what you already have because that's what you wanted years ago. You are where you used to want to be.
39:31 Keke Palmer? Gratitude and patience, those are such great keys to happiness and never putting your timing up to somebody else. Cause you don't know where they starting. You sure as hell don't know where they going.
39:39 Speaker 01 Right.
39:39 Keke Palmer? You know, so focusing on you in this era where everything is always built off comparisons, you know, it's so, it's so important.
39:45 Speaker 01 It's tough.
39:46 Keke Palmer? Um, you did work with Usher and he's everything. What was it like working with him?
39:50 Speaker 01 It was amazing. Usher is such a great mentor. He always has tasteful advice, but it's not intrusive.
39:57 Keke Palmer? Mm-hmm.
39:58 Speaker 01 You know, it's not like critic- critical or derogatory. He's just. We gonna let you know.
40:04 Keke Palmer? It's very Wise Sage.
40:06 Speaker 01 Yeah.
40:06 Keke Palmer? Energy, which you, I guess is what you really do want from an icon.
40:09 Speaker 01 Absolutely.
40:10 Keke Palmer? Especially they gonna give you a time of their day.
40:11 Speaker 01 Yeah.
40:11 Keke Palmer? It's like, give me something for show.
40:13 Speaker 01 Absolutely.
40:13 Keke Palmer? And I felt the same way, you know, having, whenever I've had a conversation with him or, you know, something's going on in his zeitgeist and he'll just speak to it real subtly.
40:20 Speaker 01 Right. Um. With the most magnificent words, I'm like, wow.
40:23 Keke Palmer? And then you be like, yeah, you really are Usher, huh?
40:25 Speaker 01 Yeah.
40:25 Keke Palmer? You know that guy. You really are who we've known you to be.
40:29 Speaker 01 Yes. Honestly, that's how I feel about you. Like, when I see you off camera, it's the same Kiki I see on camera. It ain't no, like, cut and she, you're just completely different, but you're such a joy to be around. You make people laugh.
40:41 Keke Palmer? Ah.
40:42 Speaker 01 It's great and you're so beautiful. I just have so many nice things to say and I just wanna hang out.
40:46 Keke Palmer? Me too. And we gotta get the babies together.
40:48 Speaker 01 I would love that.
40:49 Keke Palmer? So we're doing it. And I don't think you live far from me. I'm not gonna tell everybody where you live, but you know, we share the same teams.
40:53 Speaker 01 Okay.
40:54 Keke Palmer? So I know kinda where you're at and so we're gonna, we're gonna link up.
40:57 Speaker 01 Even if I wasn't close, I'd drive to you. So just let me know when you, when is she free?
41:03 Keke Palmer? They're gonna ship us. I hope you know, the baby is Kiki Poma, they're gonna ship us.
41:06 Speaker 01 Of course. Anybody that I feel like we're standing next to, oh.
41:12 Speaker 01 Definitely dating.
41:13 Keke Palmer? I love you down, Victoria. And I'm so glad that you came on. And obviously, everywhere you are, I cannot wait to read this to my son. And everybody's gotta check this book out. Congratulations on another feat.
41:22 Speaker 01 Thank you. I love you. Thank you so much.
41:25 Keke Palmer? Oh.
41:26 Speaker 01 It's so great.
Previous Leveling Up on Faith, Family and Folding Chairs with Ciara Next First Love, Black Fatherhood & the Creator and Cast of Forever with Mara Brock Akil, Wood Harris & Michael Cooper Jr. Page updated November 3, 2026 · transcript and summary are machine-generated