Alicia Keys Opens Up About Self-Worth Issues, Being Misunderstood & More

Alicia Keys has her struggles just like the rest of us.

While the 38-year-old singer may be known for her empowering ballads, Alicia opened up about her insecurities, her struggles with self-worth, and the biggest misconceptions people have about her during a special episode of Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk on Monday (October 15).

"I have been doing this thing for many years, where I have been downplaying whatever it is I need because I never want to come off as too demanding," she told Jada, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, and Willow Smith. "I always thought that that was a very righteous, beautiful way to be. I've been battling potentially some self-worth issues because, for whatever reason, I feel I'm not deserving of greatness. I've been smushing it down for so long that it has become a habit — a bad habit."

Alicia went on to define herself as a "people pleaser."

"I’m the one who had to put the bow with the ribbon and the sparkly paper over everything. If everything wasn’t wrapped up with a bow by the time I was finished with it, I was not comfortable," she explained. "I didn’t feel complete."

"It's so interesting that I've become known for songs that are empowering for women," Alicia continued. "I realize now that the times that I've written those songs are the times I needed those songs. It was usually at times when I felt so un-strong, so un-Superwomanly, so weak or confused or feeling misunderstood, that the only way to get through that was to write what I was hoping for."

Jada's mother Adrienne then asked the "Show Me Love" singer what she thought was the biggest misconception people have about her. "That I'm very happy," the 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist admitted. "Or that I'm really strong."

“I don’t even know how to get mad,” she added when Adrienne s asked her about her biggest fear.

To see Alicia's full Red Table Talk episode, click the video below!

Photo: Getty Images


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