She made her film debut in Smokin' Aces which included Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Chris Pine, Ryan Reynolds, Taraji P.
Keys made guest appearances on several television series in the following years, beginning with Charmed. She became the first female to have an MTV Unplugged album to debut at number one and the highest since Nirvana in 1994. Later that year, she released her first live album, Unplugged, which debuted at number one in the United States. The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards in 2005. Her second studio album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, was released in 2003 and was also another success worldwide, selling eight million copies. The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'" becoming the second American recording artist to win five Grammys in one night. She became the best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist of 2001. Keys' debut album, Songs in A Minor, was a commercial success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Keys released her debut album with J Records, having had previous record deals first with Columbia and then Arista Records. The album earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for "Fallin'" becoming the second American recording artist to w Alicia Keys, born as Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), is an American pianist, R&B singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actress.
Speaking of which, Keys also opted out of the flesh-fest that is the VMAs (pants seem to be optional at this particular event) and instead chose a Just Cavalli dress that covered her from neck to toe.Description: Alicia Keys, born as Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), is an American pianist, R&B singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actress. Nothing.”Īs NY Mag wrote of Keys’ barefaced look at the VMAs, “Here’s to more of the naked face and fewer naked dresses”. Not my face, not my mind, not my soul, not my thoughts, not my dreams, not my struggles, not my emotional growth. “I swear it is the strongest, most empowered, most free, and most honestly beautiful that I have ever felt,” she wrote. I had on a sweatshirt! As far as I was concerned, this was my quick run-to-the-shoot-so-I-can-get-ready look, not the actual photoshoot look.”īut it triggered something of an epiphany for Keys. “Instantly, I became a bit nervous and slightly uncomfortable,” she recalls.
She wrote about her experience for Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letters newsletter. She made the decision to shun makeup earlier this year after she arrived for a photoshoot and the snapper insisted on taking photos of her without makeup. Keys was the definition of “stripped back” as she took to the stage to present the award for best male video at today’s ceremony.įirst of all, she had a completely bare face. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV) NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 28: Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys attend the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards on Augin New York City.