Forget Katniss Everdeen - Alicia Keys is the real girl on fire.
After bouncing onto the music scene at the tender age of 20-years-old with her first album, Songs in A Minor, Keys has become a multi-award winning artist, a keen philanthropist, a mother, and a role model for feminists around the world.
With the release of her new album, ELLE celebrates a career with so many wow moments, with more to come, we can only assume.
1. Alicia's moving performance of 'Blended Family' on the UK X Factor this weekend was followed by a short speech that had the audience applauding before she'd even finished and Dermot asking if she'd run for prime minister (she said said she might have to, with the way things are going. Can you imagine?!) This is what she said:
You know, being a blended family, I think the the UK knows better than ever how blessed we are to be all mixed together and to appreciate our differences, and the way that we're all unique and I think that brings it right back to the contestants here tonight, too. The more unique you can be and just totally be yourself, don't try to be like anybody else, don' try to do what anyone else would do - just be yourself.
2. In 2002, Alicia Keys joined Lauryn Hill as the most awarded female artist in one night at the Grammys.
3. The Hal David Starlight award for the Songwriter's Hall of fame has been won by Drake, Taylor Swift and John Legend. Who got there before them all? Alicia Keys.
4. In order to provide much needed support for people affected by HIV, Keys co-founded Keep a Child Alive, also acting as a global ambassador to raise money and awareness for the cause.
5. Pregnancy - a time to rest and relax…or jump on top of a piano and sing a tribute to pop legend Prince when he's sitting right there? No biggie.
6. As part of the celebration for Obama's inauguration in 2013, Keys performed her hit single 'This Girl is on Fire' but changed the lyrics to 'Obama's on Fire', with a coy Michelle mention, too. Way to upstage the President.
7. In Lena Dunham's newsletter, Lenny, Keys penned a piece on her decision to stop wearing make up, in order to fight against society's tendency to constantly judge women. She has since turned up to red carpet events without make up, and followed suit for her new album cover.
8. Keys has often made it clear that she wants to use her voice beyond her albums. This year, she founded - and funded - the organisation We Are Here in light of the brutal murders of black men in the US. Many famous friends came together for a moving video, narrating the victims' deaths.
9. And tied in with the video, she started a petition to Obama and congress to make real change to achieve racial justice in the States.
10. At the VMAs in the summer this year, she recited a poem she'd composed to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of Dr Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech. This turned into a spine-tingling acapella piece that drew cheers from the crowd and a standing ovation.
11. The poem has become a song which re-appeared the week after the election results. Keys is a judge on the American edition of The Voice, and mid-way through singing her new single,'Blended Family', she changed to 'Holy War'.
With lyrics like: 'Oh, maybe we should love somebody/maybe we should care a little more/oh, maybe we should love somebody/ Instead of polishing the bombs of holy war', Keys made a powerful statement of hope in a troubling time.
Get the December issue of ELLE to read more on her take on femininity, her family and how to keep fighting.
