Jessie J on coping with cancer — ‘I was sobbing, now I need to heal'
Just before the single came out, while lying in bed, Jessie — real name Jessica Cornish — noticed a lump on her right breast. A mammogram and ultrasound came back clear, but doctors decided to do a biopsy anyway. It was breast cancer.
The diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was early enough to spare her chemo and radiotherapy. But the tumour was comparatively large, at 5cm, necessitating a full mastectomy rather than a less invasive lumpectomy.
Four weeks after that surgery, Cornish walks into a west London restaurant, in a white Acne T-shirt with Levi's jeans, dark hair slicked back in a knot. 'Hi, I'm Jess,' she greets me warmly, before shrugging off her vintage Burberry jacket and wincing as she rips a plaster from her arm, after a blood test that morning.
It is not in Cornish's nature to keep things quiet, so promoting No Secrets while knowing she had breast cancer was tough. 'I wanted to tell people, but I also knew that I had to give myself a second to know what it was,' she says. 'I didn't know the extent of it until they'd done all the tests.'
Once she revealed her diagnosis on Instagram in June, she was overwhelmed with support — as well as strangers' opinions. 'People messaged me saying, 'Don't get big implants,'' she says with an eye-roll. 'Like, this isn't cosmetic surgery, it's a mastectomy. I was able to keep my nipple but it's all numb now. And when I bend down it looks like I've got a plastic carrier bag in my boob because you can see the wrinkles.' She sighs and stretches her right arm above her head. 'I'm not being weird — the physio said I have to keep moving this arm.'
Cornish's parents, Rose, a teacher, and Stephen, a social worker, brought her up on the east London-Essex border. She enrolled at the Brit School of performing arts aged 16, graduating the same year as Adele, and burst into the charts with the sweary, crotch-grabbing Do It Like a Dude. Price Tag went to No 1 in at least eight countries — and got a new lease of life this year after going viral on TikTok. She has sold 23 million records and co-written hits for other artists, such as Miley Cyrus's diamond-selling Party in the USA. Look up her performance of the 2014 hit Bang Bang at that year's American Music Awards, and you'll see Taylor Swift enthusiastically singing along.
But Cornish's last album, 2018's ROSE, didn't do as well as hoped. 'And my last single was in 2021, when I was going to put out an album, but it didn't quite take off,' she says frankly. 'Look, I'm really lucky to have had all the success that I've had, and that keeps me going now. Other people sometimes project on to you what they think your success should look like. But actually I can pay my bills, I'm happy, I have a good balance. I love what I do. I don't need to be a huge, monstrous pop star.'
After a decade in Los Angeles Cornish recently moved back to the UK, and is renting in west London while she works out where to settle. 'Coming back is such a big thing for me, and releasing music here again,' she says. 'I've always been open about the disconnect that I had with the media early on, and how that was part of why I struggled with fame. There was this narrative, which perhaps I'd created in my head, that the UK didn't like me.'
The UK tends to embrace pop stars with a bit of insolent insouciance — think Liam Gallagher's swagger or Charli XCX's brat. Cornish, with her manic energy and huge smile, was perhaps a bit too keen, too eager to entertain us. A 2011 review from the music tastemakers Pitchfork accused her of lacking the subtlety and restraint of her old classmate, Adele. But subtlety and restraint are not who she is.
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Looking back, she'd like to tell the younger, more hyperactive Jessie to calm down. 'I want to give her a hug and tell her to take a deep breath,' she says. 'When I was young there was a lot of fear and insecurity and I had no calming mechanisms.'
Things are different now. That 2021 single that didn't take off? It was called I Want Love. 'And then I met my boyfriend and we had a baby,' she says with a grin. Her phone screensaver shows her two-year-old son, Sky, whose dad is Chanan Colman, a Danish professional basketball player turned coach. When we meet, Sky is in Denmark with his father for two weeks, giving Cornish some space to heal. 'I miss him so much,' she says. 'He's the light of my life.'
Breast cancer may have been a curveball, but she says she's used to those. As a child she was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a condition that makes the heart beat abnormally fast. She suffered a minor stroke as a teenager and, in 2020, was in a car accident that injured her larynx, meaning she couldn't sing for a year.
No Secrets was written after a miscarriage, and is about putting her emotions out there — just as she is now, in sharing her diagnosis and treatment on social media. 'There were a few people around me who said I shouldn't share so much,' Cornish says. 'But, to me, that would feel like carrying a weight. This is my purpose. I go through things so that I can support other people. It's bigger than me.'
But, as anyone who's been through cancer treatment knows, emotions can veer wildly between being able to cope one minute and crying uncontrollably the next. 'The other night,' she says, 'Mum was massaging my boob for me, because I can't touch the scars. And I started sobbing, 'I can't believe this has happened.' She was like, 'I wish it was me,' and then I'm crying, she's crying …' She pauses, pulling herself together, then adds, 'I'm so glad it's not her.'
Shortly after Sky was born Cornish was diagnosed with ADHD. 'No one was surprised,' she says, smiling. 'I've got no filter. I was asked to do Big Brother and my whole family said, 'No way!' I would just tell everybody everything.'
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She talks fast, pivoting in random directions. Her mum is staying with her, and they've been having a clear-out. Tidying calms her brain. 'Some people run, some people draw, I shed,' she says with a laugh, before suddenly announcing: 'Every time there's a full moon I want to shave my head so bad! Mum has to stop me.'
In 2018 Cornish took part in the sixth season of Singer, a Chinese TV singing competition. When the offer came she was feeling low. 'I was about to turn 30 and didn't know what to do with my life,' she remembers. 'I love China, so I said yes, and my manager said, 'Do you want to know what this actually involves?' I was like, 'Nope! I'll do it.''
She turned up in Changsha, Hunan, not realising that she was a contestant. 'I thought I was going on as a guest,' she admits. 'It was a plot twist — but it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my career.' Impulsively agreeing to such a thing feels very ADHD — and arguably quite brat. In any case, Cornish went on to become the first non-Chinese contestant to win the series, with about a billion viewers watching the live final.
It's a long way from hunkering down to recover from breast cancer surgery, which has delayed the release of her sixth album to later this year. The pathology report after her mastectomy showed that the surgeons had got all of the cancer, so she's feeling cautiously confident. 'People think, once you've got the all-clear, now it's done,' she says. 'But I've got another surgery [to improve the symmetry of her implant with her other breast] and I need to heal, so I have to figure out the rest of this year.' As for worrying about the cancer returning, she's pragmatic. 'There's a one in two chance,' she says, quoting the statistic that is true for all of us in the UK.
Part of her thinks that the cancer came along to remind her to look after herself as she emerges back into the high-pressure world of pop. 'Maybe this has happened to go: slow your roll, girl, let's have a little reassessment,' she says. Serendipitously her new music seems to speak to what she's going through. 'It's weird,' she says, nodding. 'The next song is called Believe in Magic and I wrote it in 2022 when I was pregnant. But the lyrics resonate so much with now: 'If I die today/ wanna know that I made it/ such a waste being jaded/ see all the little things that fix a broken heart.''
Cornish is enjoying being Jessie J again. Performing for 80,000 people at Capital's Summertime Ball in London — a week before her mastectomy — was a highlight, and she's looking forward to a big show in September, performing at Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford.
But she also loves the smaller gigs where she can really see and speak directly with her audience. 'Ever since I was a child I've loved connecting with people,' she says. 'Everything I've been through, whether it's a miscarriage or breast cancer, is deepening my experience, to connect with more people.' As we wrap up she tells me with characteristic frankness that she's off post-mastectomy bra shopping. When she says that more career success doesn't matter, I'd usually be inclined to be cynical, but I believe her.
'It's obviously great to achieve stuff,' she says, shrugging. 'But if I die tomorrow, it won't matter where my songs have charted. What matters is how I've made people feel.'
Believe in Magic is released on Aug 29
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Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Locals living in one of Britain's most famous tourist towns with two million visitors a year say its high street is in 'decline' as shops lay vacant for 15 years
More than two million visitors make a pilgrimage to Stratford-upon Avon every year as they pay homage to the birth place of the most celebrated playwright in history. The medieval market town is beautifully adorned with quaint gift shops and cobblestoned streets, and surrounded by the smell of freshly made fudge. Every summer, crowds of literature fans from across the world queue up outside William Shakespeare's Birthplace museum and the Royal Shakespeare Theatre is packed out as actors take to the stage. From looking at the busloads of international tourists queuing patiently to enjoy Stratford's 800-year history, this bustling town is the last place you would imagine to be in 'decline'. But there is a side of the town locals are less proud of. A host of high street names have shut down, while Turkish barbers and vape shops have popped up, rough sleepers have set up bases on vacant shopfronts, and gangs of yobs roam around wearing balaclavas. One woman, speaking anonymously to the Daily Mail, even opened up about how she was recently sexually assaulted by a man wearing a balaclava in the town centre, and now fears walking alone at night. Meanwhile, cafe workers worry business has fallen, as locals say hardly any shops are lasting. A large Debenhams has sat empty on the high street since 2020, while a derelict BHS has been closed and decaying for more than 15 years. Since the beginning of last year alone, Jack Wills, Fraser Hart, The Body Shop and independent shops such as Wilfred's Sweet Shop have permanently closed. Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia and Edward Moon are just a number of the restaurants that have also shut doors. Last month, the shutters were pulled down at the town's Poundland store. Just a week ago, the town's Pizza Express closed its doors. Mustafa Dogan, owner of the Fresh Baguette Bar, told the Daily Mail: 'The price of everything has gone up now, it's become a luxury for people to eat out. It's not like before, you can't go and get something to eat without worrying. 'The High Street, in my eyes, is struggling. Technology is not helping, it is damaging for us. 'You go to the shops and you buy mayonnaise, it's £1, you go online, it's 80p. What would you do? You buy online. 'That's the main hiccup. 'The rents are so high, and people are buying online. '100 per cent, businesses on the high street are struggling. It's in decline. 'Covid and technology are definitely playing a big part. It's a package of everything.' Explaining that area now feels unsafe, he said: 'It's a bad look to have homeless people outside shops on the main high street. 'It's not just that, it's become fashion for the youngsters to wear balaclavas. 'I don't know why they are doing it. They are wearing them and riding the electric scooters. 'I'm afraid respect is out of the window now. 'My brother-in-law has got two teenage daughters, and they don't go out. It's not safe. 'We are lucky to live here, compared to say Coventry or even Leamington. But even here is not safe. 'You have groups of teenagers taking stuff from shops and just walking away. People don't react because there is nothing they can do. 'I don't think it puts tourists off, this town is a town you visit for one or two days. So they come, see the town, and go. 'But for locals it's a different story.' Urging for more to be done to crack down on antisocial behaviour, he said: 'There is no respect anymore. They don't respect the police or anyone. 'We need to get more police on the street and give the police more powers. 'The High Street needs more policing. 'But it's not just here, it's the whole country, the system is not right. 'We have a friend who grew up here. When she was a teenager everyone used to know each other. Now she says you don't know your neighbours, and you don't feel safe at all. She doesn't walk through town alone at night. 'It's a very touristic place and they put a lot of money to put nice flowers etc. to make it look good. But yet you've got all these problems. 'For the people that live here it's like what about safety?' The cafe also blasted landlords for not allowing empty buildings to be used as community centres while they lay vacant. They said several community members had offered to use some premises to bring in tennis tables and the like to bring young people together until another occupier is found, but these proposals were rejected. Meanwhile, a local passing through the High Street told the Daily Mail about a recent harrowing experience in November last year. She said: 'In November, I was walking by the canal and I was sexually assaulted by a man with a balaclava. 'I reported it to the police but they never did anything. They said they could not identify him because he had a balaclava. 'Now I never walk down there. It is not safe at all. 'And even on my way to work during the day I make sure to walk a route where there are CCTV cameras around. 'It's a shame really. 'The police do have some patrol points around the centre and they say "feel free to come and talk". 'I do have questions but what is the point. What are they going to say. I reported it and they did nothing.' When the Daily Mail visited the town on Tuesday, private neighbourhood police called 'My Local Bobby' were patrolling the area, and told of how they looking to crack down on any shoplifting and antisocial behaviour. They are said to be hired jointly by businesses across the centre. Later in the afternoon, they were seen having a word with a group who seemed to be causing trouble. Just down from the High Street, along the quaint Henley Street where Shakespeare's Birthplace Museum stands in its magnificent architecture, tourists are lined up waiting to get in. And while the thoroughfare has kept its old town character intact, right opposite the museum sits an empty restaurant. A few yards down to the left is an empty jewelers. And around the corner is a souvenir shop which advertises vapes. Greenhill Street, 300 yards away, sits in a derelict state, with boarded up shops and restaurants, and the only remaining shops two mini marts and a Turkish barbers. A Paperways store has been left decaying and unoccupied on the road for at least ten years. And at the other end of Henley Street, by the main junction that connects to the High Street, is Bridge Street. From afar, it is picture perfect with its floral arrangements hanging from shopfronts and planters along the road. But at a closer look, it is a street in disrepair. The old BHS remains empty, as does a Halifax, in front of which rough sleepers have stationed themselves. The Poundland sits closed and a man sits begging tourists outside the Sainsbury's next door. The town centre is adorned with historic buildings and beautiful floral arrangements but also has rows of empty stores One local, speaking outside the closed Paperways store said: 'I was born here. 'And I've seen it change a lot and not for the better, let's put it that way. 'This street, it's terrible. And then if you go down the high street, there's lots of empty shops just sitting there. 'There's only one bright part to this town left and it's the big jewelers. 'I don't know why it's gotten like this. 'There was the old Debenhams then it was going to be changed to a hotel but it's just been empty for some time. There were going to build flats but it's sitting there. 'It's an eyesore. 'The BHS was beautiful, but it's been empty for years too. 'This is not the Stratford I grew up in. 'Paperways here has been empty for years and years. 'If you go from here to Birmingham you go past a place called Digbeth. Up here on this road, it's a bit like Digbeth. 'Let's just say I wouldn't walk down here at night in the dark. 'I think police see a lot of sleeping in doorways, a lot of antisocial behaviour in the town. 'Stratford not like it used to be.' Barry the Butcher, on the High Street, is a family-run business that has been running for over 35 years and is one of the longest lasting stores on the street. Jake Field, 23, who has worked at the butchers since a teenager said: 'The High Street has definitely changed. Massively. 'For locals it's a lot quieter now, there's not many shops for them. 'It's only really tourist shops. 'I think this is probably the the longest running shop. 'All the ones that open up don't really last. New ones keep opening up and closing. 'The change has more or less been since Covid happened. People are coming out less, it's easier to just order online. 'We do high quality meats. You've got to do high end quality products to keep going in this climate otherwise people will just go to the supermarkets. 'I've been working here for 10 years now and the main difference I've seen is that because a lot of the locals were older, you see less faces that you know now. 'And then you've got more of the homelessness, the antisocial behaviour. 'There's definitely more of them now, outside empty premises. They used to hang around the Debenhams, there used to be quite a few around there, but I think they're blocked it off now. 'That's not what people expect or what they know Stratford for. 'You don't expect it to be that way. 'It's meant to be an affluent area but it's turning that sort of way.' Stratford-upon-Avon Town Council and Warwickshire County Council recognised the issues themselves and put forward a bid for Government funds to address it in June 2021. But at the beginning of 2023, the Government announced the bid was unsuccessful. Some locals the Daily Mail spoke to on Tuesday felt the local council should take more of a role in stopping oversaturation of the same types of stores and restaurants. They also pointed to the fact that an increasing amount of tourists and students visit the town as part of a tour and do not spend much money in the town itself. Roy and Sue McMaster, both 65, who live near Stratford said: 'We've lived here since late 70s so we've seen it change. We were here when the BHS was open and so on. 'It's become very much a tourist town now, it always was and continues to be. 'Every town has changed because of buying online etc, but the thing here is that it's all become coffee places and tea shops to attract tourists. 'They've opened up a Gail's too. 'Yesterday there were dozens of young students getting tour guides from different countries, many from Asian countries, but don't actually spend money here. 'They come here by coach, do all the tourist things, visit the museum and theatre, but don't spend. 'There's a lot of empty shops now. There's so many of the same things, it dilutes their profit and they can't survive. 'And there's the Turkish barbers. They say they're fronts for something else, but you don't know. In our small town nearby there's six or seven, but they're never busy.' They continued: 'I guess the one benefit here is that its Shakespeare's birthplace and you've got the theatre. 'If we were any other town we would be really struggling. 'A lot of people hold the town council responsible for planning permissions being given out to every store that wants to open. 'They just need to think carefully and ask, "do we need a sixth pizza place and another hotel?" 'This hotel has been shut for a long time. Debenhams they were going to build a hotel there but you don't need a hotel there. It fell through anyway.' Some businesses though have remained standing and say the town is still faring far better than other regions. Richard Bunn-Major, 56, manager at Music Matters, has been running his store for 27 years. While he acknowledged some shops have been left vacant for years, he thinks they are being replaced by high-end brands. He said: 'The Mercure has sat empty but was bought about two to three years ago and now work has begun. 'It's the chains that are closing down, Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express. Perhaps they are too big and realise they need to scale back. 'We've got two pizza places privately owned, so I guess it's tough competition. 'Gail's has opened recently where Jack Wills was. It seems like there are more high-end brands moving in. 'Jewellery brand Pragnells have bought up empty properties around the town to minimise the demise of the town so they can sell it to higher end brands.' Asked about the BHS that has stood empty for years, he said: 'There's been a lot of interest in it for years but never came to anything. 'The place is rotting it's falling to pieces it's an eyesore. 'I guess the business people are from out of town, probably London, and don't care.' However, he says their store has remained popular for 27 years and feels the area is 'so safe' that they don't have to worry about leaving their store door open. He said: 'Yes, you've got the general drug and drink people. 'But these kind of places of always attract that because of the tourism. 'You're always going to have that. 'I don't worry about them causing any issues though, occasionally you spot them trying to nick something but you can spot them a mile off. 'But we keep the door open. In about 20 years, we've not worried about anything. 'Generally speaking, I've lived here a long time and would say its one of the nicest places to live. 'The only problem is that the local council don't see what potential is outside of the obvious. It's not all about Shakespeare. The river is beautiful. The market is not a local market, and most of us would agree it's terrible, and local stores are having to close for it.' Gill Darby, who lives nearby and has visited the town for decades said: 'It's nice compared with most other high streets, but I've seen it change over the years. 'Quite a few shops have gone. 'Most of the big stores and food places are put away from town in retail parks so now people just drive to them. 'BHS has just sat there for 16 years. I wish they could open, but they can't can they? 'It's all food now isn't it? It's all restaurants.' Matt Castle, 50, moved to Stratford in 2009 and works at the theatre. He said: 'A lot of shops have closed down, I think a lot more eating places have opened up similar to other places. 'There's not really a great variety of stores. And because rent is so expensive, the turnover of shops is very noticeable. 'I've suffered crime here myself. I had a bike stolen, it was locked up outside the theatre and somebody came with chain clippers and just took it. 'It happened about three years ago near Christmas time. 'So there is a bit of that. But I do feel it's safe here and I'm thinking of my kids who are becoming older teenagers and they can go out on their own and I feel fine. 'I have heard Stratford being referred to as a Shakespeare theme park.' For visitors however, they had a different experience of the town. Robert Beatty, 61, from Chester, said he visited Stratford-upon-Avon last month and loved it so much he has returned with his wife just four weeks later. He said: 'It's very nice, the only issue is the parking. 'We're lucky we're on the hotel down there so we can walk up. 'I came here about four weeks ago, and liked it so much we came straight back again. 'The high street itself is very very nice. We were in Wrexham last week, it was so run down, so looking at this it's completely different. 'Elsewhere you've got lots of retail parks coming up everywhere and shops just boarded up. 'This is completely different to where we live about five miles out of Chester. 'It's obviously more for visitors, but it's 100 per cent better than other high streets 'It's definitely good for the tourists. For the tourists it's absolutely lovely.' A Stratford-on-Avon District Council spokesperson, said: 'Stratford-on-Avon District Council remains committed to supporting the vitality of Stratford town centre amid broader retail market challenges. 'While factors such as national business rates and property ownership lie beyond the District Council's control, proactive steps are being taken through initiatives like the vacant high streets programme and support for diversified town centre uses. 'The District Council has worked with the applicants at both Debenhams and BHS to bring forward alternative uses for these large format stores and we continue to work with the owners to find new and suitable viable uses. Although some units remain empty, many are expected to be reoccupied as part of normal market cycles.' The council also addressed concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour, adding: 'A partnership approach is key to the town's success. The District Council collaborates with stakeholders, including the BID, which plays a vital role in promoting the town and supporting businesses - most recently through the introduction of "My Local Bobby". 'Community safety is a priority. The Council's 24/7 CCTV control room works in real-time with Warwickshire Police and local businesses to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. In May, a Public Space Protection Order was introduced to address alcohol-related ASB, empowering police to intervene where necessary. 'In line with national trends, the District has seen an increase in rough sleeping. Stratford-on-Avon benefits from robust partnership working in relation to preventing and tackling rough sleeping. 'The District Council also works with partners to address rough sleeping, offering support and taking enforcement action where individuals cause harm or nuisance. It's important to note that not all individuals seen begging in the town centre are rough sleepers and do have their own accommodation.' Stratford-upon-Avon BID said: 'New businesses are opening up and vacancy rates are lower than the national average. Crime figures are lower than average. 'The town is home to many independent businesses and holds a number of vibrant events which has recently included the Motor Festival attracting 25K footfall and 150 Kate Bushes in the park last weekend. 'There's something for everyone in our town that has more to offer than some cities.'
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
TV bosses ask Londoners to star in upcoming Harry Potter series with filming to start at end of month in London
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"Bosses at HBO know there's nothing better than having real people in on the action as it will all look totally natural.' And if they are going for this realistic look, I'll be expecting the Hogwarts Express to be delayed on the first day of filming because the wrong kind of summer heat has ruined the train tracks. Oh and the air-conditioning definitely won't be working. A last-minute alteration on platform 9¾ wouldn't appear too much of a stretch either. Show makers HBO previously confirmed they will use an old steam train that was rescued from a scrap heap in Barry Island in Wales as the magical locomotive. The train is currently green, but bosses are staying tight-lipped about whether they will repaint it to match the locomotive seen in the hit Noughties films, which are based on JK Rowling's best-selling books. The first series is expected to run for eight episodes and has been scripted from the first book, Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. Rising star JK's debut novel was originally released in 1997, while the blockbuster film came out four years later in 2001. The films turned Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint into household names thanks to their portrayals of young wizard Harry and his pals Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. This time around rising star Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry, Alastair Stout is taking on Ron and Arabella Stanton is in place as Hermione. Give it a year or so and they will be some of the most recognised young stars in the country. OZZY WAS MY BLUD BROTHER YUNGBLUD has opened up about the death of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. The pair became close pals over the past few years, with the rapper – real name Dominic Harrison – doing a cameo at Ozzy and Black Sabbath's Back To The Beginning show at Villa Park in Birmingham last month, days before the rock legend passed. Yungblud, who coverd Black Sabbath's Changes at the gig, said: 'I thought Ozzy had another five albums in him. 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Rather than it being her third studio release in three years, the new record will be a live collection – which was made during her Tension world tour, which ends on August 26 in Mexico. It will mark the end of this era of Kylie's music, which has seen her finally crack America with mega-hit Padam Padam and dominate the airwaves with hit after hit. A source said: 'Kylie has quietly recorded her Tension Tour for a live album. 'The record will be announced in the coming weeks and mark the end of the Tension era.' The insider added: 'The album and Tension II both surpassed all expectations for Kylie. She is on top of the world.' THE White Isle comes to the Cotswolds this weekend with Reserve by Warner Hotels bringing back its famous Ibiza Sunsets Weekend. The event at Heythrop Park will have sets from Take That's Howard Donald, along with DJ Danny Rampling. Warner's epic Ibiza In Symphony also returns. See MODEL ROMANCE FOR CAIT CAITY BASER has revealed she has secretly fallen in love with a male model after meeting him on a video shoot. The Friendly Sex singer revealed she is head over heels for the mystery man and teased that they have discussed marriage. 7 Cait said: 'I fell in love with a man who is so safe and so secure. 'I met him on a video shoot. My first opinion of him was, wow, gorgeous, terrifying also because he is so gorgeous. 'We live together. He's my best friend. I love him.' And Caity, whose romance has inspired her EP There, I Said It, out on August 22, explained that settling down with him has calmed her down. She told the We Need To Talk podcast: 'For my whole life, I feel like I've just been on this treadmill of fight or flight emotionally. And then I met my boyfriend and I just feel so at peace. I feel so calm.' DEMI POPS UP DEMI LOVATO is going back to her dance pop roots for her upcoming ninth studio album. I can exclusively reveal her as-yet-untitled record, her first since 2022's Holy Fvck, will be out in October. The album's lead single Fast was released earlier this month but I'm told it has a more electronic sound than a lot of the record. A source said: 'Demi's album comes out in October and it's really good – she's excelled herself. 'Demi is in such a good place right now and it really shows in her art. Fast is more EDM than the rest of the album. 'Of course there are a few experimental elements but there is also Demi's classic pop sound in there too. One track called Kiss is basically Fast's racy sister. It goes hard.' My insider added: 'The music is worlds away from her last album. The rock era was fun but it's over.' It's been an amazing year so far for Demi, who married her boyfriend, singer Jordan Lutes, back in May. And now it's only getting more exciting for her. We can't wait to hear the album.
The Sun
29 minutes ago
- The Sun
Two huge ex-Neighbours stars in talks for Strictly Come Dancing as they could join Stefan Dennis on the show
NEIGHBOURS stars Delta Goodrem and Natalie Imbruglia are both in talks to join this year's Strictly Come Dancing. The actresses could both end up in the dance contest alongside Stefan Dennis, who also starred on the Aussie soap. 4 4 4 Natalie, 50, and Delta, 40, are in negotiations with Strictly execs who want to announce the line-up for the BBC1 show over the coming week. A TV insider said: 'Talks are at a point where things could go in a number of different directions but if both celebrities signed up then that would be seen as quite a coup for the show. 'Delta and Natalie would bring some glamour to the programme, and be some of this year's most eagerly anticipated competitors. 'If all three former Neighbours stars end up performing, the Strictly dance floor will end up looking more like Ramsay Street. 'But the next 24 hours of discussions between execs and the stars' reps are critical.' Delta made her name on Neighbours, playing Nina Tucker from 2002 to 2004, with a break when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. She enjoyed a global hit with the track, Born to Try. Delta was previously engaged to Westlife's Brian McFadden and two months ago married musician Matthew Copley. Meanwhile, Natalie started as Beth Brennan on the soap in 1992 when she was just 16. Her character had a long-standing relationship with Brad Willis, which ended in the pair getting married. Natalie left after five years and went on to release best-selling track Torn in 1997. The mum-of-one, now a British citizen, married singer Daniel Johns in 2003, divorcing five years later. Other stars in the running for Strictly this year include Dani Dyer, EastEnder Balvinder Sopal, Geordie Shore's Vicky Pattison and rugby star Chris Robshaw.
