Gracia

In 2005, 22 year old Gracia's song climbed onto the German singles chart, earning her a wildcard into the national final. She went on to win it. Behind her stood an established songwriter with a string of past hits already to his name, but soon after her victory it emerged that the chart placement wasn't as straightforward as it looked, triggering accusations, petitions, and a media storm that followed her all the way to the Eurovision stage. How far did it really go, and who was pulling the strings? In this episode, Emil sits down with Gracia to finally get some answers. They talk about the man behind her career, the questions that nearly derailed everything before she'd even sung a note, and the night in Kyiv that ended in a last place finish, a result that would go on to haunt Germany at Eurovision again and again in the years that followed. Twenty years later, Gracia looks back with Emil on what really happened, how it shaped her, and where life has taken her since. A story of pop stardom, scandal, and resilience, told with honesty and heart.