OHMYGOSSIP — Ed Sheeran is “trying to rewild as much of the UK as I can.”
The 30-year-old megastar is doing his bit to save the planet by buying up plots and planting trees across his homeland.
However, the ‘Shivers’ hitmaker – who has 16-month-old Lyra Antarctica with wife Cherry Seaborn – admitted he expects to receive criticism for his environmental efforts because touring is not sustainable.
The Suffolk-born singer told BBC Radio London: “I’m trying to buy as much land as possible and plant as many trees as possible.
“I am trying to rewild as much of the UK as I can. I love my county and I love wildlife and the environment.
“I feel like I am going to get my head bitten off anytime I say that, as my job is not a hugely sustainable job as I go and play in cities, but I am trying my best.”
The flame-haired pop star owns an extensive East Suffolk estate – dubbed Sheeranville – and Ed revealed it is a haven for wildlife.
He added: “I have got a massive beehive. I have this massive wildlife pond with newts in it, salamanders and there’s a grass snake that lives in there and hedgehogs.
“The thing with sustainability and being a public figure is when people support it, suddenly people try and find things to call them out on.”
Last year, Ed reportedly spent thousands to create a forest there, with the couple planting dozens of trees to help make the property more sustainable
A source said at the time: “He’s spent tens of thousands of pounds on the project – and Cherry’s involved too as she’s into re-wilding and sustainability.
“A huge field where his outdoor wildlife pond is will become a dense wood in a few years and he’s planted trees six deep around the perimeter to afford him privacy.
“It’ll help reduce the carbon footprint of him being a touring rock star, too.”
Grammy-winner Ed previously explained that he loves living in east England because, in spite of his chart success, local people still treat him like a normal member of the community.
The musician – who married Cherry in 2019 – shared: “I think what’s beautiful about this area [is] no one’s treated me any different. It’s still the same people working in the fish and chip shop, [treating] me exactly the same.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Paul Weller wants an album of soul singers covering his songs – but is worried it would seem “arrogant”.
The ‘Changingman’ hitmaker has been dreaming of the project for years but is concerned people would find it self-indulgent and not be interested.
He said: “I’d love to do a record with a few of my songs sung by soul singers.
“I don’t know how to get in touch with [the singers I’d want], but Stone Foundation managed to get Melba Moore to sing on their album and they’ve also had William Bell and Bettye LaVette.”
The former Jam frontman recalled how much it “blew [his] mind” when he first heard a soul version of one of his old songs.
The music star told Uncut: “The closest I came was when Acid Jazz put out a really old song of mine called, ‘Left Right & Centre’, which I wrote when I was 16.
“They got this American soul singer Dean Parrish to sing it. It was amazing to hear this song which I wrote as a kid trying to imagine I was f****** Otis Redding or something.
“When Dean’s version came out, I finally got to hear it as I heard it when I was writing it as a kid – it blew my mind.”
The 63-year-old rocker was happy to receive a list of suggested artists for his dream project.
He noted: “Martha Reeves, Darlene Love, Irma Thomas … Kiki Dee? Yeah I like her. Wasn’t she the first British artist signed to Motown?”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Suga will be in BTS until he dies.
The 28-year-old rapper – who has been part of the K-pop boyband since their 2013 launch – seems quite happy with his role in the group, claiming that he “just likes” BTS.
He said: “I think I’ll be in BTS until I die. I just like BTS”
However, the star went on note that despite being a key co-writer and co-producer for the band, it is unlikely that he will ever step out of the shadow of BTS to work solo.
He told Vogue Korea: “I’m often asked how I’d like to try producing [a group] But I don’t think I’d be able to. I don’t have that much responsibility to be responsible for someone else. I’ll always be a member of BTS. People have suggested I should become a full-time producer, but I don’t think I will. I’m not responsible enough to take responsibility for anyone. I like being part of BTS”
Meanwhile, as part of BTS, Suga has been nominated for for a 2022 Grammy under the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit summer single ‘Butter’ , which topped the charts in the US and reached #3 in the UK.
While the rapper – whose real name is Min Yoon-gi – does not have any “high expectations” for the event, he is still confident that they will win the coveted accolade.
in a translation of the interview, he said: ““I have a humble version and a confident version so which one should I do? Honestly, I don’t have high expectations. But I do think we’ll receive it!”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Olly Alexander will never tell an ex if a song is about them.
The 31-year-old singer – who has previously admitted to penning songs about exes and casual flings – said that while he would “be impressed” if a former flame confronted him, he would always deny it.
He said: “I don’t think anyone will recognise themselves [in my songs.] It depends how closely they listen. If someone had the confidence to straight up ask me, ‘Is this song about me?’, I would be impressed. But you never want to give them the satisfaction.”
The Years&Years star then went on to note starring in Channel 4 AIDS drama ‘It’s a Sin’ and performing with Sir Elton John as highlights of his year, adding that collaborating with pop superstar Kylie Minogue on hits ‘Starstruck’ and ‘A Second to Midnight’ was a “dream come true.”
He told The Metro Newspaper: “‘It’s a Sin’ is one of [my highlights], for sure. Performing with Elton John at the BRITs – lying on top of his piano, that was amazing. And duetting with Kylie was a dream come true.”
Olly then went on to praise the ‘Spinning Around’ hitmaker, picking out his favourite hits before also lauding the Pet Shop Boys – both of whom he has teamed up with for a pre-recorded New Year’s Eve special on BBC One.
He said: “Kylie’s ‘Love at First Sight’ is genius. So many of her songs are captivating and memorable but ‘Love at First Sight’ has this positive, happy feeling about it that I just love. It’s so simple but the simplest things are always the hardest to get right. Pet Shop Boys, oh my gosh, they just have such a phenomenal back catalogue. [My favourite] is maybe ‘Domino Dancing’. That’s the one I put on to dance around to the most still.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Kate Bush has called for NHS workers to receive a pay rise.
The 63-year-old singer thanked the medical staff of the NHS for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic as she reflected on the last two years in a Christmas message posted onto her website.
She wrote: “With nearly two years of COVID, are any of us the same people we were before?” It’s left everyone confused and uncertain of the future. It’s been a terrible time of loss for so many. I want to say a big thank you to all the people on the front line and in the NHS.”
The ‘Babooshka’ hitmaker then went on to express her hopes that front-line workers of the National Health Service will receive a worthy pay increase.
She added: “I have such huge respect for all the nurses and doctors who’ve already been working flat out for nearly two years. These caring people are showing such extraordinary acts of kindness to others. Let’s hope they get the pay rises they rightly deserve.”
Late in the post, the BRIT Award winner went on to detail an recent encounter with nature where she noticed a goldcrest bird in a tree as she urged fans “in these strange times” to pay more attention to the world around them.
She said: “I’d like to mention something that happened a few weeks ago on a walk; stopping to look at the view, I noticed something moving in a tree right beside me. I stood still, hoping not to frighten it away. Its colouring is beautiful—a peacock’s eye on each wing and a striking yellow streak on its tiny head. This gorgeous little ball of fluff flew away after ten minutes or so. I’ve only ever seen one once before and very briefly. It made my day. In these strange times, I really hope you can get the chance to stop for a moment and feel nature around you.

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Cardi B has defended Lil’Kim over her cyberbullying.
The 29-year-old has spoken out to defend her fellow rapper after her latest single ‘Big Santa Papi’ reportedly received backlash on social media, which Cardi slammed as “heart-breaking.”
She wrote on Twitter: “I’m tired of it and it’s heart-breaking. She’s so sweet ,supportive and a REAL F****N’ LEGEND ..I remember when I used to beef wit b*tches and I used to put on my MySpace her song F**K YOU! I think it gotta be these 2000’s born kids on this app that don’t know about sh*t!”
The song in question appears as part of the soundtrack to Nick Cannon’s holiday movie ‘Miracles Across 125th Street’, in which veteran rapper sings about wanting to seduce Father Christmas.
She sings: “If you throw some dollars at me / I’ma make it clap.”
When a fan replied to Cardi B’s tweet asking why she is yet to work with Lil’Kim, Cardi insisted that a collaboration will only happen “at the right time.”
She wrote: “What do a collab go to do with someone constantly getting CYBER BULLY? before a artist I am a woman wit feelings and I know how much it hurts to constantly get picked on…When I collab wit her is going to be at the right time & the right song.I don’t rush BIG MOMENTS!” (sic)
Meanwhile, the ‘WAP’ singer previously spoke about her plans for 2022, promising fans that – despite her hectic lifestyle – she will be releasing her second studio album next year.
She said: “It’s been a lot trying to balance out my new motherf***ing life. have a lot of jobs now. I’m in a lot of positions that require a lot of my time, and on top of that, I gotta put out this album next year. Not only do I got to put out an album [next year] but I gotta record a movie: I’ve got to do so much sh*t y’all.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Jay Z says Beyonce is “an evolution” of Michael Jackson.
The 52-year-old rapper compared his wife Beyonce, 40, to the late King of Pop in a recent chat with Alicia Keys on Twitter Spaces, saying Beyonce has surpassed Michael with her iconic 2018 Coachella performances.
He explained: “Bey’s gonna be mad at [me] for saying this but Michael Jackson never had a Coachella.
“The kids are the same. Find me a concert that’s as culturally relevant and thrilling as Coachella. Beyoncé is gonna be one of the best singers we ever heard because she is such a student.”
Back in 2015, Charlamagne Tha God also compared Beyonce and Jackson, saying: “I think she’s the greatest entertainer that our generation has seen. I mean, the previous generation had Michael Jackson. But for our generation I think it’s Beyonce. And I even put—You can’t compare anybody to anybody. Michael Jackson is a god. He’s legendary. He’s on a totally different level.”
“But Beyonce, if she’s not already, she absolutely will be on that same level. She will be looked upon in the same regards, if not more, as Michael Jackson was. That’s just the truth to the matter. People hate when I say that, but you’ll see in the future. It’s gonna happen.”
And Beyonce previously pair tribute to Michael – who died from acute Propofol intoxication in 2009 – saying: “[Michael] taught me that sometimes you have to forget technique, forget what you have on. If you feel silly, you have to go from the gut just let it go.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello are to release a new song together.
The 30-year-old singer/songwriter has let slip that he and the ‘Havana’ hitmaker – who he previously teamed up with on ‘South of the Border’, which was released on his 2019 record ‘No.6 Collaborations Project’ – have a tune ready to go next year.
When asked if the 24-year-old star features on his next single, ‘The Joker and the Queen’, he said: “No, but actually we have done a song together that is going to come out next year.”
Ed is to tour his latest album ‘=’ next year, and he is looking forward to getting a better idea of which of his new tunes are loved by his fans.
Speaking on BBC Radio 1, he added: “I’m just really excited to be in front of fans doing live music again. You release an album and just sort of assume people like it because it went to number one.
“But you don’t really know what songs people like or what songs they connect to.
“I did a show the other day and I started singing Overpass Graffiti and they were the loudest on that song.
“I was like, ‘Oh, people actually like this one.’ ”
News of Ed and Camila’s latest collaboration comes after the Cuban-born star admitted he and Taylor Swift are her songwriting “heroes”.
She said: “I’ve been lucky to have people at different times show me kindness. When I was like 16, 17, and I was still in Fifth Harmony, I fell in love with songwriting.
“I remember approaching Taylor Swift and being like, ‘Hey, what do you do when you’re in a writing slump?’ or whatever, asking her for advice, and she showed me a lot of kindness. Ed Sheeran too.
“These were my songwriting heroes, so I was stoked that they were even talking to me.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers are working on a new musical together.
The 58-year-old songwriter – who has collaborated with Robbie numerous times and has also written for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Anastacia – revealed that he is working on another stage project with the ex-Take That singer which he hopes will premiere in 2023.
He told The Daily Mirror newspaper: “I’m working on another musical with Rob, as we did ‘The Boy in the Dress’ which was on in Stratford. It’ll take about two years to come out though, as things take a long time, as you need to get the team together.
Guy did not go into further detail about the project, but teased that it will be a “departure” from Robbie’s usual style.
News of the musical comes just weeks after Guy revealed he had once penned a song with Britney Spears, but it was quickly shelved by her record company and is unlikely to come out any time soon.
He said: “I wrote a song with Britney that’s never come out called ‘Sacred’. In the many Britney fan communities it’s their holy grail, but they’ve never heard it, they’ve only heard about it. She said ‘f***’ in it. This was in about 2006, her imperial phase, when she was huge. She was trying to rebel from the cleaner side of Britney, I suppose, and I should have said no, but I didn’t, I let her do what she wanted.”
“I actually asked her lawyer recently if they could put it out, but they said no. One day it will come out I’m sure, but it won’t be tomorrow

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Michael Bublé finds himself sick of Christmas music by Boxing Day.
The 46-year-old singer – whose holiday album ‘Christmas’ became one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century with worldwide sales of more than 16 million – told of how holiday music reminds him of festive food and that by the day after Christmas, “you never want to hear it again.”
He said: “Christmas music reminds me of rich food, when you haven’t had it in a while and are so excited for it and you eat as much as you can. By the 26th of December you don’t ever want to hear it again. But there are worse things than a season where people are kind.”
Despite his comments about festive music, Michael – who has Noah, eight, Elias, five, and Vida, three, with actress Luisana Lopilato – went on to insist that he “loves Christmas so much” and not just “through the eyes of the kids.”
He said: “I love Christmas so much and my parents made it so great for us that I still have that sense of wonderment. It’s not that I see it through the eyes of my kids, I genuinely have that wonderment. Like, my tree was up November 1st.”
The ‘Feeling Good’ hitmaker then went on to explain that when he was approached by Dolly Parton to record a Christmas duet at the height of the pandemic in July 2020, he said yes without hesitation as he felt people would “need espite from the fear and anxiety” caused by COVID.
He told The Daily Star: “Last summer, in the heart of COVID in July, Dolly Parton asked me if I would do a Christmas song with her. I love Dolly and the truth is I didn’t even listen to the song, I said: ‘Yes!’ But I thought people would need respite from the fear and anxiety and loss. You could tell people needed it.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Britney Spears has teased that new music is on the way.
The 40-year-old singer – who regained control of her assets after an LA court freed her from a thirteen-year conservatorship which was governed by her family – has not released any music since 2016 but revealed on Instagram that a new song is on the cards.
She told her 36m followers: “Pssss new song in the works … I’m gonna let you know what I mean.”
No further details about the song were given, but the message was posted alongside a video of the ‘…Baby One More Time’ hitmaker riffing whilst posing in a mirror.
The star – whose father Jamie, as part of the conservatorship, had control of her multi-million dollar fortune – later went on to blast her family for the way they treated her, claiming that now is the time to “be [her] own cheerleader.”
She wrote: “I just realized this today guys … after what my family tried to do to me three years ago … I needed to be my own cheerleader. God knows they weren’t. No … I’m not auditioning for anything. I’m reminding myself and the world of who I am. Yes … I will be my own cheerleader, why? I’m here to remind my white “classy” family that I haven’t forgotten what they did to me nor will I ever forget.”⁣
Britney’s confident assertions come just days after it was alleged that dad Jamie asked her to continue paying his legal fees despite the termination of the conservatorship.
Documents obtained by People magazine stated: “Prompt payment on account of Jamie’s attorneys’ fees is necessary to ensure the Conservatorship can be wound up quickly and efficiently to allow Britney to take control of her life as she and Jamie desire.”
However, lawyers acting on behalf of the ‘Toxic’ singer were quick to slam the request as “meritless.”
Britney’s lawyer, Mathew Rosengart, said in statement : “Mr. Spears reaped many millions of dollars from Britney as a conservator, while paying his lawyers millions more, all from Britney’s work and hard-earned money. Under the circumstances, his petition is not only legally meritless, it is an abomination.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — 5 Seconds of Summer have been sued for AUD$2.5 million (£1.86m) by their former management team.
The rock band – which comprises of Luke Hemmings, 25, Callum Hood, 25, Ashton Irwin, 27, and Michael Clifford, 26 – are being taken to court after allegedly refusing to pay YM&U agreed commissions for “multiple lucrative deals”.
Billboard reports: “5SOS refused to pay YM&U commissions the firm is owed for multiple lucrative deals it negotiated on behalf of the group, including a $10 million single-album recording contract with BMG and a $1.5 million merchandising extension with Bravado International Group.”
According to documents obtained by the media outlet, all four members of the band are listed as defendants, as well as their current manager Benjamin Evans, who is alleged to have encouraged their band in their behaviour, with the documents claiming that he “acted with fraud, malice, or oppression.”
The documents said: “Evans and 5SOS’s other advisors believed that, by refusing to pay plaintiff anything for its months of services, 5SOS could pressure plaintiff to substantially discount what 5SOS owed.
The complaint alleged that on Sept. 27, shortly before the band’s new deal with BMG was complete, 5 Seconds of Summer told YM&U that they intended to end their management agreement with the company while agreeing to pay 15 per cent of their £4.1 million advance from BMG, but a letter sent to YM&U by the group’s attorneys later claimed that the band would not be paying them for several “multiple lucrative deals it negotiated on behalf of the group.”
The document added: “The only reason given was 5SOS’s attorney’s frivolous assertion that the timing of 5SOS’s termination of plaintiff somehow entitled 5SOS to refuse to pay plaintiff for the valuable services they had induced plaintiff to provide”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Sir Rod Stewart has paid tribute to his “dear friend” Robin Le Mesurier.
The 76-year-old singer took to Instagram to mourn the loss of his longterm guitarist, who reportedly passed away on Wednesday (22.12.21) at the age of 68 after battling cancer.
Rod shared a photo of himself on stage with Robin and wrote on Instagram: “A Rock & Roll soul, rest in peace my dear friend [prayer emoji] #robinlemesurier (sic)”
Rod’s Faces bandmate, Ronnie Wood, also paid tribute to the guitarist, who had joined them when the pair, along with Kenney Jones, reunited in 2015.
The Rolling Stones rocker – whose 1981 solo album, ‘1234’ featured contributions from Robin – tweeted: “Rest in peace Robin, I have so much respect for you ~ you will be missed.”
Robin’s first band, The Reign, disbanded in 1973 and he then performed with novelty act the Wombles before becoming a session guitarist later in the decade and performing with the likes of Johnny Hallyday, Sir Elton John and Jeff Beck.
In 1977, he toured with Rod’s opening act Air Supply, and went on to join the ‘Maggie May’ hitmaker’s backing band in 1980, playing on a number of his albums over the years.
Rod had previously paid tribute to his friend’s “unforgettable stage presence”.
In the foreword to Robin’s 2017 autobiography, ‘A Charmed Rock ‘N’ Roll Life’, he wrote: “Robin has an unforgettable stage presence. Over the years I’ve had some wonderful musicians and bands but I also always wanted mates – someone I could sit in a bar with, fall down with and even confide in. Robin has all these qualities and more. Like myself, he was born to be a rocker.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — The Faces’ fans will recognise some of the songs on their comeback album.
It was revealed in the summer that the reformed ‘Stay With Me’ rockers – drummer Kenney Jones, guitarist Ronnie Wood and singer Sir Rod Stewart – were back in the studio laying down music, and the sticksman has explained that the record will be a “mixture of old and new”, with certain pieces of music already familiar to their loyal supporters.
He told Uncut magazine: “What we’ve decided to do is work on some of the original stuff that we didn’t use, so the album is going to be a mixture of old and new.
“The songs we’ve been revisiting are from right across the board.
“It’s very difficult to go into specifics because many of them didn’t even have titles.
“I think the fans may have heard certain things before and might recognise them.
“Ronnie and I, in particular, have been working on lots of the old stuff together and we’ve re-recorded a couple of those songs with more of a modern feel.”
However, work has been stilted because of Rod’s solo work and Ronnie’s commitment to the Rolling Stones.
Kenney continued: “The new songs are coming along too We’re definitely going in the right direction but work had to stop temporarily while Woody went back to his rescheduled gigs with the Stones.
“The same thing happened with Rod.
“I know that Rod, between things on tour, is working on lyrics to some of them. Woody is doing the same thing. So we’ll return to those when we’re able to get back together again.”
Fans can also expect some “special guests” on the record, but their identities are staying under wraps for now.
Kenney said: “I don’t want to give too much away at this point, but there will be some special guests on there with us.
“We’ve already done a few overdub sessions with some well-known people, which will remain a trade secret for the moment.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — The Killers’ latest was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rock band – which comprises of Brandon Flowers, 40, Dave Keuning, 45, Mark Stoermer, 44, and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. 45, – spent time “reflecting” during the pandemic, which inspired their seventh consecutive number one album ‘Pressure Machine.’
Lead singer Brandon said: “The pandemic has allowed everyone more time for a lot of reflection and I was not spared from that. This album definitely began to bloom out of that. We weren’t hoping or setting out for chart-topping success, but we’ll take it. You still want people to like it and be affected in a positive way. And I still have that Bono in me that wants to be on the radio. And that’s always gonna be there. I had a vision for this record and we tried to stay true to that.”
The acclaimed singer-songwriter – who shot to fame along with his bandmates almost 20 years ago and is now father to Ammon, 14, Gunnar 12, and Henry 10, with wife Tana Mundkowsky
– explained that these days the line-up in the band is something of a “revolving door”, allowing for them to take on other projects as well as manage a family life.
He told The Sun: “Dave’s been playing most of the gigs this year which has been great. It’s sort of a revolving door situation, which is, so far, so good. We were able to get our schedules to align and do what we could do. When you’re first in the band nobody has anything tying them down and you become a gang. Then people start having families and moving to different states and it gets difficult. But I think we’re making it work in a unique way.”

Source: IconInsider.com

OHMYGOSSIP — Iron Maiden are happy to be “dinosaurs”.
The heavy metal legends were narrowly beaten to the number one spot on the album chart by Drake this year and frontman Bruce Dickinson admitted he doesn’t really “get” the ‘Hotline Bling’ hitmaker’s work.
He said: “We went head to head with Drake the week the album was released. I don’t really get what he does, though a lot of people do, but going head to head with him felt like, ‘No this is real music played by a bunch of old geezers who make no concessions to the times in which we live.’
“People say, ‘You’re dinosaurs.’ And we go, ‘Yeah and there aren’t too many of those left.’
“This is who we are, it’s what we do.”
And Bruce is pleased the band haven’t relied on social media to grow their fanbase.
He said: “By and large our audience as moved on with us. Maiden’s audience is like a table made of plywood; every year you just add a new layer and the table gets bigger and bigger.
“We’ve grown organically – not through social media or any of that stuff.
“We’ve grown by going out and doing it in front of people.”
The Run to the Hills’ hitmaker can’t wait to get on stage following a long break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: “I can’t wait to get back out there and play these songs.
“We’re still fired up and to get back together in a room with the guys to just play music is something I’m looking forward to more than you can ever imagine.”

Source: IconInsider.com