Plus, we reveal which model is making their way to the West End

BEYONCE is set to bank a whopping £30MILLION from her country album Cowboy Carter after it became Spotify’s most streamed record of the year – in one day.

 

The 27-track offering, which features collabs with country icons Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, along with heavyweights Miley Cyrus and Post Malone, has been met with rave reviews.

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Beyonce is set to bank a whopping £30million from her country album Cowboy CarterCredit: Instagram

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As well as rejuvenating country music, Queen Bey has shrewdly tapped into the $3billion-a-year genre, which has seen a steady growth in fans and artists.

In 2020, country music made up 14.7 per cent of the market share for total music sales and streams in the US, a testament to its enduring popularity.

A music industry source said: “Beyonce has cleverly tapped into a hugely lucrative area which is often ignored by artists from other genres.

 

“She’s bulldozed the door down and reworked the style and sound perfectly.

“It’s estimated that her eighth album is going to be one of her most commercially successful to date, invigorating not only her existing fans, but those loyal to the country genre as well.

“It’s a genius move, which she has pulled off with aplomb and intelligence by really doing her homework and justice to the genre.”

Meanwhile, generous Beyonce sent huge bouquets of flowers to black female country artists.

 

Among the recipients was singer Mickey Guyton, who posted a snap of the white blooms to her Instagram with a card that read: “Mickey, Thank you for opening doors for me, queen. Keep shining. Love and respect, Beyonce.”

Bey also gifted blooms to American singer and reality star K Michelle, who admitted the gesture left her “in tears” as she gets ready to release her first country album.

Ten days before her record dropped on Friday, Beyonce said on Insta that it was born from an experience where she “did not feel welcome”, which inspired her to do a deep dive into the history of country music.

The 32-times Grammy award winner also said she was “honoured” to be the first black woman to top Billboard’s country chart with Texas Hold ’Em.

 

 

But she hopes that an artist’s race — in relation to music genres — will one day become “irrelevant”.

Elsewhere, rapper Megan Thee Stallion appeared to have jumped on the Cowboy Carter bandwagon, offering her own cheeky nod in a skimpy Wild West costume.

The move prompted fans to ask if she was going to feature on a bonus track.

I’m here for it…

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Cowboy Carter became Spotify’s most streamed record of the year – in one dayCredit: AP

Liz no

LIZZO’S sparkling career was rocked last year when three of her former dancers went public with a damaging lawsuit ­accusing her of fat-shaming and sexual harassment.

Now the American singer and rapper has shocked fans by saying she has quit the music industry amid her legal battles.

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Three of singer Lizzo’s former dancers went public with a damaging lawsuit ­accusing her of fat-shaming and sexual harassmentCredit: Getty
The About Damn Time singer announced via Instagram on Friday night that she was weary of being attacked by people.

On a bright orange background, she wrote: “I’m getting tired of putting up with being dragged by everyone in my life and on the internet.

“All I want is to make music and make people happy and help the world be a little better than how I found it. But I’m starting to feel like the world doesn’t want me in it.”

She continued: “I’m constantly up against lies being told about me for clout and views . . .

“Being the butt of the joke every single time because of how I look . . .

“My character being picked apart by people who don’t know me and disrespecting my name.”

She ended with a peace sign emoji, adding: “I didn’t sign up for this s**t — I QUIT.”

It comes after criticism over her being hired as the headliner at the the Democratic National Committee’s Radio City Music Hall fundraiser in New York on Thursday.

One Los Angeles music executive revealed: “Lizzo has been hitting walls in recent months because of these lawsuits.

“She wants to get moving with new music and plans but there are some advising her to keep a low profile and fight the court cases first.

“Her efforts to get working with certain people have stalled.

“She is adamant the claims are unfounded and denies the claims.

Which artists are featured on Beyoncé’s cover of Blackbird?
“There has been tension with label bosses.

“Understandably from her perspective, she has felt condemned as guilty of these actions without a fair legal process.

“Just last year there was talk of working with Adele and Harry Styles, but with all the heat on her that has not come through.

“Everyone was shocked that she has made this bold move of saying ‘I am done’.

“It shows how frustrated she is at having doors closed in her face.”

The star’s famous pals, including Paris Hilton, Queen Latifah and Todrick Hall, have rallied round, offering supportive comments on her post and urging her not to throw in the towel.

Civil lawsuit

The famous flute player entered the music industry in 2011 but her career took off when her pop song Good As Hell was released in 2016.

Last summer, her song Pink was featured in the hit Barbie film, which starred Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling.

Lizzo’s legal issues stem from dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams, and Noelle Rodriguez alleging sexual, religious, and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment.

They filed a civil lawsuit against the singer and her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring Inc, in Los Angeles County Superior Court last summer.

Lou shoo-in for Cara

LOUISE Redknapp is on producers’ wish list to take over from Cara Delevingne in West End show Cabaret.

The model finishes her run at London’s Kit Kat Club in the summer and bosses hope to tempt Louise to take over.

The singer originally starred opposite Will Young in Cabaret for three months in 2017.

A show bigwig told me: “Louise would light up the West End, we’d love her to join the production.”

Speaking at the gala night afterparty on Thursday, Louise – who was joined by her new beau, entrepreneur Drew Michael – added: “I’ve done it before, it’s such a great part to play.

“I thought Cara was incredible I loved watching her.”

I completely agree, Cara has arrived . . .

News Justin… NSYNC touring

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE is already embarking on a world tour – but I can reveal that he is planning to reunite with old muckers NSYNC for a jaunt on the road too.

The Nineties five-piece, now a man band, are set to delight longtime fans by staging some special performances.

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Justin Timberlake is planning to reunite with NSYNCCredit: Getty
JT is already joined by his old bandmates – JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick – on his track Paradise.

And they put out Better Place, which featured on the soundtrack for movie Trolls Band Together.

 

A music source tells me: “The lads are raring to go and have unfinished business as far as touring is concerned.

“They’ve seen the huge success their contemporaries Backstreet Boys have had travelling the world in recent years, and they are currently carving out time in their diary to do the same.

“It’s been a long time coming and the fans will snap up tickets.”

I, personally, was never ready to say Bye Bye Bye to NSYNC . .

Maya’s in studio

MAYA Jama has been secretly helping her boyfriend Stormzy with his next album.

I can reveal that the Love Island presenter has been giving him pointers during studio sessions.

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Maya Jama has been helping Stormzy with his musicCredit: Getty
A source said: “Maya is really letting him do his thing but he values her opinion so is letting her guide the ideas.

“She loves where he is going musically but is pointing him to producers and artists he should be working with.

“Maya has been in most of his recording sessions – both at home and in recording studios in the capital.”

It comes after the rapper jetted out to South Africa in January to join Maya, while she hosted the final of Love Island: All Stars.

Stormzy’s last album, 2022’s This Is What I Mean, appeared to be dedicated to her.

The pair broke up in 2019 before getting back together last summer.

On the track Fire + Water, he sang, “You’re a star in all our eyes” and “I’ll never put my hand on you, still the biggest fan of you”.

They are fast becoming my favourite couple.

CAUGHT LIVE: Liam Gallagher and John Squire, O2 Forum Kentish Town, London

“YES, London!” boomed Liam Gallagher as he and The Stone Roses guitarist John Squire hit the stage for their first shows in the capital.

Off the back of a No1 debut album, this UK and Ireland tour sold out in seconds.

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Liam Gallagher and John Squire at the O2 Forum Kentish Town were immenseCredit: Getty
The tight show proved they are worthy of the hype.

Liam wrapped his unmistakable rasp around every melody, while Squire delivered six-string bliss.

First single Just Another Rainbow provided ’60s-style psychedelia, Mars To Liverpool sparkled, and a bluesy I’m A Wheel left fans chanting their names so loud it was likely heard in Noel Gallagher’s house.

A ferocious version of the Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash closed the night.

He may not have patched things up with his sibling, but Liam is making waves with another Mancunian legend.

And these two music heroes look made for each other.

Plan B’s ‘appy to meet you

RAPPER Plan B is looking for his leading lady on celebrity dating app Raya, I can reveal.

The She Said hitmaker has uploaded a series of snaps ranging from pouty poses to him smiling goofily.

The dad-of-one – real name Ben Drew – who shed a dramatic amount of weight a few years ago with a diet overhaul, said: “You see pictures of me at the Ivor Novello awards, I mean, f***ing hell, I looked ill.

“I was so overweight, and to deal with the workload, I was getting through a bottle of JD a night.”

Plan B previously revealed that after his 2012 movie, Ill Manors, he felt alienated and withdrew from the spotlight.

Now he is chiselled, toned and feeling sociable, get swiping ladies.

Allen: I was a lil lonely

LILY Allen has opened up about how lonely she felt last summer when starring in the West End amid rumours of a split with actor hubby David Harbour.

The singer-turned-actress starred in The Pillowman as protagonist Katurian, a writer in a police state who is interrogated after her short stories bear similarities to several killings.

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Singer Lily Allen has opened up about how lonely she felt last summer when starring in the West EndCredit: Getty
She said: “The play was incredibly harrowing and I was on stage for three hours and it was soul-destroying in terms of what was happening in the play.

“My family weren’t in London, David was in New York, I was alone.

“People would come to see the play and I might go out for dinner or whatever, but for the most part I was pretty lonely.

 

“It wasn’t a depressing existence, because I was really enjoying what I was doing creatively but it was hardcore.

“I would get off stage, get into the shower, wash all of the blood off me and get dressed up, so I could leave her behind.”