All the favourites to sing next James Bond theme song – from a UK pop princess to boyband icon

Speculation is currently rife about who will step into Daniel Craig’s shiny shoes and play the next James Bond, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson currently the frontrunner.

With all that chatter, of course, come rumours about which musician will sing the next movie’s theme tune.

Previously, megastars including Adele and Billie Eilish have lent their vocals to the 007 franchise, with Skyfall (2012) and No Time To Die (2020) already becoming favourites among action fans.

Sam Smith also delivered a powerful theme tune in the form of 2015’s Writing’s On The Wall from Spectre, while even Madonna has played her part, performing Die Another Day in 2002, marking Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as Bond.

It’s currently unknown who will step into the recording booth and belt out the tune for the next instalment, but that hasn’t stopped people from getting their predictions in early.

Who do you think will follow in the footsteps of Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir Paul McCartney? Here are the contenders…

Dua Lipa

It’s been one hell of a year for Dua Lipa, who has released smash hit singles such as Training Season and Illusion, with her third studio album, Radical Optimism, topping the charts in the UK and across Europe.

She also headlined Glastonbury, with thousands of revellers eating out of the palm of her hand as she commanded attention on the Pyramid Stage.

So, it probably comes as no surprise that she’s the current favourite to sing the next Bond theme song.

According to Gambling.com, she sits at 6/4.

Speaking previously, the site’s entertainment expert James Leyfield told : ‘Dua Lipa is among the frontrunners to be the next Bond Girl, and it’s thought she could provide a two-for-one deal for savvy Bond bosses.

‘Should the Glastonbury headliner be cast in the movie, she will no doubt be a shoo-in to also perform the theme tune.’

This certainly wouldn’t be the first time the Grammy winner has played a key role in a major Hollywood production.

Recently, the Don’t Start Now hitmaker began dipping her toe into the acting waters, having nabbed small roles spy caper Argylle, as well as Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, the soundtrack of the latter featuring her bop Dance The Night.

Sabrina Carpenter

We can probably all agree that Sabrina Carpenter has had the song of the year with her summer tune Espresso.

The pint-sized pop girl’s career has rocketed over the past 18 months, with songs such as Nonsense and Feather reaching viral fame on TikTok, and music videos Please Please Please and Taste securing cameos from A-listers Barry Keoghan and Jenna Ortega, respectively.

Sabrina recently embarked on her first arena tour, which comes after she opened for Taylor Swift on her international Eras Tour.

She also looks the part if we’re talking about Bond Girls, with her signature blonde, bouncy tresses bagging her deals with major beauty brands and her trademark lipstick combos becoming the talk of Instagram.

The Juno singer’s odds of voicing the next Bond theme are currently 2/1.

Perhaps in a peculiar moment of foreshadowing, Sabrina does already have a song called Diamonds Are Forever, which is featured on her third studio album, Singular: Act I.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga? Singing the next James Bond theme song? Surely it just makes sense.

The Bad Romance hitmaker is certainly no stranger when it comes to combining her two worlds of acting and singing.

In 2018, she starred opposite Bradley Cooper in the musical romantic drama A Star is Born. The film earned many prestigious accolades, with Shallow winning best original song at the 76th Golden Globe Awards.

More recently, Gaga joined Joaquin Phoenix in Joker: Folie à Deux, playing Harle Quinn.

In conjunction with the blockbuster, she released a covers album. This features her renditions of timeless classics, such as Judy Garland’s Get Happy, proving (well, not that we needed any convincing) that she’s got the soulful pipes required to sing something as big as a Bond theme.

Her odds are 5/2.

Taylor Swift

With her phenomenally successful Eras Tour about to end, what better way for Taylor Swift to fill her time than by effortlessly penning a Bond theme song?

The global star has plenty of experience when it comes to films, from the Hannah Montana movie to Valentine’s Day to Cats.

So, it comes as no surprise that she’s been tipped for 007, with BetIdeas.com spokesperson Lee Astley saying that Taylor is certainly not to be taken out of the running.

‘Taylor Swift has been a force to be reckoned with over the past year or so and her seven-award haul at the VMAs this year has her as a brand-new entry in the market to sing the next Bond theme song.’

Lee continued to praise Taylor’s ‘dulcet tones’, which would fit perfectly on a Bond soundtrack,

Taylor’s odds are currently at 3/1.

Harry Styles

Harry Styles has taken time away from the limelight in recent months, having kept a low profile since his mammoth world tour ended.

Fans are now eagerly anticipating the announcement of his fourth solo album, given that there have been rumblings on the music scene that he’s getting ready to release new music.

The former One Direction member has been a favourite for the Bond theme for a while, with William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps previously saying: ‘With elements of next James Bond film being discussed in more concise detail, it seems increasingly likely that Harry Styles could be the voice we hear in the opening titles of 007’s next excursion.’

Hazza has also made it known that he’s a Bond fan, and a few years back did say he wouldn’t turn down the chance to play the secret agent.

‘I mean, who wouldn’t (want to be Bond)?’, he said on Hits Radio in 2019.

‘I grew up watching those. You know, I loved him when I was a kid.

‘So I think it’s kind of everyone’s dream a little bit, right?’

Harry’s odds currently sit at 5/1.

Sir Elton John

He may have retired from decades of touring, but that doesn’t mean to say we’ll never get new music from Sir Elton John again.

The Your Song hitmaker is probably a more traditional choice for the next theme song, along with the likes of songwriter Ed Sheeran.

Therefore, his odds are slightly lower at 11/2, while Ed’s are 7/2.

However, it would certainly be a stellar moment for music, as Sir Elton would join the Bond Hall of Fame alongside the greats – Louis Armstrong, Nancy Sinatra, and Sir Tom Jones.

It’ll probably come as a surprise that Sir Elton has never sung a Bond theme, so could the franchise’s 26th film be the Rocketman’s time to shine?

As well as all of those, SZA has odds of 4/1, Celine Dion is at 6/1, and Megan The Stallion is 13/2.

Lana Del Rey is another contender, with odds of 7/1, with the singer herself revealing in May that she had actually written one of her past songs for a Bond movie – and had it rejected.

Her ‘dark’ and ‘broody’ vocal talents have already been praised by experts for the gig, with Lana making it clear she’d love to be involved in Bond somehow.

‘I mean, how has that not happened?’ she said previously.

Rounding off the list we have Lewis Capaldi, whose odds are 8/1, Ellie Goulding at 10/1, and Raye at 12/1.

Who do you want to sing the next James Bond theme?