Jade Thirlwall thought music icon was her mum as she makes candid admission

Jade Thirlwall shared a hilarious confession during her impressive BBC Proms performance in her native North East. The Little Mix star, 32, treated her hometown to an excellent show alongside the Royal Northern Sinfonia at Gateshead's The Glasshouse.

In between her flawless tunes, the South Shields-born star took time to give her fans an insight into her life growing up in the region. And prior to introducing her huge hit titled Fantasy, Jade shared a "fun fact".

She told her adoring crowd: "My mam was always playing Motown music, specifically Diana Ross. Fun fact, I genuinely thought my mam was Diana Ross for a hot minute. To the point where she would go off to the bingo and she would be like 'I'm going to do a show' and I'd be like 'gag, that's my mam'.

"At one point, do you know when you go to school and you take in a show and tell thing? I remember this, I took in a Diana Ross programme and the kids had, like, I don't know, Pokemon cards or some sort of toy.

"And they would be like 'what's that?' and I would be like 'it's my mam'. Alas, it wasn't my mam, but I think my mam's just as special, if not more."

She then went on to introduce a tune that was based from her love of Motown as she impressively sang "in my on Jadefied way". She admitted the tune was a way to tell her fans it is "okay to be unapologetically yourself" as she performed her own tune called Fantasy.

Jade also treated those at the event that was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 to a number of other big numbers from her own repertoire. And she also showcased her huge talent with a number of cover songs, including Madonna's Frozen.

Perhaps the cover of the night came in the shape of Sam Fender's Remember My Name. Paying tribute to the "King of the North," Jade produced a flawless and spine tingling version of the emotional tune.

The number had fans in tears before Jade welled up too following its conclusion. She explained the sentimental meaning behind her choice and, with her voice breaking, she revealed the song had been played at a friend's funeral just weeks ago.

The candid confession was met with huge support from the crowd, some of who shouted out to gush over their "Angel of the North".

The show was a history maker as, as well as the broadcast on Radio 3 on the night, Jade's performance was also filmed to go out on television at a later date. It marked the first time the Proms had been filmed for television outside of London.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.

READ MORE: Olivia Attwood stuns in flattering yellow top for This Morning presenting debut