Former Little Mix singer Jade Thirlwall is closing out the Radio 1 Big Weekender for the first time as a solo artist just months after winning a BRIT Award
BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend has welcomed BRIT-Award winner Jade Thirlwall to the stage – and the former Little Mix singer admitted to having ‘personal struggles’ as she addressed the crowds. Over the course of the weekend, some of the biggest names descended on Sefton Park, including Tom Grennan, Sam Fender, Natasha Bedingfield, and Mumford and Sons.
Jade, 32, is closing out the festival with her hits including Angel Of My Dreams and IT Girl. After taking to the stage, fans took to X to gush about the singer as they said: “Jade is the biggest icon to ever exist.” Another echoed: “The amount of talent that Jade has is literally unmatched.”
A source at the event said: “Jade was blown away by how many people packed into the tent. She was a member of the biggest girl band from the UK after the Spice Girls and Girls Aloud but as her first solo show, she told the crowd it was an ‘insane crowd’ and she couldn’t believe it.
“She thanked the crowd, and herself but not swearing. She told fans that Angel Of My Dreams came after she was struggling”.
It comes after Jade announced the release of her debut solo album, which marks one of the biggest milestones in her personal career since her former band Little Mix went on hiatus.
Earlier this month, the singer took to Instagram to share the news with fans, posting: “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY! My debut album out 12th September.” The announcement was accompanied by a striking image of what appears to be her album artwork, which features Jade in four different outfits and poses.
This career move comes after Jade has already spent a decade in the spotlight after rising to fame as part of Little Mix, the four-member girl group that was formed on The X Factor in 2011.
The band went on to become one of the UK’s most successful girl groups, clinching number one singles, Brit Awards, and touring internationally. After the band went on hiatus in May 2022, Jade kicked off her career as a solo artist.
She has been extremely successful on her own and already has a Brit Award and a place at Glastonbury under her belt. The news of her first solo album was met with excitement from fans. One wrote: “Bring it on I can’t wait!” Meanwhile, another gushed: “EVERYBODY MOVE SHE’S SAVING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.”
The artist has teased that her debut record will feature A-list artists such as RAYE, Lostboy, and Pablo Bowman. Jade will also kick off her first UK and Ireland tour in October.
She told fans: “This album has been years in the making, so I’m beyond excited that I can finally let everyone know when it’s coming out. I’m very proud of ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’ as a body of work and can’t wait to share it with the world. To be able to perform the album live later this year is also a dream come true. See you all on tour!”
Although she has received support from music aficionados who are delighted by her new music, Jade has recently spoken about the more challenging aspects of being in the public eye in an interview for ITV’s The Assembly. The programme features questions from autistic, neurodivergent, and learning-disabled interviewers, one of whom quizzed Jade about what specific pressures she faces as a woman in the music industry.
The singer responded: “I’m going to be very honest about this. The thing that annoys me the most, and I get asked the most, is if I’m going to have children, do I want to be pregnant next? Am I pregnant? But I find it really weird people ask that because they don’t know what my circumstances are.”
She continued: “You don’t know if someone can’t have children, or just doesn’t want to, or isn’t ready yet. I think it’s a really invasive question and I really resent being asked it.”
Jade also opened up about the public scrutiny she has recently faced over her appearance, saying, “I’ve maybe put on a bit of weight since I’ve become a solo artist and because of that people speculate a lot like, ‘Is she pregnant?’ and I’m like, guys, I’ve just had a bit of garlic bread. I’m bloated. Do you know what I mean?”
While reflecting on her early years in the music industry, Jade admitted that she used to feel like she had “sold her soul,” adding: “But as the years have gone by I’ve learned more and more about the industry. I’ve been collecting – a bit like Thanos with the stones – I’ve been collecting parts of my soul back.”
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