Rita Ora snubbed for Best Female Solo Artist at Brit Awards — with Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie and Lily Allen in race
SHE rose out of the ashes to finally release second album Phoenix after six years of being musically silenced.
But Rita Ora’s efforts have made less impact than her infamously wooden Fifty Shades duet with Liam Payne in front of a watching Cheryl at last year’s Brits.
The pop star has been left out of the Best Female category in one of the biggest snubs from last night’s announcement of the nominations.
This is despite breaking a 30-year record last year for the most Top 10 singles by a British female artist — overtaking Shirley Bassey and Petula Clark.
Rita did claim nods in the Best Video category for her Liam Payne collab, For You, and single, Let You Love Me, but sits out the big one.
Instead she’ll have to watch Jess Glynne battle it out with Anne-Marie, Lily Allen, Florence + The Machine and Jorja Smith at next month’s bash at London’s O2.
Set to be all about the girls, Anne-Marie and Dua Lipa lead the race with four nominations each. As well as Best Female, Anne-Marie is up for Single, Video and Album of the Year for her debut, Speak Your Mind, which went to No3.
Meanwhile, Dua’s track IDGAF and Calvin Harris collab, One Kiss, are both nominated in the single and video categories.
Licking his wounds with Rita will be James Bay. Despite his record Electric Light reaching No2, he has been snubbed in the Best Male category, losing out to unlikely contenders Craig David, Giggs and Aphex Twin.
They’ll battle it out with Sam Smith, who gets a nod after his snub last year, and George Ezra, who’s up for three after his album, Staying At Tamara’s, was the best-selling artist album of 2018.
Rita defended her toned-down routine last year, saying she wanted to “respect Cheryl” amidst her relationship breakdown with Liam.
Knowing Rita, she’ll be thrilled there is nothing stopping her from going wild this year.
Leigh's happy in The Mix
Sun-loving Leigh-Anne Pinnock is basking in Little Mix’s potential Brits glory.
She posted a photo of herself lapping up the sun in Jamaica as her band received two new nods, for Best British Group and British Artist Video Of The Year for their song Woman Like Me, taking their career tally to seven.
Leigh-Anne wrote alongside the pic: “My country don’t need no filter... until next time.”
She should make sure the Jamaican rum is on stand-by.
Drawing on Girl Power
The Spice Girls’ manager Simon Fuller has confirmed an animated movie about the band is on its way.
In an interview with Billboard, he spilled the details about the project that will follow their upcoming tour, saying: “What’s coming next is that we are going to be doing lots of exciting things.
“We will be making an animated movie and there are lots of exciting plans to come.”
The foursome – no Posh Spice, of course – kick off their tour in Dublin at the end of May and it will be non-stop nostalgia until their final concert at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 15.
But it appears that Melanie C, Geri, Emma and Mel B might have another big day after that.
Mel B told The Sun talks are under way for the foursome to headline Glastonbury.
She said: “Glastonbury? It’s been talked about, but we’re so pop and it’s so cool – that’ll be funny to me.”
Bieming smiles
Just when you thought newly married Justin Bieber couldn’t get any happier...
The singer rocked not one but two smiley-face gold chains around his neck as he joined wife Hailey on a shopping trip around LA on Friday.
The legally married couple remained joined at the hip, despite having postponing their religious wedding ceremony – when they were due to exchange rings in front of friends and family this month.
Hopefully they will be more tasteful than his current choice of bling.
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Danny looking to score on Bumble
Danny Drinkwater’s having a dry spell on and off the pitch.
The Chelsea player is so thirsty for love he’s turned to dating app Bumble while he’s not being selected to play.
He seems to be relying on his fame and looks, giving very little away on his verified profile. Other than his Instagram page, age and location, he’s volunteered little personal information and, in response to what he’s looking for, he wrote that he “doesn’t know yet”.
Sharing five snaps, Danny is seen in a woolly hat before showing off his ripped torso while surfing at a beach. In another, he aims to show he’s not just a pampered player, as he poses in his yard with hedge-trimmer and safety goggles.
Danny hasn’t been solely relying on Bumble in his love quest. He has also targeted attractive females on WhatsApp in a more direct approach. His Bumble debut comes after I revealed how the Casanova footballer snubbed playing for England in November 2017 to date Big Brother’s Georgina Leigh Cantwell.
She’s clearly given him the red card.
Virgin on excitement
Chris Evans returns to his spiritual home, Virgin Radio, with an army of entertainment.
For his launch week, from January 21, he will have guests and live music for what he’s calling “a week of Fridays” – as that will be the set-up for each Friday thereafter.
The Verve’s Richard Ashcroft will be behind much of the live entertainment.
Tune in to the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio online, on the Virgin Radio app and on DAB digital radio 97.5FM.
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