Please don't do it!!! Alicia Keys has said that she's planning on retiring at the age of 30. She's 27 now so we don't have very many years left for her to make beautiful music. :( A recent trip to Egypt inspired her, so now she wants to travel the world instead of sing.

"I am working hard now so I have the choice to retire when I want. I would like to travel the world and stay in places instead of having to move on like I do now. I want to experience difference cultures."

Not going to lie, I would be disappointed if she quit making new albums and touring.  I love her music! But do you think she'd really retire so young?

Alicia Keys arrived to the 2008 BET Awards in Los Angeles wearing a strapless pink dress and Love-Hate rings. Strapless dresses are hard to pull off, but I think wearing cross knuckle rings is even harder. What do you guys think of Alicia's jewelry and clothing?

Photos by WENN

Alicia Keys looked beautiful as she arrived to the premiere of We Are Together in New York last night. Doesn't Alicia have great arms? They remind me of Angela Basset's amazing guns, but maybe not quite as buff. On another note, what do you guys think of her dress?

When asked about her baby making plans, Alicia said she wants to eventually adopt. That is one trait she really admires about Angelina Jolie. 

I'm not ready to be a mom. But (adoption) is something that is important to consider. That’s what I really admire about Angelina. I think it’s beautiful the way she embraces children of the world."

Photos by WENN

Alicia Keys is looking to take her music in a different direction and even promises to give us all a surpise with some new sounds on her next album.  Looks like she is specifically planning on working with The White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age. RANDOM! 

"They’re very raw, very cut and dry. It’s, like, drums and guitar. It’s that simple, and I love that. I think that combining that style with mine, which already has a raw feel to it, and my voice, I just think we could do something really interesting that mixes rock and soul together, the blues and emotion, and it could be really touching."

Keys even admits that discussions have been had.

"We’ve had some conversations. When the time works out, and it definitely will, it will happen."

Looking forward to it! 

Alicia Keys works it out in concert...LOVE her!Check out what my cyber friends are writing about.

•  Woah!  Check out what Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Banks look like as George and Laura Bush.  Crazy!!! (D-listed)
• Go behind the scenes of a Kim Kardashian lingerie shoot.  She's a hottie!  (Drunken Stepfather, Site NSFW)
• Eva Mendes nibbles on her toes in Italian Vogue.  (A Socialite's Life)
• And then go behind the scenes of Elizabeth Hasselbeck's bikini shoot with Fitness Magazine.  (Hollywoodtuna)
• Yuck!  Long sideburns are the new trend for men in Hollywood.  (Cityrag)
• Cindy Crawford goes to the Linked Against Leukemia benefit.  (Just Jared)
• The shoots from America's Next Top Model are always so cool!  (Mollygood)
• The hot guys from Entourage were shooting at Urth Cafe yesterday.  (Lainey Gossip)
• Bar Rafaeli gets her party on at Club Villa.  (Bastardly)
• Pamela Anderson had a giant garage sale.  (Celebslam)
• Woody Allen barely said 4 words to Chloe Sevigny the whole time they were shooting!  (Prestige Hong Kong)

WENN

My favorite! Alicia Keys was perfection as usual during this morning's performance on Ellen. She really is such a contribution to today's music industry. So talented.

Alicia Keys stopped by the David Letterman show last night.Check out what my cyber friends are writing about.

• Yikes, Paula Abdul has another crazy moment on American Idol! (D-listed)
• Leona Lewis is going to sing to Nelson Mandela! (A Socialite's Life)
• Miley Cyrus...the next...umm, Amy Winehouse? (Cityrag)
• Jimi Hendrix has a sex tape from 1968. Now that's weird! (Drunken Stepfather, Site NSFW)
• Marisa Miller does a hot music video! (Hollywoodtuna)
• Eva Mendes says the guy who directed her in the Spirit is weird. (Just Jared)
• Are you a Charlize Theron look-alike, only 6 months pregnant? If so, this could be your big break. (Mollygood)
• Brittany Snow looks cute in her fish scale dress. (Bastardly)
• Phoebe Price in a bikini rocks the Marcia-Cross style white skin. (Celebslam)

Bauer GriffinAny Food Network fans? LOVE THIS SHOW! The Next Food Network Star is BACK!

Just got this email -- had to share!
Alicia Keys is looking for a background singer to travel the world with her. Check out the link below where you can see her chatting about what she's looking for.
http://www.aliciakeys.com/tourtheworld
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET YOUR BIG BREAK AND SEE THE WORLTEN TIME GRAMMY WINNER ALICIA KEYS IS LOOKING FOR A BACKGROUND SINGER TO JOIN HER ON THE AS I AM TOUR.

Entering Instructions:

1. Submit a video of yourself singing acapella for at least 30 seconds. (Original Compositions Only. / No Cover Songs Allowed).


2. Once your video has been submitted, enter your MySpace URL and video URL in the forum to the right.


3. Make sure to review the rules and regulations before entering.

Qualifications:

1. Must be female between the ages of 21-30.


2. Have a valid Passport.


3. Immediately able to Travel.


4. By entering, you agree to the full set of rules and regulations

Winner:
The winner will be chosen on or around May 15th. One (1) Performer, selected at the sole discretion of the Sponsors/Judges, will be given the opportunity to perform in at least one (1) show as a back-up singer for Alicia Keys!!

The beautiful and ever so talented Alicia Keys performed live on NBC's 'The Today Show' Toyota Concert Series held at the Rockefeller Plaza this morning. No one.. No one... No oneeee! :) You can see a video of Alicia's performance here. And in case you are watching The Hills and enjoying her performance on Dove's Fresh Takes mini series, I have some exclusive shots of the season finale on the TV and Movie blog.WENN

Grain of salt time folks...
Alicia Keys and Kerry Brothers are planning a wedding for this summer in NY's Oheka Castle. Oheka is on Long Island and is BEAUTIFUL.  Hubby and I are always saying we need a date night there... not that it happens. But we say it. Alicia chose July 4th weekend for the ceremony and rumor is the bosses over at the castle have confirmed a wedding is booked during that time (just not who).
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.
Bauer Griffin