Nicole Scherzinger Brings Tony Awards Crowd to Its Feet with Captivating Sunset Blvd. Performance

Nicole Scherzinger brought Broadway’s elite to their feet at the 78th Tony Awards.

The Sunset Blvd. star, performing a show-stopping number from that Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, earned a standing ovation from the crowd at Radio City Music Hall on Sunday, June 8.

Wearing a simple black dress amid stage smoke, Scherzinger, 46, in character as screen star Norma Desmond, the lead role in the acclaimed Jamie Lloyd-directed revival, belted “As If We Never Said Goodbye.”

Preceding the musical moment was a heartfelt introduction from none other than Glenn Close, who originated the role of Norma Desmond and won a Tony for the show’s 1993 Broadway debut. Close, 78, saw the current production of Sunset Blvd. back in April, visiting Scherzinger backstage after the show.

“As If We Never Said Goodbye,” written by Don Black, Christopher Hampton, Amy Powers and Webber, is considered one of the latter’s most memorable tunes. Among those who have made the song famous are Close, Barbara Streisand and Chris Colfer.

For her Broadway debut performance, Scherzinger is nominated for her first Tony after previously winning the 2023 Laurence Olivier Award after Sunset Blvd.’s West End run. Costar Tom Francis, who plays young screenwriter Joe Gillis, is also among the production’s seven nominations.

 

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Also recognized alongside the former Pussycat Doll in this year’s to-be-announced lead musical actress category were Audra McDonald for Gypsy, Jasmine Amy Rogers for Boop! The Musical and Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard for Death Becomes Her.

Among the other contenders at this year’s Cynthia Erivo-hosted Tonys ceremony are new musicals Buena Vista Social Club and Maybe Happy Ending, plus new plays John Proctor is the Villain and The Hills of California.