Toronto teen one step closer to becoming first Canadian American Idol


Channeling her inner Disney baddie, Toronto teen Nicolina Bozzo had American Idol judge Katy Perry cowering under the desk on Sunday night.

Bozzo blew away the audience and judges with her performance on the singing competition’s Disney’ Night.

The 18-year-old singer performed the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from “The Little Mermaid,” and while wearing a deep purple gown, channeled the movie’s villain, Ursula, with her strong, smoky vocals and equally smoky background special effects.

Bozzo’s performance received a standing ovation from judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Richie commented, “This could be the best Disney Night ever. I mean, honestly, that was a performance, that was a presentation. You’ve scared Katy to death.”

Perry, in costume as Ariel from “The Little Mermaid,” theatrically tried to hide under the judges’ desk before commenting, “That was so good, it was scary!”

Bozzo’s performance was so good it secured her a spot in the show’s top seven.

Bozzo’s penchant for pitch began at an early age. She grew up in a musical household in Toronto where she lives with her dad, her grandparents and her two younger sisters.

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

She also credits her dad, David Bozzo, for encouraging her to sing at an early age.

The Toronto native has been singing on the series using a work visa.

This isn’t her first time trying out for an American program. Bozzo tried out for the 16th season of “America’s Got Talent,” but she didn’t make it to the live shows, so her audition of her never aired.

The only other Canadian performance-competition series currently airing that the singer, whose stage name is Nicolina, could have tried out for would have been the recently relaunched “Canada’s Got Talent.”

If Bozzo wins, she’ll be the first Canadian to be crowned American Idol.

American Idol airs on Sundays at 8 pm ET on Citytv.

With files from Murtz Jaffer.

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