JADE joins Hits Radio for an exclusive chat where she reveals more details about her album
She's been working with her boyfriend Jordan
Last updated 18th Mar 2025
BRIT Award-winner JADE joined Fleur East, James and Matt on Hits Radio Breakfast to talk about her brand new song 'FUFN', her spectacular BRIT Awards performance with THAT trapdoor, and whether her Rizzle Kicks boyfriend Jordan Stephens features on her first solo album.
JADE has now released several solo songs, including 'Angel of My Dreams', which she performed at The BRIT Awards 2025, and picked up Pop Act. While she's enjoying the success of being a solo artist, we wanted to know if she has plans to work with her boyfriend - and it turns out she already has!
Does Jordan Stephens feature on JADE's album?
Telling Fleur and the team all about her upcoming album, JADE explained they haven't done a full 'Nelly and Kelly' collaboration, but she would be up for it if "the vibe was right".
"He's helped me a little bit with like stuff on the album, he's got a couple of writing credits," she told us. "I've been on his album, the Rizzle Kicks album, doing some BV's and stuff like that.
"I would definitely... I would definitely collaborate with him."
JADE went on to reveal they were actually in the studio together yesterday, as she was finishing off her album. "I want to do this anyways... just like an interlude in the album," she explained.
"So I brought him in because he's got such a good talking voice, and he just says so many lovely things. I was with the producer Starsmith and he came and he was like, "I've written a love poem," and I was like "OK", and then he just started reading it out! It so lovely. He's just got such a way with words, you know, he's a great poet."
The singer then confirmed that her boyfriend is on her album, admitting: "So yeah, he probably will... Is that an exclusive? So he IS on the album, yeah!"
The 'FUFN' singer also revealed that the pair have even written a song together about dream cheating! JADE explained how she felt waking up from a dream and needing time to calm down.
"The concept's come from me, having a nightmare about Jordan cheating on me, and then I woke up in the morning, I was fuming with him. I just needed a minute to get myself together, and be like ‘babe that wasn't real’.
"That's a concept for a song (dream cheating) that I wrote with Jordan."
When will JADE release her debut solo album?
Every since Little Mix started their hiatus back in 2022, and JADE released her debut solo hit 'Angel of My Dreams', fans have been asking when her debut solo album will be released. Cutting straight to the chase, Matt asked JADE when it will be released, and she didn't shy away from giving us some further details.
Having previously told us that she has been finishing off her album, she told the team that there will be an announcement about her album very soon.
"The album is coming out... You know I hate saying soon, but there will be an announcement very....Quickly off the back of this song (‘FUFN’)," JADE explained.
When Fleur asked her about a time scale of two to five weeks, she confirmed: "100%, the announcement is yeah!"
How to listen to the Fleur East, James and Matt on Hits Radio
You can listen to Fleur East, James and Matt on the national Hits Radio Breakfast Show every week day between 6am and 10am. You can also catch Fleur, James and Matt on Saturdays across Hits Radio in England between 9am and midday.
Take a look through JADE's amazing career from The X Factor to solo BRIT Award-winner:
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.
Undeterred, JADE auditioned on The X Factor again in 2010, but once again it wasn't to be. Matt Cardle won the competition that year, with One Direction being runners up.
2011 - Little Mix won The X Factor
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, while Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson returned in another group. Despite both groups being eliminated from the competition, it was decided that the four girls would be brought back as a four-piece group. They went on to win the competition, becoming the first group to do so. And as they say, the rest is history.
2019 - RuPaul's Drag Race UK appearance
During her time in the band, JADE appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK alongside RuPaul, Michelle Visage and Graham Norton. She was in the episode Girl Group Battle Royale, which was the fifth episode of season one and aired in October. Ahead of her appearance, she tweeted: 'THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME I'M NOT OKAY.' She was such a popular addition to the show that she returned in 2022.
This was a busy year for JADE - aside from her RuPaul appearance and hard work as one-quarter of Little Mix, she also opened a cocktail bar in her hometown of South Shields. Originally called Red Door, it was changed to Arbeia in 2020, which was also the year she opened a nightclub called Industry just next door.
She also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Leigh-Anne to raise money for Comic Relief's Red Nose Day. The 10-day trek took its toll on JADE, who wrote on Instagram: 'Climbing Kilimanjaro was mentally and physically exhausting, and by far the hardest thing I have ever done! I am unbelievably proud of myself for pushing myself to the limit and discovering a strength I never knew I had.'
2021 - JADE appeared on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off
Appearing on The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off for charity alongside KSI, Stacey Dooley and Katherine Ryan, 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. Upon winning, JADE told the camera: "I can't believe it, I'm in shock! My mam will be so proud. I think I might even frame my apron or just start wearing it all the time to remind myself."
She 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.'
2024 - 'Angel Of My Dreams' and 'Midnight Cowboy'
JADE released her first solo song in 2024, the 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!
It wasn't too long for fans to wait for new music following this release, as JADE put out 'Midnight Cowboy' in September. On 22nd September, JADE teased that she was set to release another bop - featuring a very familiar voice! Ncuti Gatwa, who fans know from his starring roles in titles such as Sex Education, Doctor Who and Barbie, lent his voice to the song and also appeared in the video. Shortly after the teaser clip was shared, JADE wrote: 'I didn't want you all to have to wait so long for music again'. As well as reportedly working with RAYE on writing the song, Ncuti's voice can be heard in the opening of the track.
2025 - Wins her first solo BRIT Award
JADE released her first single of the year on Friday 10th January, another banger called 'IT Girl', which JADE described as the "little sister" of 'Angel of My Dreams'. Also that month, 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'.
She then put out yet another single. 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."
Later that month, JADE was announced as part of the 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.
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.
In November that year, 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: Awarded the Freedom of South Tyneside
It was announced in October 2025 that JADE would receive the Freedom of the Borough from South Tyneside Council, with council leader Tracey Dixon saying 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."
JADE received the incredible commendation on 18th December 2025, writing on Instagram: 'I was very nervous as I don't really enjoy public speaking but looking around the room I reminded myself I was surrounded by people I love and who got me to where I am today. What an honour this was, with my family and friends all by my side - my only wish was that my grandparents and great aunt could have been there, all dressed up, celebrating together. Maybe they were 🌌 .' (sic)
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