R&B superstar Alicia Keys has reportedly landed a $25 million deal with beverage company Glaceau to front a new campaign for its VitaminWater line. The singer/songwriter will become the new face of the company's health-conscious products, once fronted by rapper/mogul Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson.

Last year 50 Cent sold his 10 percent share of Glaceau, as the Coca Cola company acquired the smaller drinks operation for a whopping $4.1 billion. The rapper netted $400 million in the deal.

Though they are now endorsement fellows, it's not likely that Keys and 50 will be become pals over the deal. The Get Rich or Die Tryin hitmaker slammed the Keys in the press last month in response to disparaging statements the singer made about gansta rap music in Blender magazine.

"I don't like Alicia Keys no more [for] the same reason why I said that I don't like Oprah Winfrey," he said. "I'm prejudice[d]. I don't like people who don't like me."

Want to be a backup singer for Alicia Keys? The R&B star is inviting female singers who are 21 - 30 years old to "audition" via MySpace.

Hopefuls have until May 5 to submit a video, 30 seconds or longer, of themselves singing acapella to Keys' MySpace site; according to a release. Ideal candidates "must be physically fit and able to dance."

There's no word yet on what portion of the "No One" singer's tour the backup singer would take part in; however, current dates run now through June 18, with more on the way. As previously reported, Keys has plans to tour through 2009. In the meantime, she's been mulling a new effort.

"At this point I'm trying to find the space to continue to record as I'm on tour," Keys told Billboard.com last month. "That's always a bit of a challenge for me 'cause it takes so much out of me to tour. But there's always that urge to stay creative and write on that more personal side. So the main goal now is to continue to find that quiet space somewhere in the madness."

ALICIA KEYS has returned to the stage after cancelling a couple of shows with a throat infection.
The R&B star scrapped two shows last week (ends25Apr08) but resumed her North American tour in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday night (26Apr08).
Keys is now scheduled to perform on Wednesday (30May08) in Minnesota.
Meanwhile, Keys' support act, Jordin Sparks, is taking her vocal rest very seriously after being diagnosed with a career-threatening throat illness.
In a statement released on Monday (28Apr08), the former American Idol winner writes, "I'm supposed to be on full vocal rest, which means no talking, laughing, giggling, and singing. It's hard." Sparks hopes to join Keys' tour by the end of the week.

The 2007 chart-topping album "As I Am" is still a fresh concern for Alicia Keys, but the singer tells Billboard.com that she's already actively mulling her next record.

"I've been thinking about the next album since we kind of wrapped up this album," says Keys, who's in the middle of a North American tour promoting "As I Am." The set, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in November, still remains in the top 30 of the chart.

"Part of what I've been thinking about is, 'What are the ways that I want to express myself this time?' When I was just finishing recording 'As I Am,' I said to myself that I want to do something that's totally stripped-down, stripped-back, totally piano-based, singer-songwriter; [a] Joni Mitchell, Carole King type of vibe. Read more •

Having been waylaid by swollen vocal chords that forced the cancellation of some concert dates, Alicia Keys is back in form, ready to appear at St. Louis's Scottrade Center Sunday night.

Earlier this month, before her throat condition flared up, the singer, 27, spoke to PEOPLE while hot on the heels of having wrapped up the European leg of her "Lexus Presents the Alicia Keys As I Am" tour – which she called "one of the biggest tours that I have ever done, and to see the reaction from the people was great."

As for delivering the show stateside, she said: "I love the rhythm of it, but there will be slight changes to the stage and other things as I fine-tune it. But, overall, the tour is so tight. It's very interactive, and although many of the venues are huge, it's my intention to make everyone feel like we are in a little club or a theater."

In terms of performance style, she says, "I make people laugh; everyone sings along, we shout things out at the same time. It's adventure and very involved. It's something that people will want to come back to."

Beyond the tour, she's been at work on a documentary. "It's called Alicia in Africa, and it's a beautiful journey that I took with my organization Keep a Child Alive. It's been great to see the effects of the work we have been able to do and the people we have helped. Once you've seen it, then you can decide what you want to donate to the cause."

And, personally, there is her love life, about which she says only: "I am in a very stable relationship with myself – and growing by the second."

There’s another side to Alicia Keys: conspiracy theorist.
The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Blender magazine: “‘Gangsta rap’ was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. ‘Gangsta rap’ didn’t exist.”
Keys, 27, said she’s read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck “to symbolize strength, power and killing ‘em dead,” according to an interview in the magazine’s May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.
Another of her theories: That the bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled “by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing.”
Keys’ AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: “She wears what? That doesn’t sound like Alicia.” Keys’ publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.
Though she’s known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton “had the outlets our musicians have today, it’d be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself,” she said.
The multiplatinum songstress behind the hits “Fallin” and “No One” most recently had success with her latest CD, “As I Am,” which sold millions.

Recently singer Alicia Keys stirred a hornet's nest with her poorly worded remarks regarding Gangsta rap and who was "to blame" for it.

Keys' comments were published in Blender Magazine about Gangsta rap being "a ploy to convince black people to kill each other." She alluded that it was mainstream media, the record industry and those in power that sanctioned and permitted it to flourish, as if rappers themselves were puppet-like and had no free will.

After a firestorm of negative press, Alicia subsequently released a statement saying her comments were "misrepresented" and that she isn't a "conspiracy theorist" or "a racist."

Blender magazine is standing by their reporting.

50 Cent isn't buying it and told The Showbuzz:

"I don't like Alicia Keys no more though … the same reason why I said that I don't like Oprah Winfrey. I'm prejudice(d). I don't like people who don't like me. If you don't like the content that I write because of my experiences; I am being who I am when I am writing it. I fall into that 'label' as far as you considering artists creating 'Gangsta music,' we fall into that.

If she don't like that, (then) I don't like that classical music shit she be doing. At some point she's playing some shit that don't relate to me. We listen to it and try to figure out why people actually enjoy it. I am trying to enjoy it. That statement changes my perception of Alicia Keys totally.

But the magazine is standing behind it, which means they probably have a tape of her in conversation saying it. It's just not really a bright comment anyway."

SpiralFrog, Inc., the free and legal, ad-supported web-based music service, today announced it was selected by the non-profit organization, Keep a Child Alive (KCA), to be the exclusive download partner for “Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland,” the documentary of Grammy Award-winning musician and Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Co-Founder, Alicia Keys’, month-long trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

Keep a Child Alive is the non-profit organization that engages the public for a-dollar-a-day to buy the life-saving anti-retroviral drugs that keep children and their families alive in Africa. Alicia’s commitment to the fight against AIDS is contagious and she is leading the effort to spread the message of KCA, “Start a Virus to Stop a Virus,” virally, so she has selected a number of prestigious interactive media partners to help get the message out. Running April 9 – May 19, the full-length film will be available for download exclusively at SpiralFrog with information provided and donations accepted at AliciainAfrica.com Read more •

The video to Alicia's next single, "Teenage Love Affair" premieres next Wednesday on BET followed by the MySpace premiere at 12 Noon EST. Visit Alicia's MySpace profile next Wednesday to watch it!

Alicia Keys is backing off reported conspiracy comments about the government inventing "gangsta rap," saying they "have been misrepresented."

In the magazine, she's quoted as saying, "Gangsta rap was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other."

"My comments about 'gangsta rap' were in no way trying to suggest that the government is responsible for creating this genre of rap music,"

Keys said in a statement issued by her label J Records. Read more •

After wowing fans during her successful sold-out European tour, Alicia Keys' North American leg of her As I Am Tour presented by Lexus kicks off April 19 in Hampton, VA. The 32-date tour concludes June 18 in New York City, and opening acts are American Idol winner Jordin Sparks and Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter Ne-Yo.

"I wanted to make this show unique and different from my standard style show, so the approach of this tour is like a journey; from the beginning of my life, leading up to where we are now," said Keys in a statement. "I'm communicating a lot to the audience through the music and by talking and sharing personal stories."

Fans can receive recorded tour updates other news from a special hotline set up at 917-934-3319.

Alicia Keys itinerary:

Apr-19 Hampton, VA Hampton Coliseum
Apr-21 Philadelphia, PA Liacouras Center
Apr-22 Pittsburgh, PA Peterson Events Center
Apr-24 Cleveland, OH Wolstein Center @ CSU
Apr-26 Columbus, OH Value City Arena @ Schottenstein Ctr
Apr-27 St Louis, MO Scottrade Center
Apr-30 Minneapolis, MN Target Center
May-1 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
May 4 Anaheim, CA Honda Center
May-5 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center
May-7 San Diego, CA San Diego Sports Arena
May-9 Las Vegas, NV MGM Garden Arena
May-10 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion at San Jose
May-11 Sacramento, CA Arco Arena
May-14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
May-15 Memphis, TN Fed Ex Forum
May-18 Houston, TX Toyota Center
May-22 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena
May-24 St. Petersburg, FL St. Pete Times Forum
May-25 Miami, FL American Airlines Arena
May-28 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena
May-30 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum
May-31 Atlantic City, NJ Mark Etess/Taj Arena
June-3 Montreal, QUE Bell Centre
June-5 Toronto, ONT Air Canada Centre
June-6 Detroit, MI Joe Louis Arena
June-7 Chicago, IL Allstate Arena
June-11 Boston, MA TD Banknorth Garden
June-13 Washington, DC Verizon Center
June-15 Baltimore, MD 1st Mariner Arena
June-17 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
June-18 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

Alicia Keys will marry her music producer boyfriend Kerry "Krucial" Brothers in New York this summer, according to reports.

Star magazine claims the couple has booked Oheka Castle on Long Island for a ceremony on July 4.

Bosses at the 32-bedroom French-style chateau have confirmed a wedding will take place that weekend, but have refused to reveal the identity of the bride and groom.

Keys and Brothers have never spoken openly about their relationship. They have been songwriting partners for years, co-owning the KrucialKeys production company and New York's Oven Recording Studios.

A representative for the R&B star has yet to confirm or deny the wedding reports.

There's another side to Alicia Keys: conspiracy theorist. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter tells Blender magazine: "`Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black people to kill each other. `Gangsta rap' didn't exist."

Keys, 27, said she's read several Black Panther autobiographies and wears a gold AK-47 pendant around her neck "to symbolize strength, power and killing 'em dead," according to an interview in the magazine's May issue, on newsstands Tuesday.

Another of her theories: That the bicoastal feud between slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. was fueled "by the government and the media, to stop another great black leader from existing."

Keys' AK-47 jewelry came as a surprise to her mother, who is quoted as telling Blender: "She wears what? That doesn't sound like Alicia." Keys' publicist, Theola Borden, said Keys was on vacation and unavailable for comment.

Though she's known for her romantic tunes, she told Blender that she wants to write more political songs. If black leaders such as the late Black Panther Huey Newton "had the outlets our musicians have today, it'd be global. I have to figure out a way to do it myself," she said.

The multiplatinum songstress behind the hits "Fallin'" and "No One" most recently had success with her latest CD, "As I Am," which sold millions.

Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys has publicly congratulated rapper Jay-Z and his new wife Beyonce Knowles, who were married in a top-secret ceremony last week.

Although the couple's representatives have yet to confirm the wedding took place, it has been reported Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, and Knowles exchanged vows on Friday evening and then threw a lavish party at the rapper's TriBeCa apartment in New York.

And Keys couldn't be happier for the newlyweds.

She tells OK! magazine, "All the best wishes possible, and I think that love is beautiful and when you love somebody, just let it shine and shine bright."

Keys is the second star to extend warm wishes to the couple. Mary J. Blige offered her congratulations to Jay-Z, her current tourmate, at a concert on Saturday, before launching into her hit song "You're All I Need."

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SpiralFrog, Inc., (www.spiralfrog.com) the free and legal, ad-supported web-based music service, today announced it was selected by the non-profit organization, Keep a Child Alive (KCA), to be the exclusive download partner for “Alicia in Africa: Journey to the Motherland,” the documentary of Grammy Award-winning musician and Keep a Child Alive (KCA) Co-Founder, Alicia Keys’, month-long trip to Africa to visit communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

Keep a Child Alive is the non-profit organization that engages the public for a-dollar-a-day to buy the life-saving anti-retroviral drugs that keep children and their families alive in Africa. Alicia’s commitment to the fight against AIDS is contagious and she is leading the effort to spread the message of KCA, “Start a Virus to Stop a Virus,” virally, so she has selected a number of prestigious interactive media partners to help get the message out. Running April 9 – May 19, the full-length film will be available for download exclusively at SpiralFrog.com with information provided and donations accepted at AliciainAfrica.com. Read more •

Alicia Keys and her opening act, "American Idol" champ Jordin Sparks, are back from their swing through Europe and will kick off a North American leg of their tour on April 19 in Hampton, VA.

The jaunt will visit arenas all over the U.S. and Canada through its conclusion on June 18 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Since the tour was first announced, shows have been added in Memphis and the California cities of Anaheim and Sacramento. Also, gigs in Philadelphia, Cleveland, Montreal, Toronto, Detroit and the Chicago area have been moved to new dates.

Previously announced performances in Phoenix and Cincinnati have been removed from the calendar. An updated itinerary is listed below.

April 2008
19 - Hampton, VA - Hampton Coliseum
21 - Philadelphia, PA - Liacouras Center
22 - Pittsburgh, PA - Peterson Events Center
24 - Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center at Cleveland State
26 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena at Schottenstein Center
27 - St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Center
30 - Minneapolis, MN - Target Center

May 2008
1 - Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
4 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Staples Center
7 - San Diego, CA - San Diego Sports Arena
9 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena
10 - San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion at San Jose
11 - Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena
14 - Grand Prairie, TX - Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie
15 - Memphis, TN - FedEx Forum
18 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
22 - New Orleans, LA - New Orleans Arena
24 - Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
25 - Miami, FL - American Airlines Arena
28 - Atlanta, GA - Philips Arena
30 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
31 - Atlantic City, NJ - Mark G. Etess Arena

June 2008
3 - Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre
5 - Toronto, Ontario - Air Canada Centre
6 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace
7 - Rosemont, IL - Allstate Arena
11 - Boston, MA - TD Banknorth Garden
13 - Washington, DC - Verizon Center
15 - Baltimore, MD - 1st Mariner Arena
17 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
18 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden

Grammy-winning artist Alicia Keys is being featured in Fresh Takes, a new "micro-series" created by Dove to promote its go fresh brand. The series, aimed at giving women a fresh take on life in their twenties, premiered Monday (March 24th) during the MTV series The Hills. Fresh Takes follows three girlfriends as they juggle the pressures of being a 20-something woman -- career, relationship, beauty, family and friends -- balanced by what Dove calls their own "inner critical voice."

Keys plays the stylish Alex, who works at a trendy music PR company. She is described as "fearless, fun and always falling in love." The other two friends, Diane and Lizzie, are played by up and coming actresses Desi Lydic and Jessalyn Wanlim.

Fresh Takes will broadcast three-minute episodes during The Hills, MTV's Number One show for 20-something women, over a five-week period. The Hills airs Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Episodes can also be seen after air date on dovefreshtakes.mtv.com.

Go Fresh is a line of fragrance products being introduced by Dove.

Keys recently earned Grammy Awards for performing and co-writing her hit tune "No One," from her CD As I Am. The singer's current single is "Like You'll Never See Me Again."

Alicia Keys and Pearl Jam both will be heading to Tampa for concerts this spring.

Keys, whose 2007 album "As I Am" reached No. 1 on Billboard's pop and rhythm-and-blues charts, will perform May 24 at the Forum. Ne-Yo and Jordin Sparks also will perform.

Tickets - $39.50, $49.50, $75 and $100 plus service charges - go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Call the box office at (813) 301-2500 or Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844. Read more •

Alicia Keys nominated for MTV Video music awards - Japan.

Best female video:
大塚 愛 - PEACH
ALICIA KEYS - No One
FERGIE - Big Girls Don't Cry
倖田來未 - 愛のうた
中島美嘉 - LIFE

The Alicia Keys "As I Am" tour is coming to the Greensboro Coliseum on Friday, May 30th.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 15th at 12:00 pm.

Alicia Keys' album "As I Am" debuted on the top of the Billboard charts in November. She earned two Grammy's with her single "No One."

Ne-Yo is also a Grammy winner for the Best Contemporary R&B Album "Because of You."

Jordan Sparks is a former American Idol winner. Her hits include "Tattoo" and "No Air."

For more ticket information click here.