HOT 102.7FM A Star is Born

A Star is Born

A Star Is Born is a special HOT1027 News feature that celebrates the legendary artists behind the music we love. On an artist’s birthday, we take listeners on a nostalgic, audio-rich journey through their life — from early struggles and breakthrough moments to the songs that defined an era. Using carefully selected music and the artist’s own words from rare interviews, A Star Is Born honours the stories, setbacks and successes that turned raw talent into timeless hits.
Weekly English South Africa Music
14 Episodes

Episode 13: Celine Dion: "Maybe I won't sing again..."

Today marks the 58th birthday of global superstar Celine Dion — a record-breaking performer whose Las Vegas shows have become some of the most successful in music history. After years of quietly battling a rare neurological condition that forced her off stage, she made a breathtaking return at the Paris…
30 Mar 2 min

Episode 12: Mariah Carey: "It's what saved me..."

Today marks the 57th birthday of global superstar - Mariah Carey — one of the most recognisable voices in music history. Bursting onto the scene at just 20 years old….. she quickly became one of the biggest stars in the world. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp has more…
27 Mar 2 min

Episode 11: Diana Ross: "My first performance was in Church"

Today, Diana Ross turns 82 — and few artists have shaped popular music quite like she has. From a little girl in Detroit’s Brewster housing projects to Motown royalty, movie stardom and a solo career packed with global hits, Ross didn’t just perform the soundtrack of an era — she…
26 Mar 2 min

Episode 10: Elton John: "I'm the luckiest man in the world"

Elton John turns 79 today. From “Rocket Man” to “Your Song”, Elton John has given generations the soundtrack to love, heartbreak, reinvention and survival. But behind the glitter, the fame and the piano hooks was a man searching for something much more human.
25 Mar 2 min

Episode 9: George Benson: "I had my first payday at 7"

Today, one of the smoothest voices — and most unmistakable guitarists — in music turns 83. From the streets of Pittsburgh to global superstardom, George Benson changed the sound of jazz, soul and R&B forever. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…
22 Mar 2 min

Episode 8: Irene Cara : The voice that was everywhere

Today would've been the 67th birthday of singer and actress Irene Cara — the voice behind two of the most iconic movie songs of the 1980's. From "Fame" to "Flashdance"...her music helped define the sound of an era — winning her an Oscar and a Grammy. She died in 2022…
18 Mar 2 min

Episode 7: Chris Rea :"I'm not a very good popstar"

Today would have been Chris Rea’s 75th birthday. The singer , songwriter and guitarist passed away just a few days before Christmas last year, leaving behind a legacy of soundtracks that still land as well today as they did when he wrote them. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…
4 Mar 2 min

Episode 5: Ali Campbell: "Reggae is my home"

Ali Campbell turns 67 today. From Birmingham to the world, his band UB40 helped turn reggae into pop history with Ali’s voice right at the centre of it. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…
15 Feb 2 min

Episode 4: Robbie Williams: "I was running away from responsibility"

Today marks the 52nd birthday of one of Britain’s most successful - and complicated - pop stars, Robbie Williams. Williams now holds the record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist in UK chart history. But behind the bravado of a showman is a story of insecurity, addiction,…
13 Feb 2 min

Episode 3: Bob Marley: "My life is for people"

Today would have been Bob Marley's 81st birthday. The reggae legend's music, carried messages of peace, resistance and change around the world. But behind Marley's unmistakable voice and global success was a far more complex man. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp takes a look …
6 Feb 2 min

Episode 2: Rick Astley: "The songs are bigger than you"

He gave the world one of the most recognisable pop songs of all time — and then walked away from fame at its peak. And today, Rick Astley turns 60 after conquering the charts, surviving the pop machine, and finding a second life - decades after the song that took…
6 Feb 2 min

Episode 1: Phil Collins: "I'm a drummer who does a bit of singing"

Today, Phil Collins turns 75 — the drummer who became one of the biggest voices in pop and rock, first with Genesis, then on his own. From "In The Air Tonight" to "Against All Odds" and "Another Day In Paradise", he sound-tracked an era — in an incredible career that…
30 Jan 2 min