There’s been plenty of speculation around female headline acts for this year's Glastonbury. We’ve also just seen Doja Cat and Lana Del Rey announced as two of the main headliners for Coachella in April. But as yet we’re all still waiting eagerly in anticipation for Glastonbury news. It was not until June and all the festival tickets were sold out completely in hours, no matter who was on the lineup.
There is a focus on making sure there is a female headliner at Glastonbury 2024. This comes after criticism over the 2023 lineup being dominated by all-male headline acts. Arctic Monkeys, Guns n’ Roses, and an incredible farewell performance from Elton John made last year pretty sensational. Great acts but very unrepresentative in today's society.
Let's go back to the evidence and what we know already. Emily Eavis from the Glastonbury organisers explained that Taylor Swift had been lined up for 2023. Unfortunately, the plans went awry and she had to drop out. Eavis has also acknowledged the desire to sign up some top females this year. She has indicated that there could be two women headliners this year. And to add to that, Eavis in another clue, has talked of a huge American artist as a headliner.
Top women to star at Glastonbury 2024
That helps to narrow the field somewhat. It still leaves plenty of options and possibilities remaining. To get to the top three I reckon are most likely as real contenders, it's helpful to rule out some of the women that are unlikely to be headlining.
Unlikely to be a Glastonbury headliner for 2024
Looking at Taylor Swift’s schedule for 2024, she’s not going to be making the lineup list this year either. Swift is continuing her The Era’s Tour and has gigs booked in Dublin for all three Glastonbury weekend nights. Swifties can stand down now.
Pink fans in England can probably take a back step too. She will be live in Glasgow on the Friday and Saturday nights. It's possible that she and all her gear could haul their way to Glastonbury for the Sunday night, but the logistics and three consecutive nights performances make it a very long shot.
Beyonce is another where the time doesn't quite feel right for a 2024 appearance. Her Renaissance World Tour ended in Kansas back in October. She has already played Glastonbury back in 2011, so it’s not necessarily a huge gap in her CV either. While fitting the bill of a huge star for sure, Beyonce also goes on my unlikely list with Pink.
Then there is Cher, another huge star yet to appear at the iconic festival. She’s a definite superstar and has just had a recent hit from her new album. Both were Christmas-based though, not quite a fit with a summer festival. Cher though has been dropping hints on BBC Radio 2 about being keen on making an appearance at Glastonbury. Her focus though wasn't as a headliner, but instead on the Sunday afternoon legends slot at the festival. She’d go down a storm there if that happened.
Glastonbury female headliners could be two of these three
So let's get down to two of the most likely headliners and one more possibility. I’d say there is a great chance of the two women Eavis has referenced coming from this top trio below.
Madonna
Without doubt, Madonna would be an amazing act fitting of being a Glastonbury headliner. She was praised by Eavis enthusiastically after her shows at the London O2 in October and looked to be a dead cert to be signed up. That is until stories emerged in December that negotiations were failing due to the hefty costs involved in bringing her recent touring show and its setup to the festival. The news seemed to be ruling Madonna out, but it's unlikely negotiations have ceased entirely. It's worth noting that while hugely popular in the UK she has never made it to any of the Glastonbury stages. Well, not yet anyway, she’s not one to cross off the list yet.
Dua Lipa
So far the summer schedule for Dua Lipa would easily fit around the June weekend dates for the festival. She has appeared at Glastonbury previously but never as a headline act. There were rumours of a guest appearance with Elton on stage last year which didn't come true. She is hotly tipped by most sources for a 2024 appearance at Worthy Farm on Friday evening. Maybe she’ll tempt Elton back for a guest appearance alongside to perform their “Cold Heart” hit. Dua Lipa is the most likely of the three acts listed here to make the headline list for 2024.
Rhianna
The third contender, and perhaps moving up any betting odds as a replacement for Madonna, is Rhianna. Ok, she isn't American but that comment was probably made with Madonna in mind. Rhianna is another huge star who would undoubtedly be a great act for Glastonbury. She is expected to tour again soon but has indicated she’d want to do so with a new album and more songs to share.
That makes sense for a long tour and helps promote the new album, whenever it is due. But Glastonbury isn’t really the place to showcase new music. It's a live party with a huge audience who all want to have fun with their favourite tunes. It could be just the place to entice Rhianna back on stage again. And if Madonna isn’t a feasible option the organisers will be doing all they can to persuade Rhianna to be there.
Whoever it turns out to be is sure to be a huge act. Personally I’d love to see Madonna get the gig if a deal can still be agreed. She’d be brilliant at this event and with the huge crowd ready to party with her many songs.