Chaka Khan reveals the real reason she rejected Glastonbury 2024 legends slot
CHAKA Khan has confirmed in an exclusive chat that she had to let Shania Twain take on the Legends slot at Glasto.
And it was all because she couldn’t change her jam-packed schedule.
In December we told how the pair were battling for the festival gig.
Chaka is now keen to keep the conversation with organiser Emily Eavis going.
When we asked if she’d take them up on the chance next year, the American superstar replied: “Yeah, sure – I would love that.”
The I’m Every Woman singer Chaka is tied up with the Meltdown festival at London’s Southbank Centre, where she is following in the footsteps of names including David Bowie and Yoko Ono by curating the event.
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Opening up about Glastonbury, Chaka said: “They did approach me but I can’t because of this.”
She is on board Meltdown to celebrate 50 years in music, a landmark she reached last year after the 1973 release of her debut album with R&B band Rufus.
The group broke through in 1974 with Tell Me Something Good and Chaka scored a series of platinum-selling albums before going solo.
With 12 solo albums, she is not done with making new music, and last year worked with Bombay Bicycle Club.
We’re looking forward to seeing you on the farm, Chaka. We’ll save a warm pint for you.
LIZZO: I WON’T QUIT MY MUSIC
LIZZO has spoken out to clarify what she said after defiantly declaring she had “quit” in an Instagram post last week.
Fans were worried the American singer had turned her back on music for good.
But now Lizzo has insisted to her devoted followers, myself included, that she is only shutting out “negative energy” and not her love of making songs.
In a new video clarifying her comments, the Juice singer said: “I mean I quit giving any negative energy attention.
“What I’m not going to quit is the joy of my life, which is making music and connecting to people. And I know I’m not alone.
“In no way, shape or form am I the only person who is experiencing that negative voice that seems to be louder than the positive.”
MATT HAS MONEY TO BURN
RYAN Reynolds did it with Wrexham and Boyzone at Chorley FC – now Matt Smith wants to get involved with buying a football club.
The Doctor Who actor is interested in reviving his beloved Blackburn Rovers, but doesn’t think he’s rich enough to pull a bid together.
Matt said: “I dream about it on a daily basis. If I could buy Blackburn Rovers and I had the money – I know it’s squandering it – I would do it in a heartbeat.
“I’m very proud to be a Blackburn fan. I would love to see that club restored.”
He added on the Headliners podcast: “You heard it here first. I’m gonna try and stick in a bid.”
Matt and his mates definitely have a few more bob than the rest of us, so I’m sure they can jumble enough cash together to give it a go.
ANYA Taylor-Joy secretly got hitched two years ago on April Fool’s Day.
The Queen’s Gambit actress has just revealed she married rocker Malcolm McRae in New Orleans.
Among the guests was Cara Delevingne.
In a post showing them eating cakes that look like hearts, Anya said: “Two years ago, on April Fools, I secretly married my best friend in New Orleans.
“The magic of that day is ingrained in every cell of my being, forever.”
ANIMALS’ F-WORD RETURN
GLASS Animals will return with a fourth album called I Love You So F***ing Much.
The band, fronted by Dave Bayley, who spent 73 weeks in the Top 40 with the huge hit Heat Waves after it was released in 2020, have dropped the first single Creatures In Heaven.
They will put out their full record on July 19.
Bristol-born Elles Bailey is also back with her fourth record, Beneath The Neon Glow.
The album, out on August 9, is preceded by her new single Enjoy The Ride, which got Cerys Matthews’ seal of approval on Radio 2 earlier this week.
It’s an earworm for sure.
Halsey up to Monkey business
HALSEY took a break from the studio for a date night at the premiere of Dev Patel’s new film Monkey Man.
The singer, out with boyfriend Avan Jogia, showed off her tattoos in a cute silk dress at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood.
Halsey is back in the studio with Indie star Alex G, giving hope she is closer to revealing the follow-up to 2021 album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power.
BILLIE Piper has revealed her old Sylvia Young Theatre School classmate Amy Winehouse was picked on as a teenager.
And it all boiled down to jealousy. Billie said: “Amy was always cheeky. She could do everything.
“She was super-clever and super-bright, unlike any other girls in that school.
“She got bullied quite a lot in school because, you know, she was doing her own thing and liked to push buttons and do weird stuff.”
On the Table Manners podcast, Billie also revealed she was offered the role of Sally Bowles in West End show Cabaret after Jessie Buckley, but turned it down.
Asked if she had been approached to take the part, which has been played by Self Esteem and Cara Delevingne, she said: “Yeah, after Jessie.
“I would have loved it but those big numbers are brutal. You’ve got to really watch yourself and I can’t be bothered.
“I don’t like the idea of having to take care of myself that well all the f***ing time.”
TAYLOR Swift is bringing along boyfriend Travis Kelce on the European leg of her Eras Tour next month.
The NFL player is desperate to visit London for her shows, where she will be playing to more than 700,000 fans.
He said: “I think she’s at Wembley eight times. It is mind-blowing that she can do that many shows in one stadium and fill that thing up.
“And London is always an amazing city. Paris is a beautiful city and she will be all over Europe.
“There won’t be a bad show, I promise you that.”
Travis, who won the Super Bowl this year with Kansas City Chiefs, added: “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.
“My glass is all the way full. I’m oozing life right now.”
Good on you Taylor.
Becky’s shiner moments
THERE are seven weeks to go until Becky Hill drops her second album Believe Me Now? – and she’s already put on a shiny dress to celebrate.
She posed in this eye-catching outfit on the set of the video for her latest single Outside Of Love, which came out on Friday.
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Becky, who shot the visuals in Slovenia, said: “I really hope people connect to this frustrated and isolated love song and still feel like they wanna dance their way through the shared sadness.”
We’re right there with you, Becky.