James JohnsonThe former Pussycat Doll turned Broadway leading lady earns a standing ovation and finds her voice — and home — on theater’s biggest stage
New York City, June 8, 2025 — Under the shimmering lights of Radio City Music Hall, Nicole Scherzinger shed more than just tears — she shed years of feeling unseen, unrecognized, and unfulfilled. On Broadway’s biggest night, the multitalented artist took center stage and claimed her long-overdue spotlight, winning the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her show-stopping portrayal of Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd.
Just moments after delivering a breathtaking rendition of “As If We Never Said Goodbye” that brought the audience to its feet, the 46-year-old performer accepted her first Tony in an emotionally charged speech that resonated with dreamers everywhere.
A Triumphant Broadway Debut
The former Pussycat Dolls singer bested a formidable lineup of theater veterans — Megan Hilty (Death Becomes Her), Audra McDonald (Gypsy), Jasmine Amy Rogers (BOOP! The Musical), and Jennifer Simard (Death Becomes Her).
Through tears, Scherzinger expressed heartfelt gratitude:
“I just have to thank God for carrying me every step of the way. I give you all the glory.”
Calling her fellow nominees “exceptional warrior women,” she honored their artistry while humbly embracing her own long-awaited place among them.
A Journey of Belonging and Breakthrough
In a deeply personal moment, Scherzinger addressed her heritage and upbringing:
“Thank you to the Tonys for making this little Hawaiian-Ukrainian-Filipino girl’s dream come true.”
She paid tribute to her mother, who had her at just 18 and “gave everything up” for her. She also acknowledged her fiancé, former Scottish rugby player Thom Evans, whom she thanked for “believing in me when I forget to believe in myself.”
Then, as her voice cracked with emotion, Scherzinger delivered a message of hope to anyone who has ever felt out of place:
“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong, but you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home at last.
So if there is anyone who feels like they don’t belong or your time hasn’t come — don’t give up. Just keep on giving and giving, because the world needs your love and light more than ever. This is a testament that love always wins.”
From Pop Stardom to Broadway Royalty
Scherzinger’s critically acclaimed performance in Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Sunset Blvd. — which transferred from London to Broadway in October 2024 — marked a transformative turn in her career. As Norma Desmond, the faded silent film icon grasping at lost stardom, Scherzinger brought raw power, vulnerability, and haunting beauty to the stage, captivating critics and audiences alike.
“I’ve never been more happy,” Scherzinger recently told PEOPLE. “I always had so much inside of me that I felt like people didn’t see or understand. It just feels good now to be able to share that with the world.”
With direction from Andrew Lloyd Webber himself, Scherzinger found an artistic home in the world of musical theater — one she long dreamed of.
“This is a dream that I’ve had since I was a kid,” she shared. “And to finally realize my dream… I really feel, to quote one of my lines in Sunset, that ‘I have come home at last.’”
A Moment That Mattered
As the spotlight bathed her in warmth and the audience roared in appreciation, Scherzinger’s victory became more than just an award — it became a declaration.
From pop stardom to Broadway brilliance, Nicole Scherzinger has nothing left to prove — but everything to give. Her performance, her voice, and her vulnerability have solidified her as a leading lady not just in theater, but in the hearts of everyone watching.
And in the words she left us with — “Don’t give up” — she reminded the world that dreams deferred are not dreams denied.
