I wasn’t going to write anything about Conjuring Kesha, a new paranormal series premiering July 8 exclusively on discovery+. Thanks to the streamer, I had access to the first two episodes. I barely made it 10 minutes in before I turned episode 1 off. But I’m clearly in the minority disliking it because judging from other reviews so far, Conjuring Kesha is hitting a high note.
The Guardian summed it up as a “bizarre blast,” and the Daily Beast proclaims it’s “the most fun TV you’ll see all year.” They even go so far as to call it “perfect content.” (I’d like to know what they smoked before watching. Or maybe it was just a matter of brushing their teeth with a bottle of Jack? Whatever it was, clearly I missed out on some pre-screening prep that might’ve helped me enjoy it more. )
It wasn’t that what I watched was bad. Kesha and Whitney Cummins, her celebrity guest host in episode 1, have great chemistry. Actually, out of them all, it was the Whitney Cummings episode I was looking forward to most. I usually enjoy her in just about anything I’ve seen her in, the most recent of which was Studio 666. She brought her trademark humor to this too.
I was even looking forward to see Kesha overall. Because, yes. When the show was greenlit in 2021, I was ready to watch her “tearing it apart” going hard and not letting the party stop. So why didn’t I like it?
This S#!t Does Not Feel Magical
It just wasn’t for me. I’m not the target audience.
And I’m not speaking about age or gender demographics. Like the people discovery+ crafts content for, Kesha is a total believer. She’s going in wholeheartedly believing every ghost (and demon) story without questioning if any of it might be at best exaggerated or at worst fabricated.
That’s not me. I question everything. (Just ask my husband. He’ll eagerly tell you that my busy brain is constantly pondering who knows what and driving him crazy by asking questions based on whatever I’m thinking about at the moment.)
But what turned me off —and consequently is why I turned Conjuring Kesha off— was the first episode at Brushy Mountain. It became readily apparent this wasn’t a serious paranormal investigation. These are celebs we’re talking about so there was even more theatrics and over-the-top reactions than in a normal ghost hunting show.
And then there were the demons. Can’t have a show without those these days. Ugh. So it wasn’t Kesha that was the turn-off, but the demons.
Listen, Brushy does have a dark history. When we visited, the two places I felt it most palpably were the Hole and the cafeteria.
In fact, Wayne developed a massive headache shortly after our tour group descended into the Hole. He asked me for Advil and I remember being concerned because he didn’t look quite right. His color was off. I figured it was a combination of the drive (we’d been on the road a couple of hours by then) and the weather (it was pouring that day).
Later I’d learn that he’d felt a wave of nausea followed by chest pains the moment we’d gotten down in the Hole. We ended up having to take him to the ER a few days later. Luckily it turned out he was fine. Work stress.
But anyone else experiencing such a visceral reaction could easily chalk it up to demonic activity, if they were so inclined.
Shortly after Kesha and Whitney get the lowdown on Brushy, Kesha explains how she’s “a spiritual explorer.” Then she goes on to say, “It’s all very fun and whimsical and light and magical and existential. Spiritual. But like this shit does not feel magical.”
She was talking about the activity at “Bloody Brushy,” but that pretty much sums up my feelings about Conjuring Kesha. Which, at the end of the day is a marketing gimmick. As WRMF explained, it’s a “partner piece” to promote her forthcoming new album.
However, again, judging from the early reviews and it ranking on places like the Yahoo!News It List, I’m in the minority. But I guess we’ll find out when it premieres on July 8 and the ratings start coming in.
If you’re not yet familiar with the show and want to know more, read on to check out episode descriptions and watch the teaser trailer.
About Conjuring Kesha
Kesha is a music superstar, but what people might not know is that she’s also serious about the paranormal. On every massive music tour, Kesha’s band and crew beg her to stay in regular hotels, but she won’t have it. Instead, she takes them to haunted hotels with horrifying histories to investigate active paranormal activity. There’s something about Kesha’s brain that needs to be scared and put in scary situations to test the limits. Now Kesha is taking some of her Hollywood friends on the road with her to experience first hand these insane supernatural situations.
Conjuring Kesha Episodes
SERIES PREMIERE: “Not Today, Satan” – Begins Streaming Friday, July 8
Kesha and comedian Whitney Cummings dive into the darkness of Tennessee’s haunted “Bloody Brushy,” a closed penitentiary that encaged the worst of the worst. Kesha is pushed to her limit when she makes contact with a demonic force.
Episode 2: “Songs for the Dead” – Begins Streaming Friday, July 8
Kesha and pop star Betty Who unravel the mysteries of Tennessee’s Antoinette Hall, one of America’s oldest and most haunted opera houses. The deeper they delve into the dark secrets beneath the old stage, the more aggressive the spirits become with Kesha and her crew.
Episode 3: “A Terrifying Truth” – Begins Streaming Friday, July 15
Kesha and actor-rapper GaTa check in for a night of sheer terror at San Francisco’s mysterious Westerfeld House. Is master illusionist Harry Houdini responsible for the electrifying paranormal activity? Is it the satanic rituals and an unsolved murder? They must listen to uncover the truth.
Episode 4: “Into Bigfoot’s Lair” – Begins Streaming Friday, July 22
Kesha takes former “Bachelorette” star Jojo Fletcher to Mount Shasta, a supernatural vortex with the most missing person cases of any national park in the United States. They enlist Bigfoot expert Ronny LeBlanc to lead them through the dark abyss in hopes of spotting the mythical beast.
Episode 5: “Kesha Faces Mortality” – Begins Streaming Friday, July 29
Kesha and supermodel Karen Elson peel back the curtain on the Odd Fellows, a centuries-old secret society infamous for its macabre rituals and literal skeletons in the closet. But their presence in the lodge soon spurs alarming paranormal activity as Kesha grapples with dark truths.
Episode 6: “Descent Into Madness” – Begins Streaming Friday, August 5
Kesha and rapper Big Freedia face their worst fears at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The building comes to life overnight spurring violent activity and revealing disturbing truths. Psychic Chip Coffey joins the investigation in hopes of setting the spirits free.
Check-In
Which celebrity(ies) and/or location(s) are you most interested in seeing Kesha investigate with and visit?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, as well as obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of healing, to learn how she channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
Loading ...
I’m so not-hip. I don’t know these celebrities. But I’d guess the Whitney Cummings episode would be the most entertaining because Cummings is a comedian.
You and I are in the same boat. I had no idea who most of the celebs were either! lol