Alicia Keys is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist best known for hits such as “Fallin’” and “Girl On Fire.” She was born on January 25, 1981, in New York City as Alicia Augello Cook. Keys grew up in Hell’s Kitchen and credited her single mom for her tough upbringing and for encouraging her to pursue her talents. After training as a classical pianist, Keys started composing songs at 12 years old and signed onto her first record label three years later.
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In 2001, Keys released her debut album “Songs In A Minor” to critical and commercial success. The album and the number-one single “Fallin’” earned the aspiring superstar five Grammy Awards in one night. Two years later, Keys dropped her second album, “The Diary Of Alicia Keys”, with hit singles like “If I Ain’t Got You” and “You Don’t Know My Name.” She then collaborated with Usher on the song “My Boo” and achieved her second number-one song.
From 2009 to 2021, Keys published six more studio albums, including “As I Am” (2007), “The Element of Freedom” (2009), and “Girl On Fire” (2012). Her records spawned several successful singles, like “No One,” “Empire State of Mind,” and the fifth album’s title track, “Girl On Fire.” In 2022, Keys established her independent label, Alicia Keys Records, and released her ninth studio album, “Santa Baby”.
With a career spanning decades, Keys has seen it all. From evading predatory producers early in her career to speculations surrounding her sexuality, the singer has shared her thoughts on her evolution in the music industry. But even after her whirlwind romance and subsequent marriage, many fans are still asking: is Alicia Keys gay? Read on below to find out.
VOTE: What is Alicia Keys’s Sexuality?
Alicia Keys’ Relationships
Throughout her time in the spotlight, Alicia Keys only had two public relationships. She first dated producer Kerry Brothers in 1999 when she was starting out in the entertainment industry. Although the relationship lasted for almost a decade, it wasn’t meant to be. The pair quietly went their separate ways in 2008 shortly before the singer reconnected with her future husband.
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Apparently, Keys and Swizz Beatz, also known as Kasseem Dean, first met as teenagers in New York City. The singer admitted in her memoir that she wasn’t interested in Beatz initially due to his “flashy personality.” However, the duo remained friends since they ran in the same social circles.
In 2008, Keys broke up with Brothers and rekindled her friendship with Beatz. As they collaborated on a music project, the singer began to change her mind about the producer. She stated that he had “so much depth” beneath his baggy jeans and arm tattoos. It was reported that the couple started dating later in the year. Unfortunately, this part of their relationship is where things get hazy.
It’s important to note that when Keys and Beatz were collaborating, the latter was still married to Mashonda Tifrere, with whom he shared a teenage son. A year after the duo reconnected, Beatz filed for divorce, allegedly blindsided his then-wife. In an open letter to Keys, Tifrere accused her of stealing her husband and breaking up her family.
My concern with [Alicia Keys] is no longer the fact that she assisted in destroying a family but that she has the audacity to make these selfish comments about love and wanting to be with someone, even after knowing their situation. I feel that after [one] and a half years of you hiding this affair and acting like it [doesn’t] exist, that now is the time to confront it, since you talk so openly about it now… You have no idea how much pain I was caused because of this affair.”
Mashonda Tifrere via Twitter, 2009
Beatz denied the allegations and insisted that he was already separated from his wife when he started seeing the R&B superstar. Keys also defended herself two years later in an interview with Essence Magazine.
We didn’t start seeing each other until months after they had separated. I was aware of all the false things that were being said about me. It definitely hurt.”
Alicia Keys to Essence, 2011
Keys and Beatz tied the knot in 2010 and welcomed their first child, Egypt Daoud Dean, later that same year. Four years later, they had their second son, Genesis Ali Dean. Fortunately, the couple were able to reconcile with Tifrere in an effort to co-parent their children together. In an interview with People Magazine in 2018, Tifrere confirmed that everything was great between her and Keys.
It took two years into our blending to make it happen, but when we did it was like turning the light on. We realized we could minimize the impact on our children by reducing the conflict we had with one another. There were never any big blowouts. There were times when we didn’t fully agree, but we were all comfortable just letting it go.”
Mashonda Tifrere to People, 2018
Addressing the Sexuality Rumors
In 2016, Keys released her sixth studio album “Here” which included the track, “Where Do We Begin Now.” The song raised speculations about the singer’s sexuality since the lyrics referred to a female lover. While Keys didn’t explain the meaning behind the song, sources insisted that it wasn’t autobiographical.
This wasn’t the first time that Keys’ sexuality came into question. After the drop of her second album, rumors started circulating that the Grammy singer was a lesbian. It’s probable that the talks stemmed from her boyish style and strong personality. However, in a 2003 article from People, Keys denied being a lesbian and blamed television for planting the idea in the minds of the viewers.
Is Alicia Keys Gay?
No, Alicia Keys is not gay. The singer clarified in 2003 that she was not a lesbian. Keys is currently married to long-time partner and producer Swizz Beatz with whom she has two children.