Alicia Keys

Alicia in not related to TV host Alan Keyes.

Alicia was a fan of Sue Monk Kidd's book The Secret Life of Bees long before the film adaptation came about. When Alicia was in talks to co-star in the movie, she initially wanted to play tormented younger sister May, because the character was so "interesting and unexpected." Eventually, though, it was decided that the role of headstrong June was better for Alicia.

Alicia was ranked #77 in Maxim's Hot 100 Women 2008.

Alicia teamed up with Jack White from The White Stripes in 2008 to record the song, Another Way To Die, the Bond theme for Quantum of Solace. It is the first time a Bond theme has been recorded by a duet.

Alicia did an advertisement for keepachildalive.org in 2007.

She has brown eyes and dark brown hair.

She was named one of People's "Breakthrough Stars of 2001."

Alicia was accepted into the Professional Performance Arts School of Manhattan and her musical talent as well as her grades allowed her to graduate, as valedictorian, at only sixteen.

Alicia was ranked #73 on BET's Notarized: Top 100 Videos of 2007 for her music video "Like You'll Never See Me Again."

Alicia's astrological sign is Aquarius.

Her favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla with chocolate fudge.

According to herself, Alicia's worst feature is her calves.

Alicia's secret talent is that she is a very good swimmer.

Her idols are Stevie Wonder and Maya Angelou.

She describes herself as 'evolving.'

Alicia's bad habit is cracking her neck.

Her first public performance was performing in The Wizard of Oz, at age four.

She would like to collaborate with Gwen Stefani and Lauryn Hill.

Alicia can play the guitar and piano.

Her musical influences are Mary J. Blige, Marvin Gaye, Miles Davis, Chopin, Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and The Notorious B.I.G..

Alicia's favorite colors are purple and blue.

Alicia Keys was the first artist to sign with J Records.

Alicia's maternal grandmother is of Puerto Rican descent.

She wrote her first song at age 14.

Her nickname is Lellow.

Alicia was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in the World, in May 2007.

Alicia was ranked #33 on VH1's 50 Greatest Women of the Video Era.

She has been good friends with fellow R&B singer Usher since she was 14.

Alicia Keys's hit "Fallin'" was ranked #37 on VH1's 100 Best Songs of the Past 25 Years.

Alicia wants to put together an incredible symphony, an orchestra, to bridge the musical gap between the young and old.

Alicia plans on finishing college, continue to eat a healthy diet, sort of a modified vegetarianism, so that she is fabulous at age 50, and to take more time for herself to get her hair and nails done, have a massage, and just relax, for her goals in the next few years.

Alicia isn't content with stopping at movies and music, she is planning on releasing a book of her poetry, and she intends to write a fictionalized account of her childhood diary as well.

Alicia was honored when she was approached by Halle Berry to star in a movie that she is producing, called Composition in Black and White. The true story of Philippa Schuyler, a famous pianist of the 1940s and 50s. Both Alicia and Philippa are biracial, they spent a lot of time in Harlem, studied piano from an early age, and made music their passion.

Alicia's next award goal is to win an Oscar, so that her nine Grammy Awards don't get lonely. She appeared as an assassin alongside Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, and Jeremy Piven in Joe Carnahan's movie Smokin' Aces.

Alicia signed on with Columbia Records at 16, but after a private meeting with legendary music mogul Clive Davis, he took a liking to her and her music. Clive bought her out of her record contract with Columbia, and gave her the artistic freedom to do her own thing. She's been with him, first at Arista, then J Records ever since.

Alicia was raised in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood by a single mother. She started playing an inherited piano at age 7, and began writing a journal of her own songs at age 11. She was the lead singer for a girl group called Yikes-EmBishion when she was 12.

Alicia and Bono, the frontman of the rock band U2, recorded a version of the Kate Bush/Peter Gabriel song 'Don't Give Up', made available on iTunes, with all proceeds going to provide African families that can't afford medical attention that are affected by HIV.

Alicia does charity work with the African organization 'Keep A Child Alive', a group that supports children in Africa that have AIDS, but no medication. She also goes to the orphanages in Africa, and spends time with the children herself.

Alicia's production company is named Krucial Keys, named after the man she has been dating for years now, Kerry 'Krucial' Brothers.

Alicia is notorious for never talking about her relationships, but she will divulge her plan to steer clear of marriage and children until she is at least thirty years old.

Alicia was born as Alicia Cook, and at age 16, she decided to change her name to reflect the changes in her life. She flipped through the pages of a dictionary, and had almost settled on Alicia Wilde, but was saved by a phone call from her manager. He started to tell her about a strange dream that he had the night before about them, they were trying to open a briefcase together but couldn't find the right key. That's when the right name fell into place, Alicia Keys.

Alicia's talent for singing was discovered when she was five years old, singing in her church choir. She went on to develop her talents as a choir major at Manhattan's Professional Performance Arts School.

Alicia's songs have appeared on movie soundtracks for Shaft and Men in Black.

Alicia's release of her debut album Songs In A Minor sold more than 50,000 copies on the first day.

Alicia has been nicknamed the youngest singer with the oldest soul by her fans as well as her contemporaries.

Alicia composed 'Dragon Days', a tune with a slightly sinister edge was written on her tour bus. She was half way through her tour, living out of her suitcase when the inspiration hit, and she played the chords on her cell phone, so she wouldn't forget them when she was back at her piano.

Alicia wrote the song 'Diary' after having a deeply personal conversation with someone on the road. They traded secrets as if he was her diary and she were his for the moment. After the converstaion was over, she wrote the basis for the song in ten minutes.

In January 2007, Alicia confessed to carrying a knife for protection when she was a teenager growing up in the tough New York neighbourhood, Hell's Kitchen.

In January 2007, Alicia revealed she was considering buying a gun for protection. Alicia had to learn to shoot in her movie Smokin' Aces and as a result she is now confident with handling a firearm.

Alicia went to college at New York University.

Alicia was named one of People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People in 2002.

Alicia was ranked #99 on VH-1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

Alicia was ranked #8 in FHM's "The Hottest Women In Music 2002".

Alicia was ranked #65 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006" supplement.

Alicia was ranked #95 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement.

Her father is of Jamaican ancestry and her mother is of Italian and Irish lineage.

Alicia has one younger half-brother.

She began working on her debut album Songs in A Minor when she was 14 years old.

She is a 9-time Grammy Award winner.

Alicia's height is 5 feet 8 inches tall.