What Happened to Jaya Kelly, R. Kelly’s Child? Her Real Story

Jaya Kelly is someone you may have heard about in the news, online, or on music platforms like SoundCloud. She’s not just any young singer—she’s the middle child of R. Kelly, the famous (and now jailed) R&B artist, and Andrea Lee, a well-known dancer and choreographer.

But Jaya Kelly isn’t just known for who her parents are. She has her own story. It’s a story filled with personal changes, bold choices, music, and courage. Many people have asked, “What happened to Jaya Kelly?” In this article, we’ll walk through her life step-by-step and talk about everything—from her childhood to how she found her true self. Let’s start at the beginning.

Jaya Kelly Quick Bio

Jaya Kelly’s Early Life

Jaya Kelly was born on November 26, 2000, in the United States, likely in Los Angeles, where her parents lived at the time. She’s 24 years old in 2025.

She grew up in a very well-known family. Her father, R. Kelly, was one of the biggest R&B singers in the world. You might know some of his famous songs like I Believe I Can Fly or Ignition (Remix). But later, R. Kelly’s name became linked to serious crimes. He was convicted and sent to prison for over 30 years. That changed everything for his family, including Jaya.

Her mother, Andrea Lee, is also well-known. She worked as a dancer and was part of VH1’s show Hollywood Exes. Andrea is not just famous—she’s also known as a loving and protective mother. She raised Jaya and her two siblings mostly on her own after her split from R. Kelly.

Jaya is the middle child. Her older sister, Joann Kelly, is a singer too. She performs under the name Buku Abi. Her younger brother, Robert Jr., is a basketball player.

Jaya Life as R. Kelly’s Child

Being the child of a superstar might sound like a dream. But for Jaya, it wasn’t always easy. In her early years, she lived in a world filled with music, bright lights, and big names. But at home, things were not perfect.

Jaya’s parents had a troubled relationship. There were reports of abuse and control, which led to their divorce. After that, Jaya mostly lived with her mom. Life still had its ups and downs. She had to deal with her father’s fame, the attention it brought, and later, the painful headlines about his crimes.

Can you imagine going to school or walking into a store and having people talk about your father’s scandal? That’s the kind of pressure Jaya lived with. But she stayed quiet for many years—until she was ready to speak her truth.

Jaya’s Relationship with Mother, Andrea Lee

One of the strongest parts of Jaya’s life is her bond with her mom, Andrea Lee. Andrea didn’t just support her career—she stood by her during the most difficult parts of her life.

When Jaya started going through personal changes and struggles with her identity, her mom never walked away. In interviews, Jaya has said that her mother told her, “Baby, you know I love you no matter what. If you’re bi, gay, lesbian—you name it—I’ll still love you so much.”

That kind of love made a big difference. It helped Jaya feel safe to open up, to explore who she really was, and to share her story with the world.

When Jaya Kelly Knew Something Was Different

Even as a small child, Jaya felt a little different inside. In interviews, she shared that by the time she was just 6 or 7 years old, she felt that something didn’t match between how she looked and how she felt.

At school, she wore boys’ clothes and didn’t act like other girls. Some kids made fun of her, and that made things harder. But inside, she had a feeling that she couldn’t ignore. She knew she was not like the other girls, and she didn’t yet have the words to explain it.

Sometimes, people feel these things very early in life, and Jaya is one of those people. She said she felt “trapped in the wrong body” and wanted to express herself in a new way.

In 2014, when she was just 14 years old, Jaya made a brave decision. She came out as transgender and shared it in a public Q&A video online. She told the world that she was now going by the name Jaah and wanted to be seen as a boy.

It was a big moment, not just for her family but also for fans who had followed R. Kelly’s life. Many were surprised. Some were supportive. Others were confused or unkind. But Jaya stood strong.

She said in one interview, “I believe I am a boy and want surgery and the medication to help me be who I was supposed to be.”

It was a brave thing to say. She was still just a kid, but she spoke like someone much older—someone ready to take charge of her own story.

Dealing With Hard Times

Coming out as transgender wasn’t easy. Jaya faced a lot of bullying and mean comments from classmates and strangers online. The pressure became too much at one point, and she ended up in the hospital for three weeks to take care of her mental health.

She said she felt depressed and overwhelmed. But her family, especially her mom and sister, kept reminding her that she was loved no matter what.

Her sister started calling her “little brother” and told her she was proud. Her mom gave her full support. These moments helped Jaya get through the dark times.

Jaya’s Identity Changes Again

After coming out as a transgender boy at 14, Jaya lived as Jaah for a few years. But later, something changed again.

In an interview with Paper Magazine, Jaya shared that she no longer felt the need to be a boy to love girls. She explained that she had grown and learned more about herself. Jaya said, “I always thought I had to be a boy if I liked girls, but that’s not true. I can be a girl and still like girls.”

Now, she openly identifies as a lesbian and uses she/her pronouns again. She also went back to using her original name, Jaya Kelly. This shows how deeply personal and flexible gender and identity can be—and how it’s okay for someone to change as they grow.

Jaya’s Difficult Relationship with R. Kelly

One thing that hasn’t changed much is Jaya Kelly’s relationship with her father, R. Kelly.

From the beginning, he didn’t accept her identity. In one interview, R. Kelly spoke coldly about Jaya’s transition. He said people should believe what they see, not what someone says. That comment hurt a lot of fans, and it hurt Jaya too.

Their bond grew weaker after that. In 2019, Jaya even made a diss track aimed at her father. This showed that she was ready to speak out, even if it meant cutting ties.

Today, Jaya lives her life mostly without her father’s support. She doesn’t speak much about him and prefers to focus on herself, her music, and her healing.

Jaya Kelly’s Music Career as Jaah Baby

Even while going through big life changes, Jaya didn’t stop making music.

She began her music journey at just 13 years old, releasing her first single called Reservoir under the name Jaah Baby. That song got some attention online, and people started to see her talent.

Since then, Jaya has put out several songs on SoundCloud, including tracks like:

• Fall Into

• Reflection

• No Regards (ft. Kyd Taurian)

• Lost It

• Gentle

• Stalling (ft. Kel)

Her music mixes hip-hop and techno, with deep lyrics about emotions, love, pain, and self-growth. Even though she hasn’t reached big fame yet, many fans love her sound and message.

She likes to stay low-key, choosing not to push her music into the spotlight. Instead, she lets her songs speak for themselves.

What Is Jaya Kelly Doing Now?

As of 2025, Jaya Kelly lives a quiet and private life in the United States.

She is still creating music and working on herself. She isn’t very active on social media. Her old Instagram account, @jaah.bby, hasn’t been updated in a long time. That might be because of the harsh comments she used to get, especially after her father’s crimes became public.

Right now, Jaya is not dating anyone. She hasn’t shared any details about a partner, and that’s totally okay. She prefers to stay out of gossip and focus on what matters most to her.

Jaya Kelly’s Net Worth in 2025

Even though she’s not a huge star (yet), Jaya has done well for herself.

Her estimated net worth is between $300,000 and $500,000. Most of her money comes from her music, live shows, and royalties from SoundCloud streams.

She doesn’t live a flashy life. She keeps things simple, quiet, and real.

Why Jaya Kelly’s Story Is So Important

Jaya Kelly’s story matters. Why? Because it shows the world what it means to be brave, honest, and real.

She grew up in the shadow of a superstar father with a very public fall. She faced bullying, depression, and hate. She questioned everything about herself—and still came out stronger.

Her journey from Jaya to Jaah and back again is not about fame. It’s about finding your truth and loving who you are, even when the world makes it hard.

Many young people who are confused about their identity or scared to speak up can find comfort in Jaya’s story. She’s proof that it’s okay to change, okay to struggle, and okay to live life your own way.

Final Thoughts

So, what happened to Jaya Kelly, R. Kelly’s child?

She grew up, she spoke up, and she stood tall. Through music and self-love, Jaya is writing her own story—one that’s honest, inspiring, and full of strength.

Her journey isn’t over, and that’s the beautiful part. Because Jaya Kelly, just like her music, is still becoming who she’s meant to be.

(FAQs)

How old is Jaya Kelly now?

Jaya Kelly was born on November 26, 2000, which makes her 24 years old in 2025 — but she first made headlines at just 14 for coming out as transgender.

How tall is Jaya Kelly?

Jaya stands at 5 feet 8 inches (172 cm) — taller than many expected, especially since she used to wear loose clothes and hide her appearance in her early years.

Is Jaya Kelly on Instagram?

Yes, her Instagram is @jaah.bby, but here’s the shock — it only has two posts and hasn’t been active in years. She disappeared from social media after intense trolling.

Does Jaya Kelly make music?

Yes! She started at just 13 years old under the name Jaah Baby and dropped deep, emotional tracks like Reservoir, Lost It, and No Regards — all on SoundCloud.

What is Jaya Kelly’s net worth?

Jaya Kelly’s net worth is around $300,000 to $500,000, which might surprise you — she earns it quietly through music, not fame or flashy media deals like her father once did.