Georgian Idol will be used to select not only the nations participant for Eurovision 2019, but also the sing that they will perform.

In a radio interview earlier this week the Head of Delegation for Georgia, Natia Mshvenieradze revealed new details about Georgian Idol. Speaking on Radio E-volution, she explained that Georgia’s Idol will be used to select both the nations singer and song for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.

Ms Mshvenieradze stated that a call for song submissions will be made in the coming weeks. In the final of Georgian Idol the singer and song will be selected the 2019 contest in Tel Aviv, Israel. Currently a call for participants in for Georgian Idol has taken place, with the auditions round taking place later this month across Georgia.

Georgia’s Idol already has a connection with Eurovision. Season 4 winner Nodiko Tatishvili and season 5 runner-up Sopho Gelovani represented Georgia in 2013 with “Waterfall”. They finished 15th in the final with 50 points. Georgia is the fourth country that are selecting their Eurovision representative through a televised talent show, after Malta, Israel and Spain.

Georgia’s most recent attempt was in 2018 with “For You” by Ethno-Jazz Band Iriao. The song finished in last place in the second semi final in Lisbon. This was the second time in a row that Georgia failed to qualify and it was the nation’s worst placing in their history.

Source: Radio E-Revolution

Georgia in the Eurovision Song Contest Georgia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2007, they were represented by Sopho Khalvashi and the song “Visionary Dream”. Sopho finished 8th in the final scoring 97 points, the song received 12 points from the televoters in Lithuania. Georgia has only ever missed one contest since their debut, this was in 2009 when Georgia had selected Stephane & 3G with “We Don’t Wanna Put In”, the song proved controversial for its lyrics aimed at the Russian President. The EBU asked for Georgia to rewrite the lyrics of the song or change the song completely. Georgia was forced to withdraw as it continued to state the lyrics were not of a political nature.