Alicia Keys is a Grammy Award-winning American singer who rose to fame with her debut album Songs in A Minor, which sold over 12 million copies and established her as an overnight sensation. Not only was her debut album a huge commercial success, but it also received critical acclaim and earned her several prestigious awards. Her success continued with the release of subsequent albums, making her one of contemporary America’s most beloved singers. Born to a part-time actress, she was exposed to show business from a young age and was encouraged by her mother to take music and dance lessons. She was just 12, when she enrolled in the Professional Performing Arts School. By the time she graduated, she had developed strong songwriting skills in addition to her singing talent. At the age of 20, she released her debut album, which became a hit, selling millions of copies and earning praise from critics. Her later albums also performed well, proving that she was not a one-hit wonder. Eventually, she ventured into television and film, appearing in movies such as Smokin' Aces and the short film series Dove: Fresh Takes.