Zuri Kye Edwards Has His Mom’s Utmost Trust as Her Dedicated Manager

Zuri Kye Edwards may have joined the Hollywood scene alongside his mother, but he preferred to remain behind the scenes. After his dad stepped down as the legendary musician's manager, Zuri Kye took over as his mother's guide as her career flourished.

Zuri Kye Edwards may be one of Patti LaBelle's five children, but he is also her only biological son. His parents, Patti LaBelle and Armstead Edwards adopted his late aunt's children, Stayce and William after she died of brain cancer.

The former couple welcomed two more adopted sons, Dodd and Stanley, into their family. Four years into their marriage, Patti and Armstead had Zuri Kye, who drew his first breath in July 1973. His mom was 29 at the time and remembered his birth fondly. She was in a maternity ward full of girls much younger than she was.

The vocalist recalled how scary the experience was for her, but the memory of Zuri Kye's birth was among the ones she favored the most. After she and Armstead separated, Zuri Kye took over as her manager. Although their work relationship has had its challenges, as Patti acknowledged, it was still healthy and beneficial.

Despite uplifting his mother in the spotlight, Zuri Kye preferred to keep his personal life private. The 43-year-old has no official social media pages, but his wife and children have somewhat of a social media presence. His kids, especially, make regular appearances on their grandmother's Instagram.

Zuri Kye Edwards' Parents Split after They Couldn't "Live Together Anymore"

Zuri Kye's parents tied the knot in 1969 at the Justice of the Peace in Maryland. The former couple enjoyed a small and casual reception, serving beer and soft-shell crab. They remained together for over three decades before separating in 2000.

Patti and Armstead publicly announced their split and pending divorce that year, which was finalized in 2003. During an appearance on "Oprah's Master Class," Zuri Kye's mom reflected on her relationship with his dad and their amicable separation.

She explained that while neither of them harbored any bitterness toward each other, they had reached a point where they only "liked each other from a distance." The ex-lovers had never even fought before, but things changed as Patti reportedly explained:

"I never hated him. He never hated me, We just couldn’t live together—not because of physical fights or anything. We never fought, thank God, in 32 years. We got along even when we didn’t get along! But then we realized that we had to leave each other."

Before Zuri Kye's parents married, his dad had proposed to his mom on three occasions, and she declined each time. However, on the fourth attempt, the "Stir It Up" singer asked for Armstead's hand in marriage. Although their union ended, their friendship only grew stronger, as Patti said:

"We’re cool now. He’s one of my best friends."

Zuri Kye Edwards Became the Strong Shoulder His Mom Can Lean On

Aside from being the son of a Grammy award-winning musician and the subject of a memory she held dearly, Zuri Kye became his mother's trusted manager in her career. His brutal honesty sometimes led to arguments, but Patti understood that he had her best interest at heart, as she said:

"At the end of the day, I realize he gives me the best advice ever. He is so honest, and he is never going to lead me wrong because that’s my baby."

Zuri Kye has rarely appeared on the big screen, but he has supported his mother's entertainment endeavors. He appeared on her TV series "Patti LaBelle's Place," first aired in 2015, where the actress invited and entertained guests at her home.

Zuri Kye also appeared in the 2000s docu-series "Journeys in Black," which chronicled the biographies of famous African Americans, including Kirk Franklin – father to Kerrion Franklin. In 1987, Zuri Kye was in another documentary titled "Biography," which detailed the lives of historical figures and celebrities.

Zuri Kye Edwards Is Now Happily Married & Gifted His Mom 3 Adorable Grandchildren

Zuri Kye is married to a lady named Lona Azami. She has an Instagram page, but she keeps it private. Together with her husband, Lona welcomed Gia on March 3, 2015. Over two years later, the couple had their second daughter, Leyla, on September 15, 2017.

Last December, Patti announced they had welcomed their youngest and only son, Zuri Jr. Alongside an adorable picture of the infant, she described her youngest grandchild as "one of the best gifts ever" of her holiday season.

In November 2018, the late Jackie LaBelle's sister opened up about how the presence of her grandchildren changed "everything" about Christmas. At the time, Gia was three years old and loved helping her grandmother cook in the kitchen. Patti also explained that she let Gia and Leyla "make a fool out of her" and elaborated:

"Anytime they come to my house they take my jewelry, they play with everything, they break things. And I thought I would have a fit but I don’t mind."

Zuri Kye Edwards Distances Himself Away from the Spotlight despite Mom's Fame

Only Zuri Kye's wife and daughters have social media pages. Gia and Leyla have a joint page on Instagram, but like their mom's, it is private. Still, despite having no official accounts, Zuri Kye has made a few public appearances alongside the "Patti LaBelle's Place" host.

He was present at her 2007 birthday celebration at Serafina on July 19 in New York. Zuri Kye also accompanied the "New Attitude" songstress on stage at the 2011 BETs when she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Three years later, they attended the Broadway production of "After Midnight" on February 2, 2014, in NYC.