Gregory Porter on why he 'doesn't get recognised' without famous hat – 'it is what it is'

Gregory Porter will perform on Sunday, December 19, at The Royal Variety Performance, alongside fellow celebrities Ed Sheeran, Rod Stewart, Anne-Marie, James Blunt, and more. The programme will be shown on ITV at 7:20pm.

In 2020, Gregory shared details about his hat once again, saying that it has now officially part of his look.

In an interview with Metro’s Sixty Seconds, he said: “It started off covering some scars from surgery but it’s become my style.

“I was in Denver and it was cold. I was wearing five layers of clothing and I wore a hat.

“It warmed up and I thought, ‘Actually, this is comfortable, this is a look.’

“I went back to my hotel and put my hat on, and there was Gregory Porter.

“But it’s okay because people are trying to connect and take a picture and say thank you for some joy they had.

“I’m really okay with it and I always honour people and they honour me by coming to my concerts. I’m thankful.”

The singer added that he also gets recognised “for the hat” in airports.

“In the UK, they know me quite well but they don’t give me a free pass, I get fully checked and secured,” he told The Independent.

“There has been a time or two when I have been asked to sing to let them know it’s really me.

“When a person in uniform asks you to do something you are conditioned to do it.”

The global star has made headlines recently with his brand-new album, Still Rising, which was released last month and features five new tracks, two new arrangements, and nine of his most popular songs, covers, and duets.

Discussing the album with Total Entertainment, Gregory said: “This is my music up until now, but it’s not a ‘Greatest Hits’.

“They often come at the end of someone’s career, and I still feel new and young in mine.”

He added: “I have much more to say.”