Louise Redknapp has revealed that Whitney Houston once told her she loved her single 'Stay' and the band Eternal. The singer, who is set to perform at Mighty Hoopla festival for the fourth time, recalled the moment during an interview.
A Surprising Compliment from Whitney Houston
Louise, who rose to fame as a member of Eternal before launching a successful solo career, shared that the compliment left her speechless. 'Whitney Houston told me she loved my single Stay and she loved the band. I just went red, blotchy and couldn’t swallow,' she laughed.
From Eternal to Solo Stardom
After scoring six top 20 singles with Eternal, Louise branched out on her own, achieving 12 top 40 singles and three top 10 albums. Her 2019 comeback with 'Stretch' and the album 'Heavy Love' earned critical acclaim, proving she is more than a nostalgic act.
Embracing Authenticity in Music
Louise acknowledges that she was underestimated as an artist and songwriter. 'I came through the pop channels and back in the day songwriting was the last thing anyone cared about,' she said. 'But now, you need to bring authenticity. I find it hard to sing songs that don’t mean anything to me anymore.'
Celebrating 30 Years with a Tour
Louise is marking 30 years since her debut album 'Naked' with a tour that also celebrates her latest album 'Confessions'. 'I feel like I make the strongest music I’ve ever made,' she said. 'I want people to lose themselves for an hour and a half and sing along.'
Mighty Hoopla and LGBTQ+ Allyship
For Mighty Hoopla, Louise plans a performance-led show with dancers. She has been a staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community for 30 years, even pulling out of an Eternal reunion when her former bandmates made transphobic comments. 'You can’t think the job’s done,' she said. 'It’s about carrying on, waving a flag, and sticking together.'
Personal Growth
Louise has learned to let go of fear and ignore intrusive media. 'I spent a life worried about being caught at my best, but now I’m okay with it,' she said. 'Would I go out in an old tracksuit with the dog? Yeah, there’s no makeup on the dog walk anymore.'
Louise performs at London’s Mighty Hoopla festival this weekend. Tickets for her 'Naked
