Glastonbury bosses stunned as pop superstar PULLS OUT of festival after signing as headline act two years ago
AS one of pop’s top names, Taylor Swift’s headline performance at the cancelled Glastonbury 2020 was going to be a huge moment in music. But I can reveal the Shake It Off singer will not play this year’s event, despite much of the old line-up rolling over. Kendrick Lamar is still set to top the […]
AS one of pop’s top names, Taylor Swift’s headline performance at the cancelled Glastonbury 2020 was going to be a huge moment in music.
But I can reveal the Shake It Off singer will not play this year’s event, despite much of the old line-up rolling over.
Kendrick Lamar is still set to top the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm in June, though.
Many had assumed Taylor would return, following an incredible two years in which she has scored four No1 albums.
Glastonbury has twice been cancelled due to Covid but Taylor has now said she will give this year’s event a miss as she focuses on re-recording her back catalogue.
A music insider said: “Taylor politely declined when she was approached because the timing just isn’t right at the moment.
“Of course she would absolutely love to headline at some point. It is still on her bucket list but performing isn’t her priority right now.
“She has old albums which she is still working on re- recording and getting those finished is her priority.”
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Taylor said: “I wanted to perform in places I hadn’t performed in as much, do things I hadn’t done — like Glastonbury. I haven’t done festivals, really, since early in my career.
“They’re fun and bring people together in a really cool way. It’s so sad. But I know it’s the right decision.”
Billie Eilish has already been confirmed to headline on the Friday night, while Kendrick will close the festival on the Sunday. The identity of the Saturday night headliner is still being kept under wraps.
Diana Ross has been confirmed for the Sunday afternoon Legends slot, while Little Simz is the only other act to have been announced by organisers.
Noel Gallagher, Haim and Crowded House are also expected on the line-up.
Earlier this week, American rock band Nine Inch Nails announced two shows in Cornwall for the week before the festival, prompting many to believe they will make their big return to Glasto, having performed there in 2000.
Organiser Emily Eavis has said she will be announcing the line-up next month. As my favourite weekend of the year, I have every faith it will be an absolute belter — even though Taylor will be sorely missed.
RIHANNA IS ALL HEART
LIFE is sweet, literally, for mum-to-be Rihanna.
The singer is all loved up with boyfriend Asap Rocky after announcing her pregnancy last month, and was snapped out and about in Malibu rocking a heart-shaped jacket from Saint Laurent, said to be worth a whopping £11,000.
But she has also been blowing a small fortune on sugary treats, revealing she was forced to tell her pals she was pregnant when she started bingeing on snacks after cutting out booze and cigarettes.
She said: “It was harder for me to keep it from my posse because they’re around me – they know my habits. They’re like, ‘You don’t want something to drink? You’re not smoking?’
“I’m eating all the things I’m not used to eating. They know I hate sweets and I’m all of a sudden asking for cookies and doughnuts.”
Sadly, I can’t use the same excuse when it comes to my bad diet.
NINA POP AT PATRIARCHY
NINA NESBITT has taken a pop at the showbiz industry on a new song called Pressure Makes Diamonds.
In the track, expected to be released later this year, she said she has had to work harder than other celebrities her age because she doesn’t have famous parents.
The Scots star sings: “Every year I’m older I just keep on getting closer to my career being over because my sex appeal is lower.
“And I know I’m not a rich girl, my dad wasn’t famous in the Eighties, but I don’t let it faze me. I’ll just keep on swimming through the patriarchal system.” Good for her.
LOUIS ON TWO-DO LIST
LOUIS TOMLINSON may be on tour across America right now but he’s still finding time to work on new music.
I can reveal the One Direction singer has almost wrapped up his second album and is hoping to put out new music in the coming months.
The record will be Louis’s first since his debut Walls was released in January 2020.
That album went to No4 – and he is hoping to do even better this time after ditching Simon Cowell’s record label Syco to sign with BMG, home to Rita Ora, KSI and Kylie Minogue.
A music source said: “Louis has been working really hard and the music sounds great. So far, about half to three-quarters of the album is done. Hopefully it will be out by the end of the year, but Louis is keen not to rush things for the sake of it.
“Fans will genuinely love what he’s come up with. It’s his best work yet.”
The singer will play his first UK arena as a solo artist in April when he performs at Glasgow’s O2 as part of the UK leg of his world tour, before hitting Wembley.
I was pleasantly surprised when Louis released his first album. Hopefully I’ll feel the same about this one.
KANYE’S ORDEAL
KANYE WEST has confessed he was battling suicidal urges and an addiction to painkillers while making his 2018 album Kids See Ghosts.
In footage captured four years ago and shown in Netflix’s new docuseries Jeen-yuhs, he says: “I already had the house and the wife and the kids and the plaques . . . but still have moments where I felt, like, suicidal, still have moments where I’m addicted to Percocet without even realising it.”
The first part of the three-episode series was released yesterday.
The third instalment, out on March 2, will see him discuss the mental health struggles he has faced since the death of his mum Donda in 2007.
IT’S DONE TUNE ABBEY
THEY will have a box-office winner on their hands when the second Downton Abbey movie lands in April, but Michelle Dockery and Michael Fox are now eyeing up another hit.
The screen stars, best known for playing Lady Mary Talbot and Andy Parker in the TV series and subsequent films, have turned their hand to music and signed a record deal with Decca.
They will release a four-track EP together called The Watching Silence on May 6 after secretly getting together in the recording studio last year.
Speaking about juggling acting and music, Michelle said: “It’s a whole different set of skills and vulnerability. Acting tends to start with what’s already written on the page.
“Music can begin anywhere. It’s different and very freeing.” Michael added: “I will always love acting, but there is something about us, some part of our characters that we haven’t fully realised – and that’s happening now.”
The folk-inspired release came about after the pair began casually jamming between scenes – but it won’t just be crew and cast on the movie set who will be able to listen now.
As well as putting out a record, they will perform their first concert together at London’s Omeara venue on June 6.
They may want to ditch the Downton costumes when it comes to playing those sweaty, intimate venues.
GRAY’S BIG DAY
DAVID GRAY will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his hit album White Ladder by performing it in full at new festival A Perfect Day.
The Babylon and Sail Away singer will headline the event, topping a line-up including James Morrison, Tom Odell, Gabrielle and The Shires.
It takes place at Powderham Castle in Exeter on July 3, with tickets going on sale tomorrow.