Nicole Scherzinger

In 1999, Scherzinger was hired by Days of the New band leader Travis Meeks to contribute vocals on their self-titled second studio album and later dropped out of college to tour through the US in support of the album.[13] Meeks claims that after touring, the two grew apart creatively and that despite being an "amazing entertainer", she "just didn't seem to understand music very well … she's just not much of a musician, nor [does she] understand music."[14]

Two years later, after her mother's suggestion, Scherzinger quit the band in order to audition on the WB's television show Popstars.[15] With the aim to chronicle the group's formation until the recording of their debut album,[16] Warner Bros. imprint London-Sire Records signed the group to a recording contract before the band was named and had finalized its membership, due to the hours of network television exposure the group would receive.[17] Initially hesitant at the idea of joining a group, she then opted otherwise as she saw it as an opportunity to travel to Los Angeles.[15] For her audition she sang Whitney Houston’s version of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You" and alongside Ana Maria Lombo, Maile Misajon, Ivette Sosa, and Rosanna Tavarez, established the girl group Eden's Crush.[18] Their debut single, "Get Over Yourself", was released in March 2001 and debuted at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the first female act to debut at number one on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart.[19] Their debut studio album, Popstars (2001), debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart.[20] They went on to tour with 'N Sync and Jessica Simpson, but, by the end of the year, their label went bankrupt and the group disbanded.[21] During this time, she auditioned for fourth singer of The Black Eyed Peas, but Fergie was chosen.[22] In December 2002, Scherzinger worked with Yoshiki of Japanese heavy metal band X Japan on his Violet UK project.

The Pussycat Dolls performing on tour in 2006

In August 2003, opting for a solo recording contract, Scherzinger travelled to Arista Records office in New York with a demo CD, under her Hawaiian family name, Nicole Kea, of her own written material. Her performance was interrupted by a citywide blackout, and she was forced to leave. She also did a brief detour into acting which includes a cameo in the independent comedy Love Don't Cost a Thing.[23] Meanwhile, Robin Antin, the creator of the burlesque troupe, the Pussycat Dolls, struck a joint venture with Interscope Records and along with record producers Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, launched an open audition for a separate recording group.[24] After will.i.am recommended Scherzinger to Iovine,[22] and in hopes to obtain a solo deal, she successfully auditioned in December 2003 along with Melody Thornton joining Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta and Kimberly Wyatt.[23][25] As the lead singer, Scherzinger assumed the majority of the vocals and is the only member of the group to have songwriting credits on their debut album, PCD which was released in September 2005.[25] The album was preceded by "Don't Cha" which became their international breakthrough, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[26] The album spawned other number-one hits, "Stickwitu" and "Buttons", the latter of which was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.[27]

In February 2006, Scherzinger signed a global publishing agreement with Universal Music Publishing Group, which would cover her future songwriting.[28] Her work as lead singer furthered Scherzinger's popularity as she continued to work on her own music. Scherzinger's first solo recording was a feature on Avant's "Lie About Us" that was released in July 2006 and later collaborated with Diddy on "Come to Me" which became Scherzinger's first solo top-ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100.[29] In March 2007, Scherzinger announced that her debut studio album would be titled Her Name is Nicole and was initially scheduled for a release in late summer.[25][30] Four singles were released from the project—"Whatever U Like" featuring T.I., "Baby Love" featuring will.i.am, "Supervillain", and "Puakenikeni"—however, all failed to make any significant impact on the Billboard charts,[25] although "Baby Love" was a moderate success in international territories. After a number of push backs,[23] Scherzinger decided not to release any further singles from the album and at her request, Her Name Is Nicole was eventually shelved and shifted back her focus on the Doll's second album.[31][32]

The Pussycat Dolls performed for more than 2,000 U.S. and coalition service members during a live concert March 10, 2008 at a U.S. Army camp in the Persian Gulf Region (2008).

The Pussycat Dolls' second and final album, Doll Domination was released in the United States on September 23, 2008 and peaked at number four on the Billboard 200.[33] The album included singles "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part" which peaked at number nine and eleven on the Billboard Hot 100, respectively.[34] Both songs were originally recorded for Scherzinger's solo effort.[35] The following year, the group embarked on a worldwide concert tour, Doll Domination Tour which began on January 18, 2009.[36] While on tour, Scherzinger was asked to re-write pop version of "Jai Ho" from the film Slumdog Millionaire (2008).[37] The song was entitled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" crediting A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls while Scherzinger was credited as a featured artist causing dissatisfaction within the group.[38] The song reached number one in 17 countries; in the US, it peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100, after charging eighty-five places consequently making the largest weekly leap from number 100.[39] On April 5, 2009, Scherzinger performed "America the Beautiful" at Wrestlemania XXV, at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas.[40] After the tour concluded in August 2009, the group announced a hiatus to further pursue solo careers.[41] In December 2009, Scherzinger was announced as the third judge joining Ben Folds and Boyz II Men band member Shawn Stockman on the first season of The Sing-Off.[42] She returned for the second season before being replaced by Sara Bareilles.[43]

In April 2010, Scherzinger teamed up with clothing store C&A to launch her own collection of lingerie, shoes, handbags and jewellery at their stores in Brazil.[44] In May 2010, Scherzinger and her dance partner Derek Hough won the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars.[45] In August 2010, Scherzinger portrayed Maureen in the Hollywood Bowl production of the rock musical Rent, directed by Neil Patrick Harris.[46] Her performance in the musical received praise from critics,[47] Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times stated that "Scherzinger's powerhouse voice was meant for venues like the Bowl."[48] Meanwhile, following the departure of the four members, Scherzinger announced her departure from the Pussycat Dolls to focus on her solo career.[49] During the summer of 2010, Scherzinger stood in as a guest judge during the seventh series of The X Factor UK during the Manchester auditions, sitting alongside main judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh and filling in for Dannii Minogue who was on maternity leave. She later returned during the final bootcamp stage as a guest judge, filling in for both Minogue and absent judge Cheryl Cole who was recovering from malaria. She therefore assisted both Cowell and Walsh in their decisions on whom to send through to judges' houses.

Scherzinger during her first day as a judge on the American version of The X Factor.

Her debut studio album, Killer Love, was released on March 21, 2011 in the United Kingdom. The album experienced moderate success in certain territories; on the UK Albums Chart the album debuted and peaked at number eight and by November it sold 140,000 copies.[50] The album's second single, "Don't Hold Your Breath" became Scherzinger's first number-one single as a solo artist in the UK Singles Chart and singles, "Poison" and "Right There" both reached number three.[51] The latter one was remixed featuring 50 Cent and released as the lead single for the US version of Killer Love;[52] however the release was never materialized.[50] It peaked at number thirty-nine, remaining her highest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.[53] "Right There" also peaked inside the top ten in Australia.[54] Originally hired to co-host along with Steve Jones the first season of The X Factor US,[55] Scherzinger would later replace Cole on the judging panel, joining Cowell and fellow judges L.A. Reid and Paula Abdul.[56] She later received further backlash and death threats after sending the result to deadlock in the quarter-final which resulted in Rachel Crow's elimination.[57] She mentored the Over 30s; her final act, Josh Krajcik, was named the runner-up of the season.[58] In December 2011, as part of the 25th anniversary of The Phantom of the Opera, Scherzinger performed the song of the same name at the Royal Variety Performance.[59] Meanwhile, Killer Love was re-released with four additional songs, including the fifth and final single, "Try with Me".[60] She embarked on her first headlining tour in February 2012.[61]

Scherzinger appeared as Boris' girlfriend in the science fiction action film Men in Black 3, which was released in May 2012.[62] In May 2012, during the audition process for the ninth series of The X Factor UK, Scherzinger was invited back onto the show to fill in for departed judge Kelly Rowland during the final day of the London auditions, sitting alongside judges Walsh, Tulisa and Gary Barlow. In June 2012, Scherzinger was announced as the permanent fourth judge, replacing Rowland for a reported salary of $1.17 million and joining the panel full-time from the Newcastle auditions.[63] Scherzinger mentored the Boys category where she had all three of her acts reach the quarter-final. Two of her acts, James Arthur and Jahméne Douglas, reached the last stage of the final, with Arthur winning the series. Additionally, Arthur became the first winner to be in the bottom two.[64] Scherzinger performed "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" live at the Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years tribute show.[65] In March 2013, Scherzinger released "Boomerang" which debuted and peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart;[66] after its lackluster success, the associated album was scrapped.[67] Scherzinger returned as judge on The X Factor UK for its tenth series for a reported salary of $2.3 million, joining returning judges Walsh and Barlow and former judge Sharon Osbourne who replaced Tulisa.[68] On February 12, 2014, Scherzinger announced that she would not be returning to judge the eleventh series of The X Factor UK. She was later replaced by Mel B.[69][70]

Scherzinger in Moscow, Russia at a soundcheck, 2018

In January 2014, Scherzinger signed with Sony Music Entertainment for a reported $4.5 million record deal.[71] The following month, she announced she signed a multi-album deal with RCA Records.[72] In collaboration with online fashion retailer Missguided, she designed a 30-piece range which was released in March 2014.[73] Their collaboration helped the retailer increase profit by 70%.[74] Scherzinger's second studio album, Big Fat Lie was released in October; on the UK Albums Chart it spent two weeks inside the top 100 peaking at number 17;[75] its poor sales led to her departure from RCA Records.[75] The album was preceded by the singles "Your Love", "Run" and "On the Rocks";[76] the foremost peaked at number six on the UK Singles Chart and was a moderate success on other international markets.[77] In December, Scherzinger made her West End debut starring as Grizabella in the 2014 revival of the musical Cats at the London Palladium where she played the role for a 12-week run until February 8, 2015;[78] her performance received rave reviews from critics particularly praising her rendition of the song standard "Memory" and garnered a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.[79] She was set to reprise Grizabella in the Broadway revival of Cats but a week before rehearsals she quit after producers refused to give her top billing.[80]

On June 30, 2015, Scherzinger was crowned as the winner of the variety show I Can Do That where six celebrities compete with each other by performing skills that they never knew they had.[81] In July she performed the American national anthem at the A Capitol Fourth concert in Washington, D.C. and during the opening of the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.[82][83] Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, a live variety show premiered on September 15, 2015 on NBC with Scherzinger as co-host; the show was cancelled after one season due to low ratings.[84] The following month, the music panel show hosted by Ricky Wilson, Bring the Noise premiered on Sky 1 with Scherzinger and Tinie Tempah joining him as team captains.[84] After a 3-year break from The X Factor UK, Scherzinger returned as a judge for the thirteenth and fourteenth series in 2016 and 2017, replacing Rita Ora and joining judges Cowell, Walsh and Osbourne; for Scherzinger she again mentored the Boys category for the thirteenth series and won with her contestant Matt Terry who also was in the bottom two in the semi-final; and for the fourteenth series she mentored the Over 25s category, with her last remaining act Kevin Davy White reaching the final and finishing in third place.[85][86] She voiced Sina in the animated feature Moana, which was released in November 2016 through Walt Disney Pictures.[87] Scherzinger starred as Penny in ABC's television film Dirty Dancing, a remake of the 1987 film of the same name.[88] It premiered on May 24, 2017.[89] Although the movie received negative reviews from critics, Scherzinger's performance received praise.[90] In September 2017, she launched her debut fragrance, Chosen by Nicole Scherzinger.[91] In 2018, Scherzinger had a voice cameo in Ralph Breaks the Internet.[92]

In January 2019, Scherzinger began appearing as a panelist on the reality competition series The Masked Singer, judging season 1, season 2, and season 3.[93] In April 2019, Scherzinger joined Australia's Got Talent as judge for its ninth season.[94] In October 2019, she returned to the UK to judge the 2019 celebrity version of The X Factor alongside Cowell and Walsh.[95] She mentored the Over 31s category, with her last act Jenny Ryan reaching the final in third place.

Around the same time, ET reported that Scherzinger has reunited with The Pussycat Dolls for new studio sessions and a greatest hits tour in 2020.[96] The group performed live for the first time in nearly a decade during the finale of The X Factor: Celebrity on November 30, 2019.[97] They subsequently announced the Unifinished Business (Reunion Tour) which includes dates in the UK and Ireland, as well as Australia and New Zealand.[98] Scherzinger also returned to The X Factor judging panel in the UK alongside Cowell to judge a new version aimed at bands, The X Factor: The Band at the end of the 2019.[99]

Whitney Houston (left) and Michael Jackson (right) are Scherzinger's two biggest influences.

Scherzinger names Whitney Houston as her major musical influence stating, "I always wanted to be Whitney Houston growing up."[100] After receiving a cassette of Whitney Houston's self-titled debut album (1985) at the age of six, she claims that Houston showed her singing was her destiny.[101] As she grew older she also listened to artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Roberta Flack, Sade, Alanis Morissette, and Tina Turner.[100] While on stage Scherzinger borrows personas of Tina Turner and Mick Jagger; "the way he prances around stage and the poise he has on stage. But I love [Turner's] attitude and sass. I steal from her all the time, especially being the lead singer of this group, the Pussycat Dolls, to be fearless and just have that attitude and that soul behind you."[100] She credits Beyoncé as a key inspiration to "wear costumes that aren't much but they are real artists and they put real artistry into what they do and that is how I pride myself."[102] Scherzinger stated that Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope (1997) influenced the recording process of her second album, Big Fat Lie, while its lead single's music video was inspired by Jackson's Love Will Never Do (Without You) (1989) clip.[103]

When Scherzinger was older, Mariah Carey became a huge influence to her. She also wished to work with the Black Eyed Peas saying she admired their music.[104] Scherzinger is also a fan of Adele.[105] Prince also became a big influence when she was in her teens.[106] Michael Jackson was one of Scherzinger's biggest influences and idols.[106] When she gained the role on Men in Black 3, Scherzinger said that music was a very big part of her inspiration for the character, which she plays for the film.[107] She said, "I listened to my heavier music and I listened to Led Zeppelin and I kind of got in that frame of mind because music is what inspires me most. I worked with my acting coach a lot and she told me about lots of crazy things to think about while I was in character, but I better not tell you what she said."[107] Scherzinger said that the role has inspired her to record differently on her second studio album.[107] Stylistically, Scherzinger draws inspiration from Jennifer Lopez, Sienna Miller, and Gwen Stefani.[108] During her twenties, Scherzinger tried to emulate Lopez by dying her hair blonde.[109]

Scherzinger possesses a wide soprano range.[110][111][112] Her music is generally R&B,[113][114] and dance-pop in some of her songs, especially on her album Killer Love.[115] Though Scherzinger releases English language songs, she recorded Hindi lyrics for the Pussycat Dolls' version of "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)".[116] She has received co-writing credits for multiple songs she recorded.[117] Her early songs were female-empowerment themed compositions like "I Don't Need a Man" and "Hush Hush" and transitioned to more mature "break-up" anthems such as "Don't Hold Your Breath".[118] Scherzinger has also received co-writing credits for some of the records in which she has been involved, especially during her solo efforts. She has also been involved in the vocal arrangement and vocal production of a few songs she's written.[119]

Scherzinger's songs are written from personal experiences, as she said they are "personal and heartfelt" tracks.[120] She co-wrote the majority of her first studio album, Killer Love.[118] Scherzinger's earlier songs have been described as "sexual innuendo"[121] and "funky electronica"[122] which are also backed by "electro beats".[123] In August 2010, RedOne revealed that he was working on Scherzinger's debut album, stating: "I just finished her album. Her last one never came out because it wasn't consistent. Her new record – it's the real her."[124] Scherzinger said a lot of her first studio album was about her split with Lewis Hamilton before they reunited.[125] Scherzinger said that she wanted to create songs which "lend themselves to live performances".[126] She said she likes to record "empowering" ballads.[127] She said that she wanted her debut album to be "in your face and strong".[128] She told MTV (about her unreleased debut album Her Name is Nicole) "I've always said that in the Pussycat Dolls, I kind of feel like Superwoman. But that's just one of my alter egos. I've got the vulnerable, lovesick side of me amongst others which all appear on my record."[129]

Described as being "provocative" when performing on stage, Scherzinger states that her stage persona "comes from a strong place, not a weak place, and there’s a big difference. There’s a big difference when you see someone who still has class and is empowering."[15] Jarett Wieselman of The New York Post placed her at number two on his list of the Five Best Singer/Dancers,[130] while Rolling Stone magazine readers voted Scherzinger as the ninth Favorite Dancing Musician.[131]

In cooperation with Unilever, Scherzinger recorded Duran Duran's "Rio" (1982).[187] In December 2011, Scherzinger began endorsing the imPress Nails manicure line and has her own signature series.[188][189] From 2012 to 2014, Scherzinger was the ambassador for Herbal Essences.[190] In March 2013, she was announced as an ambassador for British Airways promoting first class routes to Moscow.[191] In April 2013, it was announced that Scherzinger will be the face of Müller Corner, a range of luxury yogurts and front TV and print campaigns.[192] In September 2014, Scherzinger joined Proactiv+ as the new celebrity ambassador for the skin care company.[193]

On November 29, 2016 Scherzinger was announced as the new face of Perfectil, a vitamin product.[194] She featured in a television commercial for Vitabiotics' new Perfectil advertising campaign in March 2017.[195]