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01
Columbia University accepted her at age 16, but she dropped out to pursue her music career.
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02
Her son Egypt has been called a musical prodigy. At 5 years old he co-produced several tracks for Kendrick Lamar’s album Untitled Unmastered, notably Untitled 07.
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03
She wrote her first song at the age of 14.
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04
On July 31, 2010, she married Swizz Beatz after a two-month engagement in a small ceremony on the French island of Corsica.
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05
She ties with Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill for the most Grammys five won by a woman in a single year.
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06
She has been friends with R&B superstar Usher since she was 14.
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07
Her father, Craig Cook, left the family when she was two.
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08
In November 2006, she performed a three-song set with David Bowie at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, which turned out to be his last ever live performance.
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09
Alicia’s father, Craig Cook, is African-American; her mother, Terria Joseph, is Caucasian. Her maternal grandfather was of Italian descent, and her maternal grandmother had English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry.
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10
She has known Beyoncé since she was 13.
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11
She began to play the piano at age seven.
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12
She graduated from a performing arts high school at age 16.
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13
She wrote and produced Impossible, one of the songs on Christina Aguilera’s album Stripped.
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14
She can also play the guitar.
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15
She says the child she has met that inspired her most is 13-year-old Sydnee Bush of Savannah, Georgia as of 2005.
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16
Before coming up with the last name Keys, she had at one point considered calling herself Alicia Wild.
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17
She has two sons: Egypt Daoud Dean born October 14, 2010 and Genesis Ali Dean born December 27, 2014 with husband Swizz Beatz.
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18
She is good friends with John Mayer and Mariah Carey.
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19
She was the first artist to sign with J Records.
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20
In May 2017, she was featured in TIME magazine’s The 100 Most Influential People issue with an homage written by Kerry Washington.
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21
People Magazine named her one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in 2002.
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22
She is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. 2004.
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23
She was friends with Prince.
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24
She was five months pregnant with her son Egypt when she completed The Freedom Tour, which began in Ottawa, Canada, and ended in New Orleans.
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25
For her wedding to Swizz Beatz, her gown was designed by Vera Wang.
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26
People Magazine named her one of its Breakthrough Stars of 2001.
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27
She returned to work eight months after giving birth to Egypt to perform in The Piano & I Tour, which began in Paris and ended in New York City.
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28
She won the award for Best R&B at the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards.
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29
She has appeared on the covers of Vibe, Vanity Fair, Seventeen, and Teen magazines.
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30
She was born at 3:30 AM.
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31
She ranked #65 in FHM magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2006 supplement.
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32
She ranked #77 on the Maxim magazine Hot 100 of 2008 list.
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33
She returned to work five months after giving birth to Genesis to begin recording her sixth studio album.
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34
She ranked #95 in FHM magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005 special supplement.
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35
She ranked #99 on VH1’s 100 Sexiest Artists.
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36
Her brother is Cole Cook.
