All About Brian McKnight’s Kids

Brian McKnight is the father of seven children, including two stepsons with his wife Leilani McKnight.

McKnight has two sons, Brian Jr. and Nika, with ex-wife Julie McKnight (to whom he was married from 1990 to 2003), as well as daughter Briana McKnight from a previous relationship.

After marrying his wife Leilani in 2017, the couple had a son, Keko Matteo, who died in infancy, and then had their “rainbow baby,” son Brian Kaino Mako Jr., in January 2023. The two also have Leilana’s two children from a previous relationship.

Although McKnight often spoke fondly of his children with Leilani, he had a complicated relationship with his three oldest children over the years.

In 2019, McKnight addressed his estranged relationship with his children, noting that “until recently he was there for my kids every step of the way,” clarifying, “I’m not abandoning them. We are estranged.”

Here’s everything there is to know about McKnight’s children.

Brian McKnight Jr.

ANDREAS BRANCH/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Brian is McKnight’s eldest son, whom he shares with ex-wife Julie McKnight. During his childhood, Brian attended many events with his father, including the 2000 American Music Awards and various movie premieres. In addition, Brian has performed several times with his father, including The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet in 2008.

In 2009, McKnight talked about his sons Brian and Nik as they were about to release their debut album under the name MCKNIGHT. “They do all the music themselves,” McKnight told SoulCulture of his sons. “I’m only here as an executive producer. I am the proudest dad on planet earth.”

Brian Jr. is also a father. Recently, he and his girlfriend Adina welcomed a girl in 2022. “I can’t wait to really tell you how completely you changed our lives and brought so much joy, acceptance, forgiveness and pure love to the family, my sweet girl!” he wrote on Instagram while celebrating his daughter’s first birthday in June 2023. “Your birthday will always be the beginning of summer my little Gemini.”

In October 2023, the elder McKnight announced that he had legally changed his name to share the name with his newborn son, despite already being “older” than Brian McKnight Jr.

Shortly thereafter, Brian Jr. reacted to the name change on his Instagram Story, as he responded to a commenter who said he should change his name as well. “I’m not ashamed of the name my ancestors had,” he said, according to a screenshot taken by The Source.

“All we can do is pray for that man and my new little brother, who one day we will all welcome with open arms, when he realizes who his real family is,” he wrote. “The legacy is not in the name. It is in the character of the people. Soon everything will be clear, just who is on the right side of all this, because there is no escaping what is coming.”

Niko McKnight

Tibrina Hobson/WireImage

During his marriage to Julie, McKnight had his second son, Nik (pictured right). Like his brother Brian, Niko made a handful of public appearances alongside his father when he was younger and performed alongside him while he and Brian Jr. promoted their group MCKNIGHT.

In fact, McKnight’s song “42” was co-written with Brian Jr. and the music video was directed by Niko. According to his LinkedIn profile, he is currently based in Los Angeles and also works as a photographer.

In August 2019, McKnight made a rare public statement about his oldest three children after Brian Jr. claimed that his father had “abandoned” him and his siblings.

“Abandonment has nothing to do with this,” McKnight said at the time. “I was there every step of the way,” he added, saying he ended up cutting off his children.

Briana McKnight

Brian McKnight/X

Briana is McKnight’s oldest daughter from a previous relationship. Unlike her older brothers, Briana did not appear with her father that much, except occasionally posting on social networks from the singer, including one from 2012 in which he reflected on how fast he was growing up.

In August 2019, McKnight addressed his complicated relationship with his daughter while speaking about his estrangement with his children.

In the video, McKnight claimed that Briana’s mother blocked him and his wife from all of her social media accounts and “completely distanced her from us.” He also went on to claim that Briana’s mother only wanted to have a child with him “for the money”.

In 2020, Briana filed a lawsuit against her father, claiming he “maliciously defamed her” on social media, according to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com. The case was later settled before trial, and McKnight disclosed documents showing he had agreed to pay Briana more than $200,000.

In a video he shared on his YouTube channel in May 2023, McKnight claimed his estrangement with his children was “mutual”. He added that after Brian Jr. and Briana posted about him in 2019, “every path toward reconciliation and their recognition” became a “dead issue” and he changed his will.

Julia McPhee

Brian McKnight/ Instagram

Julia McPhee is Leilana’s daughter from a previous relationship and McKnight’s stepdaughter. According to her Instagram, she lives in Atlanta after graduating from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences.

In June 2021, McKnight expressed his excitement for Julia’s graduation when he posted a photo of them from her big day. “My daughter, I couldn’t be prouder of you today,” he wrote at the time. “Your mom and I have been with you every step of the way on this important journey to the Bachelor of Science degree you just earned and even though we had really high expectations for you, you have met and completely exceeded them!!”

In 2020, McKnight faced backlash when he thanked Julia for “making me a dad”, even though he was already the father of Briana. “Jules, I became a dad because of YOU and I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter,” McKnight wrote in the caption.

“Visiting you on campus and seeing how happy you are living in this beach house with all your friends your senior year reminded us how proud we are of the woman you’ve become and the amazing student you continue to be,” he continued. . “Here you are Jules, the perfect daughter I always wanted.”

Jack McPhee

Brian McKnight/ Instagram

Jack McPhee is Leilana’s son from a previous relationship and McKnight’s stepson. McKnight has posted many tributes to Jack over the years, including a sentimental post in May 2021 when he presented him with a special watch in honor of his graduation.

“Jack, I bought this @breitling the year your mom and I started dating and I’ve been waiting to give it to you when you graduate from high school my son,” he wrote alongside a photo of them at Jack’s graduation. “Congratulations and now you’ll always know what time it is.”

In September 2022, McKnight celebrated Jack’s entry into adulthood at the age of 20. “Don’t look at this as aging, this is a gift, a path that leads you to become the perfect man that your mom and I raised you to be.” he wrote. “I say perfect, because you are perfect and I could not ask for a better legacy, father to son, than you.”

Kekoa McKnight

Brian McKnight/ Instagram

In May 2022, McKnight revealed that he and Leilani had experienced a pregnancy loss while writing a letter to their late son Kekoa Matteo McKnight. “Today should have been your due date, your birthday should have been on Mother’s Day ❤️,” he captioned the May 8 post. “We celebrate, love and honor you today and every day our beautiful little boy….until we meet again one day, we love you.”

He also shared a Mother’s Day tribute to Leilana by sharing their “last family picture before the birth of our son Kekoa”.

“I know how hard it is for us that she is not here in the body with us, but I know that she is with us just like Julia and Jack, as bright examples of your exceptional motherhood,” he wrote in the post.

Brian Kainoa Makoa Jr.

Leilani McKnight/Instagram

In November 2022, McKnight announced that he and Leilani were expecting a child following the death of their son Kekoa. “We are thrilled to finally announce that BABY MCKNIGHT is coming soon!!!!!!!🤍🤍🤍,” he captioned the post, including a message to Leilana calling her “my everything, my hero, my reason for living.”

In January 2023, the couple welcomed a boy named Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight. “‘We prayed for this child and the Lord granted us the desires of our hearts’ 1 Samuel 1:27 God’s greatest gift, our son is here!!!” the couple wrote alongside a photo of McKnight and Leilani making a heart with their arms around the child’s arm.

In October 2023, McKnight revealed that he had legally changed his name to Brian Kainoa Makoa McKnight Sr. in order to “match my legacy exactly”. The announcement was considered controversial because he already has a namesake son, Brian McKnight Jr.

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Source: HIS Education