Little Mix worry their US fans won’t understand their accents.
The ‘Wings’ group are set to perform their first North American headline tour in September and October and admit their strong regional accents have already left interviewers Stateside baffled.
Jade Thirlwall – who was born in South Shields, North East England – told the Daily Star newspaper: "I hope they can understand me. I’ve had to slow down my talking a bit and sound a bit more proper – even my name they don’t understand.
"At radio stations they call me Jeed because they can’t get Jade."
The group’s ‘Salute’ stage spectacle kicks off in Florida on September 10 and the announcement puts paid to speculation Little Mix will support One Direction – which features Perry Edwards’ fiance Zayn Malik – on their tour.
However, Jade insists fans shouldn’t rule out the two acts sharing a stage in the future.
She added: "Who knows in the future, never say never."
When the 16-date tour was announced earlier this week, Jade – who is joined in the group by Perrie, Jesy Nelson and Leigh-Anne Pinnock – hailed the news as a "dream come true".
She tweeted: "So glad the #SaluteTourUSA is out there,couldn’t hold it in any longer! #dreamcometrue thanks to our mixers for makin it possible! Xxjadexx.(sic)"