Meet Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson's Parents Agnes & Kenny – The Singer's Family Is 'A Big Part' of Who She Is
In an industry that is highly competitive, Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson has won many accolades. Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson's parents played a significant role in her career. They natured and supported her talent at a young age.
Gabriella, famously known by her stage name H.E.R., an acronym for Having Everything Revealed, is an R&B singer and songwriter who has made a massive impact in the music industry.
However, the singer dedicates all her achievements and honors to her parents, who have supported her career since day one. In most of her award acceptance speeches, she begins by thanking her parents for believing in her and supporting her art.
The award-winning singer once revealed during an interview with Vogue that her family is behind who she is. She said:
"My family is such a big part of who I am, and what I do, and how I even got here."
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson's Father Is Black, and Her Mother Is Filipino
Gabriella was born to Kenny and Agnes Wilson. The "Slow Down" singer has mixed ancestry and takes pride in her roots. Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson's mother is Filipina American, and her father is Black-American.
Her mother is a professional nurse who works with rehab patients. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the singer honored her mom for going out of her way to save lives. Even though Gabriella's father is a construction worker, his daughter took after his artistic gene; he was once a member of Urban Bushmen, a local California-based band.
When Gabriella received the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, she revealed in her speech that she recorded the song in her bedroom at her mom's house, and her father cried when he first heard the song.
Even though Gabriella prefers keeping her personal life private, in recent years, the "Where I Go" hitmaker opened up about how her parents sacrificed so much to ensure her dreams came true.
Gabriella Wilson (H.E.R.) and her Mother Agnes Wilson during the 93rd Oscar Award ceremony on April 25, 2021. | Source: Getty Images
She revealed that even though her parents had regular jobs and didn't have much money to take her on media tours in New York, they did their best to ensure it happened because they wanted her to live her dreams.
Gabriella positions herself as a Filipina-Black American and is proud of her roots. Some of the things that keep her connected to her ancestry are food and family. She once revealed in an interview that she learned to make kare-kare, a Filipino dish, which was her favorite during quarantine.
The singer and her family occasionally visit the Philippines and remain committed to learning more about her roots. Gabriella, who has a massive following on social media, has learned to embrace her Asian and Black roots and use them to her advantage.
She tries her best to represent her heritage and has collaborated with different costume designers who design outfits that help her represent her Filipino heritage.
Gabriella Wilson Always Mentions Her Parents in Award Acceptance Speeches
Gabriella speaks highly of her parents and the support they have given her through the years. Whenever she wins an award, she always thanks her parents for giving her opportunities to explore her talent.
During the 93rd Oscar event, she attended the ceremony with her mother and recognized her while giving her award acceptance speech. She said:
"Of course, I have to thank God for giving us these gifts, my parents, my beautiful mother who's here with me today, and my father at home. All those days of listening to Sly and the Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye really paid off, so thank you, Dad."
When Gabriella received the Grammy Award for Song of the Year, she revealed in her speech that she recorded the song in her bedroom at her mom's house, and her father cried when he first heard the song. The 25-year-old was nominated alongside Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, and Dua Lipa.