Four Months After Biological Mother's Death Keyshia Cole Loses Adoptive Father to Covid Complications

Just four months after losing her biological mother to an accidental drug overdose, R&B songstress Keyshia Cole is in mourning again following the death of her adoptive father Leon Cole.

On Tuesday Cole, 40, shared that her father died of Covid-19 complications on Instagram.

“Unfortunately my father didn’t make it through his complications, due to covid-19,” she wrote. “So here we are. He's the entire reason my last name is COLE. The only father I knew, he did such a great job here on earth!!!!!"

The singer added that even though he wasn't her biological father, Cole made sure to keep a stable foundation for her and the rest of the family during her childhood.

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“[He] taught me and my siblings that knowledge is power!!" she said. He was very dedicated to learning and sharing his strong thoughts and opinions on the Bible and religion... He was the greatest example of love, 51 years of marriage to my mother Yvonne Cole. Seriously the most loving guy I’ve ever known. And he’s gonna be missed so much! I hate that this has happened!!! And that I’ve now lost two beautiful souls within a few months from each other.”

Dr. Yvonne Cole, Keyshia's adoptive mother, confirmed the news of her husband's death in a statement posted on her Facebook page.

"With a heart of sadness and sincere condolences, we solicit your prayers for Dr. Yvonne Cole and the Cole family in the passing of Mr. Leon Cole, Jr." it read, next to a golden-framed picture of the deceased.

"You are welcome to leave your prayers and any heart warming [sic] messages as they deal with the passing of Mr. Leon Cole Jr, due to COVID 19 complications. We appreciate the support for our family from around the world," the post added.

It was the second loss of a parental figure in less than a year for Keyshia, who was adopted by the Coles at the age of two after being given up by her biological parents but reconnected with them when she grew up and found success.

Her biological mother Frankie Lons passed away on July 13 at the age of 61 from an accidental drug overdose at a gathering for her birthday. 

At the time Cole wrote a moving tribute to her mother, who had long battled addiction, on Instagram. 

"This is so hard man. Can’t really even find the words,” she began. “I honestly don’t even know how to feel. You can never prepare for something like this… Ever!” Cole added that she had been quoting Lons for weeks because her “humor was unmatched.” “Naturally so funny, that’s what I loved about your personality,” Cole continued. “We all did.” In addition to thanking her and her mom’s “fans and supporters,” Cole also noted that it was Lons’s greatest wish to have “all of [her] children in one place.” Cole concluded her tribute by promising to fulfill that wish for Lons. “Even through our differences …. WE LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!” Cole wrote.

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Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills to go Head-to-Head in 'A Night for the Queens' Verzuz Battle

Two heavyweights of 80s R&B music are about to get into the virtual ring and duke it out for vocal superiority. 

On Nov. 18, Chaka Khan and Stephanie Mills will go head-to-head a special holiday edition of Verzuz.

The entertainment series created by Swizz Beats and Timbaland during the heart of the pandemic pits some of today and yesteryear's best artists against each other in a battle-rap format. 

The duo, who are friends off the stage, first pitched the idea for a showdown with each other last year. 

"Chaka was interested. We were willing to do it. The Verzuz people weren’t interested. Yeah, they weren’t interested.” Mills said during an interview with The Breakfast Club in June.

Mills wasn't sure why the battle didn't come together then, but the star, who rose to fame as Dorothy in the Broadway run of the musical "The Wiz," posted “It’s about to go down!” on Twitter following the announcement. 

The singer, a Grammy winner for "Never Knew Love Like This Before," faces a tough opponent in Khan —  who has 10 Grammys and is known as the "Queen of Funk."

Read the entire announcement below:

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9-year-old Boy Wounded at Astroworld Fest Dies

Photo Courtesy of Blount Family 

Over a week after a deadly crowd surge turned Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival into a tragedy, the death toll continues to climb for the Houston concert.

Late Sunday the family of Ezra Blount, a nine-year-old who was in a coma after being trampled during the event, announced that he passed away.

"The Blount family tonight is grieving the incomprehensible loss of their precious young son," their lawyer Ben Crump said in a statement. "This should not have been the outcome of taking their son to a concert, what should have been a joyful celebration. Ezra's death is absolutely heartbreaking. We are committed to seeking answers and justice for the Blount family. But we stand in solidarity with the family, in grief, and in prayer." 

Blount, from Dallas, was on his father Treston's shoulders during the Nov. 5, concert at NRG Park. When the killer crowd surge began shortly after 9 p.m., his father lost consciousness and Blount was trampled. The youth was on life-support for days before his passing, which made him the youngest victim of the melee to lose his life as well as moved the total death toll of the concert to 10.

I am saddened to learn of Ezra’s death this evening. Our city tonight prays for his mom, dad, grandparents, other family members and classmates at this time. They will need all of our support in the months and years to come. May God give them strength. RIP Ezra. st #AstroWorld pic.twitter.com/Ankq7FMa3l

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) November 15, 2021

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who has insisted that no stone will be left unturned in the search for what caused the "mass casualty incident," took to the internet to share in the family's grief and promise support from the city.

"I am saddened to learn of Ezra’s death this evening," Turner posted. "Our city tonight prays for his mom, dad, grandparents, other family members and classmates at this time. They will need all of our support in the months and years to come. May God give them strength." 

The Blount family has filed a lawsuit accusing the organizers of negligence. It is one of the more than 100 Travis Scott, Drake, Live Nation and other entities associated with the event are facing from the families of those that have died and some of the 300 reported fans that were injured.