WALKING out on stage at a very crowded Ronnie Scott’s to perform comeback single No Secrets, Jessie J is on top form.
“I love that I’m nervous,” Jessie tells us. “It means I still give a fk.”
As she takes off her oversized jacket, music industry top brass packed into the London nightspot, start to whoop, and Jessie jokes: “Don’t cheer, it’s creepy.
“That’s what makes celebrities start acting weird. Then they’re like, ‘You’ve changed!’ “Yeah, you fing made us change. You whooped when we took our f*ing jacket off.”
As I revealed last month, Jessie is preparing to drop new music and during the top secret playback yesterday, she teased her sixth album as well as unveiling No Secrets, out later this month.
Her voice is incomparable and the song is the perfect choice to be the lead track from the album, as it’s unapologetic and honest.
“This sets the tone. It reminds people that I make music because I’m human,” Jessie explains.
“I go through real-life st. I’m the artist that doesn’t put on costumes — just don’t Google me from 2010.
“In life, I’ve had highs of highest. And I’ve had the lowest of lows. I love being the soundtrack to people’s good and bad times. It’s the joy that literally makes me feel like my life has a huge purpose.”
Jessie’s long-time boyfriend Chanan Colman, the father of her son Sky, is sat close to the front, along with a gaggle of female friends who laugh loudly as she cracks jokes.
“I’m getting wild and I’ve not even had a drink,” Jessie laughs.
This Essex girl is clearly still a handful, but a truly brilliant one.
As a huge fan of Jessie since day one, I was thrilled as she sang incredible acoustic versions of hits including Bang Bang and Do It Like A Dude during the slick set.
But Jessie warned Gen Z label staffers not to test her age.
“Please don’t come up to me and go, ‘I grew up listening to your music’. Because I can’t take it any more,” Jessie says with a grin.
“I’ve got my hair out today so you can see I don’t get Botox. I usually slick it back so I look like a testicle. Don’t you laugh.”
This is Jessie’ first album in seven years and follows her split from Republic Records in 2023.
I’ve been sworn to secrecy on Jessie’s new sound and lyrics, but I can tell you her song with Grammy award-winning producer Ryan Tedder is a heady, Eighties-influenced banger, while another track is searingly honest about her life experiences, which I think will strike a chord with new fans, as well as old.
A third, which I was lucky enough to hear, is like a diary of the past ten years and references Jessie’s previous relationships and how she’s had to fight to get her name back in lights, without theirs being attached to it.
Jessie says: “I truly feel like I’ve gone back to 2010, but 2.0.
“My worth and my value is more than anything. Any success, any achievement, any chart number, any album sale.
“It just makes me feel so powerful and roots me deep back in the ground when I need it.”
Forget being grounded Jessie, it’s time for you to soar.
Pete: Can’t sand me now
Pete Doherty hits the beach in Sydney[/caption]
The former Libertines rocker dives into the ocean[/caption]
He was spotted taking a quick dip at Bondi Beach[/caption]
Pete kept on his now trademark Homer Simpson slippers and socks[/caption]
NOW he’s celebrating the fact his trotters aren’t going to fall off, Pete Doherty is hitting the beach.
But given his toes – which turned black due to type 2 diabetes – almost dropped off, the Libertines rocker was keen to protect them from the sun.
So when he went for a day out at Bondi Beach in Sydney, he kept on his now trademark Homer Simpson slippers and socks.
Pete must be very fond of the flannel blue slingbacks though, because after a quick dip he plonked them back on to sit down and catch some rays.
His poor wife needs to put them in a bin sharpish.
Kai’s keen on Chloe
Kai Widdrington has been on a string of dates with Chloe Wells[/caption]
STRICTLY pro Kai Widdrington has moved on from his split from Nadiya Bychkova.
Insiders have revealed Kai has been on a string of dates with Chloe Wells, who works in the city as an executive assistant.
And unlike most stars who meet their other halves on celebrity dating app Raya, Kai met his new love at his local boozer.
A pal said: “Chloe and Kai met in a pub in West London and hit it off from the start. They have a real laugh together and although it’s early days, they’re planning on moving in together in the coming months.
“Kai found it very damaging to his mental health having his past relationship with Nadiya played out in public, and thankfully Chloe has no interest in being in the spotlight.
“She also isn’t a Strictly superfan which makes things easier.
“They’re super content, and Kai attributes a lot of his looking so well to being in a happier place in life thanks to her. They make a really cute couple.”
Rita’s hot right now
RITA ORA is back with new music after taking time away from the industry to focus on her acting career.
She is currently supporting pal Kylie Minogue on her Tension Tour in North America, but confirmed fans will be hearing new music from her sooner than they might think.
Dressed in a Miami Heat jersey and leggings, Rita belted out some of her biggest hits before teasing the new track on stage on Monday night.
Bizarre can reveal the song is called Heat and is set for release in the coming weeks.
Stepping off stage after performing a snippet of the sexy new track, Rita said: “Oh my god, I just sang my new single and I’m gonna get in so much trouble with my management but that’s what we do, ‘cause we are in Miami, and the song’s called Heat. It’s coming out really soon.”
Rita has been quietly working on her fourth album for months and hopes to release it later this year.
The record will be her first since 2023’s You & I which peaked at No6 on the charts.
Another summer banger from Rita might just coax the sun back out again.
Natalie’s Virgin voyage
Natalie Cassidy has landed her very own Easter special on Virgin Media UK[/caption]
PREPARE to give a very Albert Square welcome to Natalie Cassidy, who has landed her very own Easter special on Virgin Media UK.
Nat, who played Sonia Fowler in the BBC soap, will present a show from 1-4pm on Easter Monday.
“I’m very excited,” Nat said of joining Chris Evans and co on Virgin.
“This year I’m trying to do brave things, and I feel honoured to have been given a chance on Virgin Radio.
“I would love to play Oasis for my first show, just one track, as I love them to pieces.”
Nat’s show, also on the Virgin Radio app or on your smart speaker, will see her have a rest from her usual Easter antics.
She added: “I don’t really sit down. I’d probably be cleaning and doing the washing.” It’s all a life of glamour eh, Nat?
Roger’s cancer letter plea
Roger Daltrey wants the public to get behind an open letter to the Health Secretary[/caption]
ROGER DALTREY is calling on the public to get behind an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to urge the Government to listen to young people’s voices in the upcoming National Cancer Plan.
Launching the #AndYoungPeople campaign, The Who rocker told me: “Teenagers and young adults deserve to be diagnosed at the earliest opportunity.
“This may mean more training of GPs to recognise the early symptoms and be aware that this age group can get cancer.
“Early referral to a specialist consultant is paramount. So many young people are missing out on the help they need and that Teenage Cancer Trust provides.”
To sign the letter go to teenagecancertrust.org/get-involved/campaign-us.
Wake-up call by Craig
ONE of my favourite men, Craig David, is dropping a new album this summer called Commitment.
His ninth record will feature collaborations with Jojo, Tiwa Savage and Louisa Johnson and will be out on August 8 – 25 years after debut album Born To Do It.
Craig, right, who has just dropped a single from it called Wake Up, said: “The new album is everything to me now that Born To Do It was to me as a teen.
“That’s what Commitment feels to me, that’s what it means to me.
“And I hope that when people listen to it they have that same feeling all over again.
“Making music still turns me into that giggly, excited, little kid who wants to feel the magic of it all – but with 25 years of experience.”
Lil Nas-ty spell in hospital
LIL NAS X has updated fans from his hospital bed after revealing he was suffering with facial paralysis.
The Old Town Road singer shared a video of himself in a hospital gown and showed his 10.4million Instagram followers that he had lost control on the right side of his face.
He said: “This is me doing a full smile right now by the way.
“It’s like, ‘What the f**k?’ “Bro, I can’t even laugh right now, bro. What the f***? Oh my god.”
Showing the other side of his face, he added: “We normal over here,” before saying he was tired of being stuck in hospital.
Lil Nas promised his fans he was in good hands however and said: “I am OK.
“Stop being sad for me. Shake your ass instead.”
