“At some point, me, me, me gets a little bit dull”
– GERI HORNER
Nearly 25 years after the birth of the Spice Girls, Geri Horner is living a life that couldn’t be further from her days as a globe- trotting pop star. Lady of a 15th-century Oxfordshire manor, she seems more at home as a domestic goddess or hanging out with her horse Beauty than strutting on stage in a Union Jack dress – more Posh Spice than Ginger Spice, in fact.
When not mixing with local gentry and dropping by the local ping-pong club for a quick game, she shares her gorgeous Cotswolds abode with her husband Christian Horner. Having ‘instantly clicked’ with him when they met, Geri married the Formula 1 Red Bull team principal in 2015, and, opening up about her husband, Geri recently said: “He’s lovely, he’s a good solid guy. He’s nice and funny!”
The couple have a two-year-old son called Monty, and Geri is also mum to 12-year-old Bluebell, her daughter from a previous relationship, while Christian is father to daughter Olivia.
“Once you become a mother, you’re a mother to all children,” Geri says, describing her attempts to ‘blend’ her young family. “I feel a responsibility to make sure she feels loved and included,” she says of Christian’s daughter, adding: “It seems to be working. Nothing’s ever perfect.” Geri describes her approach to parenting as “firm but fair”, explaining: “My mother was a cleaner and I had six jobs a week, so if I see my kids wanting more toys, more this, more, more, more, I find that unattractive. I’m trying to instill gratitude in my children. If there’s no gratitude then that’s ugly.”
Geri has previously admitted that it was ‘simpler’ when she was a single mum bringing up Bluebell – “just the two of us, in a little bubble”. Explaining further, she adds: “Now I’ve got Monty there’s more support, but also more voices.”
Not that it’s stopped her adding to her family – with furred and feathered friends, that is. Another horse, three donkeys, four goats, 17 chickens,
six dogs and two kittens share the Horner home. There are also two pairs of canaries, Hillary and Donald – named after the US politician and her nemesis in the White House – who aren’t keen to mate, and Adele and Ed (named after singer Mr Sheeran), who reproduce regularly!
Geri, now 46, often posts updates of her country lifestyle on Instagram, whether she’s feeding her donkeys in her chic Dubarry boots, whipping up cakes with her Union Jack KitchenAid, doing a spot of yoga, playing with Monty or enjoying tunes on her vintage jukebox – a gift from Christian for her 45th birthday.
A self-confessed ‘relentless dreamer’ who has never lost her appetite for success, she still writes and composes songs. That takes place in between various projects including her current BBC show All Together Now, which is back for a second series. Geri has become an early riser thanks to Monty’s 5.30am wake-up time. Mulling over the delicate work/life balance conundrum, she says: “I think most people – a lot of women – are juggling, spinning plates, sometimes dropping them.”
Geri also rehearsed extensively for the hugely-anticipated Spice Girls tour, which sees four fifths of the original band play 19 dates in the UK and Ireland. But now parents, the decision to tour comes with extra consideration. Geri explains: “Bluebell said: ‘I don’t want you to go.’ Any mums out there can relate, that constant juggle and balance.”
Victoria Beckham’s decision not to sign up was blamed for the gigs almost being derailed, but in fact it was Sporty Spice who initially gave the idea the boot. “We went round to see Mel C and she said she didn’t want to do it,” says Geri. “Emma said: ‘I just want my children to see their mummy up there.’ And it really touched me. I was like, oh my God, we have to try and make something happen.”
She was also motivated to do the tour to help Mel B heal after her relationship with her former husband Stephen Belafonte. Reflecting on how she ‘could tell’ something was amiss during their marriage because ‘her walls were high’, Geri explains: “She would sometimes be quite defensive and sometimes quite vulnerable.”
” I think most people – a lot of women – are juggling, spinning plates, sometimes dropping them. ”
– GERI HORNER
A Spice Girl at heart, the Watford-born singer says: “I love the girls and am grateful to the fans and the music.” Last year she said she felt ‘sad’ that she hadn’t pulled off the reunion in time for the group’s 20th anniversary. “It was like having a boyfriend who doesn’t want to be in a relationship with you,” she said at the time, adding: “At some point you have to let it go.”
With that positive attitude, she’s able to be pragmatic about Victoria’s decision to focus on her fashion empire. “You have to respect everybody’s differences, and everybody has their time when it feels right,” she reasons. “Victoria was round here, I saw her at Christmas. There’s still support and respect for each other.”
Despite Mel B’s claims that Victoria was in talks to sign up, Geri confirms: “No, there was never a point when it was all five of us. Mel thought she could make it happen if she just kept saying it.”
There’s even talk, according to the baby of the band, Emma Bunton, of a new album with the potential of penning new material ‘during or after’ the tour. And slipping back into the role of ‘Ginger Spice’ has been easy for Geri, who says: “I was at the piano relearning Spice Up Your Life. I started singing, and automatically went into the dance routine, that’s the fun of it and what it’s all about!” But one person who is not so sure about her mum‘s moves is Bluebell. Geri jokes: “I‘ve started independent dance rehearsals, which my daughter is very embarrassed about.”
Geri’s proud of the Spice Girls’ place in history. Their ‘girl power’ mantra is perhaps even more relevant and much-needed in today’s society. Last week she famously cited Sir Winston Churchill as ‘the original Spice Girl’, and she also gave Theresa May credit for ‘standing up’ for what she’s ‘rooting for’. But although Geri’s the same outspoken, feisty Spice girl, her priorities have changed. “I used to get a sense of power when I performed, but I’ve lost my ego,” she admits. “I don’t have that drive to be a star. Maybe it’s got something to do with being a mum. At some point ‘Me, me, me’ gets a little bit dull.”
We’re in no doubt Geri’s passion for pop and performing will be burning just as bright as before!
” I used to get a sense of power when I performed, but I’ve lost my ego. I don’t have that drive to be a star. Maybe it’s got something to do with being a mum. ”
– GERI HORNER
FEATURE: MICHELLE GARNETT
PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY
