String of stars lined up to perform Mark Ronson medley at Brits as producer receives Outstanding Contribution gong
MARK RONSON is going to be the man of the moment at the Brit Awards when he is honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Music prize.
And I have been told organisers are going all-out to make it a moment to remember for Mark — with Dua Lipa, Raye and Lily Allen in the mix to perform a medley of his hits.
All three women have teamed up with Mark on songs before, with Mark and Dua winning a Grammy for their 2018 hit Electricity.
Lily’s 2007 track Oh My God was produced by Mark, while he helped write and produce Raye’s song Suzanne last summer.
A music industry insider told me: “The Outstanding Contribution to Music gong is massive for Mark and the Brits want to celebrate his impact on the music industry.
“He has worked on so many incredible songs with some massive artists, and they’ve been reaching out to try to get something very special lined up.
“Dua, Lily and Raye have all been approached about performing a medley of Mark’s songs, including their own tracks he worked on.
“The Brits love a big moment and want this tribute to be one of the most impactful moments of the night.
“It’s all still a massively moveable feast, with the finer details being ironed out.”
I revealed last week that Mark was getting the prestigious award, which has previously been handed to acts including Sir Elton John, The Beatles and Oasis.
Mark said: “This is the most meaningful honour of my career.
“I think of the times I’ve watched artists I revere accept this same award.
“The idea that I’m now standing in that lineage feels impossible.
“I left England as a kid, but this country runs through everything I’ve made.
“The UK artists I’ve worked with — their brilliance and refusal to compromise — shaped not just my work but how I understand what music should do.
“And, more than anything, it’s the crowds here who’ve sustained and showed up for me.
“The fans, the festival crowds, the record buyers and streamers, the love has always been overwhelming.
“I’m beyond grateful for all of it.”
The ceremony, at Manchester’s Co-op Live on February 28, is looking like it’s going to be a corker, with Harry Styles, Olivia Dean, Wolf Alice and Rosalia all confirmed to be performing, too.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the after parties are just as good.
Capaldi please Tay yes
LEWIS CAPALDI is hoping to hit the studio with Taylor Swift after starring in her Opalite music video.
He took to social media to reply to fans after making a surprise cameo in Taylor’s latest clip.
After one fan asked about the prospect of Taylor and him recording a duet together, the Wish You The Best singer replied: “I can but dream.”
Last night Official Charts UK revealed Opalite is on track to give Taylor her sixth No1 this Friday.
Meanwhile, Myles Smith and Niall Horan are eyeing up a Top 20 debut, with their new song Drive Safe in an No20.
Niall’s One Direction bandmate Zayn Malik is also back in the charts.
His single, Die For Me, the lead track on upcoming fifth album Konnakol, is currently at No39.
Cardi’s wet and wild
CARDI B appears to have ditched standard red carpet dresses for a trusty wetsuit.
The WAP rapper wore this funky red and yellow jumpsuit as she attended the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party.
The VIP event at Pier 48 in San Francisco saw a host of stars take to the stage before last night’s Super Bowl halftime show by Bad Bunny at the Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
As well as Cardi, SZA and Nelly also took to the stage during the evening.
Keen to make the most of her time in the city, Cardi was also spotted backstage at Uber’s The One Party.
She sported a tight white jumpsuit as she hung out with British sensation Olivia Dean who, fresh from winning her first Grammy last weekend, performed at the bash.
Jason channels his inner Slater
JASON DERULO may have finished the UK leg of his tour last night, but we’ve clearly made a lasting impression.
The Whatcha Say singer, channelled his inner Kat Slater from EastEnders in this leopard print coat at his final show at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
After performing in Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham and London, Jason is now taking his The Last Dance World Tour across Europe.
Once he ties up the tour, Jason has promised it’s the start of a new era.
He told Bizarre’s Howell: “It is a retirement of one version of me and the start of a new one.”
Margot’s down-to-earth
MARGOT ROBBIE may be one of the biggest stars on the planet, but rather than turning into a Mariah Carey-esque diva – fame hasn’t changed her.
Wuthering Heights director Emerald Fennell has opened up about how rather than throw her weight around off camera, Margot was quietly helping her co-stars and staff.
Speaking in an exclusive Q&A at the BFI Emerald told Edith Bowman: “She’s a girls’ girl.
“She looks after you. She looks after everyone. She is always doing things behind the scenes for people. She is just a really exceptional person.
“She is such a gargantuan star and is such a talented person but she has absolutely no ego.
“We never had to put the breaks on something because she wanted more coverage or she wanted to look a certain way. Never. Not once.”
PERRIE EDWARDS has moved the release of her new track, Woman In Love, to tomorrow at 5pm.
The move thrilled fans after she made the announcement on social media, after bringing it forward from Friday.
It also does Perrie’s ex Little Mix co-star Jesy Nelson a favour too.
Jesy’s new Prime Video TV series is expected to drop on February 13, and Perrie’s decision to move the release appears to allow Jesy to bask in the limelight without any talk of competition between the old bandmates.
After everything that went down between the Little Mixers, it’s good to see they’re finally starting to move on.
I’M hoping Madonna’s twin daughters Estere and Stella could be Tottenham’s next Lucky Pappe Sars.
Madge has revealed the pair have made it through to the Spurs’s Women’s Academy.
She was pitchside over the weekend to watch Estere and Stella smash another team 5-0, and joked she had been in an Uber for the second time in her life to make it to the game.
Madge has form when it comes to having kids with footballing prowess.
Her son David Banda joined Benfica’s youth academy in Portugal aged 11 and played with their youth squad for a number of seasons, with Madge relocating to Lisbon to support his career.
David ended up leaving the beautiful game to pursue a career in music like his famous mum.
I’ve got high hopes for Estere and Stella – and they picked the perfect team to join.
Let’s just not talk about our recent run of form, OK?
HEARTSTOPPER star Kit Connor looked completely unrecognisable when he posed for a photo with his new mate Elton John.
The British Netflix actor attended a dinner at the singer’s house alongside actor Russell Tovey and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears among others, but I almost didn’t even realise it was him.
At only 21, he sported a full beard – a drastic change from his clean shaven look in the teen drama which made him famous.
If it’s for a role, no one will be recognising you, Kit.
PRINCESS SUPERSTAR had a handful of hits in the Noughties, including the 2007 dance classic Perfect (Exceeder), before falling out of the music business.
But almost two decades later, she is well and truly back, having just released her new single Yum-Me after the 2023 movie Saltburn featured her music and returned her to the charts.
In an exclusive chat, she explained: “It’s been wild. I lost my career and I got it back after Saltburn propelled Perfect back into the limelight.
“All of a sudden, after pretty much a ten-year hiatus, I found myself in recording studios all over again. It’s just been a really surreal experience.”
And the new tune is the first taste of a full length album.
She added: “I’m working on it as we speak and it’s about half done. I’ve recorded probably like 30 songs but only six are good enough for the album.”
During her time away from the charts, she became a mum, a mentor, and worked in social media.
But she also helped discover Lana Del Rey, when she was singing under her real name Lizzy Grant.
The singer and rapper explained: “Around 2008 I was producing artists, local people in New York, and my husband actually was like, ‘Oh you’ve got to meet this singer Lizzy Grant.’
“I was sort of dubious because my husband sometimes will bring home the worst people. But I was like, ‘Oh my god, she’s amazing’.
“We recorded songs in my apartment in New York.”
And after almost three decades in music, she’s ready to tell plenty more showbiz anecdotes.
She added: “I’m also about to potentially write a memoir. I’m really excited, it’s something I always wanted to do and so I’m talking to a UK publisher right now.”
