Sophie Ellis-Bextor is preparing for a massive Glastonbury show on Sunday, but it’s not only warming up the crowd for Sir Elton John that she’s enthusiastic about.
The pop queen and mother of five is due to visit the famed event with her eldest son, 19-year-old Sonny, who has come out of the experience believing his parents are totally cringe-worthy (even if they are chart-toppers).
Sophie, 44, says her teenage son has ‘sort of crossed over’ and is ‘not so much into the “My parents are embarrassed” thing.
She said that following her gig on Sunday afternoon, she and her kid are going to see Lil Nas X.
‘Sonny is a young man now really. He’s going to go with his friends, he’s looking forward to it. He’s there for the whole thing, he’s going to have a blast.’
The Groovejet chart-topper is ‘really excited’ to play the festival again, this time on the Pyramid stage, which she’s never done before.
‘It feels really lovely that in this stage [of my career] I can do something exciting and new. I can’t wait for the bit where I walk out and see everybody – I’m looking forward to the view!’
She describes the upcoming gig as ‘quite a sunny little set,’ and she’s determined to ‘get everybody in the right headspace to enjoy their Sunday.’
Sophie is a huge Glastonbury fan, and has visited ‘a couple more times’ than when she’s been playing – frequently with her husband Richard Jones, since the weekend coincides with their anniversary.
‘It does this weekend as well,’ she reveals. ‘It’s on Sunday, the day we play.’
Normally, the pair would rent a teepee for the weekend, but with Sophie only playing on Sunday and her schedule already packed, they just have the day itself.
Asked if she gets nervous around major gigs like Glastonbury, the Murder On The Dancefloor star answers easily and confidently: ‘I don’t get nervous.’
‘I think because I find things too exciting – nerves isn’t really a thing.’
The singer, who is also set to play a sold-oout show at London’s Lafayette on June 30, explains: ‘I don’t think it’s nerve-wracking because all we’re all having fun. I have a great band with me, I love what we do. I’ve had things go wrong so there’s not point in worrying about that, it’s out of my hands. I don’t really get nervous in that way.’
That said, she hopes that ‘everything goes brilliantly’ on Sunday – and based on her previous stellar performances at the Isle of Wight and the Eurovillage in Liverpool, we believe she will.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor performs at Glastonbury 2023 on Sunday at 12.15pm
