Gabrielle was too “scared” and “insecure” to perform with Prince.
The “Dreams” star has revealed she was among the guests standing at the side of the stage along with fellow singer Nicole Scherzinger when the late pop icon played a gig in Abu Dhabi in 2010. According to Gabrielle, he gave both women the chance to join him for a song, but Gabrielle turned him down — and she’s regretted it ever since.
“Yes, [I said no] because I’m a scaredy cat. It was in Abu Dhabi, and I was at the side of the stage with Nicole Scherzinger,” she told The Guardian.
“During one song, he wanted us both to come on and sing and dance. I was in awe of him and how gorgeous she was with her amazing vocals — and just couldn’t do it. It was all down to my insecurity. I’m kicking myself now and today I would do it but some things are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she added.
However, Gabrielle did get the chance to hang out with Prince before he died in 2016 at 57.
“I did go to a couple of his parties, though. One that night and one in the U.S. What can I say? He was Prince,” she added.
In the interview, Gabrielle opened up about her decision to take an 11-year break from the music industry so she could focus on raising her kids. She insisted she has no regrets about walking away from her career.
“I’d been away from my two kids so much, I thought: ‘Do they even know I’m their mum?’ So after 2007, I took an 11-year hiatus. By the time the kids were older, I was ready to come back … I’ve been able to enjoy touring and everything else from a different perspective, rather than that of a mother who’s constantly worrying,” she explained.
