Breakout Star Adéla Just Said No to the Grammys — ‘I Need to Earn It’
Adéla is a pop superstar in the making — and she just pumped the brakes on her own rise.
The 22-year-old Slovak singer-songwriter revealed in a new Who What Wear cover story, published today, Nov. 11, that she is withdrawing from consideration for the 2027 Grammy Award nominations.
“I think it’s a nomination you need to earn,” Adéla said. “I have so much more work to do before I even think of that. I have my tour, and I want to start writing my next album.”
“I think I need to do all the work I can this year and next in order to really earn [a Grammy],” she added. “Maybe in 2028 … I’ll feel like I truly deserve to be in that room.”
The timing is what makes the move so striking. Adéla is coming off the biggest breakout of any new pop star this year: her viral hit “Nicole Kidman” — a cheeky anthem of self-confidence that pays tribute to the Oscar-winning actress — peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Oct. 24, the first top-ten hit by an artist from Slovakia. Her debut album, “Prima,” released Sept. 4 on Capitol Records, opened at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 with 56,000 first-week units.
The backstory is pure pop mythology. Born Adéla Jergová in Bratislava, Adéla first caught attention on the 2023 reality competition “The Debut: Dream Academy” — the show that formed KATSEYE. She was the first contestant eliminated. Three years later, she has a top-ten hit, a top-five album, and a Grammy conversation she is choosing to walk away from — for now.
She is currently on her Red Bottoms Tour in Europe and Australia. Grammy nominations for the 69th annual awards are announced Monday, Nov. 16, and the ceremony takes place Feb. 7, 2027, in Los Angeles — right around the final dates of her tour.
Source: USA TODAY
Related on ToledoBuzz: Adéla’s Dream Academy group KATSEYE has had a rough November of its own — Megan Skiendiel revealed the concussion behind their Detroit cancellation: KATSEYE’s Megan Reveals Concussion Behind Detroit Cancellation — Two More Shows Postponed
Photo: Adéla performing in 2026 — via Wikimedia Commons (CC0).
