Who is Katrina Leskanich? Katrina and The Waves singer and winner of Eurovision 1997
an American singer best known as the lead vocalist from British pop rock legends Katrina and the Waves — the last act from these shores to win Eurovision.
With the
3
Katrina and the Waves released their first single in 1982
Credit: Corbis
3
The band won Eurovsion in 1997
Credit: PA:Press Association
Who is Katrina Leskanich?
on April 10, 1960,
in Topeka, Kansas, but moved to the United Kingdom in 1976.
Her dad was a Vietnam vet and colonel in the US Air Force and due to her family's military background, she moved around frequently during her childhood, eventually relocating to the UK 1976, where she has lived ever since.
The band evolved into Katrina and the Waves after Kimberley Rew, guitarist and songwriter, joined the group and began writing songs specifically for Katrina.
The band gained international fame with their hit Walking on Sunshine (1985), which became a global anthem.
The song reached the Top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and UK chart, as well as earning the band a Grammy nomination.
Biggest hits
In 1997, the band's tune Love Shine a Light stole the
It went on to reach at No.3 in the UK Singles charts and No.2 in Norway and Austria.
most read in tv
Other Katrina and the Waves' smash hits include Walking on Sunshine, Do You Want Crying and Sun Street.
Katrina's solo projects
Katrina has thrown herself into a number of exciting projects since Katrina and the Waves disbanded in 1999.
Eurovision winners unrecogniseable
She worked as a DJ for
BBC Radio 2
before taking on the lead role in musical Leader of the Pack.
The popular singer has also released some solo tracks, including covers of Kirsty MacColl's They Don't Know and Clash tune Hitsville UK.
She has also played at a number of different festivals in Europe, including Rewind and the San Fermin.
When Katrina won Eurovision?
Katrina and the Waves secured victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997.
3
Katrina pursued a solo career following her time with The Waves and is still performing with her new band at festivals.
Credit: Rex Features
It was the group's biggest success since they released Walking on Sunshine 12 years earlier.
This victory was notable for achieving the highest score at the time — 227 points — a record that stood until the voting system changed in 2004.
Two decades after Katrina's
Richard Osman and Nigella Lawson were among those who presented the marks in years prior to Katrina's stint.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
5 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Father Ted star Pauline McLynn joins Coronation Street
Irish actress Pauline McLynn has been cast in Coronation Street as part of a new family who will run local pub the Rovers Return Inn. Catherine Tyldesley's character Eva Price, who was last seen on the show in 2018, will return alongside her latest partner and his mother, who are both new to the cobbles. Shameless actor Aaron McCusker stars as Eva's partner Ben Driscoll, with Father Ted's Pauline McLynn playing his interfering mother Maggie. Ben's two sons and Eva's daughter Suzie will also be joining the cast. Residents will discover that Eva and Ben are the new landlords in October, more than seven years after Eva stopped pulling pints to start a new life in France with her daughter. Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks said: "We are beyond thrilled that Eva is returning as the landlady of the Rovers, with her new blended family in tow. "The Driscolls do not arrive quietly, so expect big drama, explosive secrets and raucous knees ups galore. To have actors of Catherine, Aaron and Pauline's considerable calibre at the beating heart of this family is absolutely wonderful, and we can't wait for you to get to know and fall in love with them as much as we have already done. "Strap yourselves in, it's going to be an exciting and eventful ride." A host of stars have left the British soap this year including Sue Cleaver, who spent 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw. Among the others who have left are Colson Smith, who played Craig Tinker on the ITV soap opera, and Luca Toolan, who played Mason Radcliffe.
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Lady Gaga leads nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards
Lady Gaga has led the nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) with 12 nods. The US singer, 39, who has been touring her latest studio album across the US, is nominated in categories that include artist of the year and best album for Mayhem. Among the other top contenders are Bruno Mars, who has 11 nods, rapper Kendrick Lamar with 10, Espresso singer Sabrina Carpenter with eight, and US pop star Ariana Grande with seven. The track Die With A Smile, a collaboration between Lady Gaga and Mars, is nominated for song of the year, with the musicians also up for best collaboration, best pop, and video of the year. Treasure singer Mars, 39, has also received nominations for his hit song APT, featuring Blackpink's Rose, which also features in the best collaboration category. For her hit song Abracadabra, Lady Gaga is nominated for best direction, best art direction, best cinematography, best editing, best choreography and best visual effects. The singer, real name Stefani Germanotta, released her seventh studio album in March, and will be taking her Mayhem Ball Tour to London in September. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who have 30 VMAs each, are nominated once each in the artist of the year category, meaning either one of them could become the most-awarded musician in VMA history if they win. This year, the music awards have introduced two new categories, best country and best pop artist. Featured in the latter is Grande, Carpenter, Justin Bieber, Lorde, Miley Cyrus, Tate McRae and Charli XCX. British pop artist Charli XCX, whose genre-defining sixth studio album Brat took the world by storm last year, has received five nods in total, including best video for good for her number one song Guess featuring US artist Billie Eilish. The 33-year-old won five Brit Awards earlier in the year, including song of the year for her collaborative chart-topper. US rapper Lamar soared to the top of the Ireland and UK charts when he released his album GNX in November 2024, which is nominated for best album. His stand out single, Not Like Us, has also earned him nominations for video of the year, best editing, best hip-hop and more. British rising star Lola Young is among the first-time nominees and features in the best new artist category, also picking up a nod for best alternative for her hit song Messy.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Toni and Cach reveal surprising plans for £50k Love Island prize which sets them apart from other Islanders
Your average twenty-something would splurge £50k on holidays, cars and clothes - but not Love Island's newest champions, Toni Laites and Cach Mercer. The lovebirds, both 24, instead have far more humdrum things in mind for their loot. 6 Toni Laites and Cach Mercer have revealed what they will be doing with their Love Island winnings Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 The winning pair celebrate with Maya Jama, but won't be splurging their winnings on a shopping spree Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 6 Maya announcing the pair winners of the latest Love Island season Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Toni, who is a Las Vegas cabana waitress, said: 'I need to pay off my student loans. I want to invest it. I don't want to go on some crazy shopping spree.' Cach, a dancer from London, agreed: 'Cost of living crisis, I'll save it!' It comes despite making history, with American Toni being the ITV2 show's first ever international bombshell to win. She entered on the first night of this summer's series and coupled up with Cach a month later, during Casa Amor. Toni said: 'I feel like I'm representing a whole nation! I didn't expect to make it past week one. 'Hopefully now we will just find time to enjoy one another's company and not let everything else take over.' Cach added: 'It feels amazing to win. I was 100 per cent authentically myself and luckily the public liked it, so I'm buzzing. 'I appreciate every moment on the show, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I wouldn't have done it any other way.' Toni will be remembered as one of the series 'Big Three' - a name coined by fans for her trio of friends, with Shakira Khan and Yasmin Pettet who came second and third respectively. Toni added: 'Friends I will have for life. That was a big takeaway. The girls were my rock for the eight weeks.' Cach and Toni WIN Love Island and bag £50k as raunchiest ever series ends She'll be spending more time with Cach than the girlies, though, as I can reveal ITV are set to offer the couple a spin-off show which follows their transatlantic relationship as they navigate love outside the villa. 6 Toni is the show's first ever international bombshell to win Credit: Shutterstock Editorial A source said: 'Even without the win, Cach and Toni's story should make great TV just due to their exciting lives. It will also be a chance to include Shakira and Yasmin when they visit Toni and catch up on the outside.' Shakira, 22, had a rocky journey in the villa but came runner-up with bad boy Harry Cookesley, 30. She said: 'The best romance of the series for me is Toni and Yas. Absolute weapons. I love those girls to bits. 'They will be bridesmaids at my wedding and godmothers of my children. I couldn't have done a day without them.' No mention of Harry, there, though… probably for the best. Rob just boobed with Liz 6 Rob Rinder says Liz Hurley accused him of 'talking to her boobs' during their first meeting for new Channel 4 show The Inheritance Credit: Channel 4 Rob Rinder's first meeting with Liz Hurley ahead of their new Channel 4 reality show The Inheritance saw her accuse him of speaking to her boobs. The series, out later this year, sees Liz play the dearly departed glam benefactor of a fortune stashed in a stately home, where 13 contestants compete for it while Rob acts as executor. He told the That Gaby Roslin podcast: 'When Elizabeth and I met, she was magnificent, she is the person a young gay man would want to marry before realising he would have to do geography he wasn't interested in. 'She was wearing this gold magnificence which she is wearing in the [show] promo in the coffin. "I started talking and she said, 'Are you talking to my breasts?' I said, 'Yes, actually I am'. 'Well, it would be absurd not to, since they are there. I mean, 'Are you looking at the Alps?!'' Prime Video thriller The Terminal List: Dark Wolf drops on August 27. The prequel comes three years after the hit first series and focuses on the backstory of Ben Edwards, played by Taylor Kitsch, who served alongside Chris Pratt's Navy SEAL character James Reece. Richie's radio Escape 6 Strictly and Radio 2's Richie Anderson joins Escape To The Country - helping a pair of Brummies hunt for a dream home in the Midlands Credit: BBC Strictly and Radio 2 star Richie Anderson has landed a new gig away from the airwaves – joining the presenting roster of Escape To The Country. Richie joins the long-running show for its 26th series and in his first episode will be seen helping a couple of fellow Brummies to find the perfect character property in the rural Midlands. Richie said: 'It's a real honour to be joining such an iconic TV programme and a brilliant family of presenters. 'Escape to the Country is one of the reasons I moved out of London for a quieter more rural way of life.' Richie joins regulars including Alistair Appleton, Nicki Chapman and Jules Hudson when the show returns to BBC One later this month.
