Alicia Keys arrives at the 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)
NEW YORK, Sept. 27, 2025 — Alicia Keys has conquered the Grammys, the charts and the world’s biggest stages, but on Friday night she added a new milestone to her storied career: performing live on Broadway for the very first time.
The 17-time Grammy winner stunned the sold-out audience at the Shubert Theatre when she joined the cast of Hell’s Kitchen — the hit musical inspired by her life and music — for its finale, a rousing rendition of Empire State of Mind. The crowd leapt to its feet as Keys belted out her signature anthem to New York alongside the company.
“I can’t believe this is my first time on a Broadway stage,” Keys told theatergoers afterward, returning for her planned Encore Sessions with Alicia Keys, a new two-night concert series. “That felt real good just now. This is something that truly never happens here, so thank you for being with me for this moment.”
The post-show Encore Sessions are designed to give fans a rare glimpse at songs that were cut during the development of Hell’s Kitchen. On Friday, Keys performed Superwoman, originally intended for a mother-daughter showdown in the show, and Unbreakable, from her 2005 Unplugged album, which she is reissuing on vinyl to mark its 20th anniversary.
She also teamed up with the musical’s stars: Tony winner Kecia Lewis on A Woman’s Worth and Tony nominee Christopher Jackson on Not Even the King. Jessica Vosk, who plays Jersey in the show, joined Keys for a powerful duet of Superwoman.
Reflecting on the show’s creation with director Michael Greif and writer Kristoffer Diaz, Keys admitted there were moments of artistic conflict. She recalled resisting changes, only to concede that new material often proved stronger. One such compromise led to 17, a pivotal number she described as her “first true musical theatre song.”
“I was pretty bummed out when Michael told me to write something else, but it pushed me to create something beautiful,” Keys said.
Keys’ second Encore Session is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27. VIP ticket holders can expect premium seating, merchandise bundles and even a meet-and-greet with the superstar herself.
With Hell’s Kitchen already established as one of Broadway’s buzziest shows, Keys’ debut only adds to its momentum. As the singer closed her set, she left no doubt about the love affair between herself, the city and its audiences.
“I adore you with all my heart,” she told the cheering crowd.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
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