If Cat Burns is a new name to you, chances are you won’t forget her anytime soon. The 25-year-old singer-songwriter recently captured public attention as a contestant on Celebrity Traitors, where she played the role of a Traitor alongside famous personalities like Jonathan Ross and Alan Carr. With the dramatic finale set to air next week, Cat’s determination to win £10,000 for her chosen charity has kept viewers hooked.
Tonight, Cat takes the stage on another major BBC platform: Strictly Come Dancing. Her rise in the music world continues as she promotes her latest album, How To Be Human, following her debut album Early Twenties from last year.
Cat first came to prominence with her 2020 single “Go,” which saw a resurgence in popularity through TikTok in 2022, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart. Though nominated three times for Brit Awards, she has yet to take one home.
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Beyond her flourishing career, Cat’s personal story is equally compelling. Born Catrina Burns-Temison in Streatham, London, she attended the Brit School in Croydon and inherited her musical talent from her mother, who is also a singer.
In recent years, Cat has opened up about receiving a double diagnosis: ADHD in 2021 and autism in 2023. She credits these diagnoses with helping her better understand herself, particularly how the autism diagnosis brought a sense of clarity to her life.
Reflecting on her ADHD diagnosis in an interview with BBC Newsbeat, Cat shared, “It was non-stop, thinking about experiences in school like revising and studying and all the other things I struggled with daily.” She explained how the autism diagnosis helped her comprehend the unique challenges she faces.
Cat also highlighted the difficulties faced by women and people of color in receiving appropriate diagnoses, stating, “I think it comes from the research that’s out there and the idea lots believe women can’t have autism, and then on top of that adults can’t have autism. It needs to be across the board, but especially with women and black women.”
Open about her sexuality, Cat identifies as a lesbian and spoke candidly with Gay Times about the challenges and nuances of her identity. “If you’re a Black woman, I want you to feel heard and seen. We are vulnerable people who are capable of having lots of emotions. And, being a Black queer woman adds a layer to that,” she expressed.
Her song “Free” offers a poignant insight into her experience coming out to her family. The lyrics convey her fear and eventual relief:
“If you only knew how scared I was to tell you.
Built it up so much in my head that I let you down.
If you only knew the pain I put my heart through.
Living a lie for a life can be tiring, so I choose the truth.
But you would say ‘Keep it on the low, nobody needs to know.’
They might not see you the same. But I’m too far gone, I know what I want. I know who just I am.
Now I’m free, now I’m free. There’s no way you can tell me who I’m supposed to be.”
With her honesty and courage, Cat Burns continues to inspire many — both through her music and her openness about her life’s ups and downs.