Singer very nearly changed name (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
vera lynn
'singer' is the definition.
'very nearly changed name' is the wordplay.
'very' becomes 'v' (abbreviation).
'changed' indicates an anagram.
'name' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation e.g. on forms).
'nearly' is an anagram of 'eralyn'.
'v'+'eralyn'+'n'='VERA LYNN'
(Other definitions for vera lynn that I've seen before include "Singing Dame of WWII" , "White Cliffs of Dover singer, b.1917" .)