I’m a 90s music icon – but I thought my career was in tatters after big decision ruined everything

LEGENDARY 90s music star Heather Small thought her career was in tatters after making a huge decision that nearly ruined it.

The singer, 59, became a huge name in the world of music after her work with band M People - while her solo song Proud has become iconic for its inspirational lyrics.

But things could have turned out very differently after Heather revealed that her first record deal was brutally ended.

She said that producers "even paid off her group called Hot House to avoid needing to make their second album". 

"I was 18 when I first joined a band. We named ourselves Hot House and we got signed when I was 21 to a publishing deal," she told the .

"Then we went on to sign a record deal with BMG. Signed at 21 - and we made two albums. The second one of which they even refused to release so they paid us off.

"They said it was cheaper to pay us off then to release the album. That can crush any ego. There was me at 21 thinking the world will know my name.

"But it made me realise just how much singing meant to me."

Despite the setback, Heather landed a second opportunity with M People and put her heart and soul into making it a success.

The popular artist also reflected on how times have changed - saying she applied for a spot in the band after answering an ad in the paper.

She added: "There was nothing like this whole thing about followers and Tiktok, you know. I joined the band in an old fashioned way."

Brit Awards winner Heather, who last performed at Glastonbury with her band in 1994, said she keen to return to the Pyramid Stage, 30 years after she first performed at the Somerset festival.

Throughout the 90s her dance tracks, including Moving on Up and Search for the Hero, helped the band sell 10 million records.

However, she decided to pursue her own solo career towards the end of the decade, and in 2000 released her solo album, Proud.

The lead song, which has the same title, has received wide international acclaim for its positive message of being proud of your achievements.

Shows in the US including the Oprah Winfrey Show and The Biggest Loser have used it as their theme songs.

She has been married to David Neita since 2012, and she has a son, named James, from a previous relationship with rugby union coach Shaun Edwards.