Holly Humberstone, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter from Grantham, has spent years opening for megastars like Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo, but now she's stepping into the spotlight with her own headlining tour and a Top 10 UK album, Cruel World. Despite her rising fame, she remains grounded, preferring artistic satisfaction over fortune.
From the Midlands to the World Stage
Humberstone moved from Grantham to London a few years ago, but her career kept her on the road. She has supported Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Fender, and Girl in Red, playing to stadiums of up to 90,000 people. Now, her Cruel World tour takes her across Europe and North America, with performances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and SNL UK, and a slot at Coachella.
The Pressure of Headlining
Humberstone finds headlining more nerve-wracking than supporting. “It’s less pressure to be a support act,” she says. “The pressure [as a headliner] comes down to ‘They’ve spent 30 quid on a ticket, they’ve made the journey.’” She jokes about her time supporting Rodrigo: “At least they haven’t spent their money on crap — on me — and they get Olivia, who’s great.”
Finding Normalcy After Touring
After years of touring, Humberstone embraced normalcy in 2025, spending time with friends and family. “I feel like this industry is so all-consuming and overwhelming, and you are constantly looking ahead at what’s left to achieve,” she says. “Writing this album was the first time that I actually had a chance to step away from being an artist and try to figure out who I am as a person.”
The Making of Cruel World
Her album Cruel World is deeply personal, exploring long-distance relationships, breakups, and self-worth. Songs like Red Chevy and To Love Somebody have become fan favorites. Humberstone’s songwriting often starts in her notes app, with fragments collected over months. “Make It All Better was so quick to write,” she says. “We made it in like a day. It just felt like a stream of consciousness.”
No Goals, Just Gratitude
Humberstone avoids setting career goals. “I’ve stopped setting myself goals because I feel like it’s an unhealthy way of looking at your career,” she explains. “If I think back to my 11-year-old self, the absolute dream of getting to do this. I’d just be happy with this. I’ve way surpassed what I thought was possible.”
