Opening her set with Domino, the 37-year-old singer — born Jessica Cornish — was introduced to the main stage at BBC’s Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford by fellow performer Elaine Paige.
Her comeback comes after she revealed in early June that she had been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, undergoing her first surgery just weeks later. In August, she disclosed she would need a second procedure before the end of the year, forcing her to postpone her upcoming tour.
“This is the biggest acoustic show I’ve ever done in my career,” she told the crowd. “Some of you may know, some of you may not, but I had breast cancer surgery 11 weeks ago today. The last show I did, I had no idea what to expect — and I’m still very much in recovery. I’m just so grateful to be here, seeing so many of you singing along. After all these years, it truly feels like I’m a little kid again, doing what I love.”
A particularly special moment came when Jessie J’s son, Sky Safir Cornish Colman, joined her onstage for the first time. Together, they greeted the festival-goers and sang Happy Birthday, a song familiar to the two-year-old.
Before performing her new track Living My Best Life, Jessie J reflected on the timing of her diagnosis. “I was diagnosed literally two weeks before this song was released. People said, ‘let’s pause everything,’ but I said, ‘that’s not life. Life is about standing in the storm, holding up your umbrella, and moving forward.’ Music has always been my healer. It keeps me excited to wake up every day, and I’m grateful it can give others something they need, whether on a hard day or a good one. This song is called Living My Best Life, and that is what I am doing every single day. So, soak it up, hug the people you love, and enjoy.”
Jessie J has postponed her UK and Europe tour dates until April 2026, and the US leg of her tour was cancelled. Health challenges have been a recurring part of her life, including a heart condition diagnosed at eight, a minor stroke at 18, and temporary deafness in 2020.
The singer-songwriter has achieved three UK number-one singles with Domino, Price Tag, and Bang Bang, and has won multiple awards, including four MOBOs in 2011 and the Brit Award for Rising Star the same year.
