
Alicia Keys
Biography
Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter. A classically-trained pianist, Keys was composing songs by age 12. She was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Records, and then, after disputes with the label, by Arista Records. Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, was released with J Records in 2001. Praised for Keys' musical talents and creative control, Songs in A Minor was critically and commercially successful, producing her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Fallin'" and selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Songs in A Minor earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002. Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), was also a critical and commercial success, spawning successful singles "You Don't Know My Name", "If I Ain't Got You" and "Diary", and selling eight million copies worldwide. The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards. Her duet song "My Boo" with Usher became her second number-one single in 2004. Keys released her first live album, Unplugged (2005), and became the first female to have an MTV Unplugged album debut at number one.
Her third album, As I Am (2007), produced the Hot 100 number-one single "No One", selling 5 million copies worldwide and earning an additional three Grammy Awards. In 2007, Keys made her film debut in the action-thriller film Smokin' Aces. Her fourth album,The Element of Freedom (2009), became her first chart-topping album in the UK, and sold 4 million copies worldwide. In 2009, Keys also collaborated with Jay Z on "Empire State of Mind", which became her fourth number-one single, and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2010. Girl on Fire (2012) was her fifth Billboard 200 topping album, spawning the successful title track, and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. In 2013, VH1 Storytellers was released as her second live album. Her sixth studio album, Here (2016), became her seventh US R&B/Hip-Hop chart topping album.
Keys has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including 15 competitive Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 12 ASCAP Awards, and awards from the Songwriters Hall of Fame and National Music Publishers Association. She has sold over 35 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. Considered a musical icon, Keys was named by Billboard the top R&B artist of the 2000s decade and placed number 10 on their list of Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years. VH1 also included her on their 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and 100 Greatest Women in Music lists, while Time have named her in their 100 list of most influential people in 2005 and 2017. Keys is also known for her humanitarian work, philanthropy and activism, and has received accolades for such work. Keys co-founded and is the Global Ambassador of the nonprofit HIV/AIDS-fighting organization Keep a Child Alive.
Acting (59 movies)

Smokin' Aces
2006

The Nanny Diaries
2007

The Secret Life of Bees
2008

Alicia Keys Rocks New Year's Eve
2020

Live 8
2005

Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020
2020

Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
2022

2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2021

Alicia Keys: Unplugged
2005

Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now
2023

Alicia Keys - Landmarks Live in Concert
2017

Uncharted
2023

Kanye West: DONDA Experience Performance 2 22 22
2022

Alicia Keys - Live in New York
2009

Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
2010

12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
2012

Alicia Keys: iTunes Festival
2012

Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
2004

Alicia Keys - VH1 Storytellers
2013

Alicia Keys - Citi Concert Series Today Show
2021

Alicia Keys: Rock In Rio
2013

Platinum Party at the Palace
2022

Nas: Time Is Illmatic
2014

John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly
2014

The Best of Max
2002

A MusiCares Tribute to Carole King
2015

Apple Music Live: Alicia Keys
2022

Alicia Keys - Live at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2023
2023

Alicia Keys - MTV Crashes Manchester
2012

Alicia Keys Taratata 2012
2012

Jem and the Holograms
2015

Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
2015

They All Came Out to Montreux
2023

Post Malone: Runaway
2022

Prince and His Songs at the BBC
2024

Alicia Keys at the BBC
2023

Sesame Street: Elmo's Christmas Countdown
2007

Q: The Man
2009

Girl Rising
2013

The Gospel
2016

Alicia Keys: Baloise Session 2017
2017

Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
2017

Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
2019

Alicia Keys: From Start to Stardom
2003

The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
2014

A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant
2020

FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America
2020

One World: Together at Home
2020

America | A Tribute to Heroes
2001

Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince
2020

Dear Class of 2020
2020

Alicia Keys - As I Am
2008

Alicia Keys - Here in Times Square
2016

Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy
2020

Mademoiselle C
2013

Alicia Keys Live in Los Angeles
2020

Christina Aguilera: Stripped
2002

The Disappearance of Miss Scott
2025

The Re-Up
2012
Directing (1 movie)
| Title | Year | Job |
|---|---|---|
| The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete | 2013 | Executive Producer |
| The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete | 2013 | Original Music Composer |
| The Gospel | 2016 | Executive Producer |
| The Gospel | 2016 | Original Music Composer |
| Let Me In | 2016 | Executive Producer |
| Work It | 2020 | Producer |
| How It Feels to Be Free | 2021 | Executive Producer |
| A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks | 2021 | Executive Producer |
| Resort to Love | 2021 | Producer |
| Uncharted | 2023 | Executive Producer |
