News | Entertainment
3 Jul 2025 19:14
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
     03 Jul: Savannah Chrisley cried when Donald Trump was elected US President as it gave her hope her parents would be released from prison
     03 Jul: Billy Joel was still dating Elle Macpherson when he met Christie Brinkley
     03 Jul: Elliot Page has debuted his first public relationship since his 2021 divorce
     03 Jul: Dick Van Dyke was forced to pull out of a comedy event at the last minute due to illness
     03 Jul: Cynthia Nixon feels she's able to "show so many more colours" in her characters at her age
     03 Jul: Jennifer Aniston wants to star in a Broadway show
     03 Jul: Neil Young joked about his dispute with the BBC after taking to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Rieko Ioane will start on the wing for the All Blacks for the first time in three and a half years when the test season gets underway against France on Saturday night More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Consumer spending's continuing to pick up More...



     Today's News

    Law and Order:
    Bryan Kohberger killed four Idaho college students — we may never find out why 19:07

    Entertainment:
    Savannah Chrisley cried when Donald Trump was elected US President as it gave her hope her parents would be released from prison 19:06

    Health & Safety:
    Kiwi scientists say their research could allow early detection of dementia 18:57

    Accident and Emergency:
    Northland police are investigating a spate of suspicious fires in the past seven months 18:37

    Entertainment:
    Billy Joel was still dating Elle Macpherson when he met Christie Brinkley 18:36

    Politics:
    A criminal defence lawyer isn't sure changing trespassing laws will significantly affect retail crime 18:07

    Entertainment:
    Elliot Page has debuted his first public relationship since his 2021 divorce 18:06

    Entertainment:
    Dick Van Dyke was forced to pull out of a comedy event at the last minute due to illness 17:36

    Law and Order:
    Police have charged a man with manslaughter over a fatal Southland crash in February 17:27

    Law and Order:
    A woman's been charged with interfering with human remains - over a newborn's body found in an Auckland wheelie bin on Tuesday 17:17


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd