‘Unplugged’ returns with Alicia Keys performing

Alicia Keys has resurrected “MTV Unplugged.”

The singer and pianist has performed an acoustic set for the dormant MTV series, set to air Sept. 23. It will first premiere on Overdrive, MTV’s broadband network, available at MTV.com.

The show also will be released as a CD and DVD on Oct. 11.

“I’ve always been a very big fan of the show and when they stopped doing it, I was like, what happened to ‘MTV Unplugged?’ I specifically went in there and said we have to do an ‘Unplugged,’ ” Keys says.

Previous performers on “Unplugged,” which debuted in 1989, include Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Nirvana, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, the Cure and Jay-Z. Dashboard Confessional and Shakira were two of the most recent acts on the series back in 2002.

Keys’ performance, filmed July 14 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is a group effort. Mos Def, Common and Damian Marley are her guests, as well as Maroon 5’s Adam Levine.

“I’d like to think this might be the beginning of a new chapter,” said Alex Colletti, who has produced “Unplugged” since the beginning. “I’ve always loved doing the show.

“We’re going to let it happen organically,” he added. “It’s also interesting, for our audience, the younger half, may not remember the other shows. This might feel like a new series to a lot of people.”