Adele dealt heartbreak as her best friend’s mum passes away hours after her first Las Vegas shows
THE phrase “It never rains but it pours” couldn’t be more appropriate for Adele.
First the Easy On Me singer battled sickness in the run-up to her already delayed Las Vegas residency earlier this month.
And now I can reveal that despite only just kicking off the biggest shows of her career, she has made sure she is on hand to support her best friend, photographer Raven Varona, whose mum died just hours after Adele’s first weekend in Sin City.
As well as being one of her closest friends, Raven is Adele’s official photographer for her Vegas residency, which runs until the end of March.
A source said: “For the past 12 months Adele’s focus has been on these Vegas shows but despite being under serious pressure herself, when Raven lost her mum she rushed to offer support.
“Family is a massive thing for Adele and she was keen to make it clear that she could take all the time she needed away before returning to work.
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“The passing has hit them both hard.”
Despite Adele telling her to take time out, Raven still covered the singer’s second weekend of shows — with the singer dedicating 2008 song Make You Feel My Love to her.
Halting her gig to pay tribute, an emotional Adele told the audience: “I would really appreciate it if you could all put on your torches on your phone and shine them like stars so I know her mum can see us.”
Sharing footage of the moment, Raven wrote: “One of the last things I got to do with my mum on the Sunday before she passed was show her the photos from weekend one.
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“I was so excited to show them to her and was hopeful I’d be able to bring her to one of the shows. Thank you Adele and everyone at the show for honouring my mum.”
Adele also told the audience about her own health problems before her doomed initial run of performances earlier this year: “A week before the shows I was as sick as a dog — you can imagine my panic.
“I was like, ‘I am going to have to be on that stage in a hospital bed with a bunch of doctors and nurses’.
“But thank goodness the good Lord, he took me under his wing and I was better, but I had to watch a lot of production rehearsals from up at the top balcony.”
MOBOS GAVE ME MOJO
CRAIG David’s decades- spanning career is to be honoured at this week’s Mobos.
I can reveal the 7 Days singer will pick up the Outstanding Contribution Award in front of a celeb-packed crowd during Wednesday’s ceremony. Craig will also be performing during the evening. He told me of the accolade: “Mobo has been there since the beginning of my career.
“They gave me my first award and their encouragement meant everything to me.
“I’m so grateful for their continued support over the years, not just for myself but for so many UK artists.”
IRISH crooner Dermot Kennedy is set for a massive 2023. On Friday the Kiss Me singer celebrated his second UK No1 album after Sonder hit top spot.
And now he’s announced some of the biggest gigs of his career.
Dermot will play at Limerick’s 25,000-capacity Thomond Park Stadium in July following a show at London’s O2 Arena in April and a date at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden in June.
MICK’S DUA-ET
DUA Lipa got some pure Satisfaction this week after hitting the studio in LA with Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger.
Looking cool, Dua rocked a yellow and black leather jacket and thigh- high boots as the pair posed for this snap.
It’s not known what surprises they have in store but fans are already going into overdrive. I told last month how the Stones are planning to release their first album of new music in 18 years.
A source said: “After Charlie Watts’ passing there was some uncertainty about what to do next. But they feel it’s the right thing to keep doing what they’ve always done – make new music and perform it to their fans.”
Whatever Dua and Mick have in store, I reckon it’s going to be massive.
LEIGH’S HIP-HOP HOOK-UP
IT looks like Leigh-Anne Pinnock will be getting into hip-hop with her solo career, as she is working with one of the genre’s biggest producers.
The Little Mix star has been in the studio with Chauncey Hollis, better known as Hit-Boy The chart-topping producer has spent years working with superstars including Beyonce, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj.
Leigh-Anne spent time in LA working on tracks earlier this year and made several songs with the renowned hitmaker, who has worked with many other music heavyweights including Kanye West, Jay-Z and Travis Scott. A source said: “Leigh-Anne has been working out what sort of music feels best for her, and she’s been making great progress.
“A lot of the songs have a heavy R&B vibe and others have strong hip-hop influences.
“It’s the music she listens to the most so it makes sense to follow that path.
“Leigh has great names working with her so she is on to a winner.”
It’s been six months since Little Mix went on hiatus so I’m hoping it’s not too much longer before we finally get to hear what Leigh-Anne, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirwall have been working on in the studio.
IT’S NOT ALL WORK, WORK, WORK
IT’S not all work, work work for Rihanna.
The We Found Love hit-maker was made to feel like the Only Girl (In The World) as she enjoyed a date night with rapper beau A$AP Rocky.
RiRi sported a bright red slashed minidress and beaded braids as they attended the Imagine Reggae show in Barbados hand in hand.
It’s been a big year for the couple after they welcomed their first child in May.
Meanwhile, Rihanna is set for an epic live comeback when she headlines next year’s Super Bowl. I told last week how she has landed a massive payday from Apple to document her return to the stage.
The deal is said to be worth millions and will allow fans a behind the scenes look at what it takes to perform at one of the biggest events on the planet.
Finally, after years, the wait for her fans is almost over . . .
CALVIN RAPS BACK
CALVIN Harris has hit out at claims he forced ex-girlfriend Rita Ora to abandon a whole album following their split.
The musical duo dated from 2013 before a messy split the following year which saw Calvin block Rita’s planned performance of their collaboration I Will Never Let You Down at the Teen Choice Awards that year. The Scottish DJ replied to a tweet about Rita which claims she will open up about the alleged album in an interview with Louis Theroux which airs this week on BBC Two.
Clarifying years of speculation, Calvin wrote: “Entire thing is a myth, there is one unreleased song I worked on and it isn’t good.”
SHANIA’S XMAS GIFT FOR FANS
CHRISTMAS has come early this year for fans of Shania Twain.
The You’re Still The One singer is the latest celeb to release a festive treat via the From Apple Music With Love series.
Last night Shania dropped an exclusive deluxe version of her Come On Over album featuring collaborations with Sir Elton John, Nick Jonas and Chris Martin.
Earlier this month, the Canadian star confirmed my story that she will play a massive arena tour next year.
The shows, which includes dates in Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham and London, will be her first in five years.
Now that really does impress me much.