Music

Alicia Keys on Clive Davis: "Stood Beside Me Through Every Chapter"

Grammy winner Alicia Keys penned a heartfelt tribute to music mogul Clive Davis, who championed her early in her career, reflecting on his unwavering support.

Rolling Stone·Jun 24, 2026·via Rolling Stone

Alicia Keys on Clive Davis: "Stood Beside Me Through Every Chapter"

'Beyond Music'

Alicia Keys Remembers How Clive Davis ‘Stood Beside Me Through Every Chapter’ in Heartfelt Tribute

The Grammy winner penned a touching remembrance to the music mogul, who championed Keys early in her career

By Charisma Madarang

Charisma Madarang

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June 23, 2026

Alicia Keys honored Clive Davis after news of his death on Monday at the age of 94 . In her touching tribute to the beloved music executive, Keys joined a wave of legendary artists crediting Davis for being pivotal at the start of their careers.

“Clive Davis changed my life forever,” Keys began in her remembrance shared to social media. “He believed in me from the very beginning, when I was just 18 years old, and very few saw what I was capable of!”

In her post, Keys also shared images of her and Davis together, including an interview clip of her sharing how he was the first person of his “stature” to genuinely care about her future. After Arista executive Peter Edge introduced Alicia Keys to Davis in 1998, Davis later made her a top artist at his new label, J Records.

“He has stood beside me through every chapter that followed. Not just in that fake industry way but in a way that was full of love for how unlimited I could be!” the Grammy winner continued in her tribute. “He called me a renaissance woman! It’s one of my favorite descriptions. It reminds me to be boundless.”

Addressing fans, Keys said that if Davis “didn’t see in me the glimmer of what was to become, you and I may have never known each other and be on this deep musical journey.”