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    Rita Ora wows in silver bra and pink bikini bottoms over tights at free festival in Lithuania

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    RITA Ora has her knickers in a twist as she gets animated backstage at a music festival.The singer, 33, performed in a silver bra and pink bikini bottoms over tights at the As Young As Vilnius Festival in Lithuania. Rita Ora has her knickers in a twist as she gets animated backstage at a music festivalCredit: SplashThe singer, 33, performed in a silver bra and pink bikini bottoms over tightsCredit: SplashRita was about to take to the stage at the As Young As Vilnius Festival in Lithuania – a free bash celebrating the 701st birthday of the city of Vilnius.Credit: SplashRita said: “50,000 people, in the pouring rain, I appreciate every single one of you.”The free bash celebrated the 701st birthday of the city.It’s not the first time the singer has been wowing fans, she recently went braless in a very daring see-through dress at a Girls Aloud gig in London.The singer looked incredible as she posed up a storm at the O2 Priority gig in London, exclusive for Priority members, just before watching the band perform.READ MORE ON RITA ORARita, 33, rocked a glitzy tight-fitting midaxi dress for the show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.The star wore nude pants underneath the sheer dress, but opted for no bra.The I Will Never Let You Down songstress accessorised with a black of black boots.Rita completed the look with brown eye shadow, pink blush and a nude lip.Most read in CelebrityRita Ora goes braless in very daring see-through dress for Girls Aloud gig in London More

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      Celine Dion holds back tears as she performs at Paris Olympics opening ceremony in comeback show during health battle

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      CELINE Dion seemed emotional during her comeback performance at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony on Friday.Celine, 56, left fans speechless after her first performance in two years following her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.Celine Dion singing at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris, FranceCredit: APCeline Dion performing at the Paris OlympicsCredit: GettyCeline Dion performing at the 2024 Paris OlympicsCredit: APCeline closed the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony by performing in the Eiffel Tower after the lighting of the torch. The iconic singer wore a sparkly white dress while giving it her all singing in French, despite dealing with her health issues. She also had her hair slicked back in a low bun with her makeup touched to perfection while performing Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne à l’amour.’AN INSPIRATION’As Celine performed, fans flocked to X to share their thoughts on her emotional performance. “Celine sounded amazing! So proud to see her up there,” one said. A second said, “This is so legendary.” “What a performance from our queen Celine. She worked so hard to be able to sing again,” a third said. Celine Dion wows fans by singing Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne à l’amour at the Paris Olympics opening ceremonyCredit: NBCBefore heading to the ceremony, Celine Dion took pictures with fans and received cheers from the crowd outside her hotel roomCredit: BackGrid”After everything she’s experienced, this is such a wonderful, beautiful thing to see. Celine Dion. An inspiration,” someone else said.Most read in CelebrityTHE ICONIC OPENINGOn Friday afternoon, countries from all around the world came together in Paris, France to celebrate the huge event. Many A-list celebrities were in attendance including Zendaya, 27, Ariana Grande, 31, John Legend, 45, Chrissy Teigen, 38, and Snoop Dogg. 52.Celine Dion fans ‘in tears’ as singer stuns in surprise appearance at NHL draft as she battles Stiff Persons SyndromeAmerican singer Lady Gaga, 38, opened the show with a French cabaret and sang Zizi Jeanmaire’s Mon Truc En Plumes.This year’s Olympians proudly waved their country’s flag while traveling down the River Seine and ending at the glistening Eiffel Tower. Team U.S.A. was the second to last country to arrive with Paris coming in last. NBA star Lebron James, 39, and tennis player Coco Gauff, 20, held the huge American flag while nearly 600 proud Olympians cheered on their country. Everything you need to know about the Paris Olympics The Paris Olympics opening ceremony occured on Friday, July 26Click here for all the events taking place at Paris 2024 todayFollow everything going on at The Games on our LIVE blogLebron James and Coco Gauff ‘majestically’ holding the American flag during the Opening CeremonyCelebs attending the Opening Ceremony Fears Putin is behind co-coordinated arson attack on France’s rail network after Moscow spy was arrested over Olympics plotLady Gaga opens the ceremony while a backup dancer falls off the stage and another tech blunderWho lit the torch at the opening ceremony Learn all about the full Olympics scheduleLearn more about the Paris Olympics 2024 logoThe Olympics will run for 16 days on NBC with a variety of sports including gymnastics, archery, beach volleyball, and surfing.Keep up to date on everything Olympics with our live blog. ARRIVING IN PARISThis isn’t the first time Celine has made an appearance at the Olympics. The singing superstar sang The Power of the Dream in 1996 at the games in Atlanta, Georgia. On July 22, Celine touched down in Paris which sparked rumors about a possible performance. The singer waved to fans and appeared in good spirits when she arrived at the Royal Monceau hotel.This is the first time Celine has performed publicly since she canceled her tour in 2023.Celine was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome in August 2022 and it has affected her ability to sing and tour.Stiff Person Syndrome is a condition that causes muscle stiffness and spasms throughout the body.SHOCKING DIAGNOSISCeline announced in December 2022 that she was diagnosed with SPS earlier that year.She made an emotional Instagram video, telling them she had to cancel her tour and why.”Hello everyone, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reach out to you. I miss you all so much and can’t wait to be on stage talking to you in person,” Celine said as she sat in a chair in her home.The hitmaker went on to say that she was finally ready to talk about her medical condition.“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time and it’s been really difficult for me to face my challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” she went on.“Recently I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological disorder called the stiff person syndrome which affects one in a million people.”She explained that she was having spasms that were affecting her vocal cords.Celine then went on to tell her followers that she had to cancel the rest of her tour dates.“All I know is singing, it’s what I’ve done all my life, and it’s what I love to do the most,” she ended.However, Celine revealed that she was working with a team of doctors to get her through the pain.’BACK ON THE HORSE’Aside from the Olympic Games, Celine is also planning a comeback in Las Vegas.Sources exclusively told The U.S. Sun she is planning a limited run of shows this fall.Celine is rumored to be performing her greatest hits for a 70-minute show.The U.S. Sun learned that the shows will most likely take place at the Resorts World Theatre at around the time of the Las Vegas Formula One Grand Prix. An insider revealed if Celine’s health gets worse the plan is to push the residency back.Concert promoter AEG would host the shows, with a “short run at first” to see if Celine can handle performing live.READ MORE SUN STORIESA source told The U.S. Sun that Celine, who lives in Sin City, has been rehearsing musicians and voice therapists for the last eight months.“Her desire to return and entertain has been a huge driving force in her health battles,” the source said.Celine Dion arrived in Paris, France, on Monday, and was seen leaving her hotel in good spiritsCredit: SplashThe singer, seen leaving her hotel after rehearsal, had her first performance since she canceled her tour in 2023Credit: The Mega AgencyCeline Dion, greeted by fans before the opening ceremonies, is also planning a short Las Vegas residency for the fallCredit: Splash More

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      Dua Lipa takes drastic step to avoid neighbour row as she builds new pool at £6.75million London mansion

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      POP star Dua Lipa is having her new pool dug by hand to avoid upsetting neighbours.The Hotter Than Hell singer, 28, has ordered workers to use picks and shovels during works on her £6.75million mansion.Dua Lipa is having her new pool dug by hand to avoid upsetting neighboursCredit: GettyIt follows a two-year battle with a local council for permission to build the extension after locals complained.The new pool and basement at her home in Hampstead, North West London, will also include a gym and recording studio.Architects will fit detection devices designed to pick up any movement in the earth.Her team assured planners: “A basement dig would typically have potential for noise and vibration to pass through to neighbouring properties. In this case, as the existing house is completely detached and the dig would be a manual operation, the extent of noise transmission would be mitigated.READ MORE ON DUA LIPA“As a safety measure, movement monitoring would be undertaken to give early warning of any building movement.”There was opposition to Dua’s 2021 proposals to add a pool, steam room, cinema, relaxation zone and a studio waiting area and lobby.Plans included “a replacement single storey rear extension and enlargement of existing basement including formation of pool”.A neighbourhood forum objected to the felling of a willow tree — which it said was planted to soak up water from an underground stream.Most read in MusicLocals also warned about potential harm to boundary wall bricks, which are “a very important feature” to the area.This week, we told how One Kiss singer Dua raked in £1million a week last year from her music — swelling her fortune to around £100million.Glastonbury fans all have the same complaint about Dua Lipa’s headline set as they blast ‘it’s terrible’She made £21.8million in profits, and paid herself £11million. More

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      My days are numbered but I’ve got no fear, says Rod Stewart as he lifts lid on wild parties and reveals future plans

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      HE has partied and danced his way through life ever since his hit single Maggie May in 1971.But as Sir Rod Stewart looks ahead to his landmark 80th birthday in January, he insists he has no plans to tone down his rock ’n’ roll ways.Sir Rod Stewart looks ahead to his landmark 80th birthday in JanuaryCredit: Jonas MohrRod with wife Penny LancasterCredit: GettyPenny and Rod with sons Aiden and AlastairCredit: InstagramIn fact, as he kicks off his last run of Las Vegas shows after 13 years there, the Sailing singer plans to make full use of the “final 15 years” of his life and party into his 90s.Speaking exclusively to The Sun from his home in Los Angeles, Rod says: “I’m aware my days are numbered but I’ve got no fear.“We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket.“I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can.Read More on Showbiz“I say few — probably another 15. I can do that easy mate, easy.”As he continues his final residency, The Hits, at The Colosseum, ­Caesars Palace, Rod insists he still “goes mad” on the booze after each show, encouraging his dancers and ­musicians to knock it back.Rod says: “I’m not like I was in the ’70s and ’80s and I can’t stay up all night, get drunk and go mad and still have a voice just like that.”Nowadays I have to protect my voice before and after every show.Most read in Celebrity“The older you get, the more you have to do that. Water has a hell of a lot to do with it. But no, you think I just have water on my rider? “You’re talking to Rod Stewart here, mate. We go mad after every show. There are 13 of us, six women, really great musicians and I make them drink. We absolutely love it.”Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster’s lavish yacht adventures”‘I’m f***ing mad’ Asked what his go-to tipple is, rather than his own brand of whisky, Wolfie’s, Rod takes after James Bond and sips Martinis. He says: “Before the show I have a quick Bacardi which I am trying to convince myself is good for my voice. “After a show we all get stuck into the Martinis. Most bands all go home and go to bed but we don’t. We have a big old party.” As well as celebrating backstage, Rod makes sure his gigs get everyone on their feet, with balloons dropping from the ceiling and at least four costume changes in the two-hour set. The musician laughs: “I sweat a lot so I have to change or I get too wet. “We have the change backstage down to a tee. It is funny, I have a bloke take my trousers off who runs over. He is the sound guy and yanks them off. I think it’s all part of showbiz really — you want to turn up and make it special. I can’t just go on in a pair of jeans. I think it’s an attractive side of rock ’n’ roll.” Despite vowing not to tone down his love of a good time, Rod says he is more aware than ever about his health as he approaches his milestone birthday next year. Rod, who has had both prostate and thyroid cancer, says: “I am more aware of my health now than before. I’m f***ing mad, ain’t I? I do enjoy keeping myself fit. Sometimes you don’t want to do it but you’ve got toRod Stewart“You should be when you start ­getting on a bit. It’s very important. “You should be when you start ­getting on a bit. It’s very important. “I am a bit of a hypochondriac. I think men in particular should take advantage of all the wonderful ­medical science out there. “When I come back to the UK I am going to have my blood cleaned as I’ve been told it is a real boost to the system.” Asked if, like many his age, he is on a high amount of prescribed ­tablets, Rod insists: “I’m not on any pills. No nothing. You’ve got to remember I’ve been doing this all my life — I don’t suffer after a show.“Sometimes I take an anti-inflammatory if my knee is playing up but very rarely. I don’t need pills. Rod with rocker pal Ronnie Wood in 1973Credit: RexThe singer performing in 1973Credit: Getty“I keep myself very, very fit. I have had the same trainer for 31 years. We work out three or four times a week.” Keen to put his money where his mouth is, Rod is constructing a running track at his UK home to take on the “f***ing mad” mission of breaking the 100m sprint record for his age.Rod says: “I am currently building a track at my house in Essex and I am going to try to beat the world record for a 79-year-old, which I think is about 17 seconds. I’m f***ing mad, ain’t I?”I do enjoy keeping myself fit. Sometimes you don’t want to do it but you’ve got to.”But while Rod is ­preparing for his final bow in Sin City, he has zero plans to slow down. In fact a UK tour with Jools Holland is on the cards.He says: “Vegas is thriving and 13 years really did slip by quickly and it’s been a privilege — but in terms of ­moving on there’s a lot of things that come into consideration.“I’ve done this album with Jools and we are trying to work out when we can do a short tour.“Also, I don’t want to wear my welcome out in Vegas — we are still selling 90 per cent capacity every night, sometimes 100 per cent. I’ve not really made   my mind up in terms of what’s next.“I am just enjoying the moment. I will continue to do so. I’m pretty sure if I said I wanted to come back they would have me but there is plenty of time for that. I absolutely love the place. “The only thing I don’t like is that if you play more than an hour and a half, which I always do, then I get told off for not letting the fans get back into the casinos to spend their money. The bastards!”Looking ahead, proud dad-of-eight Rod says he is more content than ever.After shifting 120million records and with 11 UK No1 albums under his belt, he says: “I’ve got ­ambitions like touring with Jools but no, I would feel greedy if I asked for ­anything more.“I have had a good time and a good life and I’ve enjoyed myself, so I wouldn’t ask for anything more.“Probably good health and good health for my children and happiness . . . and Celtic doing well.You think I just have water on my rider? You’re talking to Rod Stewart here, mate. We go mad after every showRod Stewart“We beat Man City the other day in a friendly. I am truly fanatical about Celtic still.”In January, Rod will celebrate turning 80 by throwing a huge party.Though keen to keep things a ­surprise, his wife Penny Lancaster, 53, has kept him in the dark about the details.Rod says: “I have left my 80th up to my darling wife Penny but she has big plans afoot which she is not allowing me to talk about.“I don’t even know what they are. I’ve just basically left it to her.“All my kids are in on it — all my children and my grandkids are in on it. They know, and I don’t.”Penny and Rod tied the knot in 2007 in Italy and a decade and a half later are more in love than ever.He says: “I am an old romantic. We enjoy candle-lit dinners and we are still very much in love with each other. She is in England at the moment and I am in LA but she’s coming over on Monday.READ MORE SUN STORIES“My top tips to keep the romance alive is being honest with each other and talking things through.“That, and don’t have an argument just before you go to bed after loads of wine. Penny is amazing. A great, great lady.” More

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      Is Celine Dion French?

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      CELINE Dion has had one of the biggest careers in music and is set to open the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.The All By Myself singer has had hits on both sides of the Atlantic leading fans to wonder just how many languages she can speak and where the hitmaker grew up.Celine has recorded some of the biggest songs in the worldCredit: Getty ImagesCeline has three sons with her late husbandCredit: Getty ImagesIs Celine Dion French?Celine Dion is a Canadian singer, who is from the French speaking part of Canada.She was born in Charlemagne, Quebec, which meant she grew up speaking both French and English.The iconic songstress is not from France, but was named after a French singer.Her parents named her after the song “Celine” by Hughes Aufray, which was recorded two years before she was born.Music was a big part of the Dion family and Celine often performed alongside her siblings in their parents’ piano bar.Her mother Thérèse was a homemaker and her father Adhémar was a butcher.Both her parents were of French descent.Does Celine Dion speak French?Celine Dion has recorded many songs in French over her illustrious career.Most read in CelebrityCeline Dion, 55, presents Best Album at Grammys as singer makes very rare public appearance despite health battleShe sings with a distinctly French Canadian accent, which differs in many ways to a European French accent.The polyglot hitmaker won the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with a French song.She represented Switzerland in the competition and sang “Ne partez pas sans moi”, which translates to “don’t leave without me”.Her album D’eux, released in 1995, became the best selling French-language album of all time.What condition does Celine Dion have?Celine told fans in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.The condition is a neurological disorder which affects her muscles, which movement extremely painful and causes her to have spasms.It is a progressive disorder, which means symptoms continually worsen.Celine has vowed to keep performing though and is set to open the 2024 Olympic Games.How to watch the Olympics in the USAll recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.While you may feel very far from the 2024 Paris Olympics, you can stay up-to-date with all of the action right from the comfort of your sofa.You can watch on:Or if you’re not able to watch, you can follow along with The Sun’s live blog for the latest updates from France.Who was Celine Dion’s husband Rene Algélil?Celine Dion met her husband when she was 12, when her brother sent him a recording of her singing.René Angélil, her future husband, was 38 at the time and was a record producer.This led Celine to her big break and began her monumental career.The relationship between René and Celine became romantic when Celine won the Eurovision Song Contest at the age of 20.Eventually, the couple went on to have three children.READ MORE SUN STORIESTheir eldest René-Charles is a rapper and they also have two younger twins.René Angélil passed away at the age of 73, following a heart attack. More

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      Kim Petras looks unrecognizable after weight loss transformation and hair makeover as she poses in crop top & mini skort

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      KIM Petras looks unrecognizable after her weight loss transformation as she poses in a crop top and mini skort. The Unholy singer topped off her new look by ditching her platinum-blonde hair. Kim Petras looks unrecognizable after her weight loss transformation and hair makeoverCredit: GC ImagesKim Petras rocked brunette hair and a mini skort while out in Los AngelesCredit: MEGAFans expressed concern as they claim the singer looks ‘too thin’Credit: GC ImagesKim Petras posted an Instagram photo donning a whole new look. Kim was spotted flaunting her slim figure dressed in a black half-sleeved cropped top and a black micro skort as she posed in a bathroom. She paired her ensemble with white calf-length boots and a beige animal print purse. In addition to her chic outfit, Kim showed off her new brunette hairstyle. She simply captioned her photo saying, “Hi.”Fans rushed to the comment section to praise the pop star for her new look. “Brunette looks SOOO gooodd on her,” said one Instagram user. “These boots are everything she looks so good,” wrote another. Most read in CelebrityA third said, “She’s glowing.” Kim coupled her post with an Instagram story of the Grammy-winning singer posing in front of a mirror. Kim Petras on how she became the world’s first transgender popstar and achieved her Hollywood dream TOO SKINNYWhile many were supportive of Kim’s transformation, others expressed concern over her drastic weight loss. Fans claimed the singer looked “too thin” in her post.”Am i the only one that thinks she looks sick and not healthy?,” asked a fan. “Omg you got too thin,” wrote another.KIM PETRAS’ HIT COLLABSSince immerging in the music industry, Kim Petras has collaborated with an array of big-named celebrities including: Sam Smith on UnholyMeghan Trainor on Made You LookNicki Minaj on AloneCharli xcx on both Unlock It and ClickDavid Guetta on When We Were YoungParis Hilton on All She Wants”What happened? She looks so skinny,” commented a third. Many spammed her comments, claiming she’s on Ozempic, a weight loss injection.READ MORE SUN STORIESOne fan said, “If ozempic had a personality,” while another hailed her as an “Ozempic queen.” “Girl love you but honey chill on the ozempic,” wrote another. Kim Petras fans claimed the singer is on OzempicCredit: GC IMAGESKim Petras is famously recognized for her collaboration with Sam Smith on the Grammy-winning hit song UnholyCredit: Instagram More

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      Huge A-list singer stuns London Underground commuters as she gets the tube during UK visit

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      A GLOBAL superstar who spent years enjoying a jetset lifestyle recently took to slumming it on public transport in London.The Portuguese Canadian singer posted a social media reel of herself dancing at Brixton Underground station with Tiktoker Sabrina Bahsoon, also known as Tube Girl.The award winning singer joined Sabrina Bahsoon – AKA Tube Girl – for a social media reelCredit: InstagramDressed in a colourful jumpsuit with sparkly pink trainers and diamante hoop earrings, Nelly Furtado is seen dancing to a track by Nehamis.Her hair is blown up by the gust, as the tube train whooshes into the platform.Tube Girl’s dancing videos have gone viral and made her a social media sensation. She captioned her latest post with the words: “Nelly and I have the same favourite artist.”read more aboutNelly has paid quite a few visits to Britain recently, having headlined at the Mighty Hoopla festival back in June.She also appeared on BBC’s The One Show and ITV’s Lorraine to talk about her latest single, Corazon. Last week she wrote: “It was truly great to be back in the UK again.”The singer gained global recognition back in 2000 thanks to tracks like I’m Like A Bird and Turn Off The Light.Most read in MusicShe had massive success in 2006 with the release of her chart-topping album Loose.It sold more than 12million copies worldwide and spawned four massive hit singles including Promiscuous, Maneater, Say It Right and All Good Things (Come to an End).Nelly Furtado, 44, shows off her incredible ageless figure in skintight nude catsuit for Kim Kardashian’s Skims campaignNelly, who was born in Canada to Portuguese parents, gave birth to her daughter Nevis on 20 September 2003 with her then-boyfriend Jasper Gahunia.The couple split in 2005 but have remained close friends and continue to co-parent their daughter.Nelly married sound engineer Demacio Castellon in 2008.But she revealed on Loose Women in 2017 that the pair had split up after nine years together.The mum-of-one then stepped away from the limelight after struggling with the pressures of touring.Nelly explained: “At the height of my career it was super exciting, but I took too much on. “A mother on the road trying to maintain a relationship – I cried on stage.”She told the Loose Women panel: “I need to stay emotionally and physically well for my daughter.”The hit-maker has taken a few years off since the release of her last album The Spirit Indestructible and moved away from music entirely to focus on her home life.READ MORE SUN STORIESLast year she confessed to being single, but she has two more children from her relationship with rapper Hodgy.She has since made her comeback and released new music last year – much to the delight of fans around the world.Nelly is back with new music and has hardly aged in 20 years since she shot to fameCredit: GettyThe singer appeared on ITV’s Lorraine to discuss her return to the spotlightCredit: RexThe star is celebrated for her vibrant stage presence, womanly curves and catchy songsCredit: Rex More

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      We’re always trying to find the next rare gem, says Empire Of The Sun’s Luke Steele

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      LOCATING Empire Of The Sun’s Luke Steele is proving difficult.One half of the award-winning Australian electronic duo is 20 minutes late for our video call and he’s locked in a studio in Hawaii. But when he does emerge, he’s in good spirits and full of apologies.Luke Steele, right, Nick Littlemore, left, release Ask That God, Empire Of The Sun’s fourth album, todayThe new album is the first the band has released since 2016’s After Two VinesSteele says fans won’t have to wait eight years for another album after Ask That God, as the band are ‘trying to keep the train moving’“We decided there was no better time to start the next record, right as this new one is getting released,” says Steele who with Nick Littlemore releases Ask That God, their fourth album, today.“We are recharged and ready to go,” he says. “After Two Vines (2016 album) we got quite exhausted and everything stopped working. Nothing was gelling.“At the start of the pandemic, I was instrumental saying, ‘That’s it, I’m done, I’m leaving’,” he explains. “I told Nick, management, the record company that the band was over. That I was never doing another record. And I left.“I made a solo record and moved to northern California, but then piece by piece, I started to realise what I was missing and what was so beautiful about Empire in the first place.READ MORE BIG INTERVIEWS“I’d work with people and think, ‘That’s cool, but it’s not working with Nick,’ and then start falling back in love with Empire again.“Then Nick and I got back in the studio, and it really has been great. The hardest part of being in a band that’s had success is there really is extreme pressure.“With Empire, when the spirit is right, we sound like nothing else. We’ve made a few albums now and so we’ve broadened the palate with this record and it feels good.”The multiple ARIA Music award-winning band who have also been nominated for two Brit awards, sold more than 5.5million albums worldwide, and generated 7.6billion streams.Most read in MusicHonour the loveSteele says: “You work so hard to get there, then when you get there, you’ve got to stay there, so it’s hard. We’ve been fortunate to have had some big songs, and success so we’ve opened the door and are writing with different writers including some Swedish writers who we’ve always wanted to work with.”Steele is referring to production duo Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir who have worked with Avicii, Madonna and David Guetta, and Pontus Winnberg of Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue producers and songwriters Bloodshy & Avant.We feel like conduits. Empire is bigger than us and the audience own the song — you have to honour the love that people have for it.Luke Steele“Changes was the song we made with the Swedes and it felt like the quintessential Empire Of The Sun comeback song,” says Steele. “It’s a really great song and has transformed into something that’s not really ours any more.“We feel like conduits. Empire is bigger than us and the audience own the song — you have to honour the love that people have for it.”The video for brilliant song Changes also features Cruz, Steele’s ten-year-old son with wife Jodi (aka Snappy Dolphin), a creative also involved with the band.“My kids are really into music and being creative,” says the proud dad-of-two. “They are best buds. Cruz is into Metallica and all the stuff I was when I was a kid — it’s pretty awesome.“Sunny (his 16-year-old daughter) has got a band and she’s working on her own record. She really understands hooks and melodies and is a great lyricist — songs are written in the tongue of a 16-year-old going on 21.”Standouts on Ask That God include recent single Cherry Blossom, the dreamy and futuristic Rhapsodize, the classic title track, album closer Friends I Know and AEIOU, a collaboration between Empire Of The Sun and Littlemore’s other band, PNAU.“AEIOU was a great track Nick brought in. I’ve always wanted to do a song with vowels as it reminds me of a song the Maori kids sing at school,” says the singer who now lives in New Zealand.“My wife said the album is a journey of someone’s life. All these songs have been collected along the way. Friends I Know was made in Japan in 2017 as was Rhapsodize and then Revolve was made when we were working with Wendy Melvoin from Prince’s band. I believe songs step into your life — they literally walk out of the computer’s hard drive and jump onto the album when they’re ready — like a life journey.”As well as Melvoin, Empire Of The Sun have worked with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham while with PNAU, Littlemore (together with Peter Mayes and Sam Littlemore) enjoyed a huge hit with the remix of Cold Heart by Dua Lipa and Elton John.“I felt happy and proud of Nick with that song,” smiles Steele. “He works so hard. The other day he was in Uptown New York recording with a Brazilian guitarist. I then talked to him the next day and he was working with a choir. A couple of days later he was in LA with a guy who collects 70s synths, getting samples. I think doing our own thing and working with other people is so healthy.”I have storage units for the costumes we wear in America, Australia and a couple here in Hawaii. I’ve got stuff everywhere. It really does take a village.Luke SteeleSo who would Steele say is his dream collaborator?“Tom Waits, Lana Del Rey or the Oasis guys,” he answers. “Or Sir Paul McCartney — he would be good to put down some basslines.“We’ve got a big festival (Corona Capital) in Mexico where we are playing with Sir Paul. The minute I knew that, I was like, ‘We’d better start rehearsing.’“I met Sir Paul once at Henson studios in LA. I knew he was coming so I bought a vinyl along especially. When I got to the studio I saw him getting out of the car, so I opened the door and pulled out my vinyl like a magician. My voice started shaking as I said, ‘Here you go, Paul’. I’m a huge fan.”The visuals and look of Empire Of The Sun are as striking as their music and for Ask That God, the narrative is that Emperor Steel and Lord Littlemore have come to save Empyreans after eight years away.Steele says: “We still curate the whole thing but we have a good team of artists around the world to work on projects.“I have storage units for the costumes we wear in America, Australia and a couple here in Hawaii. I’ve got stuff everywhere. It really does take a village.”To help build the visual side of the album, Steele and Littlemore spent nearly a month in Thailand with Canadian director Michael Maxxis where they recorded stunning films to accompany the release.“It was a beautiful adventure,” says Steele. “We’d been trying to find a director to make the videos for 18 months and met with 15 to 20 people from Tokyo, Australia and America but no one got anything close to what we wanted until we met Michael.God of Instagram“He sent five song treatments and they were all incredible. Then he said, ‘Why don’t we just keep going and make a music film?’ We shot nine music videos.“We’ve worked with directors before but no one as genius as him. He has a beautiful, poetic mind and is an incredible director.“All the jungles, beaches and locations we went to and the people we met made it a magical trip. At every location we’d stop and pray, blessing the land.”Steele says his spirituality and faith “are everything”. He says: “People say they love that we are spiritual.“Every soul under heaven breathing on this planet is a spirit, so everyone is spiritual. It’s important that rather than tap into the God of Instagram, people need to tap into the God of the heavens.”And deciding to name the album Ask That God after the song on the album was an obvious idea for the singer. “Nick and I coming back together to make this album was us surrendering,” he says.“It felt like we both surrendered things that we were holding on to. No one’s going to get the answers from the world — you must ask the divine. And we had a lot of songs pressing on that.“The song Ask That God came midway through the record and felt like the message that Empire needed to come back with.“It feels like we are going into battle with no weapons. It is a volatile time in the world and this is the message people need.”A year ago Steele and his family moved from north California to New Zealand (where he was born before moving to Perth where he grew up) after feeling unsafe and unhappy in California.“I felt like the whole ground in Los Angeles was shaking constantly,” he explains. “A kid was shot dead near LAX and I drove past just after he’d been murdered. I felt emotional the whole time I was in LA — like I could feel the pain. I’d be driving and start crying. Things had changed for me living there.“There was the pandemic, the riots when Trump was president. I’m so sensitive, I just can’t deal with what’s going on in America.Real work ethic“I was so paranoid living there, so now we are back in the motherland and close to my family — it’s cool to be there. When you’ve been depressed you really value joy and after living in America, I really value peace.”Once the album is out Steele is looking ahead to Empire Of The Sun’s live shows that begin in October.Fans won’t have to wait another eight years for another album after Ask That God. We are trying to keep the train moving.“I’m really excited to start the tour but it seems like you guys are last,” says Steele. “We start in Australia and go up to America and so if not this year, we will definitely be in the UK next year. It takes six months to put the show together so I can’t wait. Someone said we should be playing Glastonbury and I’d love that idea — let’s see.Empire Of The Sun perform on stage at the Madcool Festival 2019 in MadridCredit: GettyOn bandmate Nick Littlemore, Steele says: Our relationship is the best it’s ever been’Credit: Getty“Right now Nick and I are here in Hawaii working on album number five.“Our relationship is the best it’s ever been. We both now have families, so when we get into the studio, it’s down to business. Our earlier years were the hardest — there’s was so much built-up emotion, ambition and ego.“But I love the way we work now — we are hungrier now more than ever and we know what we are doing now. We’ve made four records but we’ve made hundreds of songs. We have three or four folders of Empire rarities. We have a real work ethic and I am so proud of us. We are always trying to find the next rare gem.READ MORE SUN STORIES“And that’s why fans won’t have to wait another eight years for another album after Ask That God. We are trying to keep the train moving.”The album Ask That God is out today.Ask That God by Empire Of The Sun is out 26 AugustCredit: SuppliedEMPIRE OF THE SUNAsk That God★★★★☆ More

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      Adele finally engaged to Rich Paul after telling friends she’s found The One & flashing huge ring on night out in London

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      SUPERSTAR Adele has secretly got engaged to American sports agent Rich Paul, The Sun can reveal.Despite months of speculation that they had wed already, Rich actually proposed last Thursday.Adele has secretly got engaged to American sports agent Rich PaulCredit: GettyAdele was seen out in London with Rich wearing a huge ring on her fingerCredit: Click News and MediaMake You Feel My Love singer Adele immediately said “Yes” — then FaceTimed friends and family to share the happy news.Pals expect the pair to host an elaborate bash towards the end of next year.Last night, a source said: “Rich planned for the proposal to be in her hometown, and gave her an incredible four carat diamond ring.“They celebrated with champagne at Chiltern Firehouse the following evening.”read more on adeleAdele, 36, sparked rumours among fans by referring on stage to 42-year-old Rich as her husband and calling herself his wife.The source went on: “Adele thinks it’s hilarious that fans reckon they’re already married. “It’s been an in-joke.“Now everyone is joking that she could make the ultimate wedding singer.”Most read in BizarreAdele was married to entrepreneur Simon Konecki from 2018 to 2021.They have an 11-year-old son, Angelo.She began dating dad-of-three Rich, said to be worth £100million, after the split and, in 2022, were reported to have bought a sprawling mansion in Beverly Hills.Adele fans spot her celebrating England’s Euros win in Rio Ferdinand’s video Later, she wore a huge rock on her finger at the Brit awards — but that turned out to be a false alarm.Last year she told fans at her Las Vegas residency: “I really want to be a mum again soon. “I’ve actually been writing a list of baby namesAdele was married to entrepreneur Simon Konecki from 2018 to 2021Credit: Getty ImagesAdele and Rich celebrated their engagement at Chiltern FirehouseCredit: Click News and MediaAdele had been joking to fans that she and Rich were already marriedCredit: Click News and Media More