Louise Redknapp loves having such a ‘loyal’ fanbase (Picture: Shutterstock/Getty)
The LGBTQ+ community has really taken Louise Redknapp under its wing – and she’s ‘honoured’.
Louise has enjoyed a varied and successful career, having started out in R&B group Eternal in the 1990s before going solo and selling millions of records in the UK and around the world.
During her 17-year hiatus from recording, she also ventured into other fields, such as presenting, and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing in 2016.
Throughout it all though, one thing has remained constant and it’s the queer community’s love for Louise and her music.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the Naked hitmaker, 48, shared her excitement as she gears up to perform at Brighton Pride once again this summer.
Asked how it feels to be considered a ‘gay icon’, Louise replied: ‘It’s an honour.’
The LGBTQ+ community has always supported Louise, with her pictured here performing at GAY in 2003 (Picture: Jo Hale/Getty Images)
She rocked up at Newcastle Pride last year, and is returning to Brighton Pride for 2023 (Picture: North News & Pictures)
‘Their taste is impeccable and stylish and gorgeous!’, she said of the community.
‘I think the LGBTQ+ community is so incredibly loyal. They’re tough and they know what they like and they expect a good show, they can see through if you’re not sincere.
‘They’re by no means a pushover. I think if you deliver and you’re passionate and put on the best show you can, the loyalty is fierce.
‘There’s no other community that I’d want to sit in. I’m very happy with my space in that community and having that loyalty.’
She’s also buzzing to get back on the stage and perform for her LGBTQ+ fans.
Louise believes she’s learned to trust her gut as she’s grown up in the music industry (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
‘The gigs are always so much fun with a great atmosphere’ (Picture: Instagram)
‘The gigs are always so much fun with a great atmosphere. I feel very honoured to be part of that community.’
Fans will be delighted to know (although, let’s be honest, diehard fans need no reminder) that Louise is releasing her Greatest Hits album on Friday (June 2), featuring a bunch of classics, reimagined tracks, and even some new tunes.
As she reaches such a key moment in her career, Louise has been doing some reflecting.
On how she’s evolved both musically and personally over the years, she explained: ‘When I started, the nice thing was that I was so unaware of everything going on, you’re so young that you do everything and don’t overthink it.
‘It was a very different time and there wasn’t social media so you do have blinkers on.
Louise started out in Eternal along with Easther and Vernie Bennett and Kéllé Bryan (Picture: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
The Naked hitmaker is now set to release her Greatest Hits album, and she’s been doing some reflecting (Picture: Brian Rasic/Getty Images)
‘But now I’m confident in my ability and I trust myself and my opinions. You also learn that you please some people, you don’t please others. You’ve got to go with your gut feeling and what you love.’
She still doesn’t see herself as someone who’ll never care what others think, though.
‘I’ll always care and pick up on good and bad,’ she admitted.
‘But I think I’ve got to a stage in life where I understand it and I can accept it. You’ve got to back yourself. I back my own opinions and go out there and be the best version of me.’
Speaking of love, Louise has made headlines with her own romantic life over recent years, having split from her husband Jamie Redknapp, 49, in 2017.
Louise is a mum to Charley, 18, and 14-year-old Beau (Picture: Instagram)
Her eldest is currently home for the summer after jetting off to study in America (Picture: Instagram)
She’s been candid about her dating life, but also made it clear that her focus is on their children – Charley, 18, and Beau, 14 – with Louise proud as punch as her eldest currently studies in America.
While she said recently that she has an ‘open heart’ when it comes to love, she’s totally baffled as to why people care about what’s going on behind closed doors with celebs.
‘Celebrities are the same – we like to know what’s going on with other celebrities, we’re reading the same magazines!’, she laughed.
‘It’s weird, why are we so interested? I never know why people are so interested in [my dating life], but I suppose there’s an element of, that’s where the real person comes in. That’s the part people can really relate to.
She believes people are so interested in her love life because it’s the part of her that others can relate to (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
‘They might not relate to somebody standing on stage and performing night after night, singing songs and writing songs, but the part they can relate to is being a mum, whether they’re dating or not dating, if they’ve had a bad day or a happy day.
‘That’s the one part that everyone can relate to because they’ve experienced some part of that in one way or another.’
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As for Charley, he’s getting on just fine at university in the States – even if Louise was left in tears when they initially said goodbye – and he’s now home for three months.
‘I’m so proud of him,’ she said with a smile. ‘I’m a big believer in going out there and chasing and experiencing things you want to do in life, so he’s got my backing 100%.’
Louise’s album Greatest Hits is released June 2.
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‘I’m very happy with my space in that community.’