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Glastonbury might still be months away but with tickets going on sale, discussion has already turned to who is headlining Worthy Farm in 2025.
The legendary music festival played host to Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and SZA in the summer, with thousands flocking to Somerset to catch live music.
Since then, a lot’s happened in the world of pop that has no doubt shaken things up in the mind of festival organiser Emily Eavis as she decides on the line-up for 2025.
Oasis came back (and instantly shut down headliner rumours) meanwhile Eminem landed his first number one track since 2005 plus the epic return of The Scissor Sisters.
Let’s not forget as well that a certain global megastar will have just had six months off from the end of the Eras Tour by the time Glastonbury 2025 comes around.
But it’s also worth keeping an eye on younger acts like Olivia Rodrigo and Sam Fender, as well as singer-songwriters Harry Styles and Billy Joel, who could command the Pyramid Stage with ease.
So, who’s in the running?
Olivia Rodrigo
Much like previous headliners Oasis (in 1995), Billie Eilish (in 2022), and SZA (in 2024), Olivia Rodrigo might only have two albums to her name, but that shouldn’t stop her taking to the Pyramid Stage.
Betideas have 5/1 odds for her to grace Worthy Farm with her presence during the summer of 2025, while OLBG puts her as favourite at 1/3.
The possibility of Olivia as a headliner is even more tantalising when you realise she’s in the UK for BST Hyde Park on the Friday (which does rule out opening night).
She won’t be jetting back to the US though as her rescheduled Co-op Live Manchester gig is on the Monday — leaving Saturday and Sunday wide open.
The Glastonbury organisers have definitely appealed to teenage market more and more in recent years, with SZA and Billie Eilish (and another 2025 tip, Fred Again), and Olivia’s potential appearance could be another example of that.
For any older heads out there who might be doubting whether Olivia’s the right choice, her particular blend of teen pop rock has incorporated alternative and indie rock styles, and has landed her three UK number ones to date.
In our opinion, it’s unlikely they’d risk another US popstar on Sunday night after the response to SZA so Olivia could take the Saturday spot.
Sam Fender
Another young face who has become one of the UK’s best live acts is Sam Fender – the North Shields-born singer-songwriter who is currently in consideration to headline.
Boasting a dozen hit singles and two consecutive number one albums, Sam, 30, has had a whirlwind five years after his debut album Hypersonic Missiles topped the charts.
He’s one of the favourites to headline — at 3/1 according to some bookies — as speculation grows that organisers could opt for a solo male vocalist this year
Known for hits such as Seventeen Going Under and song Homesick with Noah Kahan, he was also part of the collection of artists who hit number one with Times Like These, released at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He’s already played many big festivals all around the UK and has completed several sell-out tours too. With those hit songs to his name and some impressive streaming figures, it might be best to strike while the iron is hot.
In May 2024, Sam said he was hard at work on a third album, which means he’ll have several more hits to add to the setlist if the call comes from Emily Eavis.
Harry Styles
A consistent rumour of the past few years has been Harry Styles, after the success of his solo career after leaving One Direction in 2016.
The singer-songwriter, 30, has three albums and a run of global smash-hit singles to his name — even Stevie Nicks approves.
He’s as low as 7/4 with some bookmakers, while others have him at 4/1, with betting markets regarding the As It Was hitmaker as being near the top of Emily Eavis’ list for Glastonbury 2025.
To date, he’s scored two UK number one singles, two UK number one albums, while As It Was spent 10 weeks at number one and was in the top 40 for more than a year.
After the shock death of bandmate Liam Payne, speculation has grown that One Direction could use a Pyramid Stage slot as an excuse to reunite and pay tribute to their friend.
While that would certainly be a headline show to remember, One Direction’s grief and healing is their own and does not need pressure from overly keen fans.
Green Day
Move over solo artists, Glastonbury fans have been calling for a rock band to take to the stage and Green Day has proven a popular name.
Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool have been staples of the rock scene since the 90s so would hit that sweet spot of a nostalgia artist and strong live band.
2023’s Guns n Roses saw huge success at Glastonbury and after last year’s pop-filled lineup, the American Idiot hitmakers could be the perfect answer.
Ladbrokes has them at 7/2 odds, and they have just been announced as a headline act for Download Festival, which runs in Donnington Park from June 13 to 15.
Fans have been suggesting that with the Download headline announcement, there might be limitations on Green Day to perform elsewhere but we can dream.
Eminem
Eminem headlining Glastonbury feels like something that’s been long overdue. Arguably the biggest name in rap for 25 years, Marshall Mathers is still topping the charts and selling millions.
The reason for Eminem’s absence from Pyramid Stage line-ups in the past is down to the sad fact that Glastonbury and rap music haven’t always been best friends.
Jay Z headlined the festival in 2008 but the decision to have him headline was met with firm (and let’s face it, insidious) criticism by the likes of Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher.
But since then, big names like Kanye West, Stormzy, and Kendrick Lamar have all rocked the Pyramid Stage with rap and have gone down well with the viewers back at home.
So with Eminem back in the charts after Houdini’s success and the release of The Death of Slim Shady, maybe 2025 is the year when the real Slim Shady will stand up at Worthy Farm.
Bookies have the star at a reasonable 6/4 odds, could Eminem kick off the entire festival with a Friday night slot?
Sabrina Carpenter
The Short n Sweet icon that is Sabrina Carpenter is a late addition to the speculation with Ladbrokes putting her at 6/4 odds.
She’s currently on her world tour, which will reach the UK in March 2024 for some sold-out shows in the likes of Manchester, London, and Birmingham.
After her European leg finishes, she’s got just under a month of downtime before Glastonbury that could be spent preparing for a headlining show.
Sabrina, 25, has had a huge year with her hit songs Espresso and Please Please Please as well as landing Grammy nominations.
Last year, ahead of her fifth album’s success, Sabrina was the penultimate act before BlackPink at BST Hyde Park and played Captial’s Summertime Ball — she’s due her own headline moment.
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones have not headlined Glastonbury since 2013, so we might be due for a little rock and roll revisit.
Mick Jagger and the band have just been on a tour around the US for their latest album but did tease a UK leg could be on the way.
If they announce dates here, a tour could fall right around the time of Glastonbury 2025, making them a very convincing option.
Even without a tour tie-in, bookies have the 60s rockers at 10/1 to headline.
Fred Again
Superproducer Fred Again is currently 10/11 on at some bookmakers to step onto the Pyramid Stage next June, with an arsenal of big hits backing up that possibility.
The London-based DJ, whose real name is Fred Gibson, headlined the Reading & Leeds Festival in 2024 and won DJ Mag’s best live act award back in 2022.
His star has risen sharply since live venues opened up again after the Covid-19 pandemic, with a run of UK hit singles and collaborations with other major names in pop.
That list of collaborators means we could be in for a big night of Fred bringing famous faces onto the stage, including Baby Keem, Skrillex, Anderson .Paak, and Sampha.
His latest album, titled Ten Days, reached the top 10 on the UK albums chart and a quick release before Glastonbury 2025 could make it impossible for organisers to resist.
However, Glastonbury doesn’t tend to opt for DJs on the Pyramid Stage, even the iconic Disclosure found themselves on the Other Stage last year.
It’s far more likely that Fred Again will headline one of the many other stages than take a Pyramid Stage headline slot — although we’re happy for organisers to prove us wrong.
Madonna
By all accounts, pop legend Madonna was all lined up headline the Pyramid Stage last summer.
The organisers had previously teased her involvement and bookies odds on her headlining were incredibly short.
But then, when the line-up was announced, the True Blue and Vogue singer was nowhere to be found, with SZA headlining the Sunday slot instead.
The reasons for Madonna’s absence still aren’t totally clear, but fans have speculated that her health battles earlier in 2024 had something to do with it.
While she was still able to complete the tour, her family begged her not to ‘push herself’. Come 2025, Madonna could well be fully rested and ready to go.
That being said, for years now the Madonna rumours crop up and have been proven false time and time again.
Could she finally take to the Pyramid Stage as our Sunday headliner and close the festival with a bang ahead of a fallow year?
Billy Joel
After the success of Sir Elton John’s legendary Sunday set at Glastonbury 2023, who says another Piano Man can’t grace the Pyramid Stage in 2025?
The legendary singer-songwriter, 75, still performs live on a regular basis and has enough hits and popular deep cuts to fill two complete sets, never mind one.
And his name appears to be a serious consideration for Glastonbury organisers, with the We Didn’t Start the Fire hitmaker as low as 5/2 with some bookmakers.
Across his career, which has now spanned six decades, he’s scored eight UK top 10 albums, a run of top 10 singles (reach number one with Uptown Girl), and a total of just under three years in the British charts.
Billy Joel has the feeling of a Sunday legends slot type of act, after Shania Twain’s performance this year.
Scissor Sisters
We’re officially starting the rumour that Scissor Sisters are playing Glastonbury after their huge reunion announcement earlier this year.
Possibly more suited for a Legends slot but we reckon they’d pull in big numbers if they took to the Pyramid Stage.
When Metro asked the band about the festival, Jake Shears, who played as a solo artist recently, replied: ‘Glastonbury is my favourite show on planet. It really is.
‘There’s just those sets that you remember for the rest of your life and you really go out on stage at Glastonbury to play the best you’ve ever played. I would play Glastonbury until I kick the bucket.’
Their UK tour ends in May, with no international dates announced so far, so there is nothing stopping Emily Eavis from calling the group up… please?
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