Singer Hazel O'Connor celebrated by exhibition

Hazel O'Connor has had a career stretching over five decades

An exhibition marking the life and career of the singer, songwriter and actress Hazel O'Connor opens this weekend.

The artist, famous for 1980s hits Eighth Day and Will You, has had a career stretching over five decades and produced more than 20 albums.

She was born in Coventry and the Being Hazel exhibition at the city's Music Museum will remain until the end of the year, featuring rare memorabilia and live musical performances.

O'Connor was forced to take a step back from the spotlight after a bleed on the brain in 2022 and her team said she has spent the following years slowly recovering.

A fundraising page was set up in 2025 to raise money towards her care and, in an update in December, organisers said funds were being used to modify her home and pay for a team of carers.

The 70-year-old got her own star on Coventry's Walk of Fame in 2010 and performed during the city's City of Culture festival.

Clare Hirst is a friend of Hazel O'Connor and will perform at the exhibition

O'Connor made a name for herself in the 1980 film Breaking Glass as a young singer-songwriter.

Artists including Pink, Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue have credited her as influencing their careers.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to watch the Breaking Glass film on a big screen and hear performances from saxophonist Clare Hirst and pianist Sarah Fisher, organisers said.

Both spent time touring with O'Connor and Hirst, who first met her in the early 1980s, said they had "so much fun" together.

She said they became friends after meeting at a cocktail event and described O'Connor as a "very determined person".

"If she wants to do something she will," she added.

Hirst said Being Hazel was a "lovely exhibition" and it meant a lot to see it happen.

"She's such an amazing songwriter that probably people haven't even heard half of her work," she said.

"We were hard pushed to decide which ones to do on Saturday."

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