Grammy Award winning R&B soul singer, songwriter and actress Alicia Keys hit the music scene with her debut album, Songs in A Minor, which sold over 235,000 copies in its first week. It received both critical acclaim and commercial success and paved the way for a successful singing career for Keys. She is also a well known song writer and has even been quoted saying that she will jot notes for songs on her cell phone.http://www.pr-inside.com/keys-writes-songs-on-her-cellphone-r1870876.htm

In May 2010 the musical "Fela" that was produced by Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith was nominated for an amazing 11 Tony Award nominations.http://www.examiner.com/x-46613-MTV-Examiner~y2010m5d4-JayZ-and-Alicia-Keys-dominate-Tony-Award-nominations This musical is a strong contender to win Musical of the Year, and leads the pack, tied with "La Cage aux Folles", for the most nominations. "Fela" was also nominated for Best Direction, Best Choreography and Best Book of a Musical.

On May 13, 2009, Keys appeared on American Idol and urged viewers to donate to "Keep a Child Alive" charity. Keys asked every Idol fan to text the word ALIVE and donate $5 to the charity that helps children and families with HIV/AIDS.Wtop.com: Alicia Keys asks `Idol' fans to text for charity (May 13, 2009)

In June 2009, Keys was awarded the Golden Note Award, an award given to artists "who have achieved extraordinary career milestones" by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i2c0d30928617f5ec2a961b09d785be34 Her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom, was released in December 2009. The album has resulted in four singles: Doesn't Mean Anything, Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart, Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down (a duet with Jay-Z), and Put It in a Love Song (with Beyoncé).http://twitter.com/ElementofAlicia/status/7068902715http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a196200/keys-to-release-solo-version-of-empire.html

In her personal life Alicia made news in 2009 when it came out she had an affair with producer Swizz Beatz, husband of R&B singer Mashonda, shortly after the birth of his son. Beatz has since divorced his wife.http://www.sohh.com/2010/04/swizz_beatz_gets_his_grown_man_on_part_o.html Alicia and Swizz Beatz are rumored to be getting married in the summer of 2010.http://www.whosdatedwho.com/news/?RD=000262501 She is expecting her first child with Swizz Beatz.

In 2003, Keys' second album The Diary of Alicia Keys was released and debuted at number one in the United States, selling over 618,000 copies in the first week of it's release. As of 2007, she has sold over forty-one million albums and singles. She works with the youth group Frum tha Ground Up and teaches children to achieve success in all aspects of their lives. Keys had had several film and television appearances. Her film debut was on the 2007 crime movie Smokin' Aces in which she played an assassin named Georgia Sykes.

"I can't wait to become a mom. No question," ... "It's the most beautiful gift in the world. Truly a gift from God."

"Oh my God, the hip-hop videos! The imagery is so awful! I just can't get with it at all. The best thing I can say about it is that sometimes you have to see that kind of stuff so as to have a more balanced view about why it's so bad."

'"I always want to stay focused on who I am, even as I'm discovering who I am."

"Keep a Child Alive is my passion and my mission."

"I believe AIDS is the most important issue we face, because how we treat the poor is a reflection of who we are as a people."

"My mom always said, 'Don't date a guy who thinks he's prettier than you."

2001: Songs in A Minor
2003: The Diary of Alicia Keys
2005: Unplugged
2007: As I Am
2009: The Element of Freedom

2001: Fallin
2002: A Woman's Worth, How Come You Don't Call Me, Girlfriend
2003: You Don't Know My Name
2004: If I Ain't Got You, Diary, Karma
2005: Unbreakable
2006: Every Little Bit Hurts
2007: No One, Like You'll Never See Me Again
2008: Teenage Love Affair, Superwoman
2009: Doesn't Mean Anything, Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart
2010: Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down, Put It in a Love Songhttp://www.billboard.com/#/artist/alicia-keys/chart-history/433721

1985: The Cosby Show
2001: Charmed
2003: American Dreams, The Proud Family
2005: Sesame Street
2006: The Backyardigans
2007: Cane, Elmo's Christmas Countdown, Smokin' Aces, The Nanny Diaries
2008: Dove "Fresh Takes", The Secret Life of Beeshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm1006024/