Pop Music

LOLA Young has made her comeback to social media after taking a sudden break from her music career.

The performer shocked concert-goers when she plummeted to the ground on stage in September and just days later announced she was stepping away from the limelight for the “foreseeable future.”

Lola, 24, returned to Instagram with some positive news for fans and promised she was doing a lot better.

“Hey, I just wanted to express gratitude to everyone who has given me time and space to gather myself and get my head in a better place,” she wrote in the heartfelt post.

“I’ve felt so much love and support from you all and it has helped more than you will ever know.”

Lola continued: “I am hoping to gradually get back to performing and continuing pursuing my dreams. Happy holidays to you all and can’t wait to see you in 2026.

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“Life is a journey, nothing is perfect but today I am doing well. All my love always, Lola x.”

The London-born singer had just released her critically-acclaimed debut when she made the sudden decision to press pause on her career and cancelled her tour.

Announcing her departure in a heartbreaking statement shared on Instagram, Lola said she hopes her followers will give her a “second chance”.

“I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future. Thank you for all the love and support,” she wrote in a post at the time.

“I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know.”

The singer had gone through a series secret struggles – from a mental health diagnosis to an ongoing nepo baby row and even legal issues.

Last year, while Lola’s biggest hit was climbing up the charts, she was checked into a rehab facility for an addiction to cocaine.

It’s thought she was admitted last November and the drug addiction swamped the singer for “a long time”, she said in an interview with The Guardian.

She also revealed she ‘hated’ her body after trolls flooded her social media accounts with cruel comments.

Meanwhile, when she was 17, she was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder.

The condition is a mix of schizophrenia symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, according to the NHS.

Writing on Instagram in 2022, Lola explained: “I have struggled immensely learning to accept this part of myself, and I am still learning.”

LILY Allen hosted a glittering Christmas party last night at London’s most notorious nightspot Stringfellows – turning heads in a sexy Santa outfit.

The singer, 40, slipped into a figure-hugging red mini dress trimmed with fluffy white fur, complete with lace suspenders adorned with bows. 

The provocative look was teamed with a velvet red Santa cape as she embraced festive glamour.

Lily styled her hair in a Sixties-inspired blow-dry and accessorised with a classic Chanel handbag. 

She added extra height with a pair of skyscraper white heels, which featured a matching fur embellishment.

Never one to take herself too seriously, the cheeky star was spotted sticking out her tongue as she posed and mingled with guests.

Lily took to the dancefloor with a host of celebrity pals including pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo. 

She also shared a playful moment dancing with the London Gay Men’s Chorus, who attended the bash. 

Fellow singer Ella Raye was among the guests too, wowing in a sheer red stocking dress as she joined Lily for a photo.

Bono’s daughter, Jordan Hewson, was seen at the star-studded event, lounging on a sofa with Lily.

The party took place at Stringfellows, the legendary gentlemen’s club founded by Peter Stringfellow in the 1970s. 

Originally opening in Soho before moving to Covent Garden, Stringfellows quickly became synonymous with celebrity excess, glamour and late-night debauchery. 

Over the decades, it has welcomed everyone from Hollywood stars to rock royalty, cementing its status as one of London’s most infamous nightlife institutions.

The Christmas bash comes during a significant year for Lily, who has launched new music widely described as a “revenge” album following her split from husband David Harbour. 

The record draws on heartbreak and betrayal after Lily publicly accused the actor of cheating. 

Fans have praised the project for its raw honesty and cutting lyrics, marking a bold new chapter in her career.

IT was the year when those noisy Mancunian brothers brought the Britpop Nineties back to packed stadiums everywhere.

It was the year when Pulp made a charming first album in 24 years, with Jarvis Cocker singing about getting older with a wry smile on his face.

But I contest that one band from the era has been the most forward-facing, the most creative and the most kick-ass – Suede.

Which is why their vibrant, visceral, unflinching and wildly adventurous Antidepressants is our Album Of The Year.

Back in September to mark its release, frontman Brett Anderson told me: “We’ve fallen in love with being a rock band again.” And this week I caught up with him again to impart some good news . . . 

Congratulations! Antidepressants is the SFTW Album Of The Year. Does that make you happy?

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Thank you. Very!

In all the years of Suede, where does 2025 rank?

Right up there. Somewhere between 2024 and 2026.

What have been the highlights of the year for you?

The South Bank takeover gigs in September were great – playing those new songs live for the first time was special.

I particularly enjoyed the Clore Ballroom show where we just did post-reformation stuff.

I thought that was an exciting and fairly unique thing to do for a band of our generation.

Also, I just love the South Bank. Walking over the footbridge from Embankment tube and looking at the skyline always gives me a sense of awe, a feeling of London being this big, beautiful, living thing.

Which of the new songs have you enjoyed singing live the most?

June Rain has a nice dynamic and slow sense of build which works great live. Plus the first half is spoken-word so I get to sit down a bit.

I personally think the album’s opening song Disintegrate should be the Christmas No.1 . . . do you agree?

Ha! Yes, love it. A kind of resolutely unseasonal Christmas song full of dread and fear.

Which album, aside from Suede’s, has been your favourite this year and why?

I liked Sprints’ All That Is Over. It was sharp and shouty and brainy and brash. (Sprints are an Irish garage punk band).

You told me that Suede are “the anti-nostalgia band”. What keeps you facing forwards rather than reflecting on the past (unlike some of your peers)?

Hmmm, huge question. I’ve always thought the point of any artist was to create rather than to repeat and consolidate.

That search for the next great song, the next great album, the next great moment has always been the carrot I’ve chased.

I come from a fiscally poor but culturally rich family background. My mum was an artist and a dressmaker and my dad was a classical music-obsessed taxi driver who made our furniture.

When I was a kid, we didn’t have any money, so if you wanted something you made it yourself.

I’m much less interested in what I wrote 30 years ago than in what I’m going to write next.

Have you started work on the third album of Suede’s “black and white” trilogy, following Autofiction and Antidepressants?

Yes, we’ve written a handful of songs already. I want it to be harder and more extreme than Antidepressants, a relentless onslaught, incessant and uncompromising and very rhythmic.

I already have a title which I’m keeping secret.

You also spoke to me of the importance of family relationships. Does that mean Christmas is a special time for you?

My family and my band are of course so, so important to me and in many ways they feed into each other. It’s hard to write about family without coming across as schmaltzy but luckily I can find the cloud in any silver lining.

Among my favourite songs I’ve ever written are Life Is Golden and She Still Leads Me On which have both been inspired by fatherhood and family.

And yes, Christmas is especially great when you have kids.

Happily though, now my son is older, there’s less pressure for me to dress up in a Santa suit.

What are your hopes for 2026 – for you, your family, the band, and for humankind?

For the band to write a great follow-up to Antidepressants and for humankind to stop scrolling. My hope for myself is always the same – to be a good husband and father.

2. ROSALIA

Lux

THE Spanish star known for her reinvention of ­folk and flamenco turned her attention to more bombastic, classical genres on this fourth album.

Backed by the London Symphony Orchestra it was a lavish production sung in a variety of languages. Bonkers but brilliant. JS 

People Watching

WITH its widescreen ambition, driving intensity and visceral lyrics, songs about “the human experience” couldn’t fail to draw comparisons with Fender’s “biggest hero”, Bruce Springsteen.

But it also marked the Geordie’s coming of age as a major artist in his own right. SC 

4. ROBERT PLANT with SUZI DIAN

Saving Grace

FOR six years, Led Zeppelin legend Plant has surrounded himself with acoustic musicians who live near his Worcestershire home, singer Dian among them.

Together, they gave us a ravishing mix of trad and contemporary covers. Rarely has he sounded so sublime. SC 

5. BIFFY CLYRO 

Futique 

A REFLECTIVE album shaped by friendship, family and loss, it captured Biffy Clyro at their most emotionally open.

Goodbye explored mental health, while A Thousand And One and Two People In Love delivered some of the most moving moments. JS 

6. MARGO PRICE 

Hard Headed Woman

FURTHER proof that Price tells it like it is. This was a stirring return to her country roots, following the trippy rock textures of Strays.

It drew comparisons with her beloved debut, Midwest Farmer’s Daughter, but was inspired by another decade of life experience. SC 

7. TURNSTILE

Never Enough

THIS fourth album from the hardcore punks from Baltimore, known for their energetic live shows, crossed into the mainstream.

The title track had a catchy chorus and melodic guitar breaks while at its heart there was still an uncompromising mandate to rock out. JS 

8. THE DIVINE COMEDY

Rainy Sunday Afternoon

WE’VE long been intrigued by Neil Hannon – not just because he once wrote a song called Something For The Weekend.

These 11 tracks assumed a reflective tone, with love and loss prominent themes, and featured some of Hannon’s most sumptuous tunes. SC 

9. YUNGBLUD

Idols

THIS album sees Yungblud questioning hero worship and identity after a life-changing encounter with a fan.

Inspired by Britpop, it’s his most confident work yet, opening with a nine-minute rock opera and driven by limitless self-belief and ambition. JS 

10. LADY GAGA

Mayhem 

GAGA proved why we loved her in the first place, returning to her dance-pop roots.

She recalled the vibe of her 2008 debut The Fame yet delivered an album for the here and now.

It was marked out by strong singles Abracadabra and Disease. SC 

11. GEESE

Getting Killed

THIS was a case of do believe the hype. With mesmerising singer Cameron Winter at the helm, Brooklyn’s indie rock saviours might channel The Strokes, The Stones, or even Nirvana, but they’re too weird and original to be slaves to their influences.

On the brink of greatness. SC 

12. JACOB ALON

In Limerence

FEW debuts arrived so perfectly formed as this one featuring the tender storytelling of Scottish singer Alon.

With an impossibly pure voice which sat somewhere between Bon Iver and Thom Yorke, it was full of fragile hope.

Vulnerable and haunting ambient soundscapes. JS 

13. PULP

More

JARVIS and Co’s first album in 24 years was dedicated to dear departed bassist Steve Mackey – and it summoned the old mischief. “I am not ageing.

No, I’m just ripening,” cried the singer on Grown Ups, a song filled with lyrical twists and turns. SC 

14. CMAT

Euro-Country

WITH songs about Teslas and Jamie Oliver, there was a quirky, kitsch element to Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson’s third album.

It also plumbed deeper depths of emotional pain but was allied to soft pop melodies.

Issues tackled included social media and objectification. JS 

15. MATT BERNINGER

Get Sunk

TALL, elegant, blessed with a sumptuous baritone, The National’s frontman and lyricist is an, er, National treasure.

But he managed to save wonderfully evocative songs for his second solo outing, including the intoxicating ebb and flow of opener Inland Ocean. SC 

16. DAVE

The Boy Who Played The Harp

HIS first album in four years found Dave drawing on the power of his biblical namesake King David to explore vulnerability and masculinity.

With James Blake’s ghostly production on Selfish and Chapter 16 (ft. Kano), it struck a reflective mood. JS 

17. JASON ISBELL

Foxes In The Snow

THE Alabama-born artist recorded his latest offering without his ace band, the 400 Unit, but with an old acoustic guitar for company.

“This is the first time I’ve done an album with just me and a guitar,” he told SFTW of the exquisite, stripped-back song cycle. SC  

18. BILLY NOMATES 

Metalhorse 

METALHORSE emerged from a personal, tumultuous period for Tor Maries.

A loose concept album set in a dilapidated funfair it featured radio hit The Test, while Strange Gift offered hope.

Closing song Moon Explodes was especially moving, written after Maries’ MS diagnosis. JS 

19. BIG THIEF

Double Infinity

FEW vocalists could handle the word “incomprehensible” like Adrianne Lenker on this LP’s fuzzy joy of an opening track.

Though the indie darlings have contracted to a three piece, there was nothing shrinking about their fearless, exilharating sonic adventure .SC  

20. OLIVIA DEAN

The Art Of Loving

MELLOW and sumptuous, the second album from the stylish Londoner was smooth soul to relax into.

Tracks such as Nice To Each Other and Lady Lady were warm and all-enveloping, exploring affairs of the heart with a particular emphasis on self-care. JS 

21. LILY ALLEN

West End Girl

LILY’S fifth album, the first in seven years, was also her most vulnerable and intensely personal.

It came after her split from actor husband David Harbour and the songs laid it all out in heartbreakingly painful detail.

Infidelity and betrayal were constant themes. JS 

22. BON IVER

Sable, Fable

DIVIDED into two distinct halves, the first was an understated return to the folky stylings of Justin Vernon’s wintery debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago.

The second blossomed into more upbeat territory, primed for glorious spring sunshine. SC  

23. THE WATERBOYS

Life, Death And Dennis Hopper

MIKE Scott took us on a wild ride with this 25-track album celebrating “one of the great American lives”, actor and hellraiser Dennis Hopper.

He summoned a blizzard of musical styles and included cameos from Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle and Fiona Apple. SC  

24. AFRICA EXPRESS 

Bahidora 

EVEN before Blur completed their reunion gigs, Damon Albarn headed to the Mexican jungle with a dizzying array of 70-plus artists from four continents.

The result? A thrilling mash-up of African rhythms, electronic textures, Latin soul, rock, hip hop – everything! SC  

25. MAVIS STAPLES

Sad And Beautiful World

SHE bears one of the greatest living voices . . .  and it remained in towering form.

Well into her Eighties, Staples tackled our uncertain world with unerring compassion.

Guests included Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. SC  

26. BRANDI CARLILE

Returning To Myself 

THIS record found Brandi in an introspective, stripped-back mood after a landmark year.

Working with Aaron Dessner, Andrew Watt and Justin Vernon, the album reconnected her with loneliness, self-belief and politics, from the reflective title track to the powerful Church & State. JS  

27. WOLF ALICE

The Clearing

THE fourth album from the Brit award winners was a grandiose affair, a bold and confident leap forward.

Tracks like Bloom Baby Bloom incorporated all their strengths with bombastic choruses and lush melodies, showcasing Ellie Rowsell’s exceptional rock vocal range. JS 

28. STEREOLAB

Instant Holograms On Metal Film

A STRONG return after 15 years from the much-loved Anglo-French combo.

Led, as ever, by Tim Gane and Laetitia Sadier, the album revisited their distinctive blend of art-pop and motorik beats, really hitting the mark on the effervescent Electrified Teenybop! SC  

29. RICHARD ASHCROFT

Lovin’ You

ASHCROFT’S first album of new music since 2018 arrived after he supported Oasis on tour.

From the Joan Armatrading-sampled Lover to the title track, which sampled Mason Williams’ 1968 Classical Gas, it was a vocally focused, emotionally wide record. JS 

30. WET LEG

Moisturizer

MORPHING from duo to fully-fledged band, the follow-up to their debut album was still as oddball as ever, but it came with a tighter focus.

Tracks like Davina McCall and Jennifer’s Body were heartfelt, kooky love songs backed by ragged, punky basslines. JS  

31. SOMBR

I Barely Know Her

A SPECIAL debut full of heartbreak from the bedroom pop star who quit school to make music.

His melancholy voice accompanied by his own guitar, bass and keyboards and drums, made this magical, with Dime and disco-tinged 12 To 12 emerging as standouts. JS 

32. MOLLY TUTTLE

So Long Little Miss Sunshine

THE Grammy-winning singer forged her reputation at the forefront of the bluegrass revival.

Now she has spread her wings with this ravishing work of myriad styles. It also provided her with the confidence to be open about her alopecia. SC  

33. TOM GRENNAN

Everywhere I Went, Led Me To Where I Didn’t Want To Be

THE down-to-earth singer from Bedford laid his feelings bare on this reflective fourth album shaped by growth, friendship and vulnerability.

It balanced anthemic pop with emotional depth, from Shadowboxing to Boys Don’t Cry. JS 

34. TAYLOR SWIFT

The Life Of A Showgirl

RECORDED in stolen moments during the record-shattering Eras tour, it found Swift reflecting on love and life in the spotlight after falling for NFL star Travis Kelce.

Working with Max Martin and Shellback, it was polished, theatrical pop with self-aware glamour and emotional insight. JS 

35. JOHN FOGERTY

Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years

FOGERTY celebrated the recent end of his decades-long fight to get his publishing rights back.

It meant he could belt out timeless hits Proud Mary, Born On The Bayou, Bad Moon Rising and Up Around The Bend with unbridled joy rather than lingering bitterness. SC  

36. MIDLAKE

A Bridge To Far

BEST remembered for their second record, 2006’s The Trials Of Van Occupanther, these enduring Texans rekindled their love of melody-rich folk rock. Two decades on, A Bridge To Far might just have been their best since that hallowed album. SC 

37. TATE MCRAE

So Close To What

THE Canadian singer’s third album was slick and polished futuristic pop and highlighted her journey from teenage dancer to arena-selling pop princess.

Tracks like Purple Lace Bra were multilayered with beats, synths and strings, and created a sultry, sizzling mood. JS 

38. BEIRUT

A Study Of Losses

FOLLOWING Zach Condon’s sortie to the Arctic Circle for 2023’s exquisite Hadsel came this work of unerring beauty.

The 11 songs and seven instrumentals, spanning nearly an hour, struck a melancholy tone but they left a lasting and profound impression. SC 

39. ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION

Arcadia

TO Robert Plant’s duet pal Krauss, her latest project was “like stepping into an old pair of shoes”.

Her first album with her virtuoso bluegrass band since 2011 evoked bygone times, while still connecting with 21st Century listeners. SC

40. TOM SMITH

There Is Nothing In The Dark That Isn’t There In The Light

AFTER 20 years fronting Editors and two records with Andy Burrows, Tom Smith stepped out on his own.

His first solo album stripped everything back to the core of his songwriting, capturing the honesty, anxiety and hope that shaped this new chapter. JS 

41. FKA TWIGS 

Eusexua 

THE album title was a made-up word taken from euphoria and sexual to describe “a feeling so intense it transcended the human form”. 

And it lived up to its name.

On the arty, left field side of electronica, this third record was her most complete and satisfying. JS 

42. THE DELINES

Mr Luck & Ms Doom

WHEN ex-Richmond Fontaine frontman Willy Vlautin (lyricist/guitarist in this band) is involved, you tend to get songs with disturbing narratives about people from the wrong side of the tracks.

This firmly ticked that box – and then there was Amy Boone’s enriching, expressive vocals. SC 

43. DAVID BYRNE

Who Is The Sky?

THE world may be going to hell in a handcart, but at least Talking Heads legend Byrne kept a smile on his face.

That was the vibe you get from his latest effort, most notably on rousing opening track Everybody Laughs, which came with a cameo from longtime collaborator St Vincent. SC 

44. BLOOD ORANGE

Essex Honey

ECLECTIC and imbued with an aching sense of loss and nostalgia, Dev Hynes’ fifth album as Blood Orange was an exploration of his upbringing in London.

A collection of memories recalled through spindly indie, jazz, chunky beats and evocative soundscapes. JS 

45. DAMIANO DAVID

Funny Little Fears

FOR Maneskin’s Damiano David, this felt the right moment for a solo album, revealing a more personal, previously hidden side.

It was less rocky than Maneskin, confronting fear and identity through piano-led pop inspired by Keane, The Killers, and Elton John. JS 

46. RON SEXSMITH

Hangover Terrace

THE Canadian has assembled a fine body of work, marked out by sumptuous melodies and perceptive lyrics.

He returned with one of his strongest collections.

Recorded in London, the album visited his childhood, his current concerns and much more in between. SC 

47. MY MORNING JACKET

Is

SINGER Jim James hoped the band’s genre-hopping tenth album would help people “navigate the chaos in the world”. 

If the overall vibe was psychedelic rock with plenty of reverb, MMJ employed elements of pop, country, soul, reggae, you name it. SC 

48. ETHEL CAIN

Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You

FEW artists have been able to express the intimate, sometimes painful, feelings about first love as well as the singer from Florida.

Evoking a haunting, Southern gothic atmosphere, her ambient rock sound-scapes framed a raw, heartfelt song cycle. SC 

49. CAR SEAT HEADREST

The Scholars

THE career trajectory of Will Toledo is nothing short of breathtaking.

He started out making lo-fi DIY albums in his parents’ car and now, as frontman of a fully fledged band, he made this crazily ambitious rock opera in the vein of Tommy or Ziggy Stardust. SC 

50. ADDISON RAE

Addison

THE debut album from the former TikTok star, who rose to popularity with her dance videos, broke the code.

Stepping confidently beyond influencer fame, she moved into sleek, self-aware pop.

Playful hooks and glossy production balanced vulnerability and attitude. JS 

ANNE-MARIE has vowed to shake things up for her upcoming fourth album – her first since 2023’s Unhealthy.

The Ciao Adios singer told The Sun that she’s determined not to return with a record that’s a copy-and-paste job of her first three albums.

Speaking backstage at Capital Jingle Bell Ball with Barclaycard, after she put on an intimate gig in Barclaycard’s Out Of The Blue area for lucky fans, Anne-Marie said: “Next year there will be new music.

“I think I need to switch it up a bit… Will I be rapping? Who knows.

“I am definitely switching it up.

“I need to make it exciting again, you know.

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“I can’t just come back as the same Anne Marie I have been for ten years.

“I am going to do a little spice.”

Since the release of her last record, the singer has welcomed two children, a daughter and a son, with her musician hubby Slowthai.

She says she’s turned to longtime friend Ed Sheeran – who co-wrote her 2018 hit 2002 – for advice on juggling being a popstar and a parent.

Anne Marie explained: “Be a parent, it’s hard.

“It’s like everyone says.

“It’s the best thing ever and the hardest thing at the same time.

“I think working is definitely hard.

“I find it harder than I thought I would, but they are beautiful little aliens.

“It does make you want more even though you are in hell.”

She continued: “I go to Ed for a lot of advice really.

“About kids but also about everything really.

“Now that we have kids he is like the perfect person to speak to.”

In September Anne-Marie released a teaser of what’s to come with her new track Depressed.

Admitting Christmas time isn’t always easy for people, Anne-Marie said: “I am very aware that people feel alone at this time of the year which makes me sad.

“But I think as long as you get through it and think of the next year and all of your dreams and plans that you want to achieve next year, you will be okay.

“Also just snuggle up on the sofa and watch a movie with some chocolate.

“Just take care of yourself and give yourself some love.

“Next year we start afresh.

“My go-to film at any time of year is Liar Liar with Jim Carey.

“Anything Jim Carey is my go-to.”

FASHIONISTA Gwen Stefani has shown her fans how to slay Christmas style. 

Gwen, 56, performed in front of a Disneyland castle in a sneak peek of her Christmas Day TV special in a tiny dress and fur.

She was dressed in head-to-toe winter white, including a cropped fur jacket and sky-high platform boots. 

The chic outfit also included a tiny tiered white skirt which exposed itty bitty lace shorts underneath. 

In the post, the crooner told fans to “tune in Christmas morning,” for the Sleeping Beauty’s Castle for Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade.

Fans expressed their excitement for the Christmas concert in the comments on Instagram. 

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“I absolutely can’t wait to watch your performance, Gwen! Also you look like a gorgeous Disney princess,” one commenter wrote. 

“Yay, cannot wait for your performance of my all-time favorite version of “White Christmas!” another fan commented. 

A third fan stated, “You are stunning. How don’t you age!?”

The concert, which will play on ABC, Disney+, and Hulu, is slated for performances by Coco Jones, Bebe Rexha, and Nicole Scherzinger. 

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The parade will be hosted by Dancing with the Stars alum Alfonso Ribeiro and Ginnifer Goodwin, with Maia Kealoha serving as parade correspondent. 

HAPPY MARRIAGE?

Gwen fans recently suspected relationship challenges with her 49-year-old husband, Blake Shelton.

Their marriage was called into question ever since Blake released a cryptic breakup song entitled Hang On earlier this year.

Rumors ran rampant when they didn’t attend the CMA Awards in 2025, even though Blake received a nomination.

Days later, Gwen posted a photo on her Instagram Story where she received a sweet kiss from Blake – indicating all was well.

A source close to the couple told The U.S. Sun: “They’ve gone through real challenges, nothing manufactured.”  

“There were times when the tension was high enough that people close to them quietly wondered if the relationship could take the strain.

But the source insisted that Gwen and Blake are committed to making their marriage work: “They showed up for each other instead of checking out.”

WOKE BBC bosses could thwart a fresh bid to finally get Fairytale of New York to the Christmas number one spot – 38 years after it was released.

The corporation’s radio stations refusing to play a newly released ‘live’ version of The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York because it contains the “cheap, lousy f****t” lyric.

The track by the Irish rockers, originally released in 1987, is one of several vintage festive tracks that only reached number two in the charts, despite becoming classic anthems

Another example is White Christmas by Wham! which was kept off the number one spot by Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas in 1984.

But fans finally got that to the top spot in 2023.

Fairytale has long been surrounded by controversy because it contains a perceived homophobic slur which has either been removed in some versions or not played at all.

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A music industry insider said: “It feels unfair that this live version which shouldn’t be edited has now been barred from the Beeb’s playlist.

“It’s an authentic performance of a much loved track by a much loved band and this move might be the measure that prevents it from getting to number one at Christmas, which is where it has always deserved to be.”

The original single was only kept from the top spot by Pet shop Boys classic Always On My Mind, which was a high-energy cover version of the Elvis Presley ballad.

Despite always making it into the top ten every Christmas, and featuring in the 2019 festive special of Gavin & Stacey, it’s never made it to number one.

The BBC were approached for comment.

Simon Cowell is making a second series of his boyband documentary to follow December 10 as they try to make it big.

It means the group’s brand new fans will have a front row seat to everything that’s happened since cameras stopped rolling on The Next Act.

The six-part series followed Simon through auditions and recording studio bootcamp as he selected seven boys for the group.

The second run will pick up where it left off and show December 10 heading to Nashville to record new music, prepare for launch and take their first steps towards fame.

Simon Cowell: The Next Act has dominated the top three on Netflix since its launch last Wednesday.

A source said: “There was a quiet hope that a show about finding a boyband would be as popular now as it was back in the days of The X Factor, but everyone has been thrilled by the reception because of course the whole world of entertainment has totally changed since then.

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“Following December 10 for a second series is a no brainer.

“They’re rocketing online and already have a strong fan base, and a camera crew has been following them pretty much since series one wrapped.”

The lads officially began their journey today (mon) when they launched a new music video on YouTube – their cover of N*Sync’s Bye Bye Bye.

The group are Cruz, 19, Danny, 16, Hendrick, 19, John 17, Josh, 17, Nicolas, 16 and Sean, 19.

But there’s been another big character behind The Next Act’s success with viewers – the newly-minted Mrs Cowell.

Fans have loved seeing Lauren Silverman’s personality shine as part of the fly-on-the-wall scenes at home with Simon and their son Eric.

The source added: “The whole show has been a real boost for the whole family really, Simon is back doing what he loves and he’s been happy to reveal a little more about who he really is behind closed doors.

“Production firm Box To Box are back shooting the content for series two and it’s hoped Netflix will be on board to stream the next chapter of The Next Act.”

It comes after Simon told The Sun last week that he’s confident the boys will be a success.

Simon revealed December 10 had chosen the name themselves because it was the release date of the documentary

Iris eyes easy life

No wonder top model Iris Law is enjoying a lie down after a stellar year on the catwalk.

She has walked in Victoria’s Secret’s fashion show and fronted campaigns for Marc Jacobs, Knwls and Zara.

But Iris, the daughter of Sadie Frost and Jude Law, isn’t just taking it easy, she was reclining on the sofa for a shoot for Los Angeles-based fashion brand Casablanca.

She is one of the most in-demand women in fashion, so I’m sure we will see a lot more of her in 2026.

Thor-t I’d be actor

THOR superhero Chris Hemsworth became “obsessed” with being an actor at a young age. 

On the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast he said: “Once I locked into the idea that I was going to become an actor, it was an absolute obsession.  

“There was no doubt that was what I was going to do. There was a naivety about the reality of how difficult that was going to be.  

“But I guess it was sort of an escapism.” 

If you’re bored of the same old festive tunes, check out Christina Aguilera’s brand new festive album Christmas In Paris.

It was created in the French capital this year and celebrates the 25th anniversary of her album My Kind Of Christmas.

Lead single Someday At Christmas was recorded at the Eiffel Tower and the album is out now.

Judi hero Jagger rolls up

With a stellar acting career and a little black book packed with some of the biggest names in showbiz, it’s amazing to see Dame Judi Dench still gets starstruck.

Her friend Gyles Brandreth organised for Sir Mick Jagger to come on stage to surprise her as she was interviewed about her career, inset, at London’s Sondheim Theatre.

The former Bond actress was stunned by her idol’s appearance.

Sharing snaps of the moment online, Gyles said: “I’ve been working in the theatre for nearly 60 years and I’ve never known a moment quite like it.

“As a surprise, I invited Sir Mick Jagger on to the stage. Dame Judi Dench told me it was her dream to meet him.

“He was amazing: she was overwhelmed. Yesss.”

He added of the legendary Rolling Stones frontman: “He kindly made her dream come true. What a night.”

Huge congratulations to Essex lad Sam King who has just completed 79 marathons in 79 days for brain injury charity Headway UK.

I told you about Sam’s challenge last month after one of his pals got in touch to tell me about his feat.

And after adding five extra marathons on to his challenge, Sam has now set a new world record for the most consecutive ultramarathons run by a male – completing 79 in 79 days.

Sam took on the challenge to raise money for Headway UK, after they supported his mum when she suffered a life-changing bleed on her brain.

He’s now just short of his £74,000 fundraising target so if you want to get involved and donate, check out his Instagram @fatboysking.

Madge ‘n Guy reunite for Rocco

MADONNA and Guy Ritchie put aside their differences for the sake of their son Rocco.  

The former couple, who were last pictured together in 2008 – when they divorced – were proud as punch to support Rocco’s art exhibition in London. 

THE Rolling Stones have called off plans for a UK and European tour next summer.

It would have been their first string of live dates since their huge Hackney Diamonds tour in the US in 2024 – which sold almost one million tickets.

It’s understood the band – who’ve sold over 250 million records worldwide – were looking at plans to play huge stadiums across Europe and the UK after pulling the plug on dates in 2025.

An American music critic said Keith Richards, who turns 82 on Thursday, told his bandmates Mick Jagger, 82, and Ronnie Wood, 78, he couldn’t commit to the trek at this time.

They added: “The Rolling Stones had all the big promoters throwing loads of ideas and dates at them for next summer.

“But when they properly sat down to discuss the tour, Keith said he didn’t think he could commit and wasn’t keen on a big stadium tour for over four months.”

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A spokesperson said at the time: “The band were looking to tour earlier this year but couldn’t make it work either.

“It’s hard for their fans but The Stones will get back onstage when they’re good and ready.”

In September, Ronnie confirmed to The Sun that he was waiting on the nod on the 2026 tour dates.

He also confirmed they had been working on their next album, which was recorded at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick, west London.

Ronnie said: “You will be getting new music from the Rolling Stones with an album next year. It is almost done. ”

Their last album, Hackney Diamonds, came out in 2023 and was their first record of original material in 18 years.

The album went straight to No1 in the album charts and spawned hits including Angry, which had Sydney Sweeney in the official music video.

PREGNANT The Saturdays singer Vanessa White has wed her fiancé in a stylish London ceremony.

Vanessa looked stunning as she posed with her husband hunky model and musician Emmanuel Lawal.

The Saturdays singer confirmed the news on social media alongside some gorgeous snaps of her wedding.

Vanessa looked stunning in a white gown with lace insets as she showed off her baby bump, as Emmanuel looked stylish in a dark suit and white shirt.

The series of snaps showed the couple signing the wedding register, smiling in their car and holding hands together.

A sweet snap of Vanessa feeding her new husband as they sat in the restaurant was particularly beautiful.

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After the ceremony, the loved up couple headed to Alex Dilling at Hotel Cafe Royal for dinner.

Vanessa said: “We wanted it to feel like a long date.”

The couple travelled all day in a flying spur from Bentley Motors which saved Emmanuel from having to find a parking space near Regent Street.

The Chef closed the restaurant for them to use exclusively with endless courses arriving.

“We were there for hours,” the couple said. “We didn’t get home until 11pm.”

Vanessa captioned the images: “The Lawal’s such an honour for us to share our special day with @britishvogue.

“A few thank you’s. @bentleymotors, what a dream family you have been to us over the many years. @mytheresa.com@mytheresa.men you made us feel GREAT!

“My husband designed my engagement ring and surprised me with bespoke bands from @sholabranson… yeah.

“@christianlouboutin they will NEVER leave our wardrobes. @alexdillingcaferoyal@adills1 you my friend are a legend. Mind blown. Delicious. Hospitality we will never forget.

“15+ years with my darling talented friend @kom_makeup. adore you.

“And to the magician @georgewilliamvicary who you actually never notice taking any photo’s until you see them. Thank you for capturing life long memories in the moment.”

As one fifth of the band The Saturdays, Vanessa shot to fame in 2008 with her fellow girl pals Mollie King, Frankie Bridge, Una Healy and Rochelle Humes.

After the group split in 2014, Vanessa appeared on I’m A Celebrity in Australia and was the fourth celeb to be evicted from the jungle.

She’s now a model and influencer and regularly shows off her stunning stylish looks online.

Vanessa revealed only last month that she was pregnant and engaged.

The singer showed off her large bare bump in a series of stunning snaps on Instagram.

She wore a white vest top rolled up to show off her tum and blue jogging bottoms, and there was a noticeable sparkling ring on her engagement finger.

Vanessa wrote: “there’s a V and E in love.”

Vanessa keeps her personal life largely private on social media, but last year she rekindled her romance with her new husband, Emmanuel.

He is one half of production duo AUDIOCOMINGSOON with fellow fashionista Ashton Gohil.

The talented twosome have performed at prestigious events including Samuel L. Jackson’s One For The Boys Fundraiser and a Louboutin collection launch.

HE held back tears in his Netflix documentary when he heard about the tragic death of One Direction star Liam Payne.

And I can reveal that, as a mark of respect, Simon Cowell sent the emotional footage from The Next Act to Liam’s family and his ex Cheryl Tweedy before it aired this week.

The six-parter sees Simon searching for the next big boyband after the record-breaking success of 1D on the X Factor in 2010.

After the series dropped on Wednesday, the music mogul said he felt he “had to tell” Liam’s loved ones his passing was acknowledged on the show.

Simon said: “In the middle, there was that moment with Liam, which was just horrific. That really threw us. I was very close to him and that was hard. We almost stopped filming. I had to go away, clear my head.

“We took a break for about two weeks. Before that it had been almost every day. I sent [parts of episode three] to Liam’s parents and Cheryl to see, for obvious reasons, and I said, ‘Look, I don’t want you to just see it when it airs’.

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‘Made a promise’

“And so the production company sent it to them and they were fine with it. It was respectful, I think.”

The Next Act had been filming almost daily since December 2023, allowing cameras access to Simon’s talent hunt.

But he paused to consider if they should continue after Liam’s death in Buenos Aires, Argentina in October last year.

Liam and Cheryl, who were together for two years, share a son Bear, eight.

Simon said of Liam in the episode: “He was just so normal and down to earth, he always had a sparkle in his eye.

“Everyone adored him. You don’t know how you feel about someone until you lose them. I am going to genuinely miss him.”

After the two-week break, Simon said he realised he had made the show hopefuls “a promise”, so filming resumed.

The group, DECEMBER 10, have just signed a deal with EMI/Universal.

I was lucky enough to watch John, Cruz, Nicolas, Sean, Josh, Danny and Hendrik at a top-secret playback in London on Wednesday.

From what I saw, these boys will do Simon proud.

Lily’s Vic and Bob

LILY COLLINS has had a Posh makeover for the fifth series of Netflix’s Emily In Paris.

The actress has channelled Victoria Beckham’s Spice Girl alter ego for the series, which kicks off on Thursday.

Director Andy Fleming told Biz on Sunday: “There is for sure a Posh Spice vibe going on this season. I noticed it straight away. I mean, her bob. Hello?”

It comes after Lily was stunned to meet her idol Victoria on the set of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Looks like this season will be full of girl power.

Grinch must be feeling Jaded

JADE THIRLWALL doesn’t do fancy dress by halves.

The former Little Mix singer is one of the most costume-committed celebs – rivalled only by Heidi Klum on Halloween.

But even Heidi would have been green with envy when she saw what Jade wore on a night out in London on Friday.

The singer, who turns 33 on Boxing Day, went all out and dressed up as the female Grinch character.

She even persuaded her boyfriend, Rizzle Kicks rapper Jordan Stephens, to go with the green theme.

Their bed sheets must have been a nightmare to clean  . . . 

Taylor hands mega bonuses to crew

HER record-breaking Eras Tour propelled Taylor Swift to billionaire status.

And after making fans’ dreams come true with her dazzling show, the US superstar did the same for her tour crew.

The Shake It Off hitmaker is believed to have handed out $197million – around £148million – in bonuses to every person who helped with her shows.

Taylor thanked each crew member with a handwritten letter, sealed with a wax stamp, and a bonus – with each of her truck drivers understood to have received cheques for $100,000 (£75,000).

One insider, who worked in catering, said they were able to pay off their student loan and still have thousands of dollars left over.

And in her new Disney+ documentary, The End Of An Era, Taylor is seen handing out the huge cheques to her dancers.

She said: “It took me a couple of weeks – but it is fun to write the notes.

“It is fun to think about everyone’s lives that they are going to go back to and the time off they are going to have. And the kids they haven’t seen because they have been away for months and making that worthwhile for them.

“It feels like Christmas morning when you finally get to say thank you.”

Speaking to her dancers, Taylor said: “The tour has done really well thanks to all of our hard work so if you would kindly read this message . . . ”

Handing the letter to dancer Kam Saunders, he read: “Dearest Kam, we have travelled the world like we set out to do.

“We have dazzled the crowds but we have missed family too.

“My full gratitude doesn’t come from the bank – but here’s (bleeped out) just to say thanks. Love, Taylor.”

The dancers were seen hugging and crying after receiving the life-changing bonuses.

One dancer even clutched an inhaler after opening her letter.

I imagine I would have hyperventilated as well.

Oasis bank fortune for reunion tour

THE drinks are on the Gallagher brothers this Christmas after the Oasis Live ’25 comeback tour raked in an incredible £303million.

New stats by US music mag Pollstar have revealed Britpop pioneers Noel and Liam made $405,428,435, sold 2,228,471 tickets to their long-awaited reunion gigs, with a nightly revenue of $11,261,901 – £8,430,546.47.

Their 41-date trek spanned five continents and 13 countries between July and November.

And the siblings played to an average of 61,902 people per night.

Meanwhile, the average fan is believed to have spent £136 on a ticket.

I revealed last week that Noel, who has an estimated net worth of £53million, was whisking his family off to the Maldives for a festive getaway after five months on the road.

Oasis ranked No2 in the biggest-grossing tours of 2025 – with US superstar Beyonce holding the top spot .

The Texas Hold ’Em hitmaker saw her Cowboy Carter Tour gross $407,600,113, (around £305million), with an average ticket price of £191.

Coldplay were third, followed by Kendrick Lamar/SZA.

But Shakira, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga all had to settle for spots further down the Top Ten.

Some might say Noel and Liam nailed it . . . 

Rushing back into Big Time

THEY rose to fame as teenagers on a US TV series about a boy band – and 16 years later Big Time Rush have revealed they have a whole new generation of fans, thanks to Netflix.

The streaming giant gave a new lease of life to the original series of the sitcom, which first aired in the States from 2009 to 2013 and featured the group playing a fictionalised version of themselves.

Biz on Sunday’s Emily chatted to band members Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Penavega and Logan Henderson backstage ahead of their final tour date at London’s Ovo Arena Wembley on Thursday.

Kendall said: “We got lucky during Covid because Netflix picked up the show. Everybody was at home just binge watching stuff, so this whole new generation of kids started watching it.”

Carlos added: “It’s weird seeing my kids come to the show because they didn’t even exist back then.”

Asked how touring compares now they are in their 30s, Kendall replied: “We all definitely went out a lot more in our 20s – but now I truly enjoy getting up early and getting to see different aspects of the city.”

Logan added: “When we were younger, things were moving so fast we didn’t really get a chance to breathe and really soak it in.”

From what I saw on Thursday night, the boys are still on their A-game.

• Check out Big Time Rush on our TikTok channel where the boys reveal their Sunday Setlist. Scan left.

This week who would I…

Snog

Marry

Avoid

THE father of singer Selena Quintanilla has died at the age of 86, his family has confirmed.

Abraham Quintanilla Jr. died on Saturday; his son, A.B. Quintanilla III, confirmed it on Instagram.

“It’s with a heavy heart to let you guys know that my Dad passed away today…,” he wrote.

A cause of death has not yet been revealed.

He famously managed the career of his daughter Selena, overseeing her rise to fame in the late 1980s before she was killed in 1995.

The iconic singer known for her hits including Como la Flor and Dreaming of You, was murdered in Texas by her friend and former nurse Yolanda Saldivar.

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Saldivar was president of Selena’s fan club and manager of her boutiques business, jobs that she lost shortly before the murder after it was discovered that she had been embezzling money.

She was denied parole in March this year after being sentenced to 30 years to life behind bars in October 1995.

Her next opportunity for parole will be in March 2030.

After the death of his daughter, Abraham made it his mission to preserve her legacy as the Queen of Tejano Music and one of the greatest Latino artists of all time, as named by Billboard magazine.

News of her murder shocked the nation, especially those in her home state of Texas, with the then governor George W. Bush declaring April 16 as Selena Day.

Her album, Dreaming of You, released after her death, soared to the top of the Billboard 200 – a first for a Latin artist.

Two years later, the film Selena was released by Warner Bros, starring Jennifer Lopez at the beginning of her career.

Selena: The Series was released by Netflix in 2020, documenting her life and career and featuring Christian Serratos from The Walking Dead.

This has been followed this year by the November release of the new Netflix doc, Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy.

It is told by her immediate family including her father.

In it, he recalled the time he first took his daughter to a record label in San Antonio with the hope of launching her career.

“At first, they were skeptical because it’s a girl — and a young girl. I said, ‘Well, let’s give it a try one time,’” he said.

It was then that she recorded her first song and was catapulted to fame.

Taylor Swift, The End of An Era – Disney+

★★★★★

“I WANTED to exceed fans’ expectations with this tour,” Taylor Swift says during the opening episode of her The End of An Era six-part documentary series.

It’s not even up for debate that she did just that with the global trek, but I’m happy to report she also achieves this with her new Disney+ series.

Disclaimer, I am a huge Swiftie, but before the first two episodes dropped I did have my concerns.

I feared the documentary would just be the same old footage of Taylor picking her outfits that we’ve now all seen a thousand times and fluffy backstories about her life on the road.

Of course, these types of moments are in there, but episode one alone pulls back the curtain on the most talked about tour of all time in ways other behind the scenes specials simply don’t.

The 43-minute long episode focuses on the heinous Southport attack, as well as the foiled terror plot at Taylor’s Vienna gigs, and lifts the lid on what went on behind the scenes.

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For the first time we see how much the trauma rocked Taylor, with her breaking down in tears on multiple occasions.

Rather than feeling staged or performative, it shows the true artist behind the phenomenon and proves she is just as human as the rest of us.

During a chat with pal Ed Sheeran she admits she feels almost dehumanised by fame.

In another scene she’s filmed trying to calm herself down with an audio book of 2024 thriller The God of The Woods.

In the weeks that followed the incidents in Southport and Vienna, Taylor found herself wrecked with anxiety to the point she was physically shaking.

Not that Taylor is moaning about her life – in fact at one point she openly accepts her reality isn’t normal.

Though as she sings on The Life of A Showgirl track Elizabeth Taylor, “Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me”.

People were quick to join an online pile-on against Taylor over summer ’24 after she kept silent following the incident in Southport.

But those behind the wrath of masked crusaders may be feeling more than a little silly after the doc.

Episode 1 reveals rather than turning a blind eye behind and pulling up her drawbridge, away from the spotlight Taylor was determined to make a difference.

Before each of the five remaining Wembley shows Taylor met with the families of those affected by the horrific incident.

And while I’ve obviously not spoken to any of those families in question, I would be willing to bet my flat that her decision to personally meet them has made a positive difference, far beyond that she gives herself credit for.

And it would be worth far more than a short Instagram story statement ever could.

In private Taylor was clearly struggling with the run of incidents, but on stage she never faltered.

While never brushing them under the carpet ignoring them, she was determined not to let events overshadow or dampen the magic she had created for the 10 million ticket holders on the 149 date trek.

I was lucky enough to attend three of the gigs in the capital – two of which took place after Vienna and Southport.

Both with those shows – and indeed with the new docuseries – the magic and escapism of Taylor’s world is very much alive and well.

A feat I doubt, even in decades to come, will ever change.

SHE’s the ultimate Queen of Christmas, best known for her soulful pop tunes, but I can reveal Mariah Carey’s next record will surprise fans.

After years of speculation, I’m told the Hero singer will release her long lost GRUNGE album next year.

While the exact date is still being worked out by the label, I hear it will drop in the second half of 2026.

The record, which is called Someone’s Ugly Daughter, was secretly recorded by Mariah back in the Nineties.

A source said: “Ever since she let slip about the existence of the record, fans have been desperate for it to be officially released and put on streaming.

“After years of casual talks about what to do, everyone has now agreed the album will be released in the second half of 2026.

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“It’s been a long time coming, but hopefully fans think it’s worth the wait.

“It’s certainly Mariah as you’ve never heard her before.”

The first anyone knew of the record was when Mariah let slip about it in 2020 memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey.

She said: “I think this unearthed version will become, yes, something we should hear. I’m working on a version of something where there’ll be another artist working on this with me as well.”

‘So carefree’

Mariah says the reason she made the album was to push back at being over-controlled by her record label, adding: “I had no freedom during that time. That was my freedom, making that record.”

In the book, she said: “I was playing with the style of the breezy-grunge, punk-light white female singers who were popular at the time. You know, the ones who seemed to be so carefree with their feelings and their image.

“I honestly wanted to put the record out back then under, you know, the same pseudonym, just put it out and be like, you know whatever, let them discover that it’s me.

“But that idea was kind of stomped and squashed.”

I wait with bated breath . . . 

Hardworking Rita worth even m-Ora

EVEN if you’re not a fan of her music, it’s impossible to deny that Rita Ora is a hustler.

The I Will Never Let You Down singer is busy landing jobs doing everything from acting and presenting to modelling and working as a charity ambassador.

Which is why it comes as no surprise to us that the latest accounts for Ora Live and Ora Multi Services reveal she’s topped up her fortune with £4.8 million in profits.

It’s a sure sign Rita is going nowhere anytime soon as the figure is more than double the £2.3 million she made the year before.

Her companies manage her various income streams and reflect her broad career beyond singing.

Multi-talented Rita has also served as a judge on The X Factor and The Masked Singer and even had a film role in the Fifty Shades movie series.

Rita’s takings – which work out at £13,000 per day over the year to April – has helped to increase her net worth to £31 million.

It’s not a bad life, eh?

Kath: LA life not for me

CANADIAN comedian Katherine Ryan has ruled out moving to Hollywood after admitting she hates everything about Tinsel Town.

Letting rip, she said: “I would love some opportunities to do some comedy acting but I will never move to Hollywood because people seem quite sick there . . . in the head.

“I like England. I like people who aren’t positive all the time.

“I like the British way of telling the truth. I like a bit of taking the mick out of one another without getting offended.”

Not stopping there, Kath added: “Hollywood to me seems too sanitised. I would not be welcome.

“I’ve already not been welcome. I had a glass of vino in the morning when my daughter was swimming, they were like, ‘Maam, orange juice?’.

“I was like, ‘No, alcohol’. They nearly called the police.”

Taylor in her stride

TAYLOR SWIFT has hit back at critics who say she should take time out from the industry to give other artists space to shine.

The superstar seemingly breaks every possible record with each new track, causing some music fans to get Taylor-fatigue.

Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Taylor said: “There are corners that are like, ‘Give someone else a turn! Can’t you just go away so we can talk about how good you were?’.

“And like . . . ‘I don’t want to’.”

This morning, the first two episodes dropped of The End Of An Era – a six- part Disney+ docuseries that goes behind the scenes of her record-breaking Eras Tour.

You can bet come next week the show will have broken a few more records.

Tate: Why I can be a pop girl

TATE McRAE has opened up about her on-stage alter-ego Tatiana.

The Canadian star explained: “I started to black out onstage and become this person that I couldn’t explain, nor could my family or my friends, and I needed a reason for it.

“And I think it helps me grasp the strange theory of why I’m not nervous in front of 15,000 people, and why I can be nervous at a dinner party with four people.”

She added to Rolling Stone magazine: “Tate is this very introspective, very sensitive, very introverted, awkward Canadian.

“Maybe more on the shy side. I’m observant, and I feel very internal, all the time.

“And then, this persona that I’ve created is my way of being this confident pop girl.”

Sam: Stay with me, Ed

SAM SMITH made sure the final of their To Be Free: New York City residency went off with a bang.

The Stay With Me singer was joined on stage at Warsaw in Brooklyn by Ed Sheeran and Brandi Carlile.

Brandi and Sam duetted on her song Party Of One, while Sam and Ed gave a rendition of Who We Love – a track on Sam’s 2023 album Gloria.

The show was watched by American Vogue’s ice-queen former editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

In February, Sam’s residency will move to San Francisco and will play at the historic Castro Theatre for eight nights.

While nothing has even been hinted at, I wouldn’t be surprised if a run of shows in London is announced in the New Year.

Liam’s trackie record

HIS dress sense is similar to my own, so I was shocked to see Liam Gallagher named in Vogue’s inaugural 50 best dressed list.

The Oasis rocker was mentioned in the Dedicated Dressers category alongside Iris Law, Miquita Oliver and Amal Clooney.

Meanwhile, my favourite pop star Dua Lipa was in the Music Makers category alongside a line-up of stellar talent including Skepta, Central Cee, Lily Allen and Charli XCX.

Even those with a slightly eclectic taste were catered for, with The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman, and actors Cynthia Erivo, Richard E Grant and Emma Corrin all getting a nod.

I never knew my Adidas tracksuit and tatty old Parka were so cool.

Xmas hit battle

THE official race for Christmas No1 kicks off today – with a new single from Kylie Minogue and WHAM!’s Last Christmas tipped as the front-runners.

Kylie’s song Xmas, which is on track to become her highest entry in the UK charts since 2010’s All The Lovers, leads the pack, while Denise Welch’s Slayyy Bells and Tom Fletcher’s One Of Us, from Paddington The Musical, are also in the running.

Classics including Shakin’ Stevens’ Merry Christmas Everyone, The Pogues’ Fairytale Of New York, and Kelly Clarkson’s Underneath The Tree are also expected to climb the chart.

There are a load of non-festive tunes vying for a shot too, with Raye’s Where Is My Husband, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s For Good and Labrinth’s Where Love Lives.

Once again Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You is tipped to finish in the top five.

The winner of the Christmas No1 will be revealed live on Radio 1 next Friday.

CAMRYN Magness, the singer who toured with One Direction, has died aged 26 after being struck while riding an electric scooter.

Her death was confirmed this week in a statement on her official social media pages, describing her as a “radiant force”.

It read: “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of our beloved Camryn, a radiant force whose voice, coy, and bright spirit touched so many.

“Whether beneath the waves or on stage, she met life with fearless energy and boundless kindness.

“In the quiet between waves, her memory will surface—bright, bold, unforgotten.

“Rest in endless blue, our sweet girl. You are deeply loved and forever cherished.

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“Please keep her family and friends in prayer as they navigate this difficult time. Camryn will live on in our hearts forever.”

Camryn died last Friday after being struck in Fort Myers, Florida, according to multiple reports.

Born in Denver, Colorado, in 1999, she began her career at eight, posting YouTube videos that led to a record deal and a move to Los Angeles.

Her debut single Wait and See featured in the 2011 film Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.

She toured with Cody Simpson and Greyson Chance in 2011 before joining One Direction as a support act for seven US dates on their 2012 Up All Night Tour.

The band then brought her back for 63 shows on their 2013 Take Me Home Tour.

Reflecting on that breakthrough, she previously told Teen Vogue: “Going into the tour, I was an unknown artist.

“It’s a great feeling to be walking around and someone coming up to me and saying, ‘Hey, you did so well!’. It was really exciting for me when that happened for the first time.”

Camryn later supported Fifth Harmony and released a run of singles, along with her 2017 album Glow.

Her official obituary described her as “beloved” as a “daughter, sister, fiancée, granddaughter, and friend” who died “far too young, and long before her light was ever meant to leave this world”.

It remembered her as a “vibrant, fearless, and deeply loved young woman whose compassion, humour, and bright spirit touched every person blessed to know her.”

It added: “A gifted performer, Camryn’s voice and music were extensions of her soul.

“Whether she was on a stage, at a family gathering, or sharing a song with someone who needed it, Camryn’s music was a reflection of her heart, her courage, and her endless creativity.”

Camryn Magness is survived by her parents, Sarah and Gary; siblings Chelsea and Cable; and her fiancée, Christian.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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SINGER Sabrina Carpenter is so Espress-ive as she steps out in New York City.

The Taste star wore an oversized sweatshirt and tights as she left filming of US chat show Late Night with Seth Meyers.

During the recording 26-year-old Sabrina wore a retro black-and-white ­layered dress.

The outfit appeared in designer Chantal Thomass’ 1994 Fall collection during Paris Fashion Week and was modelled on the runway by Claudia Schiffer.

Sabrina enjoys the sweet smell of success as one of the most streamed artists in the UK this year.

But no British stars made the annual Spotify Top Ten as fans turned their backs on homegrown music.

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US singer Sabrina was the third most played artist among millions of UK Spotify users — while her 2024 album Short n’ Sweet, featuring hit Espresso, was the most streamed.

Sabrina, who has just launched her new Sweet Tooth range of perfumes, was beaten by US pop superstar Taylor Swift and the Canadian rapper Drake.

Oasis were a surprise omission after 1.5 million fans saw their reunion gigs this summer.

South London’s Lola Young, 24, was the only Brit with a song in the UK Top Ten.

Messy, which hit No1 in November 2024, was the third most streamed track.

Tunes from American singer-songwriters took the first and second spots: the emotional track Ordinary by Alex Warren and the break-up song That’s So True by Gracie Abrams.

Globally, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny topped the streaming chart with 19.8 billion, followed by Taylor Swift.

The most streamed song of the year worldwide was Die With a Smile by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, with 1.7 billion streams.

FOLK singer Jewel showed off her incredible figure in a brown and white zebra bikini in pics shared to Instagram. 

The singer, 51, captioned the carousel, “#Barbuda for a few days of sun before more winter snow.” 

Her shredded abs were on display in the string bikini in two photos of the carousel, which also included photos of spiny lobsters and the blue Caribbean sea.

Fans admired the star’s bikini bod and flowing beach blond hair, although she didn’t drop any details on her diet or workout. 

One fan wrote, “You look incredible.”

”Truly a beautiful lady,” a second fan commented. 

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A third fan called the singer “Hot mama.”

Jewel is mom to Kase, 14, with her ex-husband, rodeo star Ty Murray.

She appears to be currently single, after a rumored fling with actor Kevin Costner in 2023.

She also gained notoriety after signing the American national anthem at San Diego’s Super Bowl XXXII. 

Fans and music reviewers criticized the singer for lip synching over a digitally-recorded track of her own voice.

The slip up was caught on camera when she missed a cue during the first words of the patriotic song.

The Sun reported on a similar situation that occurred at the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. 

MUSIC fans are just realising the age of singer Brenda Lee when she recorded her famous Christmas song.

Festive favourite Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree was released in 1958 and featured in Home Alone, one of the biggest movies of the 90s. 

Written by Johnny Marks, the rockabilly track Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree was recorded by Brenda in 1958 when the singer was just 13.

To this day, it remains popular and has been recorded by everyone from John Travolta to Justin Bieber.

The single entered the UK singles chart at Number 30 in its first week in November 1962, according to the Official Charts Company.

It climbed into the Top 10 and earned its original peak of Number 6 a month later.

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Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree secured its place as a festive classic after it was featured in the much-loved 1990 Christmas movie Home Alone.

In the memorable scene, Kevin McCallister – played by Macauley Kulkin – deterred would-be burglars from robbing his home by throwing a pretend Christmas party to make the house appear occupied. 

Yet when one TikToker posted a video of the song and asked what age people thought the singer was, many were stunned to discover it was recorded when Brenda was just a teenager.

One person wrote: “She sounds middle aged.”

Another fan replied: “Wait, I’m just finding this out too.”

A third person added: “Whaaattt?! I looked it up and still have a hard time believing it.”

A fourth person wrote: “Not even my dad knew and he’’s 60.”

Others who have covered Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree include teenybop heroes Hanson and Cliff Richard. 

In 1987, Kim Wilde and Mel Smith released a version of the song for Comic Relief. 

In a 2019 interview, Brenda Lee – known by her nickname Little Miss Dynamite – said that she had no knowledge as to why Marks wanted her specifically to sing it.

She told The Tennessean: “I had not had a lot of success in records, but for some reason he heard me and wanted me to do it. And I did.”