Paul collapsed into a hug from his coach Blake Shelton and wiped away tears as he thanked his wife, children, and all of the people who voted for him, ending his speech by exclaiming “nobody but Jesus!”

The former backup singer for Alicia Keys took center stage as he sang R. Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” to close out the show, which he also sang in his final performance on Monday’s penultimate episode of the show. Paul received embraces from his wife and family members as he sang.

Paul beat out fellow contestants Juliet Simms of Team Cee Lo (Green), Tony Lucca of Team Adam (Levine), and Chris Mann of Team Christina (Aguilera). Host Carson Daly revealed that Paul edged out second place finalist Simms by fewer than four percentage points.

“I just want to say thank you to everybody that supported me from day one,” said Paul through tears.

Javier Colon won the first season of “The Voice” last year.

He poked fun at some of Hollywood’s top stars, including Kim Kardashian, the cast of Glee and Donald Trump, sending him up with a seemingly serious allusion to the attack on Osama bin Laden, which took place during last year’s dinner.

“My fellow Americans, we gather during a historic anniversary. Last year at this time, in fact on this very weekend, we finally delivered justice to one of the world’s most notorious individuals,” Obama told the audience of journalists and celebs before showing an unflattering photo of Trump on the big screen.

That joke got huge laughs, as did a bit where Obama poked fun at himself and Mitt Romney and their relationships with their respective dogs.

He ended his speech, by saying he had even more material to share, but there was just one catch. “I have to get the Secret Service home in time for their new curfew,” he joked, referring to the agency’s recent prostitution scandal.

Even the entrance to his speech was part of his schtick. The president walked off stage just before he took the podium with an alleged “hot mic,” making fun of getting caught last month on an open microphone with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

“What am I doing here,” he asks off stage. “I’m opening for Jimmy Kimmel and telling knock-knock jokes to Kim Kardashian.”

The comedian of the evening, Jimmy Kimmel, got plenty of big laughs of his own. He took a number of jabs at the president, opening with “Remember when the country rallied around you in the hopes of a better tomorrow? That was hilarious,” Kimmel said as Obama smiled on. “That was your best one yet.”

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian, actress Lindsay Lohan, news anchor Keith Olbermann and radio host Rush Limbaugh were not spared in Kimmel’s lengthy routine either, as he advised airplane pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to be careful when giving Lohan a ride home. “Make sure you don’t run into a goose – a Grey Goose,” he said.

Before the dinner, morning show host Kelly Ripa said she was thrilled to be in D.C. and was surprised at the magnitude of the event. “It’s much bigger than I anticipated it,” she said. “I thought we’d be in the Obamas’ kitchen, sitting around with just a few USA TODAY reporters, and us, but it really is very glamorous.”

Reality TV mom Kris Jenner sat with daughter Kim Kardashian at the front of the ballroom and said she was having the time of her life at her first Correspondents Dinner, where she looked forward to rubbing elbows with plenty of Washington movers and shakers. “I would love to see Colin Powell; I think he was my dinner partner when Bruce (Jenner) and I came to the White House in the ’90s.”

The intersection of Washington and Hollywood comes into sharp focus, as members of Congress, governors and the president hobnob with stars such as actress Kerry Washington, singer Mary J. Blige, actress Reese Witherspoon, actor George Clooney, singer Alicia Keys and many more.

“It’s very interesting; I like the mesh of people,” said Alicia Keys, who stayed close to husband Swizz Beatz. “The convergence of all politics and entertainment, it’s very interesting.”

Proceeds from the dinner go toward scholarships for aspiring journalists and awards for distinction in the profession.

The White House Correspondents Association was formed in 1914 as a liaison between the press and the president. Every president since Calvin Coolidge has attended the dinner.

source

The two first met about 14 years ago, they said, but it wasn’t the right time to get things started.

Beatz tried to get the artist’s phone number through a friend, but Keys wasn’t interested.

“It wasn’t our time yet,” said Beatz.

Then several years later, Beatz and Keys went on a business lunch together and split the check, but somehow, Beatz ended up with Keys’ credit card in his back pocket.

“My credit card was in his pocket,” Keys said. “Why was my credit card in his pocket?”

“It was the craziest thing,” Beatz remarked.

 Beatz and Keyz proclaim they are happy and comfortable, enjoying life together, despite the damaging rumors and false stories.

Keys is currently working on her sixth album and says that for the first time she feels comfortable in her own skin.

“Let’s just say I’ve been very uncomfortable,” she said. “I’ve been brave enough to be uncomfortable.”

Keys’ article is in Vibe’s April/May issue.

Singer Alicia Keys sat down at the New Baptist Hope Church’s piano and wiped tears from her eyes. The singer called Houston an “angel.” “She just crept into everybody’s heart.”

Additionally, Keys discussed how Houston mentored her and other new stars. “She reached back to so many people,” Keys said. “She reached back to me, Monica, Brandy, Jordin, all these beautiful young artists. So many artists, and just made us like feel strong and capable and loved us.”

Keys produced several songs on Houston’s last studio album, 2009′s “I Look to You,” dedicated a piano rendition of her ballad “Send Me an Angel” to Houston.

The ONE and (RED) Campaigns hold 2011 World AIDS Day panel discussion with special guest Alicia Keys.

Photo: Getty Images

From R&B and marriage, to a brand new baby boy and now a Broadway debut, the one and only Alicia Keys (a phenomenal singer/songwriter in her own right) is now making moves to touch the ears, hearts and minds of many with more behind the scenes work in fields of entertainment we never saw coming.

In fact, the singer’s latest work is so brand new and so exquisite that fans this morning on the Tom Joyner Morning Show were enlightened by the singer’s first foray into the wonderful world of Broadway theater. If you already thought this woman was superbly talented before, get a load of the conversation with Tom Joyner as Alicia Keys discusses the music she’s been working on and how her baby boy with producer Swizz Beatz is doing when it comes to the development of his voice at only 16-months old.

RELATED LINKS:

Alicia Keys to Compose Original Music for Broadway Production “Stick Fly”

Alicia Keys’ Husband Swizz Beats Named Chair of Bronx Charter School

Alicia Keys’ World AIDS Day Documentary Airs on TV

Alicia Keys Donates Instruments to Alma Mater

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The first “Bronx Arts Recognize” event was held last week to honor Beatz, along with four other Bronx Arts supporters.

Beatz has been a school supporter for several years and as a member of the “Friends of Bronx Arts” committee, he will continue to help the charter school with fundraising initiatives for after-school programs, which offers academic and artistic activities for students in grades K-5.

Rock Band U2′s lead singer and fellow AIDS Activist Bono said that Keys has “lioness energy” and that her role as a new mother won’t allow her to “let other mothers suffer.”

He made the comments at the premiere of “Keep a Child Alive with Alicia Keys,” a documentary which followed a visit to South Africa during last year’s World Cup with a pregnant Keys and five Americans. It airs on Showtime Dec. 1, which is World AIDS Day.

Keys started her charity, Keep a Child Alive, in 2003. It assists those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

She says she hopes the film reaches out to those who want to help, but can’t make it to Africa.

“Even if you never have been able to travel there, or if you never can, that doesn’t mean you can’t travel with us and really see it for yourself,” she said.

Bono says Keys has what it takes to make a difference in Africa, and around the world. “Everyone’s got heart, but actually you have to have the head for this,” he said. “You have to be tough and strategic, you have to be demanding, (and) the money has to be spent well.” If the money isn’t spent well, he said, people get annoyed, “and so all these things take a certain intellectual rigor.”

Keys is also celebrating another new project. She composed music for the Broadway play “Stick Fly,” which debuts next week.

The singer has also launched an online contest where people can share how they would use $1,000 to improve the world and make it a better place. The contest, which is part of Western Union’s World of Betters campaign, will end December 15. World of Betters is also being promoted by rapper K’Naan, who will host an event in Johannesburg, and Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan, who will host an event in Mumbai, India.

“As a proud graduate of the Professional Performing Arts School, I thought about the students there who are in desperate need of new musical equipment to help them learn their craft,” said Alicia Keys. “Because right now, my alma mater is underfunded and oversubscribed—and I hope to make this better for them, so they can follow their dreams. As the Co-founder of Keep a Child Alive, I constantly see that there are so many ways the world can be made a better place. That’s why I’m so excited to work on the World of Betters initiative and I know for a fact, that there are so many people out there with amazing ideas that can show how even a small change can make a big impact.”

The public will vote and determine the top 500 entries for World of Betters contest. Afterwards, a panel of judges will select 100 winners who will receive $1,000 to create their idea.

Keys, already a multiple award-winning singer/songwriter, is drafting original music for the upcoming play “Stick Fly,” representatives for the show announced Tuesday.

“Stick Fly” focuses on an affluent African American family that has gathered for a weekend at its Martha’s Vineyard home and stars Dulé Hill, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Rosie Benton and Condola Rashad.

Tony-nominated direct Kenny Leon (“Fences,” “A Raisin in the Sun”) will direct the play, written by Lydia Diamond. “Stick Fly” begins previews Nov. 18 at the Cort Theatre and will open on Broadway on Dec. 8.

“This is a story that everybody can relate to,” Keys said in a statement. “I’m passionate about this play because it is so beautifully written and portrays black America in a way that we don’t often get to see in entertainment. I know it will touch audiences, who will find a piece of themselves somewhere inside this house.”

Alicia Keys also serves as one of the show’s producers.

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