British pop star Ellie Goulding has candidly disclosed a harrowing experience from her career, revealing she performed at the prestigious Coachella music festival while battling severe food poisoning. In a remarkably frank interview with Nylon magazine, the "Lights" singer described the physically demanding situation with startling honesty.
The Coachella Incident: Performing Through Illness
Goulding recounted a specific year at the annual California festival when she was suffering from food poisoning so intense she described herself as "sh***ing my pants." Despite this debilitating condition, she insisted on performing. "I had these leather shorts that had a zip up the back and front, and I thought, 'These are the worst thing for my situation right now,'" she revealed, highlighting the impracticality of her stage outfit given her physical state.
The singer traced the illness back to a meal she had while touring in South America with fellow artist Lorde. "I remember having dinner with Ella [Lorde's real name], and I had some kind of wrap, and it all went wrong," Goulding explained, pinpointing the moment her health troubles began before the crucial festival performance.
Reflecting on Early Career Pressures
Beyond this specific incident, Goulding used the interview to reflect broadly on the immense pressures she faced during the early stages of her music career. She described a relentless workload and insufficient support systems that left her physically and mentally drained.
"I don't think I was equipped to deal with that amount of scrutiny, attention, and workload," the singer admitted. "I never stopped." This constant pressure manifested in recurring health issues, with Goulding noting, "My body physically couldn't function well, and my throat was dead. I kept getting tonsillitis, I kept getting sick, and there was nothing in place then to ensure that I was OK."
From Working-Class Background to Global Stardom
Goulding contrasted her current life with her humble beginnings, coming from a working-class background where music was initially just a hobby. She made the significant decision to leave college to pursue music full-time, eventually releasing her debut album in 2018 and touring with major artists like Bruno Mars and Katy Perry.
The transition proved overwhelming. "I went from never taking a flight, never being photographed, to singing at the royal wedding," she said, describing the whiplash of her rapid rise to fame. "I don't think my body knew how to process the contrast between my old life and my new life."
Consequences of Cancelling Performances
The singer also addressed the professional repercussions she faced when her health forced her to cancel performances. She recalled one particularly distressing instance involving an awards show performance she had to decline due to physical incapacity.
"I remember them being like, 'You'll never be able to perform [at the show] again,'" Goulding recounted. Her response was one of frustration and disbelief: "I was like, 'Well, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to have to die?' There were things like that: 'If you don't do this, you will get repercussions.'"
A Changed Industry Landscape
Despite these difficult memories, Goulding expressed optimism about improvements within the music industry. "I do feel now there is more in place to ensure that we're OK," she noted, suggesting that support systems for artists' wellbeing have evolved since her early career struggles.
Her candid revelations provide a stark look behind the glamorous facade of pop stardom, highlighting the physical sacrifices and health challenges artists sometimes endure to maintain their careers and meet professional obligations, even at prestigious events like Coachella.
