Alicia Keys & Son Egypt Dean Perform Piano Duet At iHeartRadio Awards

Egypt Dean played the piano and his mother sang.

BYErika Marie
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Moving over to let her son steal a bit of the spotlight, Alicia Keys shared the stage with eight-year-old Egypt Dean at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Keys began her performance solo singing her most recent single "Raise a Man" before she invited Egypt onstage to join her. "Ladies and gentlemen, I wanna bring my son Egypt out here," Keys said. "The man that I get to raise." 

The young boy walked up the steps in his all white, gleaming ensemble and took his place opposite his mother at his own grand piano. "Will you play for me, Egypt?," Keys asked as he sat down. It's safe to say that no one is that surprised to see Egypt tinkling the ivories, considering Keys' piano skills have been a staple throughout her career. Keys smiled and stared at her son in her Proud Mama moment before returning back to her piano for their duet.

"You know what, this is such a special night for us tonight, and we're so blessed we get to share it with you," Keys said. "So we want to sing one of our other favorite songs. It goes...," then Keys stood up and took the audience down a trip through memory lane by singing her 2003 Diary of Alicia Keys hit, "You Don't Know My Name." Egypt continued to play the piano and Keys revisited her chart-topping single, but she later took her son by the hand and led him to the front of the stage, with her.

Keys told the audience to lift their hands in the air, and while everyone followed suit, Egypt decided to break out in the floss dance. "As we lift each other up, we also gotta remember to love each other and love ourselves. And I'm so blessed tonight to raise a man like you Egypt," Keys said at the end of her performance before embracing her son. Keys also celebrated a win tonight, taking home an iHeartRadio trophy this evening after being presented with the 2019 Innovator Award.


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About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.