'Hell’s Kitchen' wins Grammy for best musical theater album

The coming-of-age Broadway show, inspired by Keys’ life, earns a Grammy alongside her Dr. Dre Global Impact Award.

Maleah Joi Moon (c) and the cast of Hell’s Kitchen perform onstage during the 77th annual Tony Awards at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024, in New York City. Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images

By Sarah Oktaviany and Adelina Indah

Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen, a coming-of-age musical inspired by her adolescence and driven by her iconic music, won the Grammy Award for best musical theater album on Sunday. The win marks another milestone in Keys’ illustrious career, adding to her collection of accolades as both a performer and a composer.

The Grammy-winning album, produced by Keys along with Adam Blackstone and Tom Kitt, was released in June 2023. It features the original Broadway cast, including Maleah Joi Moon and Kecia Lewis—both of whom earned Tony Awards for their performances—as well as Shoshana Bean and Brandon Victor Dixon.

Keys, already a 16-time Grammy winner, had an eventful night at the awards ceremony. In addition to the Hell’s Kitchen victory, she was honored with the prestigious Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, presented by the Black Music Collective in recognition of her lasting influence on the industry.

Hell’s Kitchen continues its Broadway success

The musical, which officially opened on Broadway last spring following a well-received Off-Broadway run at the Public Theater, is still playing at the Shubert Theatre. While ticket sales remained strong throughout 2023, recent weeks have seen a slight dip in box office performance. Despite this, the show continues to attract audiences with its heartfelt storytelling and powerful musical numbers.

Adding to its momentum, a North American tour is set to launch in October, beginning at Playhouse Square in Cleveland. The expansion is expected to introduce Hell’s Kitchen to a broader audience and further cement its legacy in musical theater.

A deeply personal story

At its core, Hell’s Kitchen is a semi-autobiographical narrative centered on Ali, a 17-year-old girl navigating life in a New York apartment complex designed for performing artists. Raised by a single mother, Ali embarks on a journey of self-discovery, exploring both her romantic relationships and her musical ambitions.

The parallels between Ali’s story and Alicia Keys’ own teenage years are evident, making the production a deeply personal project for the Grammy-winning artist. Keys not only composed the music but also penned the lyrics, infusing the show with the soulful essence that has defined her career.

Grammy competition: Hell’s Kitchen vs. Broadway’s best

The Grammy nominations for best musical theater album featured six standout productions, all of which debuted on Broadway during the 2023-24 season. The nominees included:

Merrily We Roll Along – A Tony-winning revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s 1981 musical about the unraveling of a friendship.
The Notebook – A stage adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ beloved 1996 romance novel.
The Outsiders – The Tony-winning musical based on S.E. Hinton’s 1967 classic novel about adolescent gang rivalries in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Suffs – Shaina Taub’s musical portrayal of the American women’s suffrage movement.
The Wiz – A revival of the 1975 adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Among the nominees, The Outsiders won the Tony Award for best new musical, while Merrily We Roll Along received the Tony for best musical revival. However, only two of the nominated shows—Hell’s Kitchen and The Outsiders—remain in active Broadway runs, reinforcing their cultural impact.

Alicia Keys’ expanding influence in entertainment

Keys’ involvement in Hell’s Kitchen represents a significant moment in her career, showcasing her ability to transcend traditional music stardom and make a mark in musical theater. With a decades-long career spanning R&B, soul, and pop, she has seamlessly transitioned into composing for Broadway, demonstrating her versatility as an artist.

Alicia Keys at the 67th annual Grammy Awards, broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on February 2, 2025. Photo by Francis Specker/CBS/Getty Images

Her recognition at the Grammys, coupled with the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, solidifies her status as a trailblazer in the industry. Beyond music and theater, Keys remains a strong advocate for social causes, using her platform to support education, racial equality, and women’s empowerment.

What’s next for Hell’s Kitchen?

With the Broadway production still drawing audiences and a national tour on the horizon, Hell’s Kitchen is set to reach new heights. The show’s Grammy win is expected to boost interest, potentially extending its run and increasing ticket sales.

Meanwhile, Keys continues to explore new creative ventures, balancing her music career with theater, activism, and business initiatives. Whether through songwriting, live performances, or stage productions, she remains an influential force in entertainment.

As Hell’s Kitchen enjoys its Grammy success and prepares for its North American tour, the musical stands as a testament to Alicia Keys’ enduring artistic vision—one that seamlessly blends storytelling, music, and personal experience into a compelling theatrical masterpiece.