Kesha Went to Prom with the Only Openly Gay Man in Her High School and Promised to ‘Make a Place for People Like Us’
Kesha Went to Prom with the Only Openly Gay Man in Her High School and Promised to ‘Make a Place for People Like Us’
Jack IrvinMon, June 8, 2026 at 3:59 PM UTC
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Kesha in February 2026Credit: Olivia Wong/WireImage -
Kesha told V Magazine about attending prom with the only openly gay student at her high school in Nashville
She promised her prom date she would create a safe space for people like them if she became a pop star
The Grammy-nominated artist is currently connecting with fans worldwide on The Freedom Tour supporting her latest album
Kesha is looking back on an important moment in her teenage years.
In a new interview with V Magazine, the "Joyride" singer-songwriter, 39, recalled going to prom with the only openly gay man in her high school and making an emotional promise to him that night.
Kesha, who grew up in Nashville, told the outlet, "When I was in high school, I went to prom with the only guy who was out in my whole high school. At the time, it was not cute — there were Confederate flags everywhere, a lot of hate speech happening at my high school."
Kesha in February 2026Credit: John Shearer/Getty
During the Grammy-nominated artist's time in high school, she explained, "I would just hide and play the saxophone in the marching band room."
"Then I ended up going to prom with the only man who was brave enough to be out at this high school, which was iconic," continued Kesha. "I dressed up like Madonna, I had a lace glove on, and we just had the best time."
The longtime LGBTQ+ rights advocate then recalled a touching conversation with her prom date. "I remember when I was getting ready for the prom, I was like — if I ever get to actually do this, and be a pop star, and travel the world, and do this for a living, I promise you that I'm gonna make a place for people like us, because we just so didn't belong," she said.
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Kesha added that her "goal" as a pop star has always been to create a "real community" within her fanbase.
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The "Praying" musician is currently performing shows around the world on The Freedom Tour in support of her latest album, . (PERIOD). She opened up to V Magazine about feeling "so lucky" to connect with her fans.
Kesha in May 2026Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty
"I feel really grateful to be at a stage in my life and in my career where I get to go on stage, I get to create art, I get to design a sonic landscape, and all of my fans are just here for it," she said. "I feel like we have this really beautiful, loving relationship."
Kesha continued, "Once you are inside the walls of the venue, it almost feels like we're in a secret club together — we are totally safe, we're totally loved, we can be our total authentic, fully feral selves, and for the next two hours we just get to have full-blown escapism at its finest."
The Freedom Tour continues through the end of August.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
