Birthday boy Daniel O’Donnell has revealed he “deliberately” talks slowly so foreign fans can understand him.
And the Donegal singer, who turned 60 today, opened up about how he’s fine with people imitating his voice – though he feels they exaggerate.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “Ah sure, I don’t mind, but I always think when people start taking me off, they talk too slow – really slow.
“When I started out I found people couldn’t understand me on the stage.
“So I deliberately slowed down my speech. When I’m out in America and I speak the way I normally do, people in another country don’t understand me.”
The country music legend also revealed the secret to his youthful skin is using €3-a-tub bathroom staple Silcock’s Base as a moisturiser.
He said: “There isn’t much of a secret to my gorgeous skin. It is a bit of Silcock’s Base, I wash my face with it and then I put the same cream on afterwards.” While wife Majella uses more upmarket brands, Daniel insists he won’t be persuaded away from his budget brand.
He added: “Look I’ve tried them too but I find they can bother me, this suits me perfectly.”
Aside from Friday night’s Late Late Show, there are no other 60th bashes on the horizon.
Daniel confessed: “I’m not into big celebrations, to be honest.
“I’m not having a party – they’ve been well warned no surprise parties.
“I wouldn’t want to be gathering lots of people in the current climate.”
Daniel recently broke his own world record by becoming the first recording artist to chart at least one new album annually for 33 consecutive years. His new album‘Daniel O’Donnell 60 cemented his position but he puts his success down to his incredible fans.
He explained: “The fans have been so loyal, as soon as an album is out they are out there buying it.”
In the video that went viral for Daniel’s new hit single Down At The Lah De Dah, the singer is seen donning a Hawaiian shirt.
He said: “The guys who put the video together have a company called React Productions, Sean Dugan and Ciaran McCann.
“They’re local lads – you can’t see what my physique is like, when I’ve my shirt off I’m not that handy.”
And Daniel has no plans to quit any day soon. He added: “I don’t think I’ll ever retire – I have curtailed my travelling a little bit, going forward I like to enjoy my time at home.”
Majella missed Friday’s Late Late Show tribute to her huband because she is grieving the death of a close friend.
Daniel explained to host Ryan Tubridy that his wife is “fine” but feeling the loss.
He said: “First of all I want people to know she’s fine. But sadly, a friend of hers that she’s been friendly with, there was three of these girls, her being one.
“They worked together over 30 years ago in Edinburgh and they remained friends all the way through.
“Sadly, one of the girls died last week.”
Despite her heartbreak, Majella wanted the tribute show to go ahead.
Daniel added: “Majella obviously is very sad, but wanted tonight to go on.”
Cliff Richard, Garth Brooks and Nathan Carter were among those paying tribute to the Donegal star on the show.
