Beyonce ditches live gigs in 2021 and is jumping on the trend for virtual concerts instead
SHE is one of the greatest performers of her generation but don’t expect to see Beyonce back on stage next year – at least not in person.
I’ve learned she is gearing up to return in 2021 with her first solo album in five years, but has shelved plans for a world tour due to the pandemic.
She is, though, looking into following the example of other acts who have done pay-to-view livestream concerts — only Beyonce wants to make hers bigger and better.
A source close to the superstar said: “Beyonce and her team are currently mapping out a plan to create a virtual live show to showcase her new music in 2021, now that she can’t tour because of Covid.
“Bey has been touring since the late Nineties and was planning a large world tour in 2021 before the pandemic took hold. Following the success she had with (2016 album) Lemonade, and Disney film Black Is King, she started writing and recording feelgood tracks inspired by new artists like Dua Lipa and The Shindellas. She’s ready to dance again.
“With a new feelgood record on the way, she plans to celebrate it with a virtual show that fans can watch at home and she has made it clear she’s prepared to pull out all the stops to make it a real spectacle.”
The record will be her first as a solo artist since the bombshell Lemonade, written about her husband Jay-Z’s infidelity.
Ariana Grande and Miley Cyrus are among artists who have recently said they do not expect to tour in 2021, as music venues stay closed worldwide.
But just as Beyonce intends to do, Kylie Minogue and Niall Horan are doing ticketed livestream concerts this evening, which fans can watch from home. For me, it’s nothing like being at a concert in person.
But given the incredible performance Beyonce put on when she headlined Coachella in 2018 — which subsequently became a Netflix special — I’d certainly be tuning in.
HOLD THAT POSE, DUA
DUA Lipa wraps up against the cold – putting her arms around herself, at least.
The singer stripped down for the December issue of LGBTQ magazine Attitude, out now, and chatted about teaming up with Madonna on a remix of Dua’s song Levitating in the summer.
She said: “We had a 20-minute conversation and we spoke about the song, we spoke about men, we spoke about everything that was happening in the world.”
Dua, who is up for four awards at tomorrow night’s MTV EMAs which air from 8pm, also spoke about misogyny in the music industry.
She said: “You’re on a music video and the director goes, ‘I definitely think you need to wear a skirt’ – because someone wants to see ‘UK’s pop star in a cute outfit’.
“I’m like, ‘Well, I’m going to wear trousers because it’s f***ing freezing.’ I know how to stand my ground.”
DAVE’S NEXT GIGG THING
DAVE’S stock has soared in the last two years since debut album Psychodrama – and he’s been rewarding himself.
In a new song with fellow rapper Giggs, he says he spent big on a recent holiday in the South of France with pals.
During a characteristically clever rap in Straight Murder – featured on Giggs’ mixtape Now Or Never, which dropped yesterday – he says: “120k in the South of France and I hardly snapped it.
“I ain’t gotta plan no party, party banged and we hardly planned it.”
Financial documents filed in September reveal Dave made a tidy profit of £1.2million last year.
In a week when it’s not good to be named Giggs, the London star has done well.
TOP ONES AXED
BBC Radio 1 have had a huge shake-up, axing three top presenters.
Strictly star Dev Griffin, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart – who have a combined 35 years of experience there – are departing. Dev said: “I have made some amazing memories and even better friends. It’s been an absolute privilege and a pleasure.”
The long-serving trio will be replaced by five new graduates – Joel Mitchell, Mollie Finn, Fee Mak, Sian Eleri and Gemma Bradley. Breakfast host Greg James will now go five days a week, having previously hosted from Monday to Thursday.
‘I WANT TOM TO SPICE UP CHRISTMAS’
THIS year has been bonkers – so why not cap it off with a sausage roll fan and a centenarian becoming the most successful festive music act since the Spice Girls?
Ladbaby, who has scored the Christmas No1 for the past two years with charity singles, is campaigning for fundraising hero Captain Sir Tom Moore to join him for a track which he hopes will be as huge as Band Aid.
The mooted record would see the social media star match BABY, SCARY, POSH, SPORTY and GINGER as the only two acts to land three consecutive Yuletide No1s. LadBaby said: “If we feel we can do a better job than the previous year and we can raise money, we will try. A supergroup with Tom, I like. I’m always up for a collab. If he’s up for it, I’m down.”
LadBaby, who stars with Gary Lineker, Aled Jones and Carol Smillie in Walkers’ new Christmas advert, told how his fans are providing plenty of inspiration for his next sausage roll-themed hit.
He said: “Everyone’s asking me, in the supermarket, in Greggs, ‘Are you doing another song?’ And everyone is pitching me ideas. You never know how the public are going to feel.
The X Factor took control of No1 at Christmas for so many years that by the end people campaigned for it to stop.” Given the year we’ve had, I think the nation will welcome some festive fun.
KIM'S LOSING IT
IT’S not often that I can relate to Kim Kardashian, but she’s read my mind with this.
Speaking about life at home in lockdown on Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the mum of four said: “I’m so used to working a lot and being away from the kids.
"I love spending this much time with them but it’s such a change. My kids are driving me up the wall, I don’t know what to do.”
Mabel's no-money shot
IF Mabel is after a big-money fashion deal, she could do a lot worse than this snap.
The Boyfriend singer posed in a branded white T-shirt and knickers in the pic, which she shared on Instagram, captioned: “Balenciaga, baby.”
One person who was quick to like the photo was her US actor boyfriend Rome Flynn, who I revealed she was dating last month.
They struck up the unlikely romance despite Mabel living in London and him being based in Los Angeles.
From the looks of this shot, it will be well worth the trip, Rome.
JAMES OPENS UP ON SEX
THE VAMPS guitarist James McVey has revealed he is open with his sexuality, despite being in a long-term relationship with fiancée Kirstie Brittain.
Speaking to Attitude mag, he explained: “I’ve realised in the past few years that I’m attracted to personalities . . .
"Obviously I’m marrying Kirstie and it’s brilliant, but, you know, I do think everyone at some point in life is attracted to different genders.
“There are elements of things – it might not always be a sexual thing, for example – but you can really, really admire someone, cherish someone, value someone and find them attractive in a certain way.”
Most read in Bizarre
The former I’m A Celebrity campmate added: “I do see, you know, men often and I’m like, he’s really, really attractive and I’m like, drawn to them in a certain way.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
“But it doesn’t necessarily mean I want to marry that person or sleep with that person, but you do have tendencies and desires to do that.
"I think that’s a really good thing.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]