Alicia Keys: 15 Things You Didn’t Know (Part 1)

Alicia Keys is known as one of the most talented artists in the industry right now. Her velvety voice and subdued demeanor make her especially alluring. Despite the fact that she has spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight, there are still some things that many people don’t know about her. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Alicia Keys. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!

Number Fifteen: She Created Her Own App. The app is called The Journals of Mama Mae and LeeLee, and it tells the story of a little girl and her relationship with her mother while living in New York City. The app was actually inspired by Keys’ own relationship with her grandmother.

Number Fourteen: She Has Superstar Fans. One of Keys’ most notable fans is Bob Dylan. Dylan has said, “There’s nothing about [Alicia Keys] I don’t like.” Dylan has even mentioned her in one of his songs, titled “Thunder on the Mountain.”

Number Thirteen: Her Unplugged Album Debuted at Number One. Though the fact that one of her albums debuted at number one is not very surprising in and of itself, what is surprising is that the album to do so was her live album. She was the first female artist to have such a successful unplugged album.

Number Twelve: She Adopted an African Village. Keys has long been a supporter of HIV and AIDS research in Africa, and to fully show her support, she adopted a village. She adopted the village of Soweto, located in South Africa, and she and her husband have been involved with the village’s development.

Number Eleven: She Has Her Own Shoe Line. Keys grew up wearing Reebok 5411s, so she ended up partnering with Reebok in 2012. Her husband, Swizz Beatz, has also worked with Reebok.

Number Ten: She Was Childhood Friends With Beyonce. It’s true! Keys and Beyonce have known each other since they were just teenagers. They both signed with Sony, so they have even shared the stage.

Number Nine: She Was Married by Deepak Chopra. Rather than hire a standard priest, Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz asked Deepak Chopra to preside over their wedding.