News | Entertainment
1 Dec 2025 11:49
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Rita Ora has no regrets about turning down the chance to compete in the 'Eurovision Song Contest' - insisting it wasn't the right "path" for her

    The pop star, 31, was an aspiring singer without a record deal when she was offered the chance to represent the UK at the annual competition back in 2009 and although she was initially "very excited" about the opportunity, she ultimately felt it wasn't the route to chart stardom she was looking for


    Speaking on the 'Coupledom with Idris and Sabrina Elba' podcast alongside her sister and manager Elena, she explained: "This was before I had even been offered a record deal.

    "It was an opportunity. It came up to audition in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber and I did it, and I got it.

    "I was very excited, but I also felt like it wasn't my time and that wasn't my route into the music industry. I know I was so young to make that decision, but something told me that it wasn't my path, so I didn't do it and said no.

    "I wanted to write songs and it didn't fit me. That was a decision we made together (with her sister and manager Elena) probably one of the first big decisions."

    Elena became Rita's manager just because the 'I Will Never Let You Down' hitmaker kept asking for her opinion and advice, and she thinks they make a great partnership.

    When asked how the sisters ended up working together, Elena said: "Rita would just ask for my opinion and then she started every day.

    "As creative as we are, it is impossible to do everything ... it really makes sense when she is negotiating numbers and I don't even have a clue what is happening - that is what a good team is, it's protecting you".

    After turning down 'Eurovision', Rita landed a record deal with Roc Nation and went on to released her first single with DJ Fresh, 'Hot Right Now', in 2012.

    Her debut album, 'Ora, was released later that year and hit number one on the UK singles chart.

    The UK was represented at 'Eurovision' 2009 by Jade Ewen who came fifth with the song 'It's My Time' and went on to become a member of 'Sugababes'.

    Rita and Elena appear on 'Sibling Revelry', the second episode of the second series of 'Coupledom with Idris and Sabrina Elba'. It is available to download now exclusively at http://www.audible.co.uk/Coupledom2.

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     30 Nov: Millie Bobby Brown had to hide her "wedding hair" while shooting the final season of Stranger Things
     30 Nov: James Van Der Beek's wife says he's "bouncing back" during his cancer battle
     30 Nov: Will Young has credited his dogs with improving his mental health because they are "consistent companions and fiercely loyal"
     30 Nov: Robert Irwin admits dating is "so challenging to navigate" in the public eye
     30 Nov: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' rapper son King Combs believes the disgraced star could be released from prison in time for the holidays
     30 Nov: Macaulay Culkin has reminded fans that his middle name is also Macaulay Culkin
     30 Nov: Former Fox TV chief Dana Walden had to "teach" fans to embrace Glee
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Jimmy Barnes is heading back to New Zealand - to celebrate his landmark album, For the Working Class Man, turning 40 More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    How visible displays of wealth make people support higher taxes – new study More...



     Today's News

    Soccer:
    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's lamenting the often stop-start nature of their Premier League football clash away to Chelsea 11:37

    Motoring:
    F1 Qatar: McLaren pitstop blunder costs Oscar Piastri win, Max Verstappen closes in on Lando Norris 11:17

    National:
    ‘Make the platforms safer’: what young people really think about the social media ban 11:17

    Motorsports:
    McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admits a wrong tactical decision cost them success at Formula One's Qatar Grand Prix 11:07

    Law and Order:
    Police have named a man killed in an altercation in New Plymouth last month - as 68-year-old Martin James Mooney 10:47

    International:
    Lebanese hopeful Pope Leo will bring peace as he visits the country 10:37

    Business:
    How visible displays of wealth make people support higher taxes – new study 10:37

    Politics:
    Powers to move homeless people on from city centres, could be confirmed by Christmas 10:27

    Auckland:
    NZ now has a narrow window to stop the Asian yellow-legged hornet – here’s how everyone can help 10:27

    National:
    Trump wants Australian data on migrant crime. This will only scapegoat vulnerable people 10:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd