OHMYGOSSIP — James Hetfield wants someone to create a microphone with built-in straws.
The Metallica frontman has suggested some innovations he’d like to see to make live music easier for himself and other musicians as they try to stay hydrated and move around the stage.
Speaking on the band’s own podcast ‘The Metallica Report’, he said: “Being able to maybe sip some water while I’m playing, you know, some kind of straw on the microphone… That could be cool.”
The ‘Enter Sandman’ rocker also feels a bit static as playing guitar and singing means he can’t dart around the stage and interact with the audience.
He pondered: “I’m not holding the mic, I’m not able to go anywhere. So there [could be] mic stations everywhere.
“Our monitor guy [would have to] chase me around for all the mics, he can’t have them all open because it sounds insane, especially in an indoor stadium.”
One potential solution could be some kind of gear which automates the whole process.
He added: “If you’re wearing something and you’re within two feet of the microphone, turn it on, something like that.
“So it would make [the monitor’s job] a little easier and mine as well.”
Last year, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett insisted there are no egos in Metallica, and they are more proud of their work as a whole than being concerned with personal contributions.
He told Guitar World magazine: “We just forget [who wrote what]! We’ll be like, ‘That’s my riff… oh wait, is that my riff or someone else’s that I’ve played so much I now think it’s mine?!’
“Stuff like that is not a concern during the creative process. It’s something we work out once all the smoke clears and we’re done with them.
“Only then will I sit back and think, ‘Oh yeah, I made some contributions on this album, that’s nice!’
“For me, it’s not the beginning and the end of my vindication in this band. It doesn’t come down to personal contribution, you know?”

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OHMYGOSSIP — A Sinead O’Connor and Shane MacGowan tribute concert will take place in New York City this spring.
Dropkick Murphys, Cat Power, and David Gray are all confirmed to be on the bill at the upcoming one-night-only show at Carnegie Hall on March 20th, and all proceeds will go to charity.
The tribute concert is being referred to as “Sinead and Shane at Carnegie Hall”, following the passing of Irish music legends Sinead, who died in July aged 56, and Shane, who passed away in November aged 65.
The Mountain Goats, Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean, Glen Hansard, Amanda Palmer, Eugene Hutz, Kat Edmonson, and the Resistance Revival Chorus are also due to perform at the event.
On their Instagram, Dropkick Murphys posted: “We’re honored to announce that we’ll be performing at A ST. PATRICK’S CELEBRATION of SINÉAD O’CONNER SHANE MACGOWAN on MARCH 20 at Carnegie Hall in NYC. VIP packages are now available for pre-sale, tickets go on sale January 22. Ticket link on DropkickMurphys.com/tour (sic)”
More artists are due to be announced for the tribute show.
As well as general admission, fans will also be able to buy VIP tickets, which are priced between $300 and $20,000.
Pogues frontman Shane’s widow Victoria Mary Clarke announced in November he had passed away.
She said: “Shane will always be the light that I hold before me and the measure of my dreams and the love of my life.”
Victoria has since confirmed Shane died from pneumonia.
Sinead’s family confirmed in July the ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ singer had passed away.
They said in a statement at the time: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinead.
“Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Jonathan Davis thinks ‘A.D.I.D.A.S.’ was a “dumb song”.
The 52-year-old rock star is the lead vocalist and frontman of nu metal band Korn and recalled that their 1997 hit – which is an indirect reference to the sports brand Adidas – means “nothing” to him these days because of its “immature” meaning but admitted that it meant “everything” to him in his youth.
He told Adidas: “It was just a dumb song. It’s just like, it was nothing. I think I started with the riff, we were doing it… it was the second record and we wrote the song and I remember the acronym for it was ‘All Day I Dream About Sex. It could be a million different things.
“They would say ‘sports’, there’s all different ones. It’s very immature and juvenile. It representative of where we were at at that point in time. You’re 24 years old. That’s all you really think about, especially being in a rock band. That’s just the whole dream and everything. But it’s like, at that time that song was everything to me.”
The ‘Freak on a Leash’ hitmaker – who has Nathan, 28, with ex-wife Renee Perez as well as Pirate, 18, and 16-year-old Zeppelin with late wife Deven Davis – also revealed that his eldest was actually present when he wrote the risque track and believes the little one can even be heard in the background of the recording.
He said: “What’s f***** up about it, when I performed it, if you listen, my firstborn son Nathan was between my legs when I sang that song. Actually in the breakdown you can hear him coo-ing in the background. He was in the room.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Roger Daltrey has been given a “purpose” in life through his charity work.
The 79-year-old rocker is best known as part of The Who alongside Pete Townshend but has organised the annual Teenage Cancer Trust concert series at the Royal Albert Hall since 2000 and explained that even though he is now stepping down from the role, he will “never forget” some of the young patients he has met.
He told Metro newspaper’s SixtySeconds column: “I’ve met so many over the years. There’s quite a few who will stay with me forever – I could never forget them and the letters and cards really mean a lot – I’ve kept them all.
“I’m some old fart of a rock singer and this has given me a purpose.
“I’m not very good at doing nothing and I’m looking towards the end of a singing career. So this has been something I’m so proud of. Pete and I also founded Teen Cancer America 12 years ago, and we’re getting the chance to get together a lot of data that will really help the science one day.”
Over the years, the ‘My Generation’ rocker has managed to persuade a number of big names including Ed Sheeran, Sir Paul McCartney, and Simply Red to give up their time for free to perform during the week.
For the upcoming series of concerts – which will take place from Monday 18 March – Oasis rocker Noel Gallager will be returning to the stage with his High Flying Birds band and Roger joked that his “knees are sore” from “begging” acts to perform for free but noted that no-one has ever regretted their performance.
He said: “Gosh, it was tough at the start, because I was determined bands should want to do this for free, and it’s not easy getting big names to actually block out their time. My knees are now so sore from 24 years of begging!
“When I see someone famous, I go straight over and ask them to play a gig – and I’m sure they’ll see me now and run away!
But not one of the bands has ever come off the stage without saying, ‘What a fantastic experience.'”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Matisyahu thinks”stamina” is key to achieving longevity in music.
The 44-year-old reggae singer has been active in showbusiness for over 20 years but explained that his new EP ‘Hold the Fire’ was inspired by finding the “balance between fire and water” and having the impetus to keep going.
He told People: “It’s an album all about stamina. It’s about how to continue to be an artist as you get older, and to not let your flame go out or not be consumed by your fire. It’s about the balance between fire and water and how to keep it going. There are a lot of superstars out there that had very impactful and intense lives, but they did not have stamina or ability to just continue.”
The ‘King Without a Crown’ hitmaker – who has Laivy, 18, Shalom, 17, and 12-year-old Menachem with ex-wife Tahlia Silverman as well as nine-year-old Sasha with former girlfriend Toma Danley – added that each of his seven albums have different meanings to him as they each represent certain milestones in his life.
He said: “The albums all tell a different chapter of a story. I can associate different houses with different times in my life. And a lot of my kids were home births, so different houses were different births to my children as well.”
But despite having owned several homes over the years, these days, Matisyahu – whose real name is Matthew Paul Miller – has found that it can be “very special” to not own anything.
He added: “There is something very special about not owning anything. It’s very much back to my Hasidic roots in a certain way of just not being too tied up with anything being yours. Our time here is not permanent.”
‘Hold the Fire’ is due for release on February 2.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Mel B has teased that some “really good news” is coming for Spice Girls fans.
The 48-year-old pop star last performed with bandmates Geri Halliwell, Melanie C, and Emma Bunton as part of their UK stadium tour in 2019 but after the ‘Say You’ll Be There’ hitmakers were recently honoured with a set of Royal Mail postage stamps, she has revealed that more is on the cards for the 1990s girl group, this time even involving Victoria Beckham who has not been seen on stage with the band for more than a decade.
Speaking on ‘The Today Show’, she said: “I’ve been saying it forever but now we’re gonna be releasing some really good news in a few weeks which involves all five of us.
“So we’ve got our stamps out from the Royal Mail, which has never been done before. It is a massive for the Royal Mail, usually it’s the Queen or the King and now it’s the Spice Girls!
“But there’s five of us, with five different diaries. We’re all parents.
“[Fans] will be 100 per cent satisifed and it’s gonna be the gift that keeps on giving.”
The Spice Girls wrote their hit song ‘Wannabe’ during their first writing session in 1995 along with Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard and released it as their chart-topping debut in July the following year.
But even though the classic pop track – which took just 30 minutes to put together – has just reached one billion streams on Spotify, Mel refused to clarify what the lyric “zig-a-zig ah” actually means.
She said: “It’s a group secret, but you can make it of what you want. I made up that word, and I can’t tell you. If I did, I would have to kill you.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — SZA has warned those who leaked her music will face the wrath of the law.
The ‘Kill Bill’ hitmaker has been left angered after her songs fell victim to a leak and has vowed to take legal action against whoever “stole” her art.
She fumed on X (Twitter): ”LEAKING MY MUSIC IS STEALING. THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY LIFE AND MY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
YOU ARE A THIEF AND I PROMISE TO PUT MAXIMUM ENERGY INTO HOLDING EVERYONE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW. I AM TIRED .”
Top Dawg Entertainment President Terrence ‘Punch’ Henderson shared his client’s post and warned: “When music leaks it often leads to delays and/or canceling whole projects.”
Fans are currently waiting to hear an extended edition of SZA’s acclaimed album ‘SOS’ called ‘LANA’.
The 34-year-old star has not stated whether she will be forced to delay the project as a result of the leak.
SZA previously explained how the deluxe edition ended up turning into a “whole project” of its own.
She told fans at a free Brooklyn concert last September: “The deluxe is a whole ’nother album. It’s called ‘Lana.’ It’s seven to 10 songs and it’ll be out this fall.”
Meanwhile, the chart-topping star was left “very shook” and “overwhelmed” by her nine Grammy nods.
The ‘Nobody Gets Me’ hitmaker leads the nominations at the upcoming ceremony, on February 4, but she hadn’t reacted until an X user called her out for not commenting on the news, and she insisted it was because she was still taking it all in and gets filled with “anxiety” when she tries to think of a way to express her gratitude.
She responded: “Cause I’m overwhelmed by it and it gives me alotta anxiety to think of words .. but I’m very grateful and very shook and I wish my granny was here to come w me again. (sic)”
Her nods come in the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year categories.
SZA released her acclaimed ‘SOS’ album back in December 2022, and it features the hit single ‘Kill Bill’, which is among the nominees for the Record of the Year gong.
She has won one Grammy to date, in 2022, for ‘Kiss Me More’ with Doja Cat.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean is reportedly hitting the road for a tour with Joey Fatone from NSYNC.
The former boyband rivals have been friends for years and are believed to decided to team up for a series of shows later this year with the pair planning to perform hits from both groups on stage together as well as some covers.
A source told New York Post column PageSix: “They’ll be singing all of their hits, and different genres of music – pop and rock …
“They’ve been friends for so long. They’re both girl-dads and they can relate to each other with the careers they have had and continue to have.”
The publication reports the tour has been pencilled in for March and came about after the two singers previously performed together at a show in Florida called ‘Joey Fatone and Friends’ Welcome to Tampa 90s’ Party’ which featured renditions of their biggest hits as well as a number of covers.
AJ remains a part of the Backstreet Boys while Joey’s band NSYNC split in 2002.
Joey previously reunited with his former NSYNC bandmates – Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, and Chris Kirkpatrick – last year to release a new song which sparked speculation about a full comeback.
Bass recently dropped a big hint about future plans for the group during an appearance on online gameshow ‘Rent Free’ with Bilt Rewards founder and CEO Ankur Jain, saying of a possible return: “We are talking about it and I hope to have some good news at some point.”
The band’s new song ‘Better Place’ was used in the film ‘Trolls Band Together’ and Bass added of their first new track in more than two decades: “It was nice to get back in the studio with those guys. It’s been a lot of fun.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Roger Daltrey is stepping down as curator for Teenage Cancer Trust at the Royal Albert Hall.
The Who singer, 79, has headed up the annual concerts in aid of the support charity since 2000 and persuaded a series of top artists to perform at the iconic venue in the name of charity but has now decided to step back from his role and from 2025 will be working with a series of guest curators to take the shows forward and into the future
He said: “The £32 million raised from these concerts has been the foundation for the 28 specialised units within the NHS, as well as specialist nurses and youth workers to be there for a young person when cancer has turned their world upside down.”
To acknowledge his years of service to the trust, Roger will be at the centre of three nights of celebrations for the 2024 concert series,first returning on Monday 18 March and Wednesday 20 March alongside rock legends Squeeze, complete with an orchestra to mark how the event started more than two decades ago.
On Sunday 24 March, Roger will team up with Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Pete Townshend, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller. for ‘Ovation’- A Celebration of 24 Years of Gigs For Teenage Cancer Trust’ to close out the week of performances.
What’s more, in the week leading up to the finale, former Oasis star Noel Gallagher will take to the stage with his High Flying Birds band as well as Young Fathers and Chemical Brothers whilst the famous Night Of Comedy will also take place, with full lineup yet to be announced.
Noel said: “Teenage Cancer Trust continue to make a real difference to teenagers in what undoubtedly must be the most challenging years of their lives. Having performed at the very first event back in 2000 it is a charity very close to my heart. 24 years and counting is a triumph in itself. NGHFB will be there en masse. Together we will make the night unique. I’d buy a ticket if I were you.
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 12 January
www.teenagecancertrust.org/gigs

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OHMYGOSSIP — Take That’s Las Vegas residency has been given the green light.
The 1990s boyband – which currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen and formerly featured Robbie Williams and Jason Orange – have expressed huge interest in following in the footsteps of fellow pop icons like Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue with a Sin City concert series and now Voltaire founder Michael Gruber has admitted that a residency would be “perfect” for them, even though previous talks had fallen through.
Michael told The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “I love Take That. I absolutely want them to perform at Voltaire. It is perfect for them. We thought we would have a show but it didn’t work out in the end.”
Towards the end of last year, former ‘X Factor’ judge Gary teased that a Las Vegas residency was potentially on the cards.
Speaking at a live recording of their podcast ‘Take That: This Life’ at London’s Leicester Square, Gary said: “Las Vegas, it looks promising.”
Gary – who co-produced the band’s new album ‘This Life’ – also revealed the group has been putting “very exciting” plans in place for their UK tour, which begins in April.
He said: “There’s an invisible switch that happens when the album comes out and there’s nothing else you can do then, so your brain starts thinking about the tour immediately and within the last four days we’ve done the most work on the tour and it’s very, very exciting.”
This Life’ is the ninth studio album by Take That, and Gary dropped a huge hint that it could be followed by a 10th record.
He added: “We were sat together the other day and they were going through all the numbers (for the This Life album) at the label.
“And everything was looking great and they said to us, ‘How does it feel?’
“And we turn to one and other and went, ‘Well, it means we can do it again. It means we can make another record in a few weeks.’ ”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Billie Eilish worried she had lost her creative streak before penning ‘What Was I Made For?’
The 22-year-old pop star – who has sold 50 million records since beginning her career as a teenager – and her brother Finneas, 26, scooped Best Original Song at the Golden Globes 2024 for the melancholic track from Greta Gerwig’s smash hit movie ‘Barbie’ but explained that before sitting down to write the song, she felt as if she was struggling to “create” anything.
She told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: “It’s crazy, so crazy. When they announce it and they say your name and they say ‘This is Billie’s second nomination and second win’, I’m like ‘Whoa!’ Your stomach just flips, and like it’s crazy. I just was not feeling like I could create anymore and that wasn’t a problem in my life but it was a feeling of ‘What the hell?’ I’d come all this way, what if I couldn’t even do it anymore? But that movie was so inspiring and we had just written something that also had inspired us. Then we saw this movie and it was so…it just shot inspiration into us.”
The ‘bad guy’ hitmaker – who also won Best Original Song in 2022 for ‘No Time to Die ‘ from the James Bond movie of the same title – “forgets” that music can be used as a healing mechanism until she begins to find comfort in someone else’s work.
She said: “Isn’t it funny how music is [healing?] I sometimes forget and then I’m like just feeling any kind of feeling and I’m like ‘Man, I feel that way about your music!’ Isn’t that crazy? It’s crazy, it’s so cool. I’m stoked!”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Korn are to perform their first London gig in seven years.
The American nu metal band – which currently consists of James ‘Munky’ Shaffer Reginald, ‘Fieldy’ Arvizu Brian ‘Head’ Welch and Jonathan Davis, with the addition of Ray Luzier – last performed in the UK at the Download 2022 festival in Derby but have not played in the capital since 2017.
But they will now perform what will be their biggest UK headline gig to date at London’s Gunnersbury Park on Sunday 11 August with special guests Denzel Curry, Spiritbox, Wargasm and Loathe.
Frontman Jonathan said: “We’re really excited to play a big show for our London fans in a different kind of setting. It’s been 7 years since we last played London, so we’re ready to bring it to Gunnersbury Park with our incredible supporting artists: Denzel Curry, Spiritbox, Wargasm, and Loathe.”
Florida rapper Denzel Curry released his debut album TA13OO in 2018 and jokingly warned fans to “be ready” for his arrival along with the ‘Freak on a Leash’ rockers this summer.
He said: “Me and KORN about to slaughter s*** when we get back in the UK. Be Ready.”
Spritbox – who are known for hits like ‘Circle With Me’ and ‘Holy Roller’ – are fronted by Courtney LaPlante and are also looking forward to be being back in the UK.
They said: “We’re excited to be back in London, playing with some of our favourite artists. To come back to London in 2024 in such a massive way is a huge honour for us.”
Up-and-coming rockers Warforce are honoured to have been given the chance to perform with Korn and gushed about the “love and support” they have received from the alternative rock band, who celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2023.
Wargasm: “Having the chance to finally be on a lineup with Korn after having received so much love and support from Munky and Jonathan in the past feels great. The day is going to be relentless and we’re very happy to be a part of it.”
Tickets on general on sale 10am Friday 12 January.
Ticketmaster.co.uk

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OHMYGOSSIP — Usher has “quit all sugar and alcohol” ahead of his Super Bowl performance.
The ‘Yeah!’ singer is set to headline the half-time show at the NFL showpiece game next month and he’s determined to be in the best shape possible in order to give the performance of his life.
A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper’s No Filter column: “The Super Bowl has always been on Usher’s bucket list and he wants to be in the best shape to give the performance of his life to the 100 million-plus people watching.
“He has quit all sugar and alcohol and is rehearsing endlessly.”
Usher – who joined Black Eyed Peas on stage during their 2011 Super Bowl gig – previously admitted he had been waiting some time to get the call to headline the sporting show.
He told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: “I think being able to see performances from artists like Michael [Jackson], you know, eventually Prince, and then even more modern-day artists… I was like, ‘Man, at some point I need to get a call with what’s going on now.’
“But I’m really happy that I’m joining that short list of legacy artists from my genre who deserve this moment.
“And I’m really happy that Jay-Z and also Roc Nation really put thought into making certain that they could bring to the world this kind of experience. It is definitely going to be a moment to remember.”
The 45-year-old singer has also enlisted the services of his 14-year-old son Naviyd to be his “musical director” for the show, which takes place at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium on 11 February.
Speaking on ‘Today With Hoda and Jenna’, he spilled: “The greatest list I received is actually from my son, Naviyd. He is my musical director.
“He has given me a curation of how much time in addition to the songs.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Paul Weller has blasted the lack of productivity from younger artists.
The former Jam frontman thinks the key to his own long career has been a near-constant cycle of recording new music and touring and admitted he doesn’t “understand” why some musicians can go several years without bringing out a record.
He told the Daily Star Sunday’s Wired column: “Isn’t that part of the job description, that you go on tour and you make records? That’s probably an old-school way of looking at it, but that’s all it’s about really.
“I think it still applies. I think there’s something to be said for consistency and keep pushing it and pushing it and pushing it out.
“As opposed to a lot of the younger artists who make an album then don’t make another for five or seven years.
“I don’t understand that. I often think, ‘What do you do in those in-between years?’
“You can’t be on tour for five or seven years touring the same record, surely?”
The 65-year-old singer fears for the legacy of such acts.
He added: “Somebody like Amy Winehouse, who was a brilliant artist, she’s only left two records in the world.
“I think that’s why it’s important to put out as much as you can.
“Not just for the sake of it, not [rubbish], obviously.”
The ‘Changingman’ hitmaker enjoys being appreciated for his music, but isn’t interested in fame.
He said: “It’s too fake. If people like me because of my music then great, fantastic, but that’s it for me.
“Or if you love that pair of shoes I’m wearing in that particular photograph, that’s find because I’ve done that myself.
“Beyond that, I couldn’t care less about any of that at all.”

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OHMYGOSSIP — Corey Taylor has cancelled his North American tour.
The lead singer of Slipknot was due to embark on a solo tour this year but has made the decision to cancel for the sake of his mental and physical health.
He wrote on Instagram: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce the cancellation of my upcoming North American tour. For the past several months my mental and physical health have been breaking down, and I reached a place that was unhealthy for my family and I.
“I know this decision will come as a shock to some and may be regarded as unpopular by others – but after taking a hard look at where I am and where I was going, I need to pull myself back and be home with my family for the time being. Those of you who bought tickets and VIP packages for this upcoming run will get a full refund.
“I send my love to the fans, my band, my family friends, and everyone who’s helped me get here thus far. I promise I’m doing everything I can to be as healthy as I can be. Until then, my apologies to everyone we would have seen on the tour – and hopefully we’ll see you again down the line.”
Corey did not go into detail about his issues but he has previously spoken about suffering from PTSD.
Explaining that his song ‘Post Traumatic Blues’ from his solo record ‘CMF2’ is based on personal experience, he told NME: “It was one of those songs that I didn’t want to just be about me and my experiences – I wanted it to be a bridge between people who are dealing with PTSD and the people who are desperately trying to understand the nuances of what people have to go through. It’s one of the reasons why it tears families apart and went so undiagnosed for so many years – we never saw the rainbow of symptoms and issues that come with it.”
Despite the cancellation of his Corey’s solo tour, Slipknot’s 25th anniversary tour of the UK and Europe will still go ahead.

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OHMYGOSSIP — Rita Ora wants to record new music with Dua Lipa.
The 33-year-old singer and actress is hopeful that she, Dua, Bebe Rexha and Ava Max – who are all of south east Europe heritage – can collaborate together on a new track.
Speaking on the ‘Not Skinny But Not Fat’ podcast, she said: “Now we have Dua Lipa and Bebe Rexha and it’s amazing.
“I think it’s a natural thing that we get compared, especially as there’s not a lot of us in that part of the world. But we couldn’t be more different, us three.”
Asked if they had ever come together, she said: “Yeah, with Ava Max and Bebe I have. Not so much with Dua yet, but it would be great if we all did something together. Just to represent.”
Rita and Dua’s families both come from Kosovo with Albanian heritage, while Ava and Bebe also have Albanian links.
Meanwhile, Rita also revealed her obsession with Coleen Rooney, following the ‘Wagatha Christie’ scandal between Coleen and fellow soccer WAG Rebekah Vardy which culminated in a 2022 libel case in the English High Court.
She said: “Do you know who I’m fangirling over? Coleen Rooney. She’s a Wag, she’s married to Wayne Rooney and she’s like my idol.
“She did this incredible documentary on Disney+ and I just love her.
“I love people that just do whatever they want.”

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