World AIDS Day: Celebrity HIV/AIDS Advocates

President Obama, Alicia Keys, Common and others.

10 Songs for World AIDS Day - December 1st marks annual World AIDS Day. Over 25 million people have died of HIV/AIDS, and 36 million are currently living with the disease—making it one of the worst pandemics in history. With this tragic history, it's no wonder so many musicians have spoken about HIV/AIDS. Here, we present 10 songs that address the deadly disease head on—think of it as the perfect soundtrack for World AIDS Day. (Photo: ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Stars Who Stand Up Against AIDS - With World AIDS Day right around the corner, we wanted to give props to some of our favorite Black celebrities who have advocated for people living with HIV/AIDS and have helped spread awareness about the epidemic. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: ADEK BERRY/AFP/Getty Images)

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President Barack Obama - President Barack Obama will go down in history for having many firsts, but many people do not know that he was the first U.S. president to create a National HIV/AIDS Strategy. In 2010 he created this federal initiative with the goal to reduce new HIV infections by 25 percent by the year 2015. He also started a gender, violence and HIV initiative in 2012. (Photo: EPA/ROGER L. WOLLENBERG/POOL/LANDOV)

Alicia Keys - Since 2002, Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys has made HIV/AIDS in Africa a top priority. She helped launch the organization Keep a Child Alive, which provides lifesaving medications for Africans living with HIV/AIDS. Recently, Keys and the Kaiser Family Foundation created Empowerment, a new program for women with HIV living in the U.S.(Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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Alicia Keys - Since 2002, Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys has made HIV/AIDS in Africa a top priority. She helped launch the organization Keep a Child Alive, which provides lifesaving medications for Africans living with HIV/AIDS. Recently, Keys and the Kaiser Family Foundation created Empowerment, a new program for women with HIV living in the U.S.(Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

 Common - In 2005, the socially conscious lyricist joined forces with the Kaiser Family Foundation for The Know is Testing, an HIV/AIDS testing campaign. "I've witnessed firsthand the effects of HIV/AIDS and realized the difference self-love and support from the community can make,” Common said. “I wanted to share myself and my talents to help open the eyes and hearts of young people to the importance of testing.”(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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 Common - In 2005, the socially conscious lyricist joined forces with the Kaiser Family Foundation for The Know is Testing, an HIV/AIDS testing campaign. "I've witnessed firsthand the effects of HIV/AIDS and realized the difference self-love and support from the community can make,” Common said. “I wanted to share myself and my talents to help open the eyes and hearts of young people to the importance of testing.”(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

The Ladies of MAC Viva Glam - Since 1996, Black celebs including Lil’ Kim, Eve, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and now Rihanna have lent their faces to MAC’s Viva Glam Campaign. Each year the cosmetics company releases a new lipstick/lipglass shade where all proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund, an organization that helps people infected and infected by HIV/AIDS around the world. (Photos: Jason Kempin/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; John Ricard/BET)

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The Ladies of MAC Viva Glam - Since 1996, Black celebs including Lil’ Kim, Eve, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige and now Rihanna have lent their faces to MAC’s Viva Glam Campaign. Each year the cosmetics company releases a new lipstick/lipglass shade where all proceeds go to the MAC AIDS Fund, an organization that helps people infected and infected by HIV/AIDS around the world. (Photos: Jason Kempin/Getty Images; Jason Merritt/Getty Images; John Ricard/BET)

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Blair Underwood - Actor Blair Underwood has worked so hard over the years doing HIV/AIDS work — there's even clinic named after him in D.C. In 2009, he participated in the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's “Man Up” campaign that aimed to encouraging more African-American men to get tested for HIV/AIDS. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images For YouthAIDS)

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Blair Underwood - Actor Blair Underwood has worked so hard over the years doing HIV/AIDS work — there's even clinic named after him in D.C. In 2009, he participated in the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's “Man Up” campaign that aimed to encouraging more African-American men to get tested for HIV/AIDS. (Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images For YouthAIDS)

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Sheryl Lee Ralph - Since the epidemic first hit NYC in the ‘80s, Broadway and television star Sheryl Lee Ralph has been a staunch advocate. In 1990 she started her own organization, the DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously Aware) Foundation. For the past two decades she’s hosted the annual DIVAS Simply Singing! event to raise money for her organization. (Photo: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)

Cookie and Magic Johnson - Over twenty years ago, Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and, in a way, became a spokesperson for those afflicted with the disease. Through all of the difficult times that he faced after announcing his illness to the public and retiring from basketball, his wife Cookie stood by his side and remained his support system. They are a true symbol of strength and what love truly is when it's unconditional.  (Photo: Amy Graves/Getty Images for Westfield Century City)

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Magic and Cookie Johnson - Since his own diagnosis in 1991, Magic Johnson, along with his wife Cookie, has played a major role in AIDS awareness in the Black community. That same year, the couple started the Magic Johnson Foundation to reach urban youth. The two have also toured around the country speaking on numerous talk shows and at events. (Photo: Amy Graves/Getty Images for Westfield Century City)

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Kelly Rowland - In 2008, Grammy-winning singer and former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland was MTV’s Staying Alive first ambassador. Rowland went to Kenya to meet children affected by HIV/AIDS. "You could take a situation like having HIV and think of it as having a disability and think of it as something that is going to bring you down," said Rowland, "but I have met kids and young people that are just so inspiring. They inspire me."(Photo: George Pimentel/Getty Images)