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Nicole Scherzinger is speaking out after a concert of hers in London earlier this month began 45 minutes late.
The singer and actress, 47, told The Sun she was “devastated” and “horrified” to realize that fans attending her show at the Royal Albert Hall on Oct. 6 were made to wait for so long. Scherzinger explained that the delay was largely due to a timing mix-up.
“It wasn’t until after I was done that I found out people had been sitting there for so long,” she said. “I was devastated and I was horrified, ‘cause I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I would be frustrated as well if I were told to sit there for so long.’ I think they had to be in their seats for like, 7:15 p.m. or something, but I thought my show was due to start at 8 p.m.”
Scherzinger added that she was so crunched for time as she handled all the show details and a meet-and-greet that she didn’t even have a chance to soundcheck all of her songs with the orchestra that night.
“I was just so focused on trying to make it the best show that I could for the Royal Albert Hall,” she said. “I’m busting my balls back there to make sure it’s the best show for everyone. So I was like, ‘OK, if I’m 15 minutes late, then, you know, the most important thing is I put on the most memorable, best show that I can for these people.’ It’s a wonder I made it out 15 or 20 minutes late after I thought my time was 8 p.m.”
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The Tony Award winner went on to show appreciation for her fans because “everybody stayed, and by the end, they were all up on their feet dancing with me.”
“I want to thank them for their patience and their generosity for sticking it out with me and I appreciate their understanding,” she said.
Scherzinger’s Royal Albert Hall show was a one-off performance, and was billed as her first major solo gig in the U.K. in 13 years. She performed a number of famous show tunes, and even threw in some hits from her Pussycat Dolls days, like “Buttons” and “Don’t Cha.”
The star wrapped her Broadway debut on Sunset Blvd. in July, a role for which she won the Tony for Best Leading Actress in June.
“I have worked many, many years to build up to this moment, and it’s changed my life,” she told PEOPLE of her Broadway success in May. “I’ve never been more happy, I think, because I always had so much inside of me that I felt like people didn’t see or understand. It just feels good now to be able to share that with the world.”
