Glastonbury has reportedly been left in crisis after talks fell through with another potential headliner – megastar Stevie Wonder.
The legendary musician, 73, who last appeared at the festival in 2010, had been offered the Sunday night headline slot by festival organiser Emily Eavis, with the star even added to a draft line-up poster.
However it has been reported by The Sun that negotiations between the festival and the Isn’t She Lovely singer’s team collapsed amid conflicting schedules.
Stevie is in the midst of lining up summer show dates – which meant he could not commit to the Sunday slot.
It is the third disappointment for Glastonbury after talks with Madonna and Stevie Nicks also reportedly broke down – leaving a gaping hole in the major festival’s line-up.
Glastonbury has been left in crisis after talks fell through with a second potential headliner – megastar Stevie Wonder, The Sun revealed
The legendary musician, 73, who last appeared at the festival in 2010, had been offered the Sunday night headline slot by festival organiser Emily Eavis
Of the failed negotiations with Stevie, a source told the publication: ‘The mood behind the scenes is fraught to say the least. Emily’s desperate to pull off another top line-up but right now everywhere she turns is hit with issues.’
The source added that Emily is working hard to deliver for music fan and while remains hopeful that Stevie’s team can be won over ‘it’s not looking good’.
Coldplay and Dua Lipa are rumoured to be taking to the stage at Worthy Farm in Somerset – as the Friday and Saturday headliners at the festival from June 26 to 30.
Before talks with Stevie fell through, a source told The Sun: ‘Stevie’s team have been working on a big tour and Glastonbury is something they want to make happen.
‘He last performed there in 2010, when it was Glastonbury’s 40th birthday, and the American soul legend’s set went down a storm. To have him back on the farm is something organisers Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily are keen to make happen and they’ll move heaven and earth to get Stevie on the line-up.
‘Stevie’s team are working on his dates now and hopefully things will be firmed up in the coming days.’
It comes after sources previously revealed that talks with Madonna collapsed after organisers refused to pay the fee to bring her live show to the festival.
A Glastonbury source told The Mail on Sunday at the time: ‘To be honest it’s been a real blow not being able to nail down a deal with Madonna.
Of the failed negotiations with Stevie, a source told the publication: ‘The mood behind the scenes is fraught to say the least’
It comes after sources previously revealed that talks with Madonna collapsed after organisers refused to pay the fee to bring her live show to the festival (Madonna performs on the first night of her ‘Celebration Tour’ at the O2 Arena in London)
‘Emily was so keen to have her play the legend slot. After she saw Madonna’s tour in London in October she raved about her on Instagram, something she rarely does without Glastonbury in mind.
‘But everyone knows that after last year, and the criticism over the gender balance, we’ve got to have big name females heading the line-up. Dua Lipa is a real catch. Now we need another.
‘There is still some hope it an be resurrected but it’s pretty unlikely. There are money issues at the root of this, it’s a real shame.’
Bosses then tried to get Fleetwood Mac icon Stevie Nicks on board, but she then signed to the BST festival in London’s Hyde Park.
Coldplay are said to be in the running to headline on the Saturday. They have headlined four times before – in 2002, 2005, 2011 and 2016.
Glastonbury bosses have been accused of choosing too many male acts to headline. Last year the line-up was all male, with Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Sir Elton John taking the top slots.
British singing sensation Dua is said to be under consideration for Friday’s top act, though the official line-up hasn’t been confirmed yet.
Earlier this year, Dua found herself embroiled in controversy after she failed to join Sir Elton John on the Glastonbury stage for their duet Cold Heart.
If he accepts, Stevie will join rumoured performers Coldplay and Dua Lipa (pictured) as the three headliners at the festival from June 26 to 30
Fans claimed there must have been a falling-out between the pair, though Dua insisted she was just working in New York.
Addressing the lack of women headliners, Emily previously said: ‘I’ve always been really passionate about gender split [on festival line-ups] and I think, actually, our problem was that I’d been so outspoken about it that having a year when there wasn’t a female sent people a bit mad – or some people.
‘And we did have a female – she pulled out and we replaced them with Guns N’ Roses. But everyone knows that it’s top of my list.
‘It is difficult with female artists because there aren’t enough headliners. But we’re also creating them. We’re putting the bands and female artists on smaller stages and bringing them through all the time. And who knows? Next year we might get two. And certainly, I can say that the Legend is female.’
Last year, revellers enjoyed the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John, who played his last ever UK gig on the Pyramid stag to close the 2023 edition of the festival.
Rick Astley, Lil Nas X, Blondie, Lizzo and Aitch were joined by hundreds more performers across the weekend, proving to be an enviable line-up and giving many of those who didn’t attend FOMO.
