Girls tribute to Sarah
Heartache as pop legends celebrate late bandmate on reunion tour debut
GIRLS ALOUD last night performed a tear-jerking tribute to their late bandmate Sarah Harding as they kicked off their reunion tour.
The girl band, Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, had vowed their first gigs since 2013 would celebrate Sarah, who died aged 39 from breast cancer in 2021.
Speaking in the run-up to the sixweek tour, Kimberley, 42, said: “Our main aim is to do Sarah justice.”
All four struggled with their emotions as they honoured the star on stage, singing ballad I’ll Stand By You as footage of Sarah played on-screen.
Ahead of the performance, at Dublin’s 3Arena, Kimberley shared photos of the chart-toppers behind the scenes.
She said: “We’ve had the best time creating this show for you and being back with my girls has been incredibly emotional but so special.”
Nicola, 38, promised an amazing gig while Nadine, also 38, said: “I am full of gratitude and admiration for our entire team. Thank you to everyone up to this point. Now the real fun begins.”
Cheryl, 40, released a photo of the singers on a plane as they flew to Ireland on Thursday night, adding: “Ready for take-off.”
Following months of build-up, the gig did not disappoint as fans enjoyed hits such as Love Machine, Something Kinda Oooh, Can’t Speak French and Jump. Girls Aloud, who formed on ITV’s Popstars: The Rivals in November 2002 and got their first No1 that Christmas, split in 2013 after a series of feuds. But last November they dramatically revealed they would be reuniting. The girls, who hosted a 2022 ball in honour of Sarah, have helped raise more than £1million for cancer charities, including The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.