R. Kelly, the once-dominant R&B superstar whose career collapsed under a cascade of sexual abuse allegations, has received a confirmed prison release date from federal authorities. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator and court documents updated on January 28, 2026, Kelly is scheduled for release on December 21, 2027. The date accounts for good-conduct time credits and reflects the remainder of his 30-year sentence imposed in June 2022 following his conviction on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in the Eastern District of New York.

Kelly, 59, was found guilty in September 2021 on nine counts, including one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act (transporting individuals across state lines for illegal sexual activity). Prosecutors proved that Kelly used his fame, entourage, and inner circle to recruit, groom, and sexually abuse dozens of underage girls and young women over more than two decades. The racketeering conviction treated his operation as a criminal enterprise, with evidence including surveillance video, witness testimony, and Kelly’s own recorded conversations. U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly sentenced him to 30 years, calling his crimes “a grotesque abuse of power and trust.”

In a separate federal case in Chicago, Kelly was convicted in 2022 of child pornography and enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity, receiving a concurrent 20-year sentence. The sentences run concurrently, meaning the 2027 release date applies to the longer New York term. Kelly has been incarcerated since his 2019 arrest, primarily at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago and later at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina.

The announcement of the release date has reignited intense public reaction. Survivors and advocacy groups expressed outrage that Kelly will be eligible for release after serving only about a third of his sentence, thanks to federal good-time credits (up to 15% reduction for model behavior). Gloria Allred, who represents several victims, called the date “a slap in the face to survivors,” arguing that “good behavior in prison does not erase decades of predatory conduct.” #JusticeForSurvivors and #RKellyIsNotFree trended on social media within hours, with many demanding legislative changes to eliminate early-release credits in sex-crime cases.

Supporters of Kelly, however, continue to maintain his innocence, pointing to inconsistencies in witness testimony and alleging prosecutorial overreach. A small but vocal group on social media claimed the release date proves the case was weak. Kelly’s legal team has not commented on the BOP update but previously filed appeals arguing the sentences were excessive and that venue issues prejudiced the trials. Those appeals remain pending in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Kelly’s fall from grace marked one of the most dramatic collapses in music history. Once celebrated for hits like “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Ignition (Remix),” and “Trapped in the Closet,” he faced mounting accusations starting in the early 2000s, culminating in the 2019 Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly, which revived public pressure and led to his arrest. The federal trials laid bare a pattern of coercion, isolation, and abuse, with victims testifying that Kelly controlled every aspect of their lives, from what they ate to when they could use the bathroom.

Upon release in December 2027, Kelly will be under supervised release for the remainder of his original sentence term and will be required to register as a sex offender. He faces significant financial challenges—millions in unpaid royalties have been seized to satisfy civil judgments—and his music catalog has been largely deplatformed from major streaming services.

For many survivors and advocates, the 2027 date represents neither justice nor closure. It stands as a stark reminder of how long it took for accountability to arrive—and how much sooner it will end. As one survivor told reporters: “He’ll walk free while we still carry the trauma every day.”

The music may have stopped for R. Kelly long ago, but the echoes of his crimes—and the fight for justice—continue.