Emeli Sande asked by Pope to sing at Vatican for Christmas concert

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Scots music star Emeli Sande is to sing for the Pope at the Vatican.The chart-topping singer-songwriter, from Alford, Aberdeenshire, revealed she received a special invitation from Pope Francis, who has been a fan of her music for some time.Sande, who performed at both the opening and closing London 2012 Olympics ceremonies and for Barack Obama at the White House in Washington when he was US President, said: “I’m performing at the Vatican on the 14th of December.

It will be exciting to sing something new and some older songs in Italy again.“It was a surprise invitation. It’s the Pope’s Christmas concert.

He’s got quite a few artists coming and I'm very honoured that he asked me. I hope to meet the Pope. I’d love to meet him.”Every year, the Vatican Christmas Concert features international pop, rock, soul, gospel and opera stars as well as an orchestra in a tradition stretching back three decades.In 2019, Susan Boyle performed When a Child is Born at the Pope’s Christmas concert, held in the Paul VI Audience Hall.Sande, 37, is best known for hits such as Heaven and Next To Me.

She also won four BRIT awards as she rocketed to fame with her debut hit Heaven in 2011 as well as follow up singles such as Daddy and her Read All About It collaboration with Professor Green.Her debut album Our Version of Events topped the charts in 2012 as she became one of the biggest acts on the planet.Sande said: “I visited the Vatican a few years ago and it’s absolutely stunning so to perform there is going to be really special.