Ronan Keating Prepares New Album, Announces Tour and Carreras & Friends Performance

Ronan Keating is in the middle of producing a new studio album, according to a recent interview with Billboard. The Irish singer‑songwriter, who is 49 and based in Dubai, said he has already recorded the first single, a collaboration with Ed Sheeran, and that the album is about halfway finished. Keating added that the project is still untitled and that he plans to release it soon.

Keating’s career has been marked by chart success. He has earned nine UK No. 1 singles and nine No. 1 albums in total, combining his solo work with his time in Boyzone. As a solo artist he has three UK No. 1 singles—including the 2000 hit “Life Is A Rollercoaster”—and four No. 1 albums. With Boyzone he added six UK No. 1 singles and five No. 1 albums. The singer has sold more than 20 million records worldwide as a solo act and an additional 25 million with Boyzone.

The past few years have been a period of personal loss for Keating. He lost his brother, Ciaran, in a car accident in 2023, and he also mourned the death of former Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately in 2009. In the Billboard interview, Keating said, “I do find clarity, calm, in those moments when I’m on stage.” He explained that he struggled to write a song about Ciaran for two years, but a songwriting session in Australia with his wife, Storm, broke that block. “The two of us spent the afternoon just sitting and writing. I had the guitar and we wrote this song. It was the first song I’d written since my brother died,” he told Billboard.

The new album will feature the first single with Ed Sheeran and Wheatus frontman Brendan Brown. Keating said the trio wrote the track earlier in the year and that it will serve as the album’s lead single. He added, “We’re about halfway through the album. And I can definitely say that the first single will be with Ed and Brendan Brown. The three of us wrote the song earlier in the year, and it was just one of those moments. I knew this is going to be a big moment.” No release date has been announced, but Keating expressed excitement about the project’s direction.

Keating is also preparing for the 26th anniversary tour of his 2000 single “Life Is A Rollercoaster.” The tour began on July 18 at Newbury Racecourse in the UK and will continue through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and other European markets during the summer. The tour’s name and dates are being promoted on the artist’s official website and through ticketing partners.

In addition to the tour, Keating will perform at the Carreras & Friends concert on December 5 at Gabba Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. The event will feature José Carreras alongside other international artists such as Robbie Williams, the Corrs, and Natalie Imbruglia. Keating said he is “very excited to finally get to sing with Jose” and recalled his 1998 duet with Luciano Pavarotti on Boyzone’s “No Matter What.” He added, “I was lucky enough to sing with Pavarotti back in 1998. He’s on my list. I remember that moment when The Three Tenors stood up and sang ‘Nessun Dorma’ at the 1990 World Cup. That was a moment that will go down in history as one of the great musical moments of our generation.” The concert is part of Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Keating’s current focus remains the new album and the upcoming performances. He has not yet announced a title or release date, but the collaboration with Ed Sheeran and Brendan Brown signals a new creative direction. The 26th‑anniversary tour and the Carreras & Friends appearance provide a mix of nostalgia and fresh opportunities for the veteran singer. Fans and industry observers will be watching closely as the project moves toward completion and release.