Ronan chats exclusively with Surrey Rocks celebrity journalist Angela Sara West about his glittering career, working with Ed Sheeran, helping men\u2019s mental health, his commitment to charity, golfing and horse racing in Surrey, all this while performing alongside Bryan Adams and James Blunt at Cornbury Festival this July.<\/p>\n
He’s defined over two decades of pop music, performed for Prince Charles, sung for the Pope, grilled Stormzy and collaborated with Kylie, among other accolades aplenty… \u201cI\u2019ve been lucky,\u201d multi-platinum-selling musician Ronan Keating tells me on his way home from his early morning Magic radio show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve sung with some amazing people, from Elton John, LeAnn Rimes and Pavarotti, to Cat Stevens, Lulu and Burt Bacharach\u2026 The collaborations I\u2019ve had over the years have been amazing!\u201d the broadcaster and former Boyzone bandmember explains.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n INSPIRED BY THE GREATS<\/strong><\/p>\n The first single Ronan bought was Last Christmas<\/em> by Wham! \u201cI LOVE that song! I love Wham! I love George Michael, and the reason I\u2019m a singer today is because of George\u2026 he\u2019s been my greatest influence.\u201d The superstar singer\u2019s also inspired by another bestselling group. \u201cThe Bee Gees. For me, Barry Gibb is the greatest songwriter of all time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The singer-songwriter shot to stardom at sweet 16, belting out hit-after-hit as the youngest member of Boyzone,\u00a0one of the most successful boybands in history, who hit the UK No.1 spot an impressive six times, sold a staggering 25 million records and toured the world. Having gained global recognition when his chart-topping single When You Say Nothing at All<\/em> featured in the hit film Notting Hill<\/em>, since going solo, the Irish singing sensation has gone from strength-to-strength, crafting an epic solo vocation, selling over 22 million records worldwide.<\/p>\n The highlight of his celebrated career? \u201cMy longevity. To still be here nearly 30 years later is a great honour,\u201d he reveals. \u201cI think that\u2019s the greatest goal, to have longevity in this business, and still be getting away with it\u2026 So, I\u2019m happy about that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A MAN OF MANY HITS\u2026 AND HATS Having carved a career spanning almost three decades,\u00a0this multi-talented musician has also made his mark as a mentor, actor and high-profile presenter. Alongside spells as a judge down under on The X Factor <\/em>and The Voice Australia<\/em> alongside Natalie Imbruglia, the award-winning star\u2019s stints have seen highly-acclaimed stage performances in London\u2019s West End hit musical Once<\/em> since going it alone, too. \u201cIt\u2019s been 22 brilliant, mad years,\u201d Ronan tells me. \u201cI feel really blessed to still be here and still doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n A BESTSELLING, RECORD-BREAKING ARTIST Ronan\u2019s many talents have expanded exponentially across abundant platforms. \u201cThere are lots of more talented people out there than me,\u201d he modestly admits. \u201cBut I think there are a lot of different elements that allow somebody to get to where I\u2019ve got to after 20 years.\u201d \u201cAmazing!! It\u2019s such a fun show\u2026 We love what we do and speaking with our listeners and hearing what people think. I never imagined I\u2019d do radio like this, especially breakfast radio\u2026 I lived the other lifestyle – going to bed at 4-5am, not getting up at that time! I love it, it\u2019s great fun.\u201d \u201cWe had Stormzy on, which was quite unique for Magic. Mark Wahlberg was pretty cool, Kylie Minogue\u2019s wonderful\u2026 we get a real mixed bag, it\u2019s great!\u201d<\/p>\n Ronan\u2019s now working his magic at weekends, too, having hooked up with Disney+ for a Saturday afternoon show on the station, filling us in on his family\u2019s favourite Disney films.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A LOOSE MAN ON THE ONE SHOW SOFA<\/strong><\/p>\n Alongside making his mark on the airwaves, he\u2019s had impressive hosting success on TV, too, where his much-loved co-hosting stints on BBC One\u2019s \u2018The One Show\u2019 sofa see him chatting with countless other celebs.<\/p>\n Ronan\u2019s also been a \u2018Loose Man\u2019 for the day, alongside Marvin Humes, Iain Stirling and Roman Kemp, as popular ITV lunchtime show \u2018Loose Women\u2019 rebranded for one day and one day only for the first time in its 21-year history. Welcoming its first all-male panel to mark International Men\u2019s Day 2020, the \u2018Loose Men\u2019 changed the conversation, inspiring fellow males to talk about their feelings and not keep things bottled up.<\/p>\n Alongside sharing their own personal experiences, the Loose Men were joined by Hollywood legend Matthew McConaughey as part of the programme\u2019s \u2018Stand by Your Men\u2019 award-winning mental health campaign \u2018Lighten The Load\u2019.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n HELPING MEN\u2019S MENTAL HEALTH <\/strong><\/p>\n With a focus on male mental health, the campaign shines a light on the importance of men asking for help if they are struggling, to tackle the issues they often shy away from talking about.<\/p>\n “It was great to go on the show with the other lads and start the conversation to, hopefully, get men talking about mental health issues,” says Ronan. “I see Dan, my therapist, whenever I’m feeling fragile and need help with my mental health, whether I’m overstressed from working too hard, or it’s a certain date which reminds me of something sad that\u2019s happened, such as someone who’s passed away…\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMen find it hard to talk, and suffer with depression greatly… It’s good to talk, and there is help out there to give men the tools they need to deal with things they are struggling with.”<\/p>\n Ronan is an ambassador for a fair few charities. \u201cI feel very passionate about working with the Strong Men charity, which assists men dealing with bereavement and deals with mental health,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n CELEBRITY JUICING<\/strong><\/p>\n Ronan\u2019s also let his hair down on Keith Lemon\u2019s Celebrity Juice<\/em>. \u201cIt\u2019s SO much fun to be on. At a time like this, where everything is so sanitised, literally, we need a show like that\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n I suggest he puts himself forward for James Cordon\u2019s Car Karaoke. \u201cThat would be GREAT fun\u2026 a riot! James and I sang together a few years ago at one of my charity events. He\u2019s a great singer.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n A ROLLERCOASTER TWENTY TWENTY<\/strong><\/p>\n Ronan\u2019s album Twenty Twenty<\/em>, released in the rollercoaster year of 2020, features a magnificent mix of old and new tracks, commemorating 20 years since his first phenomenally-successful eponymous debut solo album Ronan<\/em>.<\/p>\n He describes Twenty Twenty<\/em> as \u201ca greatest hits of brand-new music\u201d.\u00a0\u201cThere are three songs I readdressed; When You Say Nothing At All<\/em>, Life Is a Rollercoaster<\/em> and Lovin\u2019 Each Day<\/em>. Those songs are kind of career records that stand the test of time and are still with me today. And I\u2019m here today because of those songs. So, I just thought I\u2019d kind of give them a new, 2020 flavour.\u201d<\/p>\n IN TUNE WITH OTHER TALENTS<\/strong><\/p>\n Reworking a few old favourites, Ronan called in a few famous friends to add their creative juices. \u201cRobbie Williams, Shania Twain, Emeli Sand\u00e9, Nina Nesbitt… some of my favourite artists are on there\u2026 I got to sing with them and I\u2019m very proud of that.<\/p>\n Having Alison Krauss sing on When You Say Nothing At All<\/em>, and Ed Sheeran play guitar over it, it\u2019s just phenomenal\u2026 a great honour.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RONAN & ROBBIE\u2019S BIG GOODBYE FOR STEPHEN <\/strong><\/p>\n Ronan and Robbie, of course, go back a long way, and duetted on a touching Twenty Twenty<\/em> tribute track to Ronan\u2019s late Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately. \u201cIt was lovely to work with Rob. I love his work, he works very hard, he\u2019s a great artist and great fun,\u201d says Ronan.<\/p>\n \u201cRob reached out to me on the 10-year anniversary of Stephen Gately\u2019s death to say he\u2019d forgotten he\u2019d written this song, The Big Goodbye<\/em>, about Stephen\u2019s passing. It was a very moving, emotional rollercoaster, the whole thing, to be honest, but a great honour to have this on the album and to sing it with Robbie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n RONAN ON THE ROAD<\/strong><\/p>\n Ronan was supposed to celebrating his milestone work anniversary with a \u2018Twenty Twenty\u2019 world tour. \u201cIt should have kicked off in June 2020, but it was postponed. A big part of the celebration is to tour it live. We all need to get back out there and tour live, for our heads and our hearts, we just wanna get back on the road again. That\u2019s why I do what I do \u2013 perform.\u201d<\/p>\n Just last week, Ronan at last took to the stage again, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai. How does it feel to be finally doing what he loves again? \u201cIt\u2019s just great to be back on stage with my band again. After the last couple of years, I think everyone feels a huge sigh of relief that we can all get back together again to do something we truly love.\u201d<\/p>\n His rescheduled ‘Twenty Twenty’ tour kicks off in a couple of months, and\u00a0he\u2019ll be back here in Surrey in September, where he\u2019ll perform at Lingfield Park Resort. \u201cThat will be a new one for me!\u201d he reveals. \u201cI\u2019ve got theatre dates all across the UK during June and July, and then some outdoor shows through the rest of the summer. The race day shows are always great fun, especially if you can pick a couple of winners!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n FESTIVAL TIME <\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0summer festivals are finally back in full force too. \u201cI\u2019m heading to Oxfordshire for Cornbury Festival this summer\u2026 finally!\u201d he tells me of the fantastic music fest taking place between 8th<\/sup>\u201310th<\/sup>\u00a0July at The Great Tew Park.<\/p>\n \u201cI was due to perform there in 2020 but, understandably, everything had to be moved. It\u2019s a great line-up, with Bryan Adams, James Blunt and then me on the Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n BUCKET LIST COLLABS<\/strong><\/p>\n Having collaborated with some greats in the past, Pavarotti and Elton John also among them, whom would Ronan most love to duet with?<\/p>\n \u201cGarth Brooks is someone I\u2019d love to work with, and it would be awesome to work with Bono and U2…\u201d he tells me.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n SONGS FROM HOME<\/strong><\/p>\n He honours Ireland’s musical history with his latest album\u00a0Songs From Home<\/em><\/strong>, for which he hand-picked 12 tracks from his beloved homeland, drawing from the wealth of Ireland\u2019s talent. \u201cI was lucky to be able to release two albums during the pandemic; Twenty Twenty <\/em>and Songs From Home,\u201d <\/em>he explains.<\/p>\n Toasting his love for Irish music, as well as its continued significance in his life, the<\/strong> latter intimate album boasts brilliant reworks, as well as an original single from the celebrated Irish star.<\/p>\n Ronan has circled back to his roots with the album which authentically captures and represents his life in music. Celebrating traditional poetry and folklore alongside contemporary pieces,\u00a0Songs From Home<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>forms the ultimate soundtrack to\u00a0Ronan\u2019<\/strong>s personal story. The international Irish artist masterfully weaves unheard tales of his youth with Ireland\u2019s considerable musical heritage.<\/p>\n A LOCKDOWN BABY<\/strong> Now a doting dad to five children (Ronan has three children with first wife, Yvonne), his and Storm\u2019s second child, baby Coco, came along just four days into the first lockdown. \u201cIt was nice to be able to concentrate on being there at home. I\u2019ve never spent that much time in one place in my life; I left home at 16, so to be there for every nappy change, bathtime, bedtime, every waking morning\u2026 it was gorgeous, really lovely\u2026 very special.\u201d<\/p>\n How did he look after his mental health during the first drawn-out lockdown? \u201cBeing around the ones you love makes life okay, much easier\u2026 My wife and children communicating and going through our daily lives together\u2026 we came through it.\u201d<\/p>\n Did the family man find himself being particularly creative? \u201cI did write a lot, but to be honest, I was so busy I didn\u2019t stop\u2026 doing my radio show from home, promoting my new album through Zoom interviews and Instagram\u2026 I think that was good for the head, too.\u201d<\/p>\n And music, of course, can help massively with mental health. \u201cVery much…\u201d agrees the aimable musician. \u201cIt\u2019s an outlet\u2026 a great way of dealing with your emotions, speaking out about how you\u2019re feeling\u2026 really important for mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n TOP OF THE SHOPS<\/strong> He hits all the right notes on the high street, too. \u201cWherever we live, we ALWAYS shop locally\u2026 local grocery stores, butcher\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n TEEING OFF IN SURREY\u2026 With more courses than you can swing a club at, Surrey serves as a golfer\u2019s paradise for fans of the sport, including singing sensation Ronan. \u201cI LOVE playing golf, and I LOVE Wentworth, which is one of my favourite courses. There are so many fantastic courses in the county\u2026. Sunningdale, private golf courses\u2026 it\u2019s a pleasure to play them. They\u2019re some of the best in the UK, if not Europe.\u201d TOP OF RONAN\u2019S CHARTS<\/strong> RICHMOND ROCKS & PUTNEY\u2019S CAFFEINE FIX!<\/strong> Richmond also rocks for Ronan. \u201cPre-kids, we went running in Richmond Park a lot. Now, we regularly take the kids for walks along the river, which is a lovely thing to do. It\u2019s a great lifestyle, a great way of life there\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS\u2026 A PASSIONATE PHILANTHROPIC PERFORMER<\/strong> Ronan launched the first mobile unit in the UK to target the general public with cancer prevention information, highlighting how to reduce your cancer risk. He also supports the Cancer Awareness Roadshows, which tour around the UK.<\/p>\n As the Foundation\u2019s Patron, the prolific philanthropist\u2019s proud to have pulled off the TV benefit gig \u2018Concert4Cancer\u2019 a couple of summers ago, featuring Gary Barlow, Brian Kennedy, The Coronas and Kodaline. \u201cWe raised half a million\u2026 it was phenomenal!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n TAKING A MOMENT FOR MIND<\/strong> <\/p>\n AND CANCER RESEARCH \u201cWe\u2019ve hosted it for nearly 15 years now and have raised around \u00a312m, which goes to our mobile units travelling around the country, giving a free service to people. They\u2019re back out on the road, which is fantastic because we feel there\u2019s going to be a huge spike now in cancer patients, as people haven\u2019t been able to go to hospitals and be checked and diagnosed. So, it\u2019s really important and we can deal with this\u2026 and we\u2019re out there trying to help people.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n NEXT ON RONAN\u2019S RUNNING ORDER<\/strong><\/p>\n Up next for Ronan Keating?<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m still loving being live on Magic\u2019s Breakfast Show every weekday morning with Harriet Scott, and you\u2019ll still be able to see me each week on the sofa co-hosting the BBC\u2019s \u2018One Show\u2019,\u201d he reveals. \u201cI feel very lucky to be in people\u2019s homes across the UK each day on TV and radio, but finally\u00a0being back on stage is the thing that\u2019s making this year so special!\u201d<\/p>\n Following such challenging times for us all, Ronan has a very special message for readers of Surrey Rocks\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cTreasure your loved ones, treasure your kids, go that extra mile and reach out to those people who really need it. It\u2019s been a grim couple of years and we need to just spread the love as best we can. Health and happiness for everybody!\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n FACTBOX<\/strong><\/p>\n For information about Cornbury Festival, visit:\u00a0<\/em>www.cornburyfestival.com<\/a><\/p>\n Songs From Home<\/em> is out now on Decca Records.<\/p>\n Listen live to Ronan on Magic at 105.4 FM, online at https:\/\/planetradio.co.uk\/magic\/<\/a> or on demand via the Magic Radio app.
\n<\/strong>And it\u2019s not just his singing career that\u2019s brought the Dublin-born star success\u2026 Ronan\u2019s diversified, dabbling in acting and other areas, too. \u201cI think you have to,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s important for your profile to stay out there. You have to do lots of things now – go on cookery shows and all sorts – to let people know that your album is out!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The secret to his success in such a tough industry? \u201cI\u2019m not afraid to work,\u201d he explains. \u201cIn this game, you have to graft constantly, so I\u2019ve worked tirelessly\u2026 all the time. And I enjoy it. I\u2019m not complaining\u2026 I love what I do!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBringing breakfast show entertainment to the nation with his weekday morning radio show on much-loved Magic FM with co-host Harriet Scott, how did it feel to achieve the highest-ever ratings in Magic\u2019s history?<\/p>\n
\nA few of his fave guests?<\/p>\n
\nHaving recently moved from Barnes in SW London, \u2018home\u2019 nowadays for Ronan is in the rolling hills of the idyllic English countryside, where he and his model\/TV producer wife Storm have built their\u00a0dream sustainable\u00a0home just outside the capital city.<\/p>\n
\nRight on key, Ronan\u2019s a fan of playing a part in local life, \u201cStorm and I believe in supporting the community. I think it\u2019s important to know the people you\u2019re living around, and to be proud of, and feel part of, the community\u2026 It’s especially important at times like this to keep in contact with people nextdoor, people close to you, and make sure everyone\u2019s doing okay.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Before Barnes, Ronan resided in Esher, where life in Surrey proved another huge hit for the singer. \u201cIt\u2019s fabulous\u2026 a beautiful leafy suburb, gorgeous countryside, great restaurants, golf courses, lovely people\u2026 a great place to live!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe former Boyzone singer enjoys a good green round with ex-bandmate Keith Duffy, and reveals taking clubs on the road is par for the course. \u201cKeith and I get out there every now and then, and ALWAYS bring our golf bags on tour!\u201d He also has a golf buddy in Brian McFadden, formerly of Westlife fame – the band Ronan co-managed \u2013 and who has now formed a supergroup with Keith. Ronan and Brian have also played with a golfing legend. \u201cWe played with Gary Player at Wentworth for charity.\u201d
\nSo, what does Ronan miss most about his boyband days? \u201cThe lads\u2026 the camaraderie on the road, the friendship, you know… I do miss the boys…\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBefore buying an abode in Barnes, the broadcaster had already found the area a source of inspiration for his music. \u201cThere was a studio in Barnes called The Olympic (now the cinema), and I wrote and recorded a lot of albums there. So, I spent a lot of time around Barnes even before I lived there, working and recording and writing, and we just loved the area, the community, and even though you’re so close to town (London), you\u2019ve got that village feel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nWith a penchant for Putney, too, Ronan and Storm are partners in popular coffee pitstop, Ground Coffee Society. \u201cWe\u2019re involved in the GCS coffee shop at 79 Lower Richmond Road, so we head there every now and again,\u201d Ronan reveals. \u201cI like that village feel, and being on the river is gorgeous, especially in the summertime, and the pubs are right on the river\u2026 It\u2019s really lovely\u2026 we love that lifestyle.\u201d
\nHis preferred restaurant also has a top riverside spot there. \u201cRiva\u2019s our favourite, and we\u2019ll be back there soon for lunch or dinner,\u00a0we love it so much!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>He may be partial to Putney and Richmond, but Barnes is still Ronan\u2019s No.1. \u201cStorm and I love Barnes. It\u2019s a gorgeous neighbourhood, with great restaurants, cinema, pubs\u2026 The Red Lion, The Brown Dog\u2026 so many.\u201d
\nWith famous faces a-go-go in the area, \u201cI bump into Simon Le Bon, renowned chefs and rugby players there,\u201d he says. \u201cWe love Barnes, we really do!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nFrom climbing Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief, to swimming the Irish Sea, this big-hearted singer\u2019s achieved amazing things in the name of charity. And there\u2019s one particular cause that\u2019s very close to this philanthropic performer\u2019s heart\u2026 \u201cI set up the Marie Keating Foundation with my family 23 years ago, after our mum passed away from cancer,\u201d he explains. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked on that tirelessly… It’s been a tough couple of years for charities to fundraise, because of COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAlongside stars including Tom Jones, Sharon Osbourne, Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Helena Bonham Carter, Ronan has also taken \u2018A Moment for Mind\u2019, the @takeamoment4mind campaign instigated by renowned Richmond-based photographer, Ray Burmiston.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Donning their glad rags, Ronan and Storm hold an annual star-studded Emeralds & Ivy Ball in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation and in partnership with Cancer Research UK.<\/p>\n
\nThe Marie Keating Foundation: www.mariekeating.ie<\/a><\/p>\n