Westlife continue to prove that their success has no expiration date. After 25 years of music and 14 number-one singles, the group remains at the height of their popularity—recently selling out the Royal Albert Hall for two incredible nights. Reflecting on how far they have come, Shane Filan admitted that the journey still feels surreal: “We were 17-year-old boys dreaming of being pop stars. We never imagined it would lead to this.”
The group—Shane, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily—are gearing up for an enormous anniversary tour. Mark, however, was forced to miss the Royal Albert Hall shows due to health concerns. In his place, Westlife invited powerhouse vocalists Loren Allred and Katherine Jenkins, whose performances were so well-received that Shane joked some fans called it “the best show ever.”
Their orchestra-backed shows at the iconic venue were filmed and will hit cinemas on November 29. And while some assume the band is simply reliving the glory days, Westlife are not interested in nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. They have new music, a new single titled Chariot, and major plans stretching into 2026. As Nicky explained, being recognized as a legacy act isn’t an insult—it’s proof they have earned longevity. “We look ahead and ask what’s next. Do we come back to the Royal Albert Hall after the tour? Where do we go after that?”
Even with their decades of experience, things don’t always go smoothly. Shane confessed he stumbled through a verse of Chariot during its first live performance. It was supposed to be Mark’s part, and with the world watching, he improvised a lyric on the spot. Laughing, he admitted that the made-up version was “definitely not better” than the original line co-written by Ed Sheeran. The band revealed that Sheeran has written several songs for them and is a devoted fan—calling Flying Without Wings one of the greatest pop songs ever.
Sheeran isn’t the only star showing love. Niall Horan of One Direction attended the Royal Albert Hall gig and, according to Nicky, jokingly asks to join Westlife every time they meet. “We never really considered it, but maybe…” he teased. Kian added that if Niall wants in, he might have to bring back his famous blonde hair first. The Irish trio met him in 2010 during X Factor and praised his success since then, saying One Direction “went stratospheric.”
The conversation turned to boybands in general, and Kian believes the genre never truly disappears—it just moves in cycles. New generations rediscover the sound, and eventually pop harmonies come roaring back. For Westlife, the love has never faded. Kian shared a surprising story: Mark was once recognized while standing in a rice field in Bali. “He was called ‘Mr Westlife,’” he laughed.
On stage, their recent shows have set a new bar. Loren Allred and Katherine Jenkins lifted songs like You Raise Me Up to soaring heights. Shane said he had never performed the track live with a female vocalist before, and hearing those voices “nearly makes you want to retire on the spot.” Nicky agreed that their talent was astonishing, while Kian jokingly warned him not to retire just yet. The women even pushed the songs into higher octaves—so high that Shane decided to step back and enjoy the moment rather than try to compete.
What is clear is that Westlife are not slowing down. They have already announced a European leg of their anniversary tour, with dates in America and Asia expected. Their music remains as cherished as ever, and their bond—on stage and off—keeps the story moving forward. With Chariot out now and a massive tour ahead, Westlife’s next chapter might be their biggest one yet.
