Alicia Keys is an American singer and songwriter. She gained fame after releasing her debut album “Songs in A Minor” in 2001, for which she earned five Grammy Awards. Alicia is best known for her singles “Fallin'”, “You Don’t Know My Name”, “If I Ain’t Got You”, and “Diary”. She is one of the most successful and marketable artists of her generation who has sold over 35 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. Keys has so far received 15 Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 9 Billboard Music Awards, and 12 ASCAP Awards, among many others. In 2023, she produced, wrote, and composed her first Off-Broadway musical, Hell’s Kitchen. Alicia has not only dominated the charts but has also left an indelible mark on the music industry with her authenticity and versatility. So, who is Alicia Keys? Here’s everything we know about the global sensation.
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Alicia Keys Biography
Alicia Keys was born on 25 January 1981, in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, New York, United States of America. She’s currently 43 years old.
| Birth Name | Alicia Augello Cook |
| Nickname | Lellow |
| Date of Birth | January 25, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, U.S. |
| Age | 43 years old |
| Sun Sign | Aquarius |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African American, Sicilian, Scottish, Irish |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Swizz Beatz |
| Children | 2 |
| Net Worth | $150 million |
Family
- Father – Craig Cook (Flight attendant)
- Mother – Teresa Augello (Paralegal and part-time actress)
- Siblings – She’s the only child.
Education
Alicia Keys joined the Professional Performing Arts School at the age of 12 and graduated in four years as valedictorian at the age of 16, majoring in a choir. She later got enrolled at Columbia University but left her studies to make a career in music.
Alicia Keys Personal Life
Alicia Keys married producer Swizz Beatz in July 2010 after dating for two years. The couple welcomed their first son, Egypt Daoud Dean, in October 2010. She gave birth to their second son, Genesis Ali Dean, in December 2014.
Physical Statistics
| Height | Feet – 5 feet 6 inches Centimeters – 168 cm Meters – 1.68 m |
| Weight | Kilograms – 57 kg Pounds – 126 lbs |
| Body Build | Slim |
| Body Measurements | 34A-26-38 |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Shoe Size | 6.5 (US) |
| Dress Size | 4 (US) |
| Distinctive Features |
Professional Statistics
Album Debut
Alicia Keys dropped her debut album Songs in A Minor on June 5, 2001. The album topped the music charts in the US, US R&B, and the Netherlands and was certified as 6x Platinum in the USA. It spawned hit singles “Fallin”, “A Woman’s Worth” and “How Come You Don’t Call Me” and sold 12 million copies of the album worldwide. She won five Grammy Awards in various categories for the single “Fallin”, making her the second female solo artist to win five Grammy Awards in a single night.
As of 2025, Alicia has released nine studio albums –
- Songs in A Minor (2001)
- The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
- As I Am (2007)
- The Element of Freedom (2009)
- Girl on Fire (2012)
- Here (2016)
- Alicia (2020)
- Keys (2021)
- Santa Baby (2022)
Genre
R&B, pop, soul
Instruments
Vocals, bass guitar, cello, guitar, keyboards, piano, synthesizer, vocoder
Labels
Arista, Columbia Records, J Records, RCA
Film Debut
Alicia Keys was the first cast as Georgia Sykes in Joe Carnahan’s Smokin’ Aces in 2007.
Television Debut
Alicia made her first appearance in any television series as Maria in NBC’s sitcom The Cosby Show in an episode titled “Slumber Party”.
Brand Endorsements
Keys has done endorsement work for several brands including BlackBerry, Citibank Private Pass Credit Card and Proactiv acne treatment.
Favorite Things
- Cities – New York, Barcelona
- Makeup – Eyeliner
- Book – The Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
Alicia Keys Net Worth
As of 2025, Alicia Keys has a total net worth of $150 million. She resides in a luxury mansion in Englewood, New Jersey, USA. She owns a pink Lotus Evora GTE.
Trivia
Alicia started playing piano at the age of seven.
she began songwriting at age fourteen.
She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Alicia cites Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, and the Wu-Tang Clan as her musical influences.
Keys’ voice and work influenced numerous singers including Adele, Bruno Mars, Emeli Sandé, Lauren Jauregui, Normani Kordei, and Ally Brooke.
Alicia was named one of People Magazine’s “Breakthrough Stars of 2001”.
Alicia was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful People by People Magazine in 2002.
She appeared on the covers of Vibe, Vanity Fair, Seventeen, and Teen magazines
She ranked #77 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.
In 2010, Alicia wrote the song ‘Speechless’, which she dedicated to the birth of her first son, Egypt.
In 2011, a wax figure of Keys was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York.
She merited a place in TIME magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People” issue with an homage written by Kerry Washington in May 2017.
Alicia Keys received and shared the award for the Ambassador of Conscience 2017 from Amnesty International alongside Canadian Indigenous rights activists in May 2017.
On November 4, 2022, she released her ninth studio album, Santa Baby, which featured the hit single “December Back 2 June”.
Alicia’s first Off-Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen” premiered at The Public Theater’s Newman Theater in New York City on November 19, 2023.
Alicia has won several awards including 15 Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 9 Billboard Music Awards, and 7 BET Awards.