Keke Palmer: The Rolling Stone Interview

Keke Palmer: The Rolling Stone Interview

From Rolling Stone All Access by Rolling Stone

June 9, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

Keke Palmer discusses her journey from child star to Emmy-winning actress and her views on success and legacy.

On a new episode of The Rolling Stone interview, writer CT Jones sits down with I Love Boosters star Keke Palmer as the actress retraces her history from child-star to two-time Emmy Award winning actress and discusses her dreams about a legacy that doesn’t let pressure and stress get the best of her. At 32 years old, Palmer has spent more years as her family’s main breadwinner than not, after breaking out in Hollywood at 11-years-old with her lead role in the inspirational Spelling Bee film Akeelah and the Bee. Now, she holds a variety of titles all at the same time, singer, host, actress, and most importantly, single mother to her three-year-old son Leodis. Her latest film is Boots Riley’s I Love Booster, a radical, anticapitalist film about a down-on-her-luck fashion designer who “boosts” clothes from retailers with the help of her stylishly dressed entourage, the Velvet Gang. Palmer discusses how the themes of labor, creativity, and power show up on screen and in her own life — and how she’s redefining what success can look like. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: CT Jones

Guest: Keke Palmer

Topics covered

  • Keke Palmer
  • acting career
  • Emmy Awards
  • single motherhood
  • film industry
  • labor and creativity
  • success

Keywords

  • Keke Palmer
  • Emmy Award
  • I Love Booster
  • Akeelah and the Bee
  • single mother
  • Hollywood
  • film themes

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Velvet Gang

Books & works: Akeelah and the Bee, I Love Booster

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