Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys (born Alicia Augello Cook) a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, pianist and actress known for hits including “Fallin’,” “No One” and “Empire State of Mind.” Keys was born and raised in New York City by her mother, Terria Joseph, in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen. She began piano lessons at age 7 and attended Manhattan’s Professional Performance Arts School, where she majored in choir and graduated at 16. She was accepted to Columbia University on a full scholarship but left after four weeks to pursue music.

Keys signed with Columbia Records at 15 before moving to Arista Records and later J Records. Her 2001 debut album, Songs in A Minor, launched her to stardom and topped the Billboard 200. At the 2002 Grammys, she won five awards, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for “Fallin’.”

Keys went on to release albums including The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), As I Am (2007), The Element of Freedom (2009), Girl on Fire (2012), Here (2016), Alicia (2020) and Keys (2021). She has won 17 Grammys and was awarded the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award in 2025. Throughout her career, she has also appeared in films including Smokin’ Aces (2006) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008), served as a coach on The Voice and co-created and starred in the Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen, which won the 2025 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.

Keys married producer and rapper Swizz Beatz in July 2010. They have two sons, Egypt (born in 2010) and Genesis (born in 2014).