"Key" To Success? Celebrities Who Hold Keys To Cities!

These days, celebrities can be found venturing into multiple businesses, from perfume and clothing lines and restaurants to starring in their own reality TV shows and even running their own record labels. However, something that many celebrities have yet to achieve is receiving a prestigious key to a city. But for these celebrities, they show the mission is not impossible!

1. Taylor Swift

The superstar singer holds keys to several cities. In 2009, she was awarded the key to Evansville, Indiana, where she opened her Fearless Tour. In March 2023, she was given the key to Arlington, Texas, during her Eras Tour. In April 2023, she was given the key to the (appropriately-named) Taylorsville, Georgia, in recognition for her 3 sold-out shows in nearby Atlanta during her Eras Tour.

2. Becky G

The singer has keys to multiple California cities. In April 2023, she received the key to Coachella the day after performing at the renowned Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Later in October, she received the key to Inglewood, her hometown.

3. Lady Gaga

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of her groundbreaking album, Born This Way, the superstar singer was given the key to Los Angeles, CA, on May 23, 2021, which was also declared "Born This Way Day".

4. Megan Thee Stallion

The Grammy-winning rap star and Houston, Texas, native was given the key to her hometown in 2022, and May 2 was declared "Megan Thee Stallion Day". She was also presented with a belt buckle and cowboy hat from mayor Sylvester Turner.

5. The Kardashian-Jenners

The media mogul family were given the key to Beverly Hills, CA, on a very auspicious date -- September 2, 2010. As in, 90210. Kim and Kourtney Kardashian specifically both have a key to the city of North Miami, Florida, given to them while in town to film their reality show "Kim and Kourtney Take Miami" in 2012.

6. DJ Khaled

Major Key Alert! In 2016, the record producer and label exec was given a key to the Las Vegas Strip in honor of his residency there.

7. Issa Rae

The talented star of "Insecure", The Hate U Give, and Barbie has a key to the city of Inglewood, CA, where her father has a medical practice.

8. Drake

In 2023, the superstar rapper received a key to Memphis, Tennessee, a city he references frequently in his music. He also has a key to his home city of Toronto, Canada.

9. Kendrick Lamar

The Grammy-winning rap star received a key to his hometown of Compton, CA, in 2016.

10. Mac Miller

In 2013, the late rapper was awarded the key to the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and September 20 was declared "Mac Miller Day". Miller grew up in the Pittsburgh suburb of Point Breeze.

11. Shaquille O'Neal

Following the NBA star's momentous trade from the L.A. Lakers to the Miami Heat in 2004, he was given a warm welcome and the key to the city of Miami, Florida. 

12. Octavia Spencer

The Oscar-winning actress received the key to the city of Montgomery, Alabama, in 2020. Spencer is a native of Alabama and has voiced her determination to help get more films made there.

13. Nicolas Cage

The Oscar-winning actor received a key to Mobile, Alabama, while filming his 2017 supernatural thriller Between Worlds in the town.

14. Chance the Rapper

In 2017, the rapper received a key to Sacramento, CA, in conjunction with a charity concert he held there.

15. Dionne Warwick

The legendary singer was given the key to Bowling Green, Kentucky, prior to a concert appearance in 2004.

16. Jerry Seinfeld

In 2012, then-mayor Pete Buttigieg awards the comedy icon with a key to the city of South Bend, Indiana, where he frequently performs his live standup show.

17. Queen Latifah

Her Majesty herself received a key to the city of Secaucus, New Jersey, in 2005 in recognition for all of her support and activism for the state over the years. She is a native of nearby Newark.

18. Jennifer Hudson

The EGOT winner received a key to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2015 during the Cincinnati Music Festival.

19. Beyoncé and Jay-Z

Music power couple themselves both received keys to New Orleans, Louisiana, and Columbia, South Carolina, in 2018 in recognition of their contributions to pop culture. The latter declared August 21 "Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Sean Carter Day".

20. Pitbull

The Miami-based rapper received a key to a city as far away from Miami as you can get -- Kodiak, Alaska -- during a visit in 2012 to perform for a contest winner. Of course, he also has a key to his hometown, awarded in 2009 in recognition of his community service to the city.

21. Big Sean

After launching a foundation called "Mogul Prep" for kids interested in getting into the music industry, the rapper was given the key to his hometown of Detroit, Michigan, in 2017, the youngest person ever to receive it.

22. Dave Chappelle

The comedian received a key to his hometown of Washington DC in 2017.

23. Whitney Houston

The city of Newark, New Jersey, told the late superstar singer and Newark native "I Will Always Love You" with a key to the city in 1996.

24. T.I.

The rapper received a key to the city of Jackson, Mississippi, in 2014 while in town to speak to students at several schools in the area.

25. Victoria's Secret Angels

When the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show was held in Los Angeles for the first time in 2006, honorary mayor Johnny Grant award a key to Hollywood to 27 of the Victoria's Secret Angels, among them Alessandra Ambrosio, Gisele Bundchen, and Adriana Lima.

26. Solange Knowles

Like big sis Bey, Solange also has a key to New Orleans, Louisiana, awarded to her in 2016, where she had been living since 2013.

27. Dr. Dre

In 2014, like his fellow rapper, Kendrick Lamar, the hip-hop mogul received a key to his hometown, Compton, CA. "California Love" indeed!

28. Ludacris

The rapper, who grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, was give a key to the city in 2004 for his continued dedication to his hometown. He referenced the event in his song "I'm The Truth".

29. Michael Jackson/The Jackson 5

The late King of Pop holds key to Chicago (1988), Las Vegas, Nevada (2003), and his hometown of Gary, Indiana (2003). His former band The Jackson 5 received a key to New York City in 1972, the city of Oakland, CA, in 1979, and the key to Detroit, Michigan, in 2018.

30. Usher

The R&B singer was given a key to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2008 in recognition of his efforts to help the city following Hurricane Katrina. He was also given a key to Las Vegas in 2023.

31. Lil Kim

The rapper was awarded the key to Miami, Florida, in 2004 where she was living at the time. She also received the key to Los Angeles in 2012 ahead of her performance at L.A. Pride in recognition of her allyship with the LGBTQ+ community.

32. God

That's right, the Almighty Himself was given a key to Stockton, CA, by then-mayor Anthony Silva in 2015, which unsurprisingly caused quite a controversy.

33. Trevor Noah

In 2018, during some live shows in the state, the comedian and then-host of "The Daily Show" was given the key to Miami, Florida, and October 29 was declared "Trevor Noah Day". 

34. 50 Cent

In 2020, the NYC-based rapper received the key to Bridgeport, Connecticut. He filmed the 2008 movie Righteous Kill there and owns a home in Farmington.

35. Queen Elizabeth II

Even the late Queen of England herself has a key to a U.S. city -- specifically Long Beach, given to her in 1983 during an official tour of California cities.

36. Kevin Hart

The comedian has not one but two keys to the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, the first in 2018 following a live show in the city and another in 2023 for apparently the same reason.

37. Shakira

In 2006, the Colombian singer was given the key to Miami, Florida, after her record-breaking 5th show at the city's AmericanAirlines Arena (now the Kaseya Center) during her Oral Fixation Tour.

38. Backstreet Boys

The iconic boy band was given the key to Orlando, Florida, where the group originated, in 1998.

39. Mary J. Blige

In 2022, the notorious MJB was given a key to Atlantic City, New Jersey, following a charity event to benefit local youth programs.

40. Elmo

Everyone's favorite resident of Sesame Street was given the key to Detroit, Michigan, in 2010 while visiting with sick kids at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

41. Britney Spears

The pop star received the key to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2014, and November 5 was declared "Britney Day". At the time, she had a residency at Planet Hollywood. Brit also has a key to Camden County, New Jersey, which she received back in 2000.

42. RuPaul

The iconic drag star and host of the Emmy-winning "RuPaul's Drag Race" also has a key to Las Vegas, awarded to him in 2022 in recognition of his groundbreaking career and the success of the "RuPaul's Drag Race Live!" show on the Strip. April 22 was declared "RuPaul Day".

43. Katy Perry

Also a Las Vegas keyholder, the singer was given one in 2022 during her PLAY residency.

44. Nicki Minaj

The rap superstar, who grew up in Queens, New York, received a key to New York City in 2017 in honor of her musical achievements. The key was presented to her by then-Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

45. Stephen Curry

In 2013, the NBA superstar received a key to San Francisco, CA, the home city of his basketball team the Golden State Warriors. He also received a key to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he grew up, in 2022.

46. Travis Scott

The rap star received the key to his hometown of Missouri City, Texas, in 2018 during the city's Black History Month celebrations.

47. Robert De Niro

The two-time Oscar-winning actor received the key to his native New York City in 2023 during the Tribeca Film Festival, which he co-founded in 2002.

48. Weird Al Yankovic

In 2007, during a perfornance at the Wisconsin Valley Fair, the iconic singer was presented with the key to Wausau, Wisconsin.

49. Khalid

The quadruple-platinum-selling R&B artist was given the key to his hometown of El Paso, Texas, in 2018.

50. Will Smith

Along with his Bad Boys co-star Martin Lawrence, the actor was given the key to Miami, Florida, in 2020 and named honorary police officer of the MPD. Bad Boys, of course, takes place in Miami.