As a judge on The X Factor, Nicole Scherzinger has said no to a fair few people – including theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Nicole starred in the revival of the theatre mogul’s show Cats at the London Palladium, but pulled out of the Broadway version in 2016 to do The X Factor instead.
Lloyd Webber later said he was “furious” about the situation as he’d fought for “desperately talented” Nicole to get a part in the Broadway show.
However, in a new interview, 39-year-old singer Nicole confirmed that the pair are absolutely fine, and are working together on a new project.
Lloyd Webber will be 70 in March, and a special album – Unmasked: The Platinum Collection – is being released to celebrate his contribution to the theatre industry.
Among the stars adding to the compilation of well-known classics and new recordings are Beyonce, Madonna… and Nicole.
She told The Sun that working with Lloyd Webber on the project was “career-defining” for her.
“It’s a dream, a life accomplishment. It means the world to me that Andrew let me be myself and bring my own life into the song, and that he approved of it and liked it,” she said.
Read more: Nicole Scherzinger ‘unleashes rant’ at Simon Cowell over X Factor decision
After Nicole left her role as Grizabella, to be replaced by former X Factor winner Leona Lewis, Lloyd Webber vented his frustration in an interview with The Economist Radio.
He said: “A week before we were due to go into rehearsal for Cats on Broadway, which luckily I’m not producing, she calls me and says she’s decided she wants to do X Factor, having agreed everything.
“I’m furious because she’s the most fantastically talented girl. I went out on a limb to get her for the London Palladium, and it makes me look an absolute [bleep].
“But never mind, there’ll be another girl on Broadway and Nicole will not get her Tony Award.”
Nicole later defended her absence from the New York production of the musical, which includes the classic song Memory.
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She told RadioTimes.com: “I had every intention of doing Cats on Broadway, but the contract was never finalised. I am incredibly blessed to be given so many amazing opportunities, including Cats, but unfortunately we weren’t able to make it work this time around.
“I adore and respect Andrew, I’m so grateful for our friendship and can’t wait for the opportunity to create more magic together.”
Well, it sounds like that opportunity has finally arrived.