NEW YORK – Alicia Keys (search), always an open book, will hit the road in a newly announced "Diary Tour" (search) of 34 U.S. cities. Keys will perform at "intimate venues" to play hits from her Grammy-nominated sophomore album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys." (search)
Keys will kick off her theater tour in Miami on Feb. 25. The tour will end in New Jersey on April 23.
"This tour is going to be completely different — completely classy, edgy and fun," Keys told The Associated Press Monday. "Having a setting of maybe 4,000 makes it so much more special and intimate."
Keys will be among the performers at the Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles on Feb. 13. She'll play "If I Ain't Got You," which is nominated for song of the year.
Keys is nominated for eight Grammys this year. Her 2001 debut album, "Songs in A Minor," won the R&B singer five Grammys, but the 23-year-old says she's not feeling any pressure for a repeat performance.
"I just like to go with the flow and let God handle the rest," she said.
Keys, who released a book of poetry, "Tears of Water," in November, may sprinkle in some readings on the tour. But those who hope to hear her hit single with Usher, "My Boo," will likely hear Keys' verse sung as part of another song.
The piano-playing soulstress has some surprises planned for the tour.
"It's going to be like a minimovie when it's all done," she said.
One far less intimate venue will be a performance at the Super Bowl in Jacksonville on Feb 6. Keys will play during the pre-game show.
But regardless of the size of the venue, Keys says "performing live is my thing."
Stops on her tour will include Los Angeles (March 16-17), Atlanta (April 6-7) and Radio City Music Hall in New York (April 22-23).
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