Kehlani Accepts Billboard’s R&B Artist of the Year & Dedicates Honor to Manager David Ali

Singer-songwriter Kehlani was actually 12 years old when she got her first mention in Billboard. The Rhythm & Blues column appearing in the Sept. 15, 2007, issue features a story about a developing artist showcase in California’s Bay Area called Strive for More Music. And “among the artists who struck a chord with the audience of local press, radio DJs and music professionals was a 12-year-old named Khelani Parrish.”

Nearly 20 years later, that promising pre-teen is the two-time Grammy winner Kehlani who took the stage at the 2026 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players celebration at Ludlow House in New York on Wednesday (Sept. 9) to accept the R&B Artist of the Year Award. Having flown in that same morning following the Nashville stop on her world tour the night before, Kehlani first thanked Billboard for the honor and then next dedicated the award to her manager — and 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Executive of the Year — David Ali.

Kehlani began her acceptance speech by defining what a power player really means, noting that for her, it means to be an important part of a team and to be surrounded by other key players. After then dedicating her award to Ali, Kehlani continued, “He’s being honored tonight, but I feel like he needs to be told more often by me in front of people just how special he is. Oh no, I’m gonna cry. David was an underdog, often underlooked in the Bay Area music scene, but was never afraid to give free ideas and unwavering support without expectation ever … David and I hustled. We shared a vehicle. We took a million meetings. We signed a record deal. We dropped my first mixtape and we went on my very first tour.

“Rightfully so, David earned the title of my manager,” she continued. “What I didn’t know at the time is I gained the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father. While people have seen David earn all of the wins alongside me, no one saw him right by my side during the lows, the mental health struggles, the hospital visits, funerals, the public witch hunts, the times where my passion for justice has led to major losses in our business, threatening our livelihood and all we’ve worked for. But he’s never tried to change my heart. In his own words, God’s always got a plan for us.

“David has not only picked me up off of the floor, but he sat on the floor next to me and held my hand. He’s never told me money was more important than my humanity. He’s heard me cry. He’s wiped my tears and he figured out ways to keep this s–t going so I can stay on the floor just a little longer until I’m ready to get up … He’s the godfather of my daughter. He’s my family,” she added. “This is not solely my experience either. He’s not only been instrumental in my life, but to many others. David, you’ve taught me that kindness and doing right by people takes you farther than anything. You’ve taught me that hard work beats talent; that true unconditional love can exist in this world. Thank you, Billboard, for honoring my family tonight between Destin [Conrad], David and I.”

Watch Kehlani’s speech below: