Latest news with #QAwards
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
KT Tunstall's ‘overwhelming' health battle amid 'burn out' from fame
As she approaches her 50th birthday, KT Tunstall opens up about the debilitating illness that threatened her career, fame burnout and finding unexpected love in the dog park... KT Tunstall is going full steam ahead in her milestone 50th birthday year. Two decades on from her breakout debut album Eye To The Telescope, the Brit Award-winning singer-songwriter is embracing a whole new chapter. Having written the songs for the new stage musical adaptation of Clueles s, KT, who will hit the big 5-0 in June, has swapped pop tours for playbills, all while having found love and battling a debilitating illness. In an exclusive chat with OK! , the Suddenly I See singer opens up with us about her hearing loss and finding unexpected love - in a dog park… READ MORE: Iconic noughties popstar unrecognisable 21 years after hit album Hi, KT! How has life been lately? I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I moved to America about 10 years ago. I lived in LA for a while – first in Venice Beach, then Topanga – basically doing all the classic musician holy grails of where to live. But I'm just not a big city person. I love a smaller place, so we found Santa Fe in the mountains and moved a few years ago. And we hear you've found love? Yes, my partner Chris and I met during lockdown. We both adopted dogs and met at the dog park. It was like something out of a John Hughes 80s movie. A love story! My rescue dog is called Mini, and his is Nova. Mini's a miniature pinscher and has PTSD, she doesn't play with other dogs. But that day, she started playing with Nova. I looked up, and there's this 6ft 3in jiu-jitsu instructor and I thought, 'Oh, hello!' It's been 20 years since your debut album, but you've said you weren't a natural pop star. How so? I was rubbish at being a pop star! I'm great at performing, touring, but the shiny, hobnobbing side of it? I'm c**p at that. You became famous almost overnight... Yes. I'm a bit of an introvert, a lot of artists are. When I first got big, I ended up pulling the 'performer' lever, even in social situations. I'd have drinks after the show and was a bit of a party animal but I was actually pretty anxious. I had a lot of fun, but it was an unsustainable way to live. In my forties, I realised I was burning out. What was your most surreal celebrity encounter from those early days? Definitely at the Q Awards. I turned up thinking I wasn't going to win, had a few too many drinks, and then I won. I met Chris Martin, Noel Gallagher, Nick Cave… I went to the toilet and Björk was there, washing her hands. I introduced myself and said, 'I just won Best Song,' she said, 'I know… Who are you?' and I was like, 'Björk, that's too much of an existential question, I can't answer that after a gin!' Health-wise, you're facing losing your hearing... About 15 years ago, I took a long-haul flight and went straight to a Spice Girls concert. I'm not blaming the Spice Girls, but I think it overloaded my nervous system. I woke up with ringing in my ear, like I'd gone underwater. I couldn't hear the car indicator or a shower in another room. Then in 2018, I went deaf in my left ear overnight. It's called sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL). They don't know why it happens. It was a huge shock. I'm 97% deaf in that ear now and can't use a hearing aid because it's too far gone. But the worst part wasn't the deafness, it was the vertigo. I lost my balance completely, for two or three months. That was really disabling. Thankfully it passed, and I can still write, record, perform – just in mono. I started seeing it as a message from the universe telling me to slow down, look after myself. I still tour, but I'm more careful now. How has it shaped your attitude today? I'm turning 50 this year, and it's the 20th anniversary o f Eye To The Telescope. It feels like the end of a chapter and the start of a new one. I'm loud and proud about my age. There aren't loads of women in their fifties in UK music, which is why I print 'KT Tunstall 1975' on my merch. I want younger women to know how old I am and feel empowered. I feel like I'm shutting the door on the first half of my career. Now, I've got this new avenue in musical theatre. Did writing the songs for th e musical Clueless take yo u back to your teens? Totally. Clueless is a classic. I didn't grow up in a house of music. Mum and I didn't listen to records but the first artist who made me want to do what she did was Kim Wilde. I was obsessed with Kids In America , and that's on the Clueless soundtrack. So it became this crossover of wanting to be a rocker and loving this cult film. What were you like as a youngster? A complete tomboy. For my 11th birthday, I had a Grease party. All my friends came as Pink Ladies, and I went as Danny Zuko. What's next in this new chapter? Part of the joy is not knowing. I love working in a team after 20 years as a solo artist – it's such a relief not to be in charge of everything. We're re-releasing Eye To The Telescope in September with unreleased tracks I wrote at the time. It's like a time capsule. I also want to get into pottery – you may see some KT mugs one day!
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Madonna and Elton John 'bury the hatchet' after decades-long feud
The Queen of Pop and legendary singer-songwriter's feud dates back to 2002, when Elton called her James Bond film theme song, Die Another Day, the "worst Bond tune ever". Two years later, the Rocket Man hitmaker also claimed he was shocked to see Madonna nominated for Best Live Performance at the 2004 Q Awards and accused her of lip-synching during her concerts. Though Elton alleged he had subsequently apologised for his comments, taking to Instagram on Monday night, Madonna revealed she and the British superstar had reconciled following his performance with Brandi Carlile on Saturday Night Live over the weekend.
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Elton and Madonna bury the hatchet, not the beat
After years of bitter public disputes and heated exchanges, two of the biggest pop icons in history, Sir Elton John and Madonna, have finally buried the hatchet. Their long-running feud, which began in the early 2000s, reached a surprising resolution over the weekend, marking the end of one of the most talked-about rivalries in the music industry. The peace offering came after Sir Elton John performed on Saturday Night Live (SNL), showcasing tracks from his new album with Brandi Carlile. Madonna, who had attended the performance, used the opportunity to confront Elton in person. According to the Vogue singer, the moment was transformative. "The first thing out of his mouth was 'forgive me,' and the wall between us fell down," she shared on Instagram. Madonna, now 66, reflected on her decades-long admiration for Elton. "Seeing him perform when I was in high school changed the course of my life," she wrote. For years, however, she had struggled with the public criticisms Elton had levelled against her. She noted, "Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist. I didn't understand it." A whole lot of history The roots of their rivalry can be traced back to 2004 when Elton made scathing remarks about Madonna's performance style. At the Q Awards that year, he mocked her nomination for Best Live Act, controversially questioning her authenticity. "Since when has lip syncing been live?" he asked, before taking the jibe a step further, saying anyone who lip-syncs in concert should "be shot." Madonna's camp quickly denied the accusations, insisting she had always performed live, but the damage was done. The feud escalated in subsequent years. In 2012, Elton infamously dismissed Madonna's chances of winning a Golden Globe for Masterpiece, the song from her film W.E., stating she stood no "chance" of defeating him. When Madonna went on to win the award, she took a dig at Elton during her acceptance speech, saying, "I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years." It seemed their relationship had soured beyond repair. However, this past weekend's exchange between the two artists was notably different. After years of tension, the moment between them felt unexpectedly warm and genuine. Madonna, whose career and persona have often been defined by her resilience and willingness to challenge the status quo, admitted that she had long been hurt by Elton's public disdain. Yet, she also expressed a willingness to move forward. In her Instagram post, she teased the possibility of a collaboration, revealing that Elton had written a song for her and expressed an interest in working together. For fans, the idea of an Elton John-Madonna duet would be a dream come true. Both have left an indelible mark on the music industry, with their groundbreaking work inspiring generations of artists. In response to Madonna's post, Elton thanked her for her forgiveness, acknowledging that his past comments were uncalled for. "I'm not proud of what I said over the years," he remarked, particularly acknowledging Madonna's pioneering role in opening doors for women in the music industry. "She has paved the way for an entire generation of female artists to succeed and be true to themselves." The reconciliation has taken on a broader significance beyond just the personal. Elton noted his concern about the current state of divisiveness in the world and expressed a hopeful outlook for the future. "By pulling together, I'm hopeful that we can make great things happen for those who really need support," he said. As the music world watches closely, fans are left to wonder if this truce will lead to a creative renaissance for both icons. For now, though, we can celebrate the fact that two of the greatest musical minds of our time have decided to focus on what truly matters: collaboration, respect, and the joy of making music together.
Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Madonna and Elton John ‘bury the hatchet' after decades-long feud
Madonna and Sir Elton John have finally made peace after one of the longest-lasting feuds in the music industry. The so-called Queen of Pop revealed on Monday night that the pair have 'buried the hatchet' and hinted at a possible future collaboration, marking an end to a public squabble that dates back to the early noughties. Over the years, Sir Elton repeatedly accused Madonna of lip-syncing, said her career was finished in 2012 and called her little more than a 'fairground stripper'. But on Monday, the Vogue singer posted a photo of the pair hugging and wrote: 'Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist. I didn't understand it.' The 66-year-old, whose full name is Madonna Ciccone, decided to 'confront' him after his performance on Saturday Night Live over the weekend. 'The first thing out of his mouth was, 'forgive me' and the wall between us fell down,' she said. Sir Elton called it a 'healing moment' and said his former foe had forgiven him for his 'big mouth'. The relationship between the two music legends first turned sour in 2002 when Sir Elton, 78, called her 'Die Another Day' song the 'worst Bond tune of all time'. 'It hasn't got a tune,' he told the BBC. 'James Bond themes are usually very camp and this one's different ... They should have gone for somebody like Lulu and Shirley Bassey, or maybe I'm in that league?' Two years later, the Tiny Dancer singer said he was appalled to see her nominated for the best live performance at the 2004 Q Awards. 'Since when has lip-syncing been live? Anyone who lip-syncs in public on stage when you pay 75 pounds to see them should be shot,' he fumed. Madonna's team responded at the time, saying she did not 'spend her time trashing other artists'. In 2012, Madonna's 'Masterpiece' from W.E, a Box Office flop she wrote and directed, won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song against his 'Hello, Hello' from Gnomeo and Juliet, despite Sir Elton claiming she didn't stand a 'f---ing chance'. In her award speech, Madonna said: '[Sir Elton's] been known to get mad at me, so I don't know. He's brilliant, and I adore him, so he'll win another award. I don't feel bad.' David Furnish, Sir Elton's husband, later condemned Madonna for her 'narcissism' at the Globes. In a separate interview later that year, Sir Elton launched a lengthy tirade against Madonna for allegedly being 'so horrible' to his friend Lady Gaga. 'She's such a nightmare. Sorry, her career is over,' he said. Madonna, for her part, was far more restrained in her criticisms of Sir Elton over the past two decades. In his 2019 memoir, Me, Sir Elton expressed regret for being so public about his dislike of her. Announcing their new peace agreement, Madonna reminisced about sneaking out of the house once as a teenager to see Sir Elton perform live in Detroit, saying it 'changed the course of my life'. 'I had always felt like an outsider growing up and watching him on stage helped me to understand that it was OK to be different-to stand out- to take the road, less travelled by. In fact, it was essential,' she wrote. She also suggested a possible musical partnership could be in the works, telling her 19.8 million followers that Sir Elton had written her a song and wanted to collaborate. 'Everything came full circle,' she added in the post. In response, Sir Elton said he wasn't proud of the things he said in the past, especially due to Madonna's 'ground-breaking work… paving the way for an entire generation of female artists to succeed and be true to themselves'.
Express Tribune
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Madonna and Elton John end feud backstage at SNL after decades long beef
Madonna and Elton John have officially ended their decades-long feud, as confirmed in a recent Instagram post by Madonna. The two music icons reunited backstage at Saturday Night Live over the weekend, where John performed as the musical guest alongside Brandi Carlile. 'We finally buried the hatchet!' Madonna captioned a photo of them together. She recalled sneaking out as a teenager to attend one of John's concerts in Detroit, describing it as a life-changing moment that inspired her to pursue music. 'Watching him on stage helped me understand that it was OK to be different,' she wrote. The reconciliation comes after years of tension between the two. Their feud began in 2004, when John criticized Madonna at the Q Awards for lip-syncing during performances, saying, 'Madonna, best live act? F*** off.' He continued to mock her over the years, including during her 2012 Super Bowl halftime show, and once referred to her as a 'fairground stripper' during an Australian TV interview. Despite the history, Madonna said she felt compelled to attend SNL upon learning John would be performing. 'I needed to go backstage and confront him,' she wrote. According to her post, John immediately said, 'Forgive me,' and the tension between them dissolved. 'Forgiveness is a powerful tool,' she added. 'Within minutes we were hugging.' Whether this reconciliation leads to a musical collaboration remains to be seen — but Madonna hinted that John already has a song written for her. 'It was like everything came full circle,' she said. The moment marked a surprising and heartfelt closure to one of pop music's most publicized feuds.
