Wednesday, January 8, 2014 7:00pm ET by  
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Alicia Keys says Carole King is "one of the most significant inspirations of my life"

Singer Alicia Keys has praised Carole King's songwriting talents in a new tribute piece that she wrote for People magazine. 

King, who has been named as 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year, has been a great influence on Keys and the 'Girl On Fire' beauty explained that her song '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman' is the perfect track:

"When I think of Carole King, I think of one of the most significant inspirations of my life. She is pure, powerful and one of the greatest songwriters of all time! I swear when I sit down at the piano to sing and play 'Natural Woman', I can only daydream about the moment in her life that ignited what I would call a perfect song. It gives me chills!"

Keys added: "She reminds us that a woman alone at a piano can be as powerful as a 30-piece orchestra or an electrifying rock band. Her legacy is enduring, and her albums will be passed down to generations almost as a rite of passage."

She also opened up about the time she met King at the Keep A Child Alive Black Ball and confessed that calling her a friend is amazing: "I am so grateful for all the inspiration she's given me. I'll never be able to thank her enough. And when I think about the fact that I can call her a friend, I almost faint."

 

 

 

Watch Keys' music video for 'New Day' below: