With his child-pornography trial set to start in a month, is R. Kelly already planning to go on tour shortly afterward? R&B singer Keyshia Cole let the news slip during an interview with MTV News on Monday, when she revealed, "We're actually going on tour together in October."
Neither Cole nor Kelly's camps have confirmed when exactly in October such a tour would begin, but the timing is unusual for a number of reasons.
Kelly's trial starts September 17, and while it's expected to run for four weeks, it could run even longer because of the unpredictable length of jury deliberations. Michael Jackson's jury, for instance, deliberated over the course of seven days, while O.J. Simpson's jury rendered a verdict in less than four hours. So at best, Kelly would be tied up in court for most of the month, leaving little time for rehearsal, even if the tour weren't going to start until late in October.
Then there's the issue of whether Kelly would be a free man. For the past five years, when Kelly wanted to tour outside the Chicago jurisdiction, he had to ask the court for permission - in the form of a letter to the prosecutor's office - to give it time to object (which it often did). This time, however, the state attorney's office told MTV News that Kelly has not yet sought permission to tour this October. Granted, should the trial be over by then, Kelly would have no need to seek such permission - he'll either be free to come and go as he pleases, or he'll be awaiting sentencing.
Kelly's camp is hoping for an acquittal and is planning accordingly, but ultimately, it will be up to the jury whether Kelly can take his show on the road.
Despite the uncertainty, Cole said she's excited about the prospect of a joint tour.
"I love R. Kelly," the singer said. "He's surpassed so much. I think people love someone that can go through things and overcome things. A tour together should be hot."