Alicia Keys had a packed Friday (Nov. 21), releasing new music while also making a special Broadway appearance. The 17-time Grammy winner debuted a new holiday track and joined the cast of her semi-autobiographical musical Hell’s Kitchen at the Shubert Theatre for an “encore sessions” performance. She was also there to honor gospel singer Yolanda Adams, who recently joined the cast as Miss Liza Jane.
After closing the show with “Empire State of Mind,” Keys and Adams took the stage together. Adams thanked Keys for the opportunity, joking about the physical demands of performing. When Adams exited, Keys performed a short set, including a cover of Prince’s “How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?”, a duet with Durrell “Tank” Babbs on Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” and her song “Underdog,” sending the audience out on a high note.
Earlier that day, Keys discussed the release of “Hell’s Kitchen’s a Merry Little Christmas,” a holiday song connected to the musical. The idea surfaced a year ago, but the recording only came together this season. The track blends “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with Keys’ opening number “The Gospel,” and features Adams along with Amanda Reid, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Jessica Vosk.
The recording was produced by Adam Blackstone, Keys’ longtime collaborator and the musical’s music supervisor and co-orchestrator. Keys reflected on the creative process, calling the musical’s development an exciting experience and celebrating Adams’ addition to the cast.
Hell’s Kitchen premiered at the Public Theater in late 2023 and moved to Broadway in March 2024. It earned 13 Tony nominations, with Kecia Lewis winning best featured actress in a musical and Maleah Joi Moon winning best actress. The original cast recording reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Cast Albums chart. The first North American tour began in October in Cleveland, with 30 cities scheduled.
In addition to the holiday release, Keys appears on “L’aurora,” a new single by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti, marking her first time singing in Italian. She also revealed she is developing new music following her 2021 album Keys and her 2022 holiday album Santa Baby, describing the process as creative and inspiring as she continues to explore new ideas.
