Scherzinger was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to a Filipino father and a Russian/Hawaiian mother.[3] Her mother Rosemary was eighteen at the time of Scherzinger's birth and lived in an inner city neighborhood. Nicole's parents separated when she was still a baby. Her maternal family moved to Louisville, Kentucky when she was six years old,[4][5] with her sister Ke'ala and her German-American stepfather Gary Scherzinger.[5]
She stated she had a "conservative Catholic" upbringing, although she has stopped practicing Catholicism.[6] She first attended Meyzeek Middle School as an adolescent. Growing up, Nicole states that she didn't have a lot of money and the singer thanks her mom for all the support she gave her to become what she is today. Scherzinger began performing in Louisville, attending the Youth Performing Arts School at duPont Manual High School and performing with Actors Theatre of Louisville.[5] It is here that she first met her long time friend, actress Liz Davito.
As a teenager, Scherzinger was the first runner-up at the 1996 Kentucky State Fair's Coca-Cola Talent Classic contest.[3] Scherzinger majored in acting and musical theatre at Wright State University, where she played Velma in Chicago and Julie La Verne in Show Boat,[7] but put her studies on hold in 1999 to sing backing vocals for the rock band Days of the New.[8]
Scherzinger appeared on the second album by Days of the New, released in 1999. She also recorded two songs with Barry Drake's F.O.B, which were released in 2001.
In 2001, Scherzinger competed in the premiere season of The WB's television show Popstars, on which she earned a spot in the all-girl pop group Eden's Crush. She became one of the main vocalists for the group. Their 2001 US single "Get Over Yourself (Goodbye)" peaked at number one in sales and hit the top ten on Billboard Hot 100.[9] They toured in support of both *NSync and Jessica Simpson.[10] "Love This Way" was the second single chosen from the Popstars album; however, their record company, London-Sire Records, folded and the group eventually disbanded. Songwriter Kara DioGuardi contributed one track to the album, and later went on to co-write with Scherzinger for PCD, Doll Domination and Her Name Is Nicole.
In November 2007, Scherzinger spoke of her time in Eden's Crush
“ ...It was hell... I was in a band with five other girls and every day was torture for me. We were on TV all the time and the atmosphere was awful.... Every day I was in that band I cried my eyes out. The band was meant to be fun and frivolous but the reality was that it was miserable.... I was too sensitive back then, but I got toughened up. I couldn't have gone into the Dolls without my experience in Crush.[11] ”
After the disbanding of Eden's Crush, Scherzinger made a few promotional solo appearances under the stage name of Nicole Kea, including covering "Breakfast in Bed" for the soundtrack to 50 First Dates in 2003. This track was produced by Nick Hexum who was her boyfriend for three years.[12]
Scherzinger worked with Yoshiki of Japanese rock band X Japan on in his Violet UK project. She sang the English version of "I'll Be Your Love" live with the Tokyo Symphonic Orchestra. The track also appeared on the 2003 Various Artists album Exposition of Global Harmony.
In May 2003, Scherzinger joined the Pussycat Dolls burlesque troupe, who were being re-cast as recording artists. She had first seen them performing on The Late Show with David Letterman in November 2002, where Carmen Electra sang "Big Spender" from the Bob Fosse musical Sweet Charity. In 2006, Scherzinger said "It caught my eye because I’d played Velma Kelly in [Fosse's] Chicago in college."[13]
The Pussycat Dolls have worldwide status as a popular singing group, with "Don't Cha", "Buttons", "Stickwitu" and "When I Grow Up" as Top 10 hits in the United States. The album PCD went double-platinum in 2006. Scherzinger sang nearly all lead vocals on the album, with Carmit Bachar and Melody Thornton also contributing. It was revealed in 2006 that the Dolls are salaried employees of Interscope Records, giving the label a high level of control over the group's finances and business decisions.
Scherzinger on stage with the Pussycat DollsScherzinger is the only group member with songwriting credits on PCD; she co-wrote "I Don't Need a Man" with Kara DioGuardi and producer Rich Harrison, and co-wrote "Buttons" with producer Sean Garrett. Another collaboration with DioGuardi, "Flirt", became a a bonus track on PCD and later became a B-side to "Buttons" and . As with PCD, Scherzinger is the only group member to have songwriting credits on the second Dolls' album Doll Domination.
Along with the Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger was asked by Ron Fair to record the English version of "Jai Ho", the hit song from the film Slumdog Millionaire. The new version titled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" was released to iTunes on February 23 2009, and elsewhere worldwide on February 24.[14] A video accompanying the song has been shot at a Vienna train station and was released worldwide on March 13, 2009.
[edit] Solo career
Following the success of PCD Scherzinger recorded a series of duets and guest vocal appearances, predominantly with male artists. In 2005, she appeared on recordings by Shaggy, Vittorio Grigolo and Will Smith. In 2006 she sang co-lead vocals with Avant on his single "Lie About Us" , and Diddy's hit "Come to Me" (which she also co-wrote). Other appearances are listed in her discography.
In April 2008, Scherzinger recorded a cover version of "Rio" by Duran Duran for an advertising campaign for Unilever's Caress brand of body wash. A commercial video was released,[15] and the single was released via download only, after May 2008.[16] In 2008, in support of Barack Obama, she was one of many musicians to contribute to a track by will.i.am called "Yes We Can". Also on September 5, 2008, Scherzinger joined an all-star cast to perform the charity song "Just Stand Up" on live TV.
Scherzinger performed "America the Beautiful" at WWE WrestleMania XXV in Houston, TX at the Reliant Stadium on April 5, 2009.[17][18]
[edit] Her Name is Nicole
From 2006 until late 2008 Scherzinger had been working on her debut album which was titled Her Name Is Nicole. She recorded/wrote approximately 100 songs for the album which was supposed to be released in 2007 before being pushed back several times into 2008. Credits for the album included will.i.am, Timbaland, Kara DioGuardi, Ne-Yo and Pharrell Williams, Macy Gray, Akon, Busta Rhymes, and Sting. Songs explored many different themes and genres including love on the songs "Power's out" (duet with Sting) and "Baby Love" but also experimental sounds on the Hawaiian heritage-inspired "Puakenikeni" and synthesised drum beats on the Timbaland-assisted "Physical". Other known recordings included the ballad "Just Say Yes" written by Gary Lightbody and the disco-mowtown inspired "Supervillain".
Between July and December 2007 four unsuccessful singles were released and despite the album never materializing. "Whatever U Like" featured rapper T.I. failed to ignite the charts and garnered poor reviews from critics, it was later branded a club/buzz single. "Baby Love" was released as the project's new lead single and despite heavy promotion it was not commercially successful in the US although it was somewhat successful in Europe where it peaked at top 20 in several countries including the UK. "Puakenikeni" was released as a download-only third single for the US featuring rapping duo Brick & Lace but failed to chart and make any major radio playlists. US iTunes also released the fourth single "Supervillain" which did not better than the previous single.
Doubt was cast over the future of the album when the Pussycat Dolls released their second album Doll Domination which featured some of the songs which had inititally been recorded for Scherzinger's own album. "Happily Never After" and "Who's Gonna Love You" were placed directly on the album whereas additional vocals were added to "When I Grow Up" before it was released as the album's lead single.[19] Christina Milian has purchased the rights to the song "Punch You In Your Sleep" and has recorded her own version for her fourth studio album Elope.[20] Speaking about the delayed release of her solo album, in September 2008 Scherzinger said "Despite what other people might write, it was my decision, ultimately. I actually put some of my solo songs on the Pussycat Dolls' new album Doll Domination. Everything is all about timing. I believe it will come out next year, and it will be able to coexist wonderfully with the Dolls' album. It's completely separate from what you've heard with "Baby Love" and "Whatever U Like," and I'm still working on it — that's what happens when you're a perfectionist."[21]
Scherzinger was interviewed by Billboard magazine in April 2009 regarding her own career plans as well as what The Dolls were upto. She said "the current incarnation of the album is just in talks and in the writing process. I haven't started recording yet." She plans to enter the studio again after the Pussycat Dolls have finished their World Domination Tour. Speaking about the project Scherzinger said she will be working again with Will.i.am, Timbaland as well as with new associates Lady GaGa and A.R. Rahman.[22]
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[edit] Personal life
She took the surname Scherzinger when she was adopted by her stepfather.
Scherzinger met Nick Hexum of rock band 311 backstage at a Days of the New concert in 2000 or 2001. They dated and later became engaged,[23] but broke it off sometime in 2004.[24] She was the inspiration for their song "Amber" and appeared in the music video. She also dated actor Talan Torriero from 2005 to 2007.[25]
Scherzinger is currently in a relationship with 2008 Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton.[26]
She was ranked at number 22 on Maxim's Hot 100 in 2006, and 21 in 2007. She ranked number 19 in 2008 but this time along with The Pussycat Dolls. In 2009, she ranked solo again and came to be number 46.[27] Scherzinger appeared on the March 2008 cover of Men's Fitness magazine.[28]
[edit] Albums
Her Name is Nicole (unreleased/shelved)
[edit] Singles
2007: "Whatever U Like" (featuring T.I.)
2007: "Baby Love" (featuring Will.i.am)
2008: "Puakenikeni" (featuring Brick & Lace) — US iTunes download only
2008: "Supervillain" (featuring Mad Scientist) — US iTunes download only
2008: "Rio" (Unilever 'Brazilian Caress' Remix) — Promotional ad-campaign
[edit] Featured singles
2006: "Lie About Us" (Avant featuring Nicole Scherzinger)
2006: "Come to Me" (Diddy featuring Nicole Scherzinger)
2007: "You Are My Miracle" (Vittorio featuring Nicole Scherzinger)
2007: "Winning Women" (Rihanna and Nicole Scherzinger) — Promotional ad-campaign
2008: "Scream" (Timbaland featuring Keri Hilson & Nicole Scherzinger)
2009: "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" (A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzing
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