Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is is an American reality television series starring and executive-produced by R&B singer Keyshia Cole. The program aired on BET from July 12, 2006, to December 30, 2008, spanning three seasons and 33 episodes. The series followed Cole's professional career while documenting her family relationships, including those with her sister Neffeteria Pugh and her mother Frankie Lons.
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is was developed for BET as a short-form realitydocumentary series chronicling American singer Keyshia Cole's professional life and family relationships. The series was announced in early July 2006 and premiered on July 12, 2006.[1] Production was handled by BET in association with DuBose Entertainment, with James DuBose and Cole credited as executive producers.[2] Filming took place mainly in Atlanta, Georgia, where Cole was based during the period of production, with additional location shoots in her hometown of Oakland, California and on tour.[3] Contemporary trade coverage described the series as part of BET's mid-2000s expansion of personality-driven unscripted programming and noted that the show was intended to complement Cole's rising commercial profile by documenting both her work and personal life.[4]
The series opens in Oakland, California, as Keyshia Cole reconnects with her family, hosts a neighborhood barbecue, and addresses rumors during a radio interview.
Neffe celebrates her birthday as Frankie moves out, signaling a turning point for the family.
Reception and viewership
In a review for the Los Angeles Sentinel, Darlene Donloe described the series as emphasizing emotional vulnerability and family reconciliation rather than manufactured conflict, noting its focus on personal history and accountability.[9] Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media evaluated the program's content for family audiences, citing frequent arguments and strong language while also noting themes of perseverance and responsibility.[10] Television database resources such as TVmaze describe the series as following Cole's efforts to re-establish a relationship with her estranged mother and sister, and highlight its focus on emotional storytelling and personal reconciliation. [11]
A retrospective feature in Vibe identified the series as influential in shaping BET's approach to music-centered reality television, describing it as emotionally direct and largely unfiltered.[12]
According to BET-cited Nielsen data, the third-season premiere ranked among the network's highest-rated original broadcasts of 2008.[13] BET executives later cited the series as one of the network's most successful celebrity-fronted reality programs of the decade.[14]
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