AFTER a six-year hiatus Leona Lewis is ready to relaunch her career – this time as the UK’s answer to the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.
I can reveal she is making a bid for her first No1 in years with a comeback album packed with festive songs in time for December, in a bid to emulate the All I Want For Christmas Is You singer.
Leona’s 2013 single One More Sleep has become a Christmas classic.
And after 2020 proved to be the track’s most successful year, Leona decided to get back in the studio.
I am told the singer, who had one of the best-selling albums of the Noughties with 2007’s Spirit, has now recorded several new tracks for her comeback record.
She has spent the past year working on it as a major update of her 2013 record Christmas With Love.
A music insider said: “It might feel early to be discussing Christmas in September, but it has been in the works for well over a year.
“Leona has recorded loads of new songs and there are some real belters in there. There’s real momentum behind her.
“Mariah banks millions every year from her single, its accompanying album Merry Christmas and loads of big-money brand deals like her one with Walkers a few years ago. It’s a really lucrative opportunity for Leona to follow suit.
“She hasn’t had the easiest ride in music, especially over the last decade because of issues with record labels.
“But now she is throwing herself head-first into this comeback which her team think will help remind the British public why she won millions of fans on The X Factor all those years ago.”
Leona has spent several years living in Los Angeles but has recently returned to the UK ready to promote the record and perform live across the country, supporting Gary Barlow during his arena tour in November and December.
As well as having No1 singles with A Moment Like This, Bleeding Love and Run, Spirit has now been certified ten-times platinum.
If she gets anywhere near that this time, her friends and family will be expecting some extra special gifts under the tree.
Madge heads back to bed
IT has been 30 years since the Queen of Pop released her documentary film In Bed With Madonna, but some things never change.
In snaps shared on Instagram Madonna took her fans back to her boudoir, where she whipped off her bra and wore lacy knickers and fishnet tights.
The superstar is currently gearing up to premiere a concert film which features footage from her 2019 Madame X tour and will be released on October 8.
And as she continued her preparations, Madonna posted these photos, accompanied by the caption: “Fittings are a form of torture.”
Looks like she’s having plenty of fun from this angle.
