Mere hours after Melodifestivalen veterans and occasional Eurosong backing vocalists Timoteij announced their imminent split, the world of Eurovision has been rocked by yet another retirement. Ex-Westlife singer and Ireland’s Eurovision 2016 representative Nicky Byrne is officially parking his music career… for now.
Speaking to Goss.ie, the “Sunlight” singer revealed that all his musical pursuits are “parked at the moment”. And he has no immediate plans to return to the recording studio, not even with his former bandmates (sad face 🙁 ).
I’ve nothing planned at the moment, unless down the road we can look at another solo album, or a Westlife reunion if that raises it’s head – but there’s no plans of that either.
Instead, the one time boyband star is focusing on his radio show and his new role as co-presenter of the upcoming Irish version of Dancing With The Stars, which was officially announced today.
Delighted to confirm I'll be hosting Dancing with the Stars Ireland in the New Year alongside @AmandaByram on @RTEOne! #BringItOn??????
— Nicky Byrne (@NickyByrne) December 6, 2016
He’ll be joined on presenting duties by Amanda Byram, who’s best known for hosting the long gone but never forgotten plastic surgery based game show The Swan.
And fans shouldn’t get their hopes up for an impromptu performance by Byrne on the DWTS stage. In the same Goss interview, he confirmed that he’ll only pick up the singing mic if he’s joined by the rest of Westlife, because there’s “no reason to do it just for the sake of doing it”.
Today’s news brings a temporary stop to a music career that spans almost two decades. Westlife enjoyed their first chart success in 1999 and continued releasing music until 2012. Nicky then began working on his solo career, which culminated in him representing Ireland at Eurovision last May. His debut album Sunlight dropped soon after.
Of course, we fully expect Nicky to return to music for Westlife’s inevitable reunion tour.
Dancing With The Stars is set to form part of RTÉ’s revamped winter schedule, replacing The Voice. The broadcaster has yet to make any announcement regarding its Eurovision 2017 plans.
Nicky Byrne Interview at London Eurovision Party
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Photo: EBU/RTÉ
To say that his solo music career was short would be a bit of an understatement.
… are we really supposed to be surprised by this? I mean … every since Westlife put out their debut single in 1999 … it was so obvious from the start … why are we even contemplating this evidence that this guy has no musical talent … but an ability to steal the spotlight from all the other Westlife members during interviews in a very “I am the boss here … since I have no solo leads or any vocal talent to even deserve one”.
Wow. He’s so sexy!
Surprised that RTE didn’t opt for “Strictly Come Dancing” as the show’s title instead.
His quiting cause of his eurovision flop rofl , it’s clear rte are going internal again. Hopefully someone good this time like una healy or nadia forde
Aw, but I liked “Sunlight”. 🙁
smart guy
lol I think it’s for the best..
looks like Ireland’s going internal again, not another disaster plz
Thats not exactly fighting like a winner.
Lets hope he learns like a beginner in his new host role
well with those vocals…