Kelly Glad He Beat Fear Of Flying

R&B superstar R. KELLY is thankful he has overcome his fear of flying because the “warm welcome” he received upon touching down in Africa last year (09) was unbelievable.

The singer has suffered the crippling fear for years, but finally decided to face his problem head-on in 2009, when he launched his first tour of Africa.

And he’s happy he did - because otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to participate in this summer’s (10) World Cup celebrations in South Africa, where he is due to perform his track Sign of a Victory, which has been chosen as the soccer championship’s official anthem.

He tells the Associated Press, “I always said, ‘I can’t get on the plane, I can’t get on the plane.’ But when I finally did get up the nerve to get on the plane and come on over to Africa, the welcome was so unbelievably warm. It was just so touching that I couldn’t believe it.”

Kelly will hit the stage at the soccer championship’s opening ceremony on Friday (11Jun10).

Alicia Keys, Shakira, K’Naan and Mali duo Amadou & Mariam are also in South Africa for concerts linked to the soccer tournament, which begins on Friday when host nation South Africa take on Mexico.