After “American Idol”, this singer moves on to an even bigger stage: Eurovision 2024

Nutsa Buzaladze was shouted at by American Idol judges when she competed last year on the 21st season of the long-running talent show. Eliminated from the top 12 on April 30, 2023, the singer from the nation of Georgia was not sitting quietly. This week she will appear in another televised song contest when she represents her country in the Eurovision Song Contest, which usually reaches a global audience in the hundreds of millions.

A year after Nutsa was interviewed in Hollywood during her tenure Idol, Advertising sign sat down with her again, this time in Malmö, Sweden, to talk about her life since then and what will be the biggest moment of her career so far.

When we spoke last year in California, I suggested that you sing for Georgia at Eurovision, and here it is. How has the last 12 months been for you?

First of all, American Idol it was the greatest thing I've ever done in my life. They gave me an open door to new opportunities. Like Lionel [Richie] he told me, “It doesn't matter what number, you're a star.” American Idol it was an appetizer for my international career. Being up Idol it makes your life so much easier because people look at you and say you're the real deal. I have an agent in America and he had me perform the National Anthem at a Lakers game and a Dodgers game. I had an amazing summer living in Miami and was in the Hamptons for a weekend when I was a producer [with Georgia’s national broadcaster] he called and said: “Nutsa, we are thinking about you representing your country at Eurovision. When will you come to Georgia?'

So you said yes to Eurovision?

I told them I had only one condition: I would deal with every detail. And they said, “Yeah, sure. We want you to be at your best. We want you to sing the song you like to sing.” So I had the freedom to be myself and not someone they want me to be and that's the biggest thing they've done for me. And it's coming from the show's director.

You sing “Firefighter” as the Georgian entry. Who found the song?

We had an open call. We received amazing songs and listened to all 300. We had three favourites, and we chose one that I feel very confident about. “Firefighter” was by Darko Dimitrov, a Macedonian producer who has a lot of Eurovision experience. The lyrics were written by Ada Skitka from Estonia. I really liked the song, but only the chorus. I flew from Miami to Macedonia and we spent three days in the studio finishing the song. It was a very creative process.

What does representing Georgia at Eurovision mean to you?

I have loved my country since I was a very little girl. Because of the history of my country and our people, I want to make them proud. I want to show the world how great Georgia is and how many talented people we have. We are a very small nation and that makes me all the more motivated to put Georgia on the map wherever I can. Because especially in America they think that Georgia is a state.

You fought Idol and now you are competing in Eurovision again. What do you think of the contest?

I don't really think of it as a competition, to be honest. I'm doing it for my career and I'm doing it to get better and have more experience, because all my life I've wanted to have a career where you can go everywhere and sing everywhere. Not only in my country, but everywhere. I think the big competitions give you the chance to be heard by millions and millions of people and that's the main reason I do it. I don't like to compete with anyone. The only person I always compete with is myself, because I always want to do something bigger and better.

Wat was the main lesson learned during your run American Idol?

On american idol, I realized I had done hard work before, but Idol it is the hardest work. I pushed myself to the limit. When I was in my hotel room, I cried because I was so emotionally drained. When we did the live shows it was better. I became friends with the contestants and then I became friends with the crew.

What are your plans for your career after Eurovision?

My new single will be released on May 12th. I shot a music video before flying to Malmö. The song is called “Mother's Day” and I am releasing it on Mother's Day. It's for my mom and she's with me in the music video. I'm sure many will cry because I love my mother so much and I wanted to have a song for her.

What else is waiting?

There is other news that I haven't told anyone, so I've saved it Advertising sign. I have been invited to audition for Broadway on May 11th [the same day as Eurovision]. So I have to go to New York as soon as possible for that.

Can you tell me about which show?

I don't think they want me. It's a modern musical. The character they want me to play is very close to who I am in real life and the voice of that character in the songs is my style.

Nutsa Buzaladze will sing “Firefighter” in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on Tuesday (May 7) in Malmö, Sweden. The live broadcast can be seen in the US on Peacock at 3pm. ET. If “Firefighter” is one of the 10 songs from the 15 semi-final entries to advance to the grand final, she will perform the song again on Saturday (May 11). This four-hour show will air on the Peacock, also at 3 p.m. ET.