JADE on touring, supporting other artists and her musical ambitions
She joined us on Hits Radio Breakfast for Friday Fry-up
Last updated 13th Oct 2025
The unstoppable JADE joined us on Hits Radio Breakfast with Fleur East, Will and James for Friday Fry-up. She tucked into a Full English as they chatted about her new music, including her first solo tour, who SHE would like to support on tour and an idea for a musical that she's had... which sounds AMAZING!
JADE, who rose to fame as part of Little Mix, has had amazing success with her solo music, since the release of her BRIT-nominated 'Angel of My Dreams', released last summer. Not only did she win her first solo BRIT Award for Pop Act, she also performed at Glastonbury, taking to the Woodsies Stage for an iconic set.
Following the release of her solo singles, including 'FUFN' and 'Plastic Box', JADE has now released her solo album 'That's Showbiz Baby!' as well started her sold-out UK and Ireland tour.
JADE's solo tour
In the chat with Hits Radio Breakfast, JADE revealed that although she has performed Little Mix medleys in the past, this tour is more about her as a solo artist, and while there will be a nod to her past, she would be performing mostly her solo music.
JADE explained: “In terms of Little Mix, I did a whole medley in my festivals and I feel like this is my first solo tour, it should, you know, be more... just me.
"There's definitely a nod to Little Mix in there, but I like the idea of being like, ok, like I am my own artist now, with a nod to the past."
See JADE's amazing tour setlist!
Who would JADE want to support on tour?
The singer, who is no stranger to performing also revealed that she would be totally up for supporting Ariana Grande on tour. While nothing has been discussed, she told us: “I think it would be amazing for me to get a good support 'splot' in the US.
“And Ariana Grande would be brilliant for that, I mean, I know we did it with the girls, but like, that's a dream.
"I mean, I know Ariana, she's lovely and we get on well so it would be good. Her or Gaga."
She went on to admit: “There's been no talk. We're starting it now. We're manifesting. We're manifesting. Yeah!”
JADE on musicals
JADE, who is a massive fan of the icon Diana Ross, then went on to reveal who she would love to see play Diana in a musical about her, if it wasn’t JADE herself.
“Well, if it wasn't me, I think it would be...” JADE pondered, going on to say: “Who would be a good Diana Ross?
“Do you know who I think it would be? Obviously, Beyoncé's already done it in Dreamgirls-ish. I think, maybe Mya (‘Case of the Ex’) would be a good Diana Ross?”
JADE then added that perhaps Keri Hilson could be another great option, going on to admit she would love to write her OWN musical. The singer went on to reveal she already has a rough plot for it and it would involve Newcastle and Sunderland football team fans in a Romeo and Juliet type story. We need to know more!
JADE at Hits Radio Live
The singer has also been announced for Hits Radio Live in Birmingham, taking place next month.
Joining a huge line-up featuring Myles Smith, Alex Warren, Jess Glynne, Cian Ducrot, Sonny Fodera AND Calvin Harris, you can still buy tickets now, for the unmissable concert on Friday 21st November.
When is JADE on Hits Radio?
JADE was on Hits Radio Breakfast on Friday 10th October, don't worry if you missed her though, you can listen back through our FREE Rayo app, available to download for iPhone and Android.
When did she release her debut solo album?
JADE'S album 'That's Showbiz Baby!' was released on Friday 12th September.
When is her UK tour?
'That's Showbiz Baby! The Tour' started on 7th October in Dublin, her first UK date was 9th October in Belfast, before she travels across the UK, ending in Newcastle on 23rd October.
How to listen to Hits Radio
You can listen to Hits Radio on FM and DAB across the UK. You can also listen through your smart speaker by saying "Play Hits Radio", or through our FREE Rayo app, available for iPhone and Android.
You can hear songs buy JADE on Hits Radio.
Take a look at JADE's amazing career through the years:
2008 - Jade's first audition on The X Factor
Jade first auditioned on The X Factor back in 2008 at the age of just 15. Singing Whitney Houston's song 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go', the Geordie girl impressed Louis Walsh, Cheryl Tweedy and Simon Cowell enough to be sent through to the bootcamp stage, but unfortunately she didn't progress any further.
2010 - Jade auditioned on The X Factor for a second time
Undeterred, Jade auditioned on The X Factor again, but once again it wasn't to be. Matt Cardle won the competition that year, with One Direction being runners up.
2011 - Jade won The X Factor as part of Little Mix
It was third time lucky for Jade as she won The X Factor as part of Little Mix. It wasn't an easy ride though as she failed the first bootcamp challenge to get through to the girls category. Luckily for Jade, she was brought back as part of a three-piece group along with Leigh-Anne Pinnock, with Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson in another group. Despite both groups being eliminated from the competition, it was decided that the four girls would be brought back as a group, who went on to win the competition. And as they say, the rest is history.
2017 - Little Mix win their first BRIT Award
'Shout Out to My Ex' won the girls their first BRIT Award. The award was for British Single of the Year and reached Number 1 in the UK, it was co-written by Jade along with the rest of the group and a team of songwriters.
2019 - Little Mix win another BRIT Awards
Despite not winning British Group, Little Mix took home the BRIT Award for British Video of the Year, for their single 'Woman Like Me' featuring Nicki Minaj. This was also the year when it was revealed that Jade had been signed to Sony/ATV via joint venture TwentySeven, as a published songwriter along with Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
2019 - Jade Thirlwall appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race UK
The singer appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, in the episode Girl Group Battle Royale.
2019 - Jade opened a nightclub
Jade Thirlwall opened a cocktail bar in South Shields called Red Door. In 2020, the name was changed to Arbeia, and that year she also opened a nightclub called Industry next door to her cocktail bar, as well as collaborating with clothing brand Skinnydip London.
2019 - Jade Thirlwall climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
2019 was a busy year for Jade. The singer, along with her Little Mix bandmate Leigh-Anne, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day.
2021 - Little Mix get their own waxworks
To mark the band's 10th anniversary, Madame Tussauds unveiled waxworks of Little Mix, including former member Jesy Nelson.
Working with Ellesse, Jade also became the new face of the Italian sportswear brand, as well as launching her own Autumn/Winter collection.
In 2021, the singer also launched her own eyeshadow palette with Beauty Bay. The palette was inspired by Jade's love for crystals, spirituality and astrology.
2021 - Jade appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off
Appearing on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for charity, Jade was crowned the winner of her episode. The singer wowed Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith with her recreation of one of the group's concerts in front of thousands of biscuit fans.
Jade also won the Allyship award at the Gay Times Honours.
2022 - Little Mix announce their hiatus
Following the departure of Jesy Nelson, Little Mix announced that they were taking a break from the group after they'd finished their 'Confetti Tour', which took place in 2022. They wrote: 'We are not splitting up - Little Mix are here to stay 💫 We have plans for more music, tours and performances in the future. We've made so many incredible memories with you all, and we can't wait to make so many more.'
2023 - Jade teases work on solo music
Following the announcement that Jade had signed a solo deal with RCA Records in March 2022, she stayed pretty quiet on the solo music front. That was, however, until November 2023, when she shared an Instagram post showing her behind the mic. The post included an image of Jade wearing headphones in front of a recording microphone, hinting to fans that she has been working away on her solo music.
2024 - Jade posts more solo music teases
Jade got her fans whipped into a frenzy once again in May 2024, sharing a series of photos on the grid - including one of herself in a recording studio with some chunky headphones on alongside the caption: 'I'm working laaaaate cos I'm a singer,' quoting the smash hit 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter. Many fans took to the comments to share their excitement - including former bandmate and BFF Leigh-Anne, who wrote: 'Drop the album already.'
2024 - 'Angel Of My Dreams' is released
Jade released her incredible tune 'Angel Of My Dreams' on Friday 19th July 2024, with a first official play on-air the previous evening. The sensational video came out on the Friday, with Jade using it to show her "love/hate relationship with the music industry". Fans were utterly obsessed from the get-go, with many flooding the comments section of her YouTube premiere with words of praise and encouragement. It's safe to say it's a hit!
2024 - Jade gifts fans with 'Midnight Cowboy'
On 22nd September, Jade teased that she was set to release another bop - featuring a very familiar voice! The singer shared a teaser video for 'Midnight Cowboy', not only featuring a snippet of the new song, but also Ncuti Gawta, who fans know from his starring roles in titles such as Sex Education, Doctor Who and Barbie. Shortly after the teaser clip was shared, Jade wrote: 'I didn't want you all to have to wait so long for music again 💙MIDNIGHT COWBOY💙 is a gift from me to you until my next single drops 🌟'. (sic)
With her also adding: 'oh and there's a visualiser out at 10am BST too ⛲️' (sic), it was then on 25th September that fans were gifted with the full track, along with the visualiser video on YouTube. As well as reportedly working with RAYE on writing the song, Ncuti's voice can be heard in the opening of the track.
2025 - Jade releases 'IT Girl'
Jade released her first single of the year on Friday 10th January. It is another banger called 'IT Girl', and Jade described it as the "little sister" of 'Angel of My Dreams'.
2025 - Wins her first solo BRIT Award
In January 2025, it was revealed Jade was up for two awards at the BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard. Her debut single 'Angel Of My Dreams' was nominated for Song of the Year, while Jade herself was up for Pop Act! At the event on 1st March, Jade was announced as the winner of Pop Act, beating tough competition from Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lola Young and Myles Smith. While Song of the Year went to Charli XCX for 'Guess' featuring Billie Eilish.
At the event, Jade also put on a memorable performance of her debut solo 'Angel Of My Dreams'.
2025 - Jade releases 'FUFN'
Released on 14th March 2025, Jade's song 'FUFN' is all about channelling female rage. She told us in an interview: "I think for me this one is my sort of 'all guns blazing', big pop moment. 'FUFN' is about like channelling female rage and just letting someone have it. You know when you're in an argument and you feel like it's the worst thing ever in the moment? Hoping that the next day it will all blow over, it will be fine. Which I think is very relatable."
2025 - Jade performs at Glastonbury
In March 2025, Jade was announced as part of the upcoming Glastonbury Festival line-up. She performed on Saturday 28th on the Woodsies Stage, on the same day as Charli XCX, RAYE and Neil Young.
2025 - Jade released debut solo album
Jade released her debut solo album 'That's Showbiz Baby!' on 12th September 2025 ahead of her solo tour. The album features 14 songs including her amazing debut solo hit 'Angel of My Dreams'. Then on 5th December she released 'That's Showbiz Baby! The Encore', which feature an additional eight songs.
2025: Jade went on her UK and Ireland tour
Following the release of her debut album, JADE went on her UK and Ireland tour. The tour started in Dublin on 7th October, before she travelled across the UK, ending in Newcastle on 23rd October.
2025: Awarded the Freedom of the Borough
It was announced in October 2025 that JADE will receive the Freedom of the Borough from South Tyneside Council! Council leader Tracey Dixon said she "could not be more deserving of the marvellous tribute," adding that she was nominated due to "her outstanding contribution as a cultural ambassador and her ongoing commitment to South Tyneside." Councillor David Francis praised how she'd used her "platform to speak out and amplify the voices of the marginalised." She'll receive the award at a future point.
2025: JADE received Harpers Bazaar Award
Fellow Geordie Cheryl presented JADE with her Musician of the Year Award, at the Harpers Bazaar Women of the Year Awards 2025. Speaking about JADE, Cheryl said: "She and I have a lot in common: we're both from the north-east of England and we both grew up determined to follow our dreams of making it in the world of pop music.
"It takes a lot of courage to audition for a talent show, not least one that's going to be broadcast on national television, where people will be following your every move. It takes energy and passion to thrive as part of a chart-topping, record-smashing girl band. But it takes even more bravery to go it alone as a musician, and the singer I'm about to welcome on this stage has done exactly that."
2025: JADE performed at Hits Radio Live Birmingham
JADE joined the huge line-up at Hits Radio Live Birmingham on 21st November 2025. The singer performed her huge songs 'FUFN', 'Plastic Box', and 'Fantasy', ending with her debut solo hit 'Angel of My Dreams'.
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