Entertainment
Dame Shirley Bassey turned down Sir Tom Jones duet at Queen’s Jubilee because she didn’t get her own spot on the bill-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Iconic behaviour.
Actually, neither of them ended up performing (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Sir Tom Jones has claimed that Dame Shirley Bassey rejected the chance to perform a duet with him at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert – and her reason is iconic tbh.
Apparently, the music icon turned down the Welsh legend because she didn’t have her own spot on the bill and we love her for recognising her worth.
The 82-year-old Sexbomb singer has shared how his 85-year-old compatriot was going to be a ‘surprise guest’ during his planned performance at Buckingham Palace in June.
But, he claims the Big Spender hitmaker only wanted to sing with him if she could blast out a few of her hits in her own solo section.
However, it turned out that neither Sir Tom nor Dame Shirley ended up performing at arguably the biggest concert the country has ever seen – with the likes of Queen and Adam Lambert, Diana Ross, and George Ezra on the bill.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, he said at the launch of ITV’s autumn entertainment schedule: ‘They just wanted me to do one of my songs, like Delilah or something, and I was going to do a duet with Shirley Bassey.
Sir Tom understands the singer’s decision, and says it was ‘fair enough’ (Picture: Getty)
‘She was going to be a surprise guest on my spot, but then Shirley said, “If I don’t get my own spot, I’m not going to do it”.’
Sir Tom thinks it was ‘fair enough’ that Dame Shirley turned down the collaboration, because the legendary singer ‘deserved her own spot’.
He added: ‘So, that’s fair enough, isn’t it? I thought it was going to be a good thing.
Dame Shirley knows her worth (Picture: Guy Levy/REX/Shutterstock for BAFTA)
‘But she felt that she deserved her own spot, then I’d do mine, then we would do a duet.’
Fans weren’t left high and dry, though, as Sir Rod Stewart ended up performing at the concert instead.
In fact, Sir Tom has performed alongside Dame Shirley before on his This Is Tom Jones variety TV show on New Year’s Day 1971.
Sir Rod Stewart took their place at the Jubilee concert (Picture: Getty)
Elsewhere, The Voice UK coach, who uses a walking stick, revealed he needs a new hip, and postponed his operation until October so he could finish his US tour.
He is quoted as saying: ‘I have got to have a new hip. I had this one done five years ago and it works great, so now this one is starting to go.’
The TV star says he feels ok for ‘four songs and then it starts to hurt’ so he has to sit on a stool.
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But, he’s ‘as dedicated as the Queen’, who has continued to make public appearances well into old age and through health struggles.
‘I have got to be steadfast.’
Sir Tom will be back on our screens on Saturday, September 3 when The Voice returns.
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