Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist

Nicole Scherzinger: On Her Tony Win for ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and Netflix's ‘Building the Band’

Episode Date: September 28, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Willie Geist sits down with Nicole Scherzinger, fresh off her Tony Award win for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her role as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. The conversation, recorded as the show closed on Broadway, explores the transformative impact of the role on Nicole's life and career, her journey from pop superstardom with the Pussycat Dolls to theatrical acclaim, and her latest passion project, Building the Band on Netflix. The interview delves into themes of belonging, artistry, perseverance, and finding one’s purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Sunset Boulevard Experience & Tony Win

• Closing a Career-Defining Chapter

  • Nicole reflects on what Sunset Boulevard has meant to her, calling it "the most fulfilling thing I've ever done in my life" and expressing bittersweet emotions as the show closes.
    • “The Sunset Journey has... taken over my life for the past two years. So I'm kind of ready, you know, but at the same time, I just... I'm ready for the chapter to be closed. And I'm excited for a new chapter to open after this.” (Nicole, 03:44)
  • She describes feeling deeply connected to the character of Norma, bringing her to tears as she discusses saying goodbye:
    • “I'm taking a big part of... I'm taking Norma with me, and I'm excited.” (Nicole, 04:47)
  • Nicole emphasizes how the role allowed her to share her full self as an artist:
    • “I finally feel like I'm living fully to my fullest purpose and potential and being able to share all of me, which is any artist knows... if you've not been able to do that, it's difficult to live in your skin...” (Nicole, 05:57)

• Artistry, Discipline, and Connection

  • Nicole details the demands of Broadway and draws a parallel to the Olympics, crediting her faith and meditation for keeping her grounded and energized:
    • “It does take a lot out of you... It's like the Olympics for theater. I've never been more fulfilled.” (Nicole, 07:08-07:44)
  • She discusses the power and privilege of connecting deeply with the audience:
    • “It's just unbelievable connection. Like, the audience makes that magic as well... to be able to just make that otherworldly, soulful, spiritual, divine connection...” (Nicole, 10:14)

• Recognition and Belonging on Broadway

  • Nicole describes her deep sense of belonging in the Broadway community:
    • “I really feel like I have come home at last. I really feel like I am back where I was born to be.” (Nicole, 14:40)
  • She shares the joy and validation of being accepted and celebrated:
    • “To just be acknowledged and recognized in that light with all of the other greats and legends is like, I will tell you. I worked for it, though.” (Nicole, 19:45)

• On Proving Herself

  • Nicole opens up about overcoming others’ doubts:
    • “People have been on me my whole life, kind of... dismissing me and discarding me or overlooking me, and it didn't matter because I knew what I had to give was so much greater.” (Nicole, 17:11)
  • She summarizes what her Tony win means:
    • “All of the sacrifice and all of the love and all of the perseverance and everything is just...it wasn't for nothing. It's not for nothing. And it didn't go unnoticed.” (Nicole, 19:45)

Nicole’s Roots: From Hawaii & Louisville to Global Stardom

• Early Life and First Dreams

  • Nicole describes her multicultural upbringing (Filipina, Ukrainian, Hawaiian) and early fascination with her mother’s hula dancing and her family’s musicality.
    • “I always watched my mom hula dancing...my tutu would play ukulele, and she has the most unbelievable voice. So I watched them growing up, and then obviously I would sing in church.” (Nicole, 22:08)
  • She shares how discovering Whitney Houston at age six was a revelation:
    • “The power of her voice was like...God singing to me. And it just penetrated my heart so deeply.” (Nicole, 22:28)

• Early Planning & Determination

  • Nicole recounts planning her path into performing arts from a young age:
    • “As an. In elementary school, I was planning out how do I get into that middle school to hopefully be able to audition to get into that high school?” (Nicole, 23:24)

Pop Stardom & The Music Industry

• Eden’s Crush & Pussycat Dolls

  • Nicole discusses singing Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” at her “Popstars” audition, which launched her into Eden’s Crush:
    • “I will always love you because the song spoke to my heart. I don't know if I had any business choosing that song.” (Nicole, 28:11)
  • On joining the Pussycat Dolls and reflecting on their massive, sometimes underappreciated, commercial success:
    • “I was so young and I was afraid to speak up. And I just, you know, it was a big opportunity to get me out of Louisville, Kentucky. Now I'm a beast. And I'll tell you what I think and how it is. I'm calloused over.” (Nicole, 31:56)
  • She highlights both the excitement and exploitation of her pop career:
    • “They kind of just worked us to death...we just worked 24 hours nonstop. It was insane. But we were... committed... You gotta do that to have the success that. Global success if you want it.” (Nicole, 35:55)

• Mental Health and Industry Lessons

  • Nicole notes that times have changed in the industry, with more attention to health and wellbeing:
    • “Now we have, like mental health and, you know, awareness. We never had any of that then, so they kind of just worked us to death.” (Nicole, 34:12)

New Beginnings: ‘Building the Band’ on Netflix

• Show Concept & Differentiation

  • Nicole enthusiastically describes Building the Band as “the musical version of Love is Blind,” focusing on musical chemistry above appearance:
    • “It's basically like Love is Blind. But the musical version, right, it's finding love connections, but through music compatibility and chemistry.” (Nicole, 36:46)
  • She stresses the show’s rejection of the industry's focus on image:
    • “It just takes out the whole artificial side of everything, and it's on a deeper... It's about a deeper connection.” (Nicole, 38:34)

• Liam Payne’s Legacy

  • Nicole pays tribute to Liam Payne, her friend and fellow judge who passed away before the show’s release:
    • “He brought the personal experience. He's lived it...he’s a natural, beautiful, bright light...and he's able to give really good advice from a very personal place.” (Nicole, 39:32, 40:13)
  • On compassion and complexity:
    • “Everyone's complicated. It's called humans. It's the human spirit and soul. And I just wish I could only just pray for people to be more compassionate and understanding...” (Nicole, 41:37)

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Nicole

• Upcoming Performances

  • Nicole announces concerts at some of the world’s most iconic venues:
    • “I have the honor of performing at these iconic venues coming up. Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert hall and Disney Hall...I'm basically wanna just sing songs. All the roles that I've never gotten to play. Willie. ... All of the many facets of Nicole.” (Nicole, 43:09)

• Projects and Personal Growth

  • Looking ahead, Nicole hints at exploring film and new music, adding:
    • “I have a lot of projects that I'm working on right now, looking into maybe some films and music.” (Nicole, 44:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nicole on living her purpose:

  “I finally feel like I'm living fully to my fullest purpose and potential and being able to share all of me, which is any artist knows... if you've not been able to do that, it's difficult to live in your skin...” (05:57)

• Nicole on Broadway’s demands:

  “I always say it's like the Olympics for theater. And it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it can be relentless, right? I always say I'm so exhausted, but I've never been more fulfilled.” (07:24)

• Nicole on audience connection:

  “To be able to just make that otherworldly, soulful, spiritual, divine connection is. It is the most gratifying thing.” (10:14)

• On overcoming doubt:

  “People have been on me my whole life, kind of... dismissing me and discarding me or overlooking me, and it didn't matter because I knew what I had to give was so much greater and even beyond me.” (17:11)

• On her Tony win:

  “All of the sacrifice and all of the love and all of the perseverance and everything is just...it wasn't for nothing. ... And I'm so grateful because there are so many unbelievably talented people out there who have never even been nominated for a Tony...” (19:45)

• On working in the industry:

  “Now we have, like mental health and, you know, awareness. We never had any of that then, so they kind of just worked us to death.” (34:12)

• On Building the Band:

  “It's basically like Love is Blind, but the musical version... has nothing to do with appearance. ... It's an amazing social experiment, and it's chemistry. Chemistry prevails.” (36:46–38:08)

• Tribute to Liam Payne:

  “Liam just shines in the show. He's just a natural, beautiful, bright light... I'm happy that people get to remember him in this beautiful light where he's shining.” (40:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Nicole on the end of Sunset Boulevard and how the role changed her life | 03:44–06:38 | | Artistry, routine & audience connections in theater | 07:08–10:14 | | Belonging on Broadway and acceptance | 14:40–16:43 | | On overcoming typecasting and proving herself | 16:54–18:43 | | Tony win and its meaning | 19:33–21:19 | | Nicole's early life, family, and musical roots | 22:08–24:39 | | Eden’s Crush, Pussycat Dolls + industry reflection | 30:40–35:55 | | Mental health, industry change, work ethic | 34:12–35:55 | | Building the Band concept & launch | 36:44–39:13 | | Liam Payne tribute and legacy | 39:13–41:19 | | Upcoming concerts and projects | 43:09–44:17 | | Final reflections and congrats | 44:17–45:20 |

Episode Tone & Style

Nicole is open, emotional, and reflective, moving fluidly between gratitude, vulnerability, inspiration, and ambition. The conversation is candid, heartfelt, and full of her infectious energy, with frequent self-deprecating humor and deep wisdom about artistry, resilience, and living one’s truth.

Summary Takeaway

Nicole Scherzinger’s Sunday Sitdown is an inspiring journey through her artistic evolution—from a shy, ambitious girl in Kentucky, to pop superstar, to a revelatory Broadway leading lady. Her story is a testament to perseverance, authenticity, and following the “heart’s whisper,” culminating in a long-overdue recognition of her multifaceted talent and humanity. Her next chapter promises even more surprises as she breaks new ground in both music and television.