Vaughan’s Nicolina Bozzo eliminated from ‘American Idol’

Thestar.com
May 16, 2022
Isaac Phan Nay

Aurora-born singer Nicolina Bozzo’s run on musical competition show “American Idol” ended Sunday night.

The 19-year old from Vaughan was one of season 20’s last five contestants who took to the stage to compete for a spot in the finale next week.

Despite being eliminated from “American Idol,” the judges said Bozzo may have a career in music ahead of her.

“Stay in this pocket,” judge Lionel Richie said after Bozzo’s first performance Sunday.

“Whatever it is that you are doing, the last three or four times, this is your lane.”

Bozzo grew up in Aurora and now resides in Vaughan.

She told the Aurora Banner ahead of her Sunday performance that “The whole experience has been everything I thought it would be. Growing up watching the show, you always think about how it works, all the things.

“I feel like it’s definitely met all the expectations and it’s just been a really awesome, awesome experience.

Bozzo said in a previous interview that singing on social media is key to the success she has found. She has more than 260,000 followers on TikTok, where her videos have received nearly four million likes. Her audition for the show in front of judges Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan has been seen two million times on YouTube.

“I post on social media all the time and I had gotten the attention of one of the casting agents from ‘Idol.’ She asked if I was interested in auditioning and I told her that I would love to.”

Last week Bozzo donned a beautiful red suit to perform Heart’s “Alone.”

Her second performance, part of a Mother’s Day special, was dedicated to her grandmother Clara. She added her own twist to the Pentatonix song “Light in the Hallway.”

After her performance, Bozzo received a standing ovation from the judges. Her grandmother was in the audience.

“It just feels like this is your stage and everyone’s here to see you,” judge Katy Perry commented, before describing both performances as “A-plus-plus.”

On Sunday night, Bozzo donned silver, glimmering pants and a black cape for her first performance of Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away.” Once again, she earned a standing ovation from all three judges.

Bozzo’s last ever performance on the show featured a piano-backed tribute to Adele’s song “All I Ask” that left Bozzo crying.

“Getting to sing a song by one of my heroes is crazy to me. It’s very emotional,” Bozzo said.

Canadian fans can still cheer for an Idol with a Toronto connection, though. Leah Marlene was voted on to the next episode.

Marlene was born in Toronto but lives south of the border in Illinois. Her father, Derry Grehan, is the guitarist in Niagara Falls-based band Honeymoon Suite.

She will join Hunter “HunterGirl” Wolkonowski and Noah Thompson to compete in the show finale next week.