Jay-Z made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Tony Awards in New York on Sunday night, rapping his hit Empire State of Mind with Alicia Keys.
The pair came together to support Hell's Kitchen, a jukebox musical produced by Keys and featuring her songs.
Empire State of Mind is featured in the musical based on Keys' early life and music and is nominated for 13 Tony Awards.
Fans were quick to notice that Jay-Z did not perform onstage, instead appearing via video rapping from outside the venue.
'Jay-Z was like yea I'll come perform outside the Tonys, I'm not trying to hang out with theatre people….and I don't blame him,' one fan jokes.
'Why didn't they let Jay-Z in the actual theater??' another quipped, while another added: 'Jay-Z at the Tonys was not on my bingo card but I'm into this.'
Before the performance, Keys hit the red carpet with her parents and three sons, Kasseem Jr., 17, Egypt, 13, and Genesis, 9.
Jay-Z makes surprise appearance at Tony Awards with Alicia Keys performing Empire State of Mind
The pair came together to support Hell's Kitchen, a jukebox musical produced by Keys and featuring her songs
Ramin Setoodeh, the co-editor-in-chief for Variety, also explained on X that due to the size of the stage inside the David H. Koch Theater, the crowd wasn't able to see Jay-Z 'perform in person.'
'The stage at Lincoln Center is so small, we never saw Jay-Z perform in person at the #TonyAwards. Heand Alicia Keys sang the end of the song in the lobby.'
Another social media user penned, '"How do we get people in Iowa to buy Broadway tickets?"ANSWER: make them think Jay-Z and Alicia will be at the actual performance of Hell's Kitchen.'
Another jokingly typed out, 'Cast of Hell's Kitchen has a restraining order out on Jay-Z #tonys.'
During the performance, dancers could be seen performing choreography on the stage in front of the star-studded attendees and guests.
A large screen behind them showed both Jay-Z and Alicia belting out lyrics on stairs as a spotlight shone down. However, the pair weren't actually inside the main theater where the ceremony took place.
While singing the 2009 hit track, Empire State Of Mind, Keys exclaimed, 'Let me see ya! We in New York City tonight! We at the Tony Awards tonight! Had to do something crazy, it's my hometown!' per People.
The Grammy winner then appeared on stage to rap his portion of the song, and at the very end, he called out, 'Brooklyn,New York City in the Tonys, tonight!'
Empire State of Mind is featured in the musical based on Keys' early life and music and is nominated for 13 Tony Awards
Fans were quick to notice that Jay-Z did not perform onstage, instead appearing via video rapping from outside the venue
'Jay-Z was like yea I'll come perform outside the Tonys, I'm not trying to hang out with theatre people….and I don't blame him,' one fan jokes
'Why didn't they let Jay-Z in the actual theater??' another quipped, while another added: 'Jay-Z at the Tonys was not on my bingo card but I'm into this'
Ramin Setoodeh, the co-editor-in-chief for Variety, also explained on X that due to the size of the stage inside the David H. Koch Theater, the crowd wasn't able to see Jay-Z 'perform in person'
Another social media user penned, '"How do we get people in Iowa to buy Broadway tickets?" ANSWER: make them think Jay-Z and Alicia will be at the actual performance of Hell's Kitchen'
During the performance, dancers could be seen performing choreography on the stage in front of the star-studded attendees and guests
Keys made a statement wearing a pair of loose-fitting, brown-patterned Gucci trousers as well as a matching jacket on top.
Underneath, she sported a dark brown, corset-styled top and slipped into a pair of closed-toed heels that were partially concealed by the hem of the trousers.
Her dark locks were pulled back into a sleek bun, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face.
For a finishing touch, she accessorized the look with a chunky, gold-chained necklace as well as flashy, gold earrings.
The Forever Young rapper opted for a pair of baggy, dark denim pants as well as a plain, white shirt and Louis Vuitton jacket.
Empire State Of Mind is a track on his 11th studio album titled, The Blueprint3 - which dropped in September 2009.
The single became a success upon its release, and topped various music charts, such as the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in a row.
The song also garnered award nominations, including three Grammy nods and eventually won two: Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
The Grammy winner then appeared on stage to rap his portion of the song, and at the very end, he called out, 'Brooklyn, New York City in the Tonys, tonight!'
The Forever Young rapper opted for a pair of baggy, dark denim pants as well as a plain, white shirt and Louis Vuitton jacket
Empire State Of Mind is a track on his 11th studio album titled, The Blueprint3 - which dropped in September 2009
Jay-Z has been keeping busy, and had a surprise performance at Tom Brady's Patriots Hall of Fame inductionearlier this week on Wednesday.
Hell's Kitchen officially premiered off-Broadway last year in October, with shows coming to an end in January. The production then moved to the Schubert Theatre on Broadway earlier this year in April.
The jukebox musical garnered a whopping total of 12 Tony Award nominations, such as Best Musical,Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical forMaleah Joi Moon, and Best Direction of a Musical for Michael Greif.
Last month in May, Alicia opened up about Hell's Kitchen while talking to People and also discussed the positive response from both audiences and fans. 'This is all of our stories.'
'That's what I've learned creating and watching Hell's Kitchen;that there's so much that connects us all.'
The songstress added, 'Even though we have different versions, we all go through things that are quite similar. Ultimately, we're just all trying to find where we belong and who we actually are.'
'That's what I get from it; I get this ability to understand each other and to find our way,' the star continued.
'And it's cathartic. You're laughing, you're singing, you're crying - you're a mess in this show. But you feel seen. And I think it's really, really beautiful.'
Last month in May, Alicia opened up about Hell's Kitchen while talking to People and also discussed the positive response from both audiences and fans. 'This is all of our stories'; seen in April in NYC
Before her performance with Jay-Z during the Tony Awards, Keys graced the red carpet in a figure-hugging, red dress that contained sparkling, sequin details on the neckline and skirt
Alicia was accompanied by her family, including her mother and father, as well as her three sons: Kasseem Jr., 17, Egypt , 13, and Genesis, 9
Before her performance with Jay-Z during the Tony Awards, Keys graced the red carpet in a figure-hugging, red dress that contained sparkling, sequin details on the neckline and skirt.
She additionally added a thin belt around her waist as well as a pair of dark red, opera-length gloves for an elegant flare.
The star opted for minimal accessories to allow the ensemble to be the main focal point, and added a pair of dangly, silver earrings.
Alicia was accompanied by her family, including her mother and father, as well as her three sons: Kasseem Jr., 17, Egypt, 13, and Genesis, 9.
Tony Awards 2024 winners in full
Best Musical
Hell’s Kitchen
Illinoise
The Outsiders - WINNER
Suffs
Water for Elephants
Angelina and Vivienne Jolie were massive winners as their production of The Outsiders won top honor Best Musical
Best Play
Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Mary Jane
Mother Play
Prayer for the French Republic
Stereophonic - WINNER
Best Revival of a Play
Appropriate - WINNER
An Enemy of the People
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Revival of a Musical
Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gutenberg! The Musical!
Merrily We Roll Along - WINNER
The Who's Tommy
Best Book of a Musical
Kristoffer Diaz, Hell's Kitchen
Bekah Brunstetter, The Notebook
Adam Rapp and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Shaina Taub, Suffs - WINNER
Rick Elice, Water for Elephants
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Adam Guettel, Days of Wine and Roses
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, The Outsiders
Will Butler, Stereophonic
Shaina Taub, Suffs - WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
William Jackson Harper, Uncle Vanya
Leslie Odom, Jr., Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Liev Schreiber, Doubt: A Parable
Jeremy Strong, An Enemy of the People - WINNER
Michael Stuhlbarg, Patriots
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Betsy Aidem, Prayer for the French Republic
Jessica Lange, Mother Play
Rachel McAdams, Mary Jane
Sarah Paulson, Appropriate - WINNER
Amy Ryan, Doubt: A Parable
Sarah Paulson took home Best Actress in a Play for Appopriate
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Brody Grant, The Outsiders
Jonathan Groff, Merrily We Roll Along - WINNER
Dorian Harewood, The Notebook
Brian d'Arcy James, Days of Wine and Roses
Eddie Redmayne, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Eden Espinosa, Lempicka
Maleah Joi Moon, Hell's Kitchen - WINNER
Kelli O'Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Maryann Plunkett, The Notebook
Gayle Rankin, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Will Brill, Stereophonic - WINNER
Eli Gelb, Stereophonic
Jim Parsons, Mother Play
Tom Pecinka, Stereophonic
Corey Stoll, Appropriate
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Doubt: A Parable
Juliana Canfield, Stereophonic
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Mother Play
Sarah Pidgeon, Stereophonic
Kara Young, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch - WINNER
Kara Young was recognized in the Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play forPurlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Roger Bart, Back To The Future: The Musical
Joshua Boone, The Outsiders
Brandon Victor Dixon, Hell's Kitchen
Sky Lakota-Lynch, The Outsiders
Daniel Radcliffe, Merrily We Roll Along - WINNER
Steven Skybell, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Shoshana Bean, Hell's Kitchen
Amber Iman, Lempicka
Nikki M. James, Suffs
Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Monty Python's Spamalot
Kecia Lewis, Hell's Kitchen - WINNER
Lindsay Mendez, Merrily We Roll Along
Bebe Neuwirth, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Scenic Design of a Play
dots, Appropriate
dots, An Enemy of the People
Derek McLane, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, Jaja's African Hair Braiding
David Zinn, Stereophonic - WINNER
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
AMP featuring Tatiana Kahvegian, The Outsiders
Robert Brill and Peter Nigrini, Hell's Kitchen
Takeshi Kata, Water for Elephants
David Korins, Here Lies Love
Riccardo Hernández and Peter Nigrini, Lempicka
Tim Hatley and Finn Ross, Back To The Future: The Musical
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club - WINNER
Tom Scutt was bestowed withBest Scenic Design of a Musical forCabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Best Costume Design of a Play
Dede Ayite, Appropriate
Dede Ayite, Jaja's African Hair Braiding - WINNER
Enver Chakartash, Stereophonic
Emilio Sosa, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
David Zinn, An Enemy of the People
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Dede Ayite, Hell's Kitchen
Linda Cho, The Great Gatsby - WINNER
David Israel Reynoso, Water for Elephants
Tom Scutt, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Paul Tazewell, Suffs
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Isabella Byrd, An Enemy of the People
Amith Chandrashaker, Prayer for the French Republic
Jiyoun Chang, Stereophonic
Jane Cox, Appropriate - WINNER
Natasha Katz, Grey House
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Brandon Stirling Baker, Illinoise
Isabella Byrd, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Natasha Katz, Hell's Kitchen
Bradley King and David Bengali, Water for Elephants
Brian MacDevitt and Hana S. Kim, The Outsiders - WINNER
Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington and Stefania Bulbarella, Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Leah Gelpe, Mary Jane
Tom Gibbons, Grey House
Bray Poor and Will Pickens, Appropriate
Ryan Rumery, Stereophonic - WINNER
Ryan Rumery earned Best Sound Design of a Play for Stereophonic
Best Sound Design of a Musical
M.L. Dogg and Cody Spencer, Here Lies Love
Kai Harada, Merrily We Roll Along
Nick Lidster for Autograph, Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club
Gareth Owen, Hell's Kitchen
Cody Spencer, The Outsiders - WINNER
Cody Spencer triumphed in theBest Sound Design of a Musical category for The Outsiders
Best Direction of a Play
Daniel Aukin, Stereophonic - WINNER
Anne Kauffman, Mary Jane
Kenny Leon, Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Lila Neugebauer, Appropriate
Whitney White, Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Best Direction of a Musical
Maria Friedman, Merrily We Roll Along
Michael Greif, Hell's Kitchen
Leigh Silverman, Suffs
Jessica Stone, Water for Elephants
Danya Taymor, The Outsiders - WINNER
Danya Taymor won Best Direction of a Musical for The Outsiders
Best Choreography
Annie-B Parson, Here Lies Love
Camille A. Brown, Hell's Kitchen
Rick Kuperman and Jeff Kuperman, The Outsiders
Justin Peck, Illinoise - WINNER
Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants
Best Orchestrations
Timo Andres, Illinoise
Will Butler and Justin Craig, Stereophonic
Justin Levine, Matt Hinkley and Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance), The Outsiders
Tom Kitt and Adam Blackstone, Hell's Kitchen
Jonathan Tunick, Merrily We Roll Along - WINNER
