Ronan Keating, the Irish pop veteran, is gearing up for a new chapter in his illustrious career. With a new album in the works, featuring a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, and a one-off concert with Jose Carreras, Keating is poised to captivate audiences once again. But beneath the glitz and glamour, there's a deeper story to be told, one that involves personal loss, the healing power of music, and the enduring nature of a career that has spanned over a quarter of a century.
A Career in the Spotlight
Keating's journey to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. With three U.K. solo No. 1 singles and four No. 1 albums under his belt, and another six U.K. No. 1 singles and five No. 1 albums as a member of Boyzone, he's a household name in the music industry. But despite his success, Keating's personal life has been a rollercoaster, marked by tragedy and loss.
The Dark Times
The pandemic brought a period of immense grief, with the loss of his brother, Ciaran, in a car accident in 2023, and the passing of his former Boyzone bandmate, Stephen Gately, in 2009. These losses hit Keating hard, but they also sparked a creative awakening.
Music as a Coping Mechanism
"I do find clarity, calm, in those moments when I’m on stage," Keating says. "I tried to write a song about Ciaran, but I struggled a lot with writing in the last couple of years." It was during a trip to Australia, where he's a reality TV judge, that Keating and his wife, Storm, found the inspiration they needed. "The two of us spent the afternoon just sitting and writing. I had the guitar and we wrote this song. It was the first song I’d written since my brother died. That was the catalyst that has allowed me to get this album moving and going," he explains.
The song, which remains unnamed, became a powerful outlet for Keating's grief. "I think music and songwriting has allowed me to grieve," he says. "Storm and I, we spend a bit of time in the studio writing. I’m in a really good place musically, and I’m ready to drop this next album, and I’m really excited about it, the way it feels, and it sounds."
Collaborating with Superstars
Keating's new album will feature a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, and he's also set to perform with Jose Carreras at a one-off concert. "I’m very excited to finally get to sing with Jose, because, you know, I was lucky enough to sing with Pavarotti back in 1998," Keating says. "He’s on my list. I remember that moment when The Three Tenors stood up and sang ‘Nessun Dorma’ at the 1990 World Cup. That was a moment that will go down in history as one of the great musical moments of our generation."
A Career That Endures
Despite the personal challenges he's faced, Keating's career shows no signs of slowing down. With a 26th anniversary tour of his hit single, "Life Is A Rollercoaster," and a collaboration with Sheeran, he's poised to reach new heights. "I’m just in the process of making a record right now," he says. "And the first single is with a young singer-songwriter by the name of Ed Sheeran. I’m ready to release this album."
As Keating continues to navigate the highs and lows of life, his music remains a constant source of comfort and inspiration. "I think it was my wife’s angle of what she saw me going through, and us going through as a family, and we ended up just pouring our hearts out into this song. It was beautiful," he says. "After the tough, low points, the rollercoaster is on the climb."
In the end, Keating's story is a testament to the power of music and the resilience of the human spirit. As he continues to create and collaborate, he inspires us to find our own ways to navigate life's rollercoaster.
