Diana Gurtskaya

Diana Gurtskaya
Diana Gurtskaya

Diana Gurtskaya in 2009
Background information
Birth name Diana Gurtskaya
Born July 2, 1978 (1978-07-02) (age 33)
Sukhumi, Abkhazia, Georgia
Origin Georgia
Genres Pop
Occupations Singer, songwriter
Years active 2000–present

Diana Gudaevna Gurtskaya (Georgian: დიანა ღურწკაია, born July 2, 1978 in Sukhumi, Georgia) is a blind Georgian singer residing in Moscow, Russia. Following a failed attempt in Belarus the previous year Diana, on March 1, 2008, won the Georgian national final with 39.4% of the vote, therefore she represented Georgia at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade, Serbia. She won a place in the final at the second semi-final on May 22 and finished 11th.

Gurtskaya has a number of awards to her credit. Most notably, a 2007 Russian Honorable Artist award given to her by president Vladimir Putin, a Medal of Honor given to her by Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili, and the Award of Saint Barbara in Ukraine amongst others.[1]

She has recorded duets with various well-known foreign singers including Ray Charles, Toto Cutugno, and Demis Roussos.[1][2][3]

In 2009, Gurtskaya received significant media attention after failing to obtain a visa from the British embassy due to her blindness. However, after a much publicised campaign, a visa was granted and the rules were changed.[4]

Gurtskaya is married to Pyotr Kucherenko, who is a sighted lawyer in Moscow, and they have one son, Konstantin (b. June 2007).

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Diana Gurtskaya's biography at eurovision.tv
  2. ^ Diana Gurtskaya's biography at eurovision-georgia.ge
  3. ^ Get to know Diana page of esctime.com
  4. ^ Blind singer beats UK redtape, from Russia Today on YouTube, 30 April 2009
Preceded by
Sopho Khalvashi
with Visionary Dream		 Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest
2008		 Succeeded by
Sofia Nizharadze
with Shine


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