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.
The Disappearance of Miss Scott
Self
2025
Prince and His Songs at the BBC
Self (archive footage)
2024
Alicia Keys: Rehearsal Room
2024
Alicia Keys - Live at Capital's Jingle Bell Ball 2023
Self
2023
Alicia Keys at the BBC
Singer
2023
They All Came Out to Montreux
Self
2023
Uncharted
Self
2023
Lewis Capaldi: How I'm Feeling Now
Self (archive footage)
2023
Apple Music Live: Alicia Keys
Cantora
2022
Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL
Self (archive footage)
2022
Post Malone: Runaway
Self
2022
Platinum Party at the Palace
Self
2022
Kanye West: DONDA Experience Performance 2 22 22
Self
2022
Alicia Keys - Citi Concert Series Today Show
Self
2021
2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Self
2021
Alicia Keys Rocks New Year's Eve
Self
2020
Every Vote Counts: A Celebration of Democracy
Self - Host
2020
Song Exploder
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Dear Class of 2020
Self
2020
History 101
Self (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
2020
Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020
Self - Musical Guest
2020
Regular Heroes
Self · (1 episode)
2020
Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince
Self
2020
One World: Together at Home
Self
2020
Alicia Keys Live in Los Angeles
Self
2020
FOX Presents the iHeart Living Room Concert for America
Self
2020
VERZUZ
Self · (1 episode)
2020
A Celebration of Life for Kobe and Gianna Bryant
2020
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2019
Desus & Mero
Self - Illustrious Guest · (1 episode)
2019
Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul
Self
2019
Red Table Talk
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Alicia Keys: Baloise Session 2017
Self - Performing Artist
2017
Alicia Keys: Rock in Rio 2017
Self
2017
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self · (1 episode)
2017
Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Self
2017
Alicia Keys - Landmarks Live in Concert
Self
2017
Alicia Keys - Here in Times Square
Self - Singer
2016
Let Me In
Zara
2016
The Gospel
Self
2016
Taraji's White Hot Holidays
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert
Self
2015
Jem and the Holograms
Alicia Keys
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self - Musical Guest · (2 episodes)
2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
Self · (1 episode)
2015
A MusiCares Tribute to Carole King
Self
2015
John Mayer: Someday I'll Fly
Self
2014
Nas: Time Is Illmatic
Self
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (3 episodes)
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
(1 episode)
2014
The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to the Beatles
Self
2014
Alicia Keys: Rock In Rio
Self - Singer
2013
Mademoiselle C
Self
2013
Alicia Keys - VH1 Storytellers
Self
2013
Girl Rising
Narrator - Cambodia (voice)
2013
12-12-12 | The Concert for Sandy Relief
Self
2012
Alicia Keys Taratata 2012
Self
2012
The Re-Up
Self
2012
Alicia Keys - MTV Crashes Manchester
Self
2012
Alicia Keys: iTunes Festival
Self
2012
The Voice
Self - Coach · (83 episodes)
2011
Radio 1's Big Weekend
Self · (2 episodes)
2010
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
2010
Hope for Haiti Now
Self
2010
Alicia Keys – The Element Of Freedom: Deluxe Edition
Self
2009
Alicia Keys - Live in New York
Self
2009
DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70
Self (archive footage)
2009
MTV World Stage
Self · (1 episode)
2009
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge · (1 episode)
2009
Q: The Man
Self
2009
Alicia Keys - As I Am
Self
2008
The Secret Life of Bees
June Boatwright
2008
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
Self · (1 episode)
2008
Sesame Street: Elmo's Christmas Countdown
Self
2007
Boris Becker meets
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Schmidt & Pocher
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Cane
Self · (1 episode)
2007
The Nanny Diaries
Lynette
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2007
Smokin' Aces
Georgia Sykes
2006
Iconoclasts
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Live 8
Self
2005
Alicia Keys: Unplugged
Self
2005
The Tyra Banks Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Miley's New Year's Eve Party
Self - Musical Guest · (1 episode)
2004
The Backyardigans
Mommy Martian (voice) · (1 episode)
2004
Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
Self
2004
Alicia Keys live North Sea Jazz
Self
2004
La chanson de l'année
Self · (1 episode)
2004
America Beyond the Color Line
Self · (1 episode)
2004
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self (performance) · (1 episode)
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2003
The Blackout - Fat Joe Vs Jay-Z At The Rucker
Self
2003
America's Next Top Model
Self - Keep a Child Alive · (1 episode)
2003
Alicia Keys: From Start to Stardom
Self
2003
Christina Aguilera: Stripped
Self
2002
American Dreams
Fontella Bass · (1 episode)
2002
CMT Crossroads
Self · (1 episode)
2002
Last Call with Carson Daly
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2002
The Best of Max
Self
2002
Star Academy
Self · (1 episode)
2001
The Saturday Show
Self · (1 episode)
2001
America | A Tribute to Heroes
Self - Performer
2001
The Proud Family
Alicia Keys · (1 episode)
2001
106 & Park
Self · (2 episodes)
2000
Charmed
P3 Patron · (1 episode)
1998
Vivement dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1998
TRL
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Millionär gesucht! - Die SKL Show
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Parkinson
Self · (1 episode)
1998
The View
Self · (4 episodes)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996
MTV Europe Music Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1994
MTV Europe Music Awards
Self - Performer · (1 episode)
1994
Late Show with David Letterman
Self · (1 episode)
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self · (1 episode)
1992
ECHO-Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1992
MTV Unplugged
Self · (1 episode)
1989
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self · (1 episode)
1988
Victoires de la musique
Self · (1 episode)
1985
The Cosby Show
Maria · (1 episode)
1984
MTV Video Music Awards
Self · (7 episodes)
1984
Entertainment Tonight
Self · (1 episode)
1981
Wetten, dass..?
Self · (3 episodes)
1981
Saturday Night Live
Self - Musical Guest · (3 episodes)
1975
Sesame Street
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Grammys
Self · (7 episodes)
1959
The Grammys
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1959