Alicia’s No One

Alicia Keys is glowing. Her dressing room at the Palms Casino’s theater in Las Vegas is crowded with well-wishers. The singer-songwriter just performed her new single ”No One” for the first time ever at MTV’s Video Music Awards — and nailed it. There are hugs and high fives all around. Keys’ longtime boyfriend and co-producer, Kerry ”Krucial” Brothers, marvels that she was able to stay cool while Kid Rock and Tommy Lee almost came to blows near the foot of the stage. Keys sends the love right back at him: ”That was all you!” she gushes. ”I could see you on the side of the stage like, ‘Don’t stop!’ Thank you for that! You kept me going.”

In an unlikely coup, Keys — a last-minute fill-in invited to sing after Amy Winehouse called in sick — has stolen the show with old-fashioned commodities like talent, passion, and class.

”I love everyone’s response to the music,” she says. ”I’m inspired. I’m in a good place.”