Ed Sheeran confirms NEW SONG COLLABORATION WITH KYLIE MINOGUE AND JIMMY BARNES
Ed Sheeran has confirmed that his upcoming album will feature Jimmy Barnes and Kylie Minogue.
The global music megastar revealed that the Australian singers will contribute backing vocals to his song Visiting Hours, which he wrote for the late Michael Gudinski.
Sheeran performed the song at the state memorial service for the renowned music executive and close friend, which took place in March at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena.
“Currently, Jimmy Barnes and Kylie are singing on that track on the album. They’re singing backing vocals on it,” he explained to Ash London.
“I was there that night, and those two people – from what I know of Michael – are the most important musical figures in his life.”
Jimmy Barnes has since revealed the origins of the collaboration in a new interview with Sunrise.
“Ed Sheeran was a close friend of Michael’s; they toured extensively together, and I’d met Ed on multiple occasions,” he explained.
“When Michael died, Ed was so moved and hurt by the entire situation that he flew over here, went into lockdown for two weeks, and came to Michael’s funeral to express his grief and support for his family.”
Barnes described Sheeran’s request for him to provide backing vocals on the track as a “beautiful gesture” following the service.
“He told me, ‘I couldn’t make this record without you guys singing on it.'”
“I don’t believe Ed required me to scream all over it, but I provided some gentle backing vocals,” he joked.
The collaboration announcement comes as Barnes prepares to release his twentieth studio album and embarks on a September tour of Australia.
