The Script’s Danny O’Donoghue pens emotional song for late bandmate Mark Sheehan on new album
GET the tissues at the ready for The Script’s new album Satellites, as frontman Danny O’Donoghue says it features some tearjerkers.
He has revealed the record, which will be out in a fortnight, includes a track inspired by his late bandmate Mark Sheenan, who passed away in April last year following a brief illness.
The Irishman explained: “There’s one song called Gone, which is directly dealing with Mark’s passing. It’s saying, ‘Like a shooting star across the sky, in a second you were gone. What if stars that light up twice as bright only burn for half as long?’.
“It was the first time I was able to articulate what my brother meant to me.
“In Ireland, we don’t grieve loss, we celebrate a life. And that’s kind of what the album is as well. There’s two or three songs that just celebrate while we’re here and trying to live every moment like it’s your last, because you never know.”
Meanwhile, Danny has had a real lift while supporting Pink on her stadium tour, as he got to try out the harness and bungee cords which fling her around the venues in impressive acrobatic feats.
He told Nick Grimshaw on Virgin Radio UK yesterday: “It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done. I’ve still got bruises. I can’t imagine how sore her body must be.”
Ush is back
IF, like me, you missed Usher at his Paris residency last year, I have good news.
He is releasing a film of his performance over the eight shows.
Usher: Rendezvous In Paris will be in cinemas for three days from September 12.
He said: “Paris was a special experience for me as an entertainer and for my fans. I hope those who weren’t able to make it in person get to experience how special it was.”
Joaquin’s singer is a joke
I’M not expecting Joaquin Phoenix to be winning any Grammys for his singing in Joker: Folie à Deux as it made his co-star Lady Gaga choke on her coffee.
He admitted he purposely put “bum notes” into his performance in the upcoming movie so that it is believable.
Sounds like an excuse I would make at karaoke.
The actor said of his Joker character: “Arthur grew up hearing his mother play these songs on the radio. He’s not a singer, and he shouldn’t sound like a professional singer. He should sound like somebody taking a shower who just bursts into song.”
Joaquin added in Empire mag about the popstar: “I do seem to remember her spitting up coffee the first time I sang, so that felt good, that was exciting, and made me feel confident.”
I Carey you, Olivia
MARIAH CAREY is usually the one posing with enthusiastic fans, but this time it was Olivia Rodrigo on the receiving end.
The iconic diva grinned in a backstage snap with Drivers License singer Olivia, after Mariah went to see a show on her Guts world tour in Atlanta, in the States.
Joined by her twins Monroe and Moroccan at the gig, Mariah wrote on Instagram: “We are OBSESSED with @oliviarodrigo.”
Reciprocating the praise, Olivia commented: “Ur the absolute greatest!!! thank u sm for coming.”
Tour keeps the money Flo-ing
IS Florence Welch’s band actually called Florence + The Machine (to print money)?
I’ve learned that the frontwoman banked almost £9,000 a day in the 12 months to March.
The four private firms she uses to manage her pop earnings made a combined £3.2million, taking the amount held by her businesses to £15.5million.
The latest profits cover legs of her Dance Fever tour – named after the No1 album of the same name – in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Europe.
That album came out in 2022 and she is believed to have been back in the studio.
She has been working with Glass Animals frontman Dave Bayley, who she collaborated with on much of the last album.
There was a four-year gap between Dance Fever’s release and 2018’s High As Hope, but it sounds like Florence is on a roll, so hopefully there is more music on the horizon
Oscars hunt
US comedian Jimmy Kimmel has stood down as host of the Oscars, meaning the hunt is on for the March 2025 ceremony.
He has been at the helm for the past two years, and four times in total, but declined the chance to return.
Fellow stand-up John Mulaney has also “passed” on the offer to front the event.
Oops! Oz did it again
OZZY OSBOURNE has apologised to Britney Spears for slating her dancing… then doubled down on the fact she ought to change her moves.
The Black Sabbath rocker randomly namechecked her this month when he said he was “fed up” seeing her boogying online and called it “very sad”.
It prompted her to lash out on Instagram, saying: “I’m gonna . . . tell the Osbourne family, who is the most boring family known to mankind, to kindly f* off!”
On the latest episode of The Osbournes podcast, Ozzy said: “Oh yeah! Britney, I really owe you an apology. I’m so sorry for making that comment.
“However, it would be better if you didn’t do the same f*in’ dance every day. Change a few movements.”
I’m not sure that’s going to help your case, Ozzy.
Jennifer slicks it out
JENNIFER ANISTON had oil lobbed over by protesters for a scene in her hit Apple TV+ series The Morning Show but it’s good to see the wardrobe team managed to get it all scrubbed off.
And Jen-An was back to looking her usual glamorous self as she continued to film in a black ball gown in New York.
The actress has reprised her role as TV anchor Alex Levy in the popular show, which I have become obsessed with watching every time I jump on a long-haul flight.
(Sod paying another telly subscription fee . . .)
Jen stars alongside Reese Witherspoon in the show, which is now recording for its fourth series.
Fans are in for a treat, as Jeremy Irons and Marion Cotillard are also joining the line-up.
Bring it on.
James to try luck at Fringe
HE correctly predicted the Lottery numbers a few years back and now James Phelan is taking his magic to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
James the nephew of the late magician Paul Daniels, opens his show The Dreamer on Saturday and has been billed as a cross between Joel Dommett and David Blaine.
I watched a live performance in London over the weekend and it was fun, captivating and shocking.
If you are heading to the Fringe, it is well worth checking him out.
Especially if he can help you with next week’s EuroMillions draw.