Alicia Keys made a special appearance at the Shubert Theatre for her semi-autobiographical Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen on November 21, celebrating the debut of new cast member Yolanda Adams. During the performance, she delivered a mini-set of songs and joined the cast for highlights. Earlier that day, Keys released the holiday track 'Hell’s Kitchen’s a Merry Little Christmas,' featuring Adams and other cast members.
Performance at Shubert Theatre
On November 21, Alicia Keys surprised audiences at the Shubert Theatre in New York City with a guest appearance during an 'encore sessions' event for Hell's Kitchen. The 17-time Grammy winner performed alongside the cast, including a finale rendition of 'Empire State of Mind.' She also welcomed Grammy-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams to her Broadway debut as Miss Liza Jane. Adams expressed gratitude onstage, saying, 'First of all, I’m grateful... I have to thank Alicia for saying, ‘Hey, what do you think about…?’ And I’d already thought about it, and I tried it, and I love it.' Keys then took the piano for solo and duet performances, including her cover of Prince’s 'How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore?,' a duet with cast member Durrell 'Tank' Babbs on Bonnie Raitt’s 'I Can’t Make You Love Me,' and her song 'Underdog.'
New Holiday Song Release
Keys debuted 'Hell’s Kitchen’s a Merry Little Christmas' on streaming platforms the same day. The track blends the classic 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' with the musical's opening number 'The Gospel,' featuring vocals from Yolanda Adams, Amanda Reid, Phillip Johnson Richardson, and Jessica Vosk. Produced by longtime collaborator Adam Blackstone, who also serves as music supervisor for the show, the song captures a festive energy tied to the production. Keys shared in an interview, 'I love it so much... We wanted to bring some Hell’s Kitchen energy.' The idea for the holiday single originated a year prior but was realized this season.
Background on Hell's Kitchen
Hell's Kitchen, with a book by Kristoffer Diaz, premiered at the Public Theater in late 2023 before transferring to Broadway in March 2024. The musical earned 13 Tony Award nominations, with wins for Kecia Lewis as best featured actress in a musical and Maleah Joi Moon as best actress in a musical. Its original cast recording topped Billboard's Cast Albums chart in 2024. The production launched its first North American tour in October 2025, starting in Cleveland and covering 30 cities. Keys noted the tour's excitement, saying, 'That’s such a huge accomplishment... This cast is unreal.' Additionally, Keys contributed to Eros Ramazzotti's new single 'L’aurora,' marking her first time singing in Italian.