Louisville Native Wins Top Honor at Tony Awards

A Louisville native has completed an incredible career transformation. Nicole Scherzinger won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress for her role in Sunset Boulevard.

“Growing up, I always felt like I didn’t belong,” she said through tears. “But you all have made me feel like I belong, and I have come home, at last.”

Let’s be honest with one another. If you’re reading this sports blog, you’re probably not a big Tony Awards fan. You may dabble in some musical theater from time to time, but like myself, you probably don’t know the ins and outs of whatever happened on the stage Sunday night. It doesn’t matter. This is damn impressive.

Nicole Scherzinger grew up in Louisville and got her big break as the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls. You didn’t have to be a fan of all-girl pop bands from the early 2000s to enjoy their collab with Snoop Dogg.

The Pussycat Dolls sold more than 55 million records, but were short-lived with only two albums. Her solo career did not exactly take flight. Her next big step in popularity was on reality TV.

Scherzinger has been a judge on all forms of talent shows. She did The X Factor, America’s Got Talent, and is currently a major player on the most over-produced, unwatchable show on television, The Masked Singer.

We’re not here to bash Miss Scherzinger’s resume. However, it would be totally normal for folks in her industry to completely dismiss this former Pussycat Doll and reality show judge as an unserious entertainer.

Then she went out and won a Tony as the best lead actress on Broadway. I don’t care who you are or what you know, that’s remarkable.

Congrats, Miss Scherzinger. Your Old Kentucky Home is proud.

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