Nicole Scherzinger Artistfacts

June 29, 1978
Like Bruno Mars, Scherzinger was born in Hawaii and has multiethnic roots: Her father is Filipino and her mother is of Native Hawaiian and Ukrainian descent. When she was about 5, she moved to Louisville, Kentucky, where she "stuck out like a sore thumb." Many people assumed she was Puerto Rican, and when she started acting, she was steered toward those roles.
Scherzinger was born Nicole Valiente, but her parents divorced when she was a toddler, and a few years later when her mother married Gary Scherzinger, he adopted her and Nicole assumed his last name.
Scherzinger was a member of Eden's Crush, one of the first bands created on a TV show. The show was called Popstars, and in 2001 an American version was made for the first time. Thousands of singers auditioned, and Scherzinger made the cut along with four other girls. They had a #8 hit with their debut single, "Get Over Yourself," but broke up a short time later.
Scherzinger was the lead singer in The Pussycat Dolls, a group that started as a dance troupe in 1995 and added Scherzinger in 2003 when they signed a record deal and revamped their lineup. Scherzinger was clearly the leader of the group, and by her account, the only member who sang on their albums.
In 1999 she was a backup singer for the rock band Days Of The New, appearing on their self-titled 1999 album and also touring with the group.
Scherzinger loves performing but offstage would rather stay hidden. In Eden's Crush that worked out well because the other girls were happy to do the talking in interviews, but it was a problem in Pussycat Dolls because she was expected to lead the way. Most stories centered on her, which caused a lot of friction in the group.
She dated 311 lead singer Nick Hexum in the early '00s. Their song "Amber" is likely about her. "I won't confirm nor deny" Hexum told Songfacts.
She's been a panelist/judge on lots of competition shows, most famously The X Factor UK and The Masked Singer. She's known for being encouraging, insightful and entertaining in this role. In short, Scherzinger is good TV.
Not surprisingly, she won Season 10 of Dancing With The Stars, beating the likes of Buzz Aldrin and Pamela Anderson. Figure skater Evan Lysacek was the runner up.
While she was in Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger showed up on features for Diddy ("Come To Me"), Timbaland ("Scream") and will.i.am ("Baby Love"). Post-PCD, she showed up with 50 Cent on "Right There" and released solo albums in 2011 and 2014. Her biggest hit that wasn't a collaboration is "Don't Hold Your Breath" from 2011.
From 2014-2015 she played Grizabella in the West End production of Cats. In 2023 she returned to the West End to play Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard; the following year she made her Broadway debut in the same role, which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress In A Musical in 2025.

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