Chris Martin Instrumental in Bringing Beyoncé to Glastonbury

Didier Messens, Redferns / Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Chris Martin was instrumental in securing Beyoncé for this weekend's Glastonbury, it has emerged. Apparently apprehensive after the storm of controversy surrounding her husband Jay-Z's 2008 Glastonbury performance, it fell to close friend Martin -- of fellow headliners Coldplay -- to persuade her that playing the festival was an opportunity not to be missed.

Festival organiser Emily Eavis told the Radio Times (via Digital Spy), "Chris is a bit wary of people knowing he's been so involved. I don't know why because it's actually cool. Chris is as loyal as they come - he'll do anything for Glastonbury. He's really an unlikely frontman. Most people are a bit more all-consumed with their own thing."

Luckily for Eavis, they managed to move quickly to secure the singer before her schedule became unworkable. Eavis explained, "We spoke to Beyonce before she planned her tour this year, so she managed to put Glastonbury in her schedule, then build a European tour around it."

For Eavis, securing Beyonce's services had been her goal since watching the star perform last year. She told the festival's official website, "I went to see her live last year and was blown away by the might of the show. She has such soul, an amazing voice with an incredible, all-female band. She knows how to deliver live, and she packs a big punch -- it's gonna explode!"

She continued, "She is, I believe, the first female solo artist to headline, so it's a big moment for us. What better way to see off the Festival till 2013?"

Beyoncé will bring this year's festival to a close when she headlines the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night, June 26.