France's Carla Bruni to sing on British TV

LONDON (Reuters) - France's first lady Carla Bruni will perform live on a British television show this month that will also feature former Beatle Paul McCartney and U.S. heavy metal band Metallica.

BBC television said Bruni, 40, who married French President Nicolas Sarkozy in February, will sing songs from her latest album "Comme si de rien n'etait" (As if nothing had happened), for the "Later... with Jools Holland" show on Sept 16.

Bruni, an Italian-born naturalised French citizen, was last in Britain in March when she accompanied her husband on a state visit, staying with Queen Elizabeth at Windsor Castle.

The BBC said Metallica will perform tracks from their ninth studio album, "Death Magnetic." The band is one of the most successful and longest-running heavy metal acts.

The Fireman, which is a collaboration between McCartney and Youth, will be previewing songs from their forthcoming third album.

(Reporting by Matthew Jones; editing by Patricia Reaney)