Strictly Come Dancing’s Craig Revel Horwood announces shock music career with debut album and headline tour
HE’s got the dancefloor moves of a diva, but it seems Craig Revel Horwood has the voice of one, too.
The Strictly judge is taking a surprise step into music, with his debut album due out on October 18.
Craig said of the record, called Revelations: Songs Boys Don’t Sing: “This album holds a special place in my heart.
“Each track is associated with female singers, which presented a delightful challenge.
“I embraced this opportunity to record these songs, knowing that it might be my only chance to give them my own interpretation.
“The album is a perfect blend of drama, pathos, romance and a touch of high camp.”
I’d expect nothing less.
Yesterday he dropped the first track, a cover of Dame Shirley Bassey’s This Is My Life, ahead of a 53-date tour next spring.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he has a sing-song on the next series of Strictly, too.
Megan puts the boot in
Megan Thee Stallion enjoys the fringe benefits of going solo as she performs at a gig in Tennessee.
The rapper, who dazzled in a barely-there embellished bodysuit with matching orange boots, wowed fans at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival ahead of her new album’s independent release next week.
She is bringing out the record, simply titled Megan, by herself on June 28.
It comes after she parted ways with her old label – just like British success story Raye and her project, My 21st Century Blues.
Megan has already released three tracks from the 18-song collection – Hiss, Boa and Cobra.
I’m hoping not all the tunes are named after serpents, though.
Nicki Minaj has already had a hit with Anaconda and – given the pair’s ongoing feud – a copycat version would spark a load more drama.
I’m sure Megan could do without the tassel!
Nude Ed hotel room blunder
Shape Of You singer Ed Sheeran had it all on show when he got locked out of his hotel room starkers.
The singer mistook the front door for the toilet door while drunk and ended up stranded without a stitch on.
He had to use a napkin to cover his modesty.
That’s certainly one way to bring a man worth £340million down to Earth.
Recalling the mortifying incident, Ed, left, said: “I was drinking Cafe Patron liqueur and went to bed.
“I sleep naked – I enjoy the freedom it brings to my life.
“I got up in the middle of the night to take a p**s and opened the toilet door and I walked out.
“Suddenly the door closed and I opened my eyes and I was in the corridor completely naked without a key to my room.
“I was just standing there with CCTV, like, ‘F***’. I was looking around and thinking, ‘How do I get out of this?’
“Someone’s room service tray was outside their room with a napkin, so I took the napkin and covered my junk and went into the lobby of the hotel, all the way down.
“This was four o’clock in the morning and no one was there apart from someone who looked at me, and I was playing that weekend, and I was like, ‘Can you please not tell anyone?’”
Ed was eventually let back in, although he then had the challenge of getting rid of all footage from the security cameras, over fears the tape could leak.
He told the Therapuss podcast: “They came up and let me in my room and my security guard wiped the footage.”
Perrie up fur solo success
I can forgive you for not recognising Perrie Edwards as she unveils a dramatic new look with dark hair and huge furry boots.
The Little Mix singer had an extreme makeover on a high-fashion shoot for Numero Netherlands magazine, ahead of the release of her second solo single Tears on Friday.
She performed it for the first time during a brilliant set at Capital’s Summertime Ball on Sunday, after talking about how she has evolved since going solo.
She told the June issue of the mag: “I’m just way more confident now I suppose, because I don’t have people to hide behind.”
Coldplay moon landing with an eco vinyl version
Coldplay have bottled it with their new album.
The eco-conscious band, posing here to promote it, have announced new record Moon Music will be out on October 4 – with the vinyl made out of recycled plastic containers.
The album has been produced by pop hotshot Max Martin, so I am expecting big things.
The first single, feelslikeimfallinginlove, will be out on Friday and they performed it for the first time in Budapest on Sunday night.
That is guaranteed to be on the setlist when they headline Glastonbury next weekend – and from what I have heard, it will go down a storm.
Ride over for Taylor’s ex-manager Scooter
Scooter Braun has retired as a music manager – six years after coming to blows with Taylor Swift.
The top mogul helped launch and guide the careers of acts including Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber.
But he was hit by controversy in 2018 when Taylor called him out for buying the rights to the first six albums of her back catalogue, claiming it was underhand.
That prompted her to rerecord and re-release the records, which has, in turn, made her a fortune.
But it sounds like Scooter has been burned by the situation, after it was revealed last year that both Ariana and Justin, along with stars including Demi Lovato, had deserted him.
Yesterday he confirmed he has quit as a manager after 23 years.
But he will now focus on being the chief executive of Hybe America – which looks after K-pop group BTS and is the firm that bought his company Ithaca Holdings for £790million in 2021.
Appearing to reference Taylor as part of a lengthy statement, Scooter said: “There has been a lot said about what is happening in our company . . . and in my career.
“When we had success I smiled, and when we were attacked I tried to always take the high road.”
I’m sure she will be raising a glass.
Stevie: Mac a no go
Stevie Nicks has vowed Fleetwood Mac will never perform again after the death of band member Christine McVie.
The singer said it is “no can do”, insisting: “Without her, it just couldn’t work.”
Christine died after a stroke in late 2022.
Stevie told the new issue of Mojo magazine: “There wasn’t any lead-up to it.
“We got a call, and I was going to rent a plane and go see her.
“But her family said, ‘Don’t come, because she may not be here tomorrow’.
“And the next day, she passed away.”
Stevie added: “I needed to be with her, and I didn’t get to do that.
“So that was very hard for me.
“I didn’t get to say goodbye.”
The band last performed in 2019, when their tour included shows at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Stevie will go solo on stage at BST Hyde Park next month.
Paloma: Men must do more
Paloma Faith made some enemies during her latest UK tour after blasting blokes in the audience.
The singer, who will perform at Glastonbury, explained to Radio Times: “I keep saying on this tour, in between songs, men need to do more, they need to step up to the bar.
“And it’s not just about saying, ‘Oh, you’re a great person, I’ll cook you dinner once a week.’
“It’s about having initiative and adopting what are assumed to be some feminine qualities in the household.
“If you see your partner do the same thing every single day for six years, why don’t you just do it and take it off her hands?
“I’ve had a lot of men walk out of my shows with their wives in tow.
“And I say, ‘Goodbye, you’re obviously one of the ones I’m talking about.’”
I couldn’t agree more.