WHILE we were all baking banana bread and doing rubbish quizzes on Zoom during the pandemic, Sir Elton John was calling on his famous musical mates to record his album The Lockdown Sessions.
And although we are now finally free as birds, it seems Elton has a real taste for collaboration albums and has been putting out feelers for his next one.
I told last month how he had been hard at work in the studio and told his label he wanted to release an album before the end of the year – with two of Elton’s favourite artists telling us they could be working with him.
Gabriels, who joined Elton on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage last summer, and country music’s Orville Peck, both went coy when quizzed on the possibility of working with Elton at his Oscars viewing party on Sunday.
Orville said: “There’s always the possibility.”
Gabriels frontman Jacob Lusk added: “You need to drop that bug in his ear, so we can do something.”
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Sounds like something is brewing . . .
Charming as ever, Camila
AFTER posing in a car park failed to hit the spot with her fans, Camila Cabello chose a more glamorous location for her most recent Instagram photoshoot.
The ex Fifth Harmony singer wore this Grecian-style grey dress inside a posh hotel room.
Sharing the photos online, Camila told her 66.2million followers: “I needed a drink, I need a drink, and I am going to need a drink.”
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The pop star was later snapped out at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in the gown and met up with her Cinderella co-star Nicholas Galitzine.
British actor Nicholas played Prince Charming in the 2021 film and he kept up his role while hanging out with Camila, after lending her his tuxedo jacket as they waited for their car.
Who said chivalry was dead?
DOLLY IN MIX FOR BEYONCE
QUEEN of country Dolly Parton has revealed she has struck a deal with Beyonce to put her spin on her 1973 classic Jolene for her upcoming album.
And last night Bey announced the collection will be called Cowboy Carter in a nod to her new country sound.
Dolly said: “I think she’s recorded Jolene and I think it’s going to be on her country album.
“I’m very excited. I love her. She’s a beautiful girl and a great singer. We’ve kind of sent messages back and forth through the years.
“She and her mother were, like, fans, and I was always touched that they were fans and I always thought she was great.”
It is thought the album will be the second in a three-act project which kicked off with dance record Renaissance in 2022.
RYAN GOSLING’s epic performance of I’m Just Ken helped propel the Oscars to the best watched ceremony in years.
It saw 19.5million tune in across the US, up from 18.8million in 2023.
It was the most watched ceremony since 2020, when the audience was 23.6million. Meanwhile, on YouTube Ryan’s performance had last night clocked up 2.2million views.
DAMIAN: ALBUMS LAST PLAY
ACTOR and singer Damian Lewis reckons that albums are becoming a thing of the past.
Appearing on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio Breakfast Show, Damian compared battling auto-generated playlists to going on a dating app and being distracted by the spoils.
Damian said: “We struggle to listen to albums now as we are handed all these incredible playlists.
“It prevents you from doing a deeper dive on the album. It’s a bit like being on a dating app, please don’t swipe left.”
Damian is on tour and will play the O2 Academy in Oxford on Friday March 22.
While admitting he still gets nervous going on stage, Damian added: “I am enjoying it, don’t get me wrong, but there is a seriousness of intent behind it.
“And if a job is worth doing then do it well. If it’s no good then you just get humiliated.”
JESSIE AND 1975 BAG CLEF GONG
JESSIE WARE and The 1975 will be honoured at the Nordoff and Robbins’ Silver Clef Awards.
I can reveal the pair have been announced as early winners ahead of the ceremony in London on July 5.
Jess is picking up the Best Female gong while Matty Healy’s band land the Best Group.
Sharleen Spiteri is also in for a big nod, with band Texas winning the Outstanding Achievement prize.
The annual awards ceremony helps fundraise for charity Nordoff and Robbins. It provides music therapy to young people and since the event started in 1976 has raised almost £13million.
IF you don’t already know Benson Boone’s name, you will soon.
The US heart-throb has a massive online fanbase and is at No2 in the charts for a second week with single Beautiful Things.
In an exclusive chat the 21-year-old, right, said: “I never saw this coming. I’m grateful to have this opportunity to spread my music. I’ll be in the UK next week doing pop up shows.”
On what is next, he added: “I will be releasing a project at the beginning of next month so a lot of new music will come this year.” We can’t wait to hear it.
El, yeah Lewis
I’M pleased to see Lewis Capaldi’s romance with actress Ellie MacDowall is still going strong.
Lewis, who we affectionately call the Scottish Beyonce, was spotted strolling with Ellie in North London.
The pair hadn’t been seen together for some time, after they confirmed their romance at The Brit Awards in February last year.
At the time pals of the couple told me Lewis was head-over-heels with Ellie.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Lewis has been taking a break from music since last year and has had Ellie by his side supporting him every step of the way.
They make a lovely couple.
WE all know that person who stupidly chose to get a tattoo of their partner’s name.
But Jesse Metcalffe from Desperate Housewives, below right, went a step further and had Nadine Coyle’s naked body inked on to his bicep when they dated for two years from 2005.
Unsurprisingly, he now regrets it. In an exclusive chat in LA he said: “Maybe it’s a regret. I try not to dwell on the past too much.
“Unless you’re all-in on tattoos, generally, everyone’s tattoos are regretful.”
I’d say yours is a real shocker, Jesse.
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Nadine, below left, will join Girls Aloud bandmates Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts on tour in April, and Jesse made it clear there was no bad blood between them.
He said of the gigs: “That’s amazing. I wish Nadine and Girls Aloud all the best.”
