Why Nicole Scherzinger is ‘not just a puppet anymore’

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Just four months after winning a Tony Award for her powerful performance as Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard,” Nicole Scherzinger is back in the same rehearsal room where she worked so hard to achieve that success.

She gestures around the intimate cabaret, located inside the Sun Rose hotel on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, and says, ‘I made this happen.’

In 2022, Nicole Scherzinger, famous as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls, performed a series of small concerts at the Sun Rose venue. These shows highlighted her lifelong passion for musical theater, which began during her childhood in Louisville, Kentucky. The performances caught the attention of industry professionals, leading to her being cast in a new, minimalist production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1990s drama about a former movie star with a dark side.

Jamie Lloyd’s production of the musical was a strikingly modern and intense experience. It first captivated audiences in London’s West End before transferring to Broadway for a successful ten-month run, earning Nicole Scherzinger critical acclaim and a major theater award. While preparing for a concert this Thursday at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the 47-year-old Scherzinger reflected on the show, enjoying hot water and ginger while wearing a Gucci sweatsuit with heels.

I was actively seeking opportunities to perform in musical theater. I was essentially saying, ‘I’m ready and willing – give me a chance!’ But people mostly knew me as a pop artist and weren’t willing to consider me for musical roles. So, I decided to show everyone my background and passion – my true calling is performing on stage.

I wasn’t allowed to audition for the musical “Cats,” but it actually worked out for the best.

You’re talking about the crummy movie version from 2019.
That was God protecting me.

Music

This weekend, a popular singer known for blending pop and classical music will perform at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He’s famous for his powerful voice and wide range of songs.

I recently spoke with Josh Groban, and he explained the difference between the Grammys and the Tonys. He pointed out that the Grammys are very competitive, while the Tonys feel much more supportive because everyone understands the challenges of live theater. I completely agree. Broadway is incredibly demanding. It’s not about fame or social media; it’s about pushing yourself night after night because you love the work and want to connect with the audience. The music industry is cutthroat—it’s all about staying popular. But the Broadway community doesn’t care about that. They value artistic integrity and dedication.

Honestly, revisiting that final “Sunset” performance in July feels like reliving a dream. It was a truly incredible day – aside from the relief of my mother’s two successful open-heart surgeries, it stands out as the best day of my life. The energy, the emotion… it was unforgettable.

Honestly, I really wanted to win the Tony Award. I dedicated everything to playing Norma Desmond and worked incredibly hard. But ultimately, the award wasn’t up to me. What truly mattered was performing the show – it was a gift to be able to explore and expose those raw, vulnerable, and even difficult parts of ourselves. Theater is unique in that way. You just can’t achieve that same level of honesty and self-expression in the music world.

Jamie Lloyd told Variety you were remarkably unconcerned with your appearance on the show. Is that true?

Honestly, have you seen what I looked like at the start? I was very particular about everything – the heels I wanted, the exact leopard print for my caftans. When the cameras were introduced, I immediately directed them to film from only one angle, demanding they capture the best possible image. But all of that had to be let go. I intentionally shed all that vanity so people could see the real me. That’s when the work truly becomes meaningful, and I embraced it. It was incredibly liberating to stop caring about how I looked.

Performing is one thing, but being a well-known figure in everyday life is different. How do you stay grounded when you’re just running errands, like at a grocery store? The answer is simple: sunglasses and a hat.

Your success in “Sunset Boulevard” clearly vindicated that feeling you had when people weren’t taking you seriously for musicals. But what if you’d taken this role about a Hollywood has-been and the show flopped?
It would never have flopped. That’s not how I work.

It’s impossible to control every outcome. Even if the project didn’t succeed as planned, it didn’t diminish what Jamie and I – and the whole team – had discovered. I understood Norma from the moment Jamie told me to simply focus on the script. Despite how unusual she seemed to others, she felt completely logical to me. I believed her story hadn’t been told authentically, and I wanted to portray her as a real person, rather than through the lens of someone else labeling her as eccentric or lost, as had happened with portrayals like Gloria Swanson’s. I wanted to show that she was simply misunderstood.

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The film Sunset Boulevard really makes you consider the impact of fame on people. It made me wonder how celebrity culture has evolved since I started my career. It’s drastically different now – there’s a lack of mystique, and it seems like anyone can become famous. You don’t need to be a talented artist or skilled craftsperson to achieve fame or even be admired.

Is it a positive or negative development? I don’t think it’s particularly good. The advent of the smartphone has completely altered things, but there’s now an overwhelming amount of distraction and noise in our lives.

The phone has fundamentally changed how people connect with celebrities and public figures. It feels like everyone has constant access, and there’s pressure to share your own life just to keep up with others who are openly sharing everything. It’s as if you’re left out if you don’t participate.

Remember the controversy last year with Russell Brand’s photo? He shared a picture wearing a red hat similar to Trump’s, but it said “Make Jesus First Again,” and people immediately wanted to know where they could buy one. It caused a lot of negative reactions. Honestly, I think it’s awful. I’ve said before that I wish we could just stop the practice of ‘canceling’ people. I’ve never really been involved in politics, and that definitely came back to haunt me. The only time I’ve actively campaigned was when I supported Obama back in 2008.

That’s not nothing.
But it’s not my forte. I’m not educated. It just feels so divisive to me.

I’m happy to share that the legal issues with Pussycat Dolls founder Robin Antin have been resolved. It was a regrettable situation that shouldn’t have happened, but I’m not at fault. I’m optimistic and looking forward to what the future holds for the group, and I believe things are moving in a positive direction.

The group really feels like the perfect example of pop music from the early 2000s, and I doubt they’d be successful if they started today. It’s not just that they couldn’t exist now, but they shouldn’t. People have changed, and there’s much more openness, inclusivity, and acceptance. The original idea behind the group came from a time when women were expected to focus on appearance to attract men—that was considered attractive. Now, being sexy is about feeling good for yourself. True strength comes from self-acceptance, not pretending to be strong to impress others.

If I were to revisit my work with The Dolls, it would need to feel right to me as I am now. I can’t recapture the past, and I even wrote a song called “Never Going Back” to express that. I’ve grown and changed too much to regress, and I’m no longer someone who just follows orders. At 87 years old, I’m confident in my decisions and know what I’m doing.

It seems like getting the band back together would require a complete makeover, so what’s the point? But the songs are just too good to let go. That’s the power of nostalgia. If I had the time, I’d be front and center at a New Kids on the Block concert. Tracks like “The Right Stuff” and “Please Don’t Go Girl” are classics!

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What was the Pussycat Dolls’ finest musical moment?
“Stickwitu.” That gave us a Grammy nomination.

At the 2007 Grammys, you were nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, but The Black Eyed Peas won with their song “My Humps.” Interestingly, that song was originally written for you.

You know, Will.i.am and I go way back – he’s like family in the music business. I actually auditioned for the Pussycat Dolls with him there, and even before that, he wanted me to join his group. It just didn’t feel like the right fit at the time; Fergie was the perfect person for that role. Ultimately, I was destined to lead the Pussycat Dolls, and it all worked out. It’s funny, he even ended up writing a song for the Dolls, which was amazing!

You’re well-known as a judge on popular singing competitions like “The Sing-Off,” “The X Factor,” and “The Masked Singer,” and you’re continuing that work with “Building the Band.”

Have you ever worried about work making you lose your edge as a performer? Jamie Lloyd told me right away, when we started working together, that I was one of the best and didn’t want to see me doing those kinds of shows again. I told him, ‘Look, I have a family to support, and I didn’t grow up with money.’ Those shows pay the bills.

If I were to create a new album today, I’d love it to be a collection of musical theater songs. I’ve been performing concerts recently, and it’s made me realize how much I connect with those songs and the roles I’ve always dreamed of playing. Actually, I’ve been songwriting a lot lately, so I’m already well on my way to having a finished album!

So, what does it sound like? It’s definitely pop music, but with a bit of an interesting twist. Some songs are upbeat and danceable, while others are more personal and focus on songwriting. If I had to describe it now, I’d say it’s called ‘Warrior’ – it’s full of songs meant to make you feel strong and confident.

Review

Chappell Roan was born to do this

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter, 27, kicked off the first of two concerts in Pasadena on Friday night with her Visions of Damsels & Other Dangerous Things tour.

Do you think people would be interested in that? Absolutely! Everyone wants music that’s meaningful and inspiring, especially when times are tough. Look at the popularity of groups like ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ – their lyrics are positive and genuinely uplifting, not corny at all.

Honestly, “KPop Demon Hunters” is pretty corny. But it’s the kind of corny that becomes hugely popular – like, Swiss cheese with holes all over the world. Everyone wants a piece of that. What I’m trying to say is my music isn’t like that. It’s not trying to teach you a lesson; it’s raw and authentic.

It’s obvious the pop music world isn’t designed for women my age – 47, or even 30. You don’t need me to explain that.

Does that seem intimidating? Not at all. I’m confident in my abilities and wouldn’t release music just to compete with younger artists. My goal is to write a full musical – I’m a storyteller at heart, and I want to create songs that deeply move people. I’m not focused on replicating past successes; I’m looking to the future. I want to start a family and continue creating special, memorable experiences like my work on “Sunset Boulevard.”

We’re seeing a lot of performers embracing dramatic, theatrical moments, similar to Ariana Grande’s role in “Wicked” or Lady Gaga in “A Star Is Born.” I remember when Lady Gaga was an opening act for the Pussycat Dolls. She didn’t have much of a stage setup, so during transitions she’d sometimes dramatically fall to the floor, pretending we wouldn’t notice. We definitely noticed! Then she’d get up and act like we were suddenly in a completely different scene. It was illogical, but somehow it worked, and I actually understood what she was doing.

I often told my team I wanted our work to feel more dramatic and expressive, because that’s the kind of performance background I have. Lady Gaga doesn’t just perform songs—she tells stories and creates an experience for the audience. They’d push back, saying they didn’t do staged scenes or ‘skits,’ as Robin put it. But I came up through a performing arts school where I was involved in ambitious productions, like a French play and a show about the Khmer Rouge when I was just 14. That’s how I first got into the arts, and I want to bring that kind of storytelling and passion to everything we do.

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2025-10-30 13:32