Ukrainian media reports that international music star Lady Gaga was due to perform in the Eurovision 2017 final, but was replaced by Ruslana.

According to Igor Tarnopolsky, the manager of Eurovision 2016 winner Jamala, Lady Gaga was selected to perform as the interval act for the final of Eurovision 2017. Mr Tarnopolsky states he had been informed that Lady Gaga was performing by Stuart Barlow the show Producer in April.

Jamala’s manager goes on to add that, Lady Gaga had agreed to participate in the event as the main interval act, but did not demand a fee to perform as part of the show. Instead a rider of between 100,000 and 200,000 USD was required to ensure that she would take part. However according to Mr Tarnopolsky, room in the budget for the fee was not found and Lady Gaga was then dropped as the interval act.

Replacing Lady Gaga in her spot during the final was Ruslana the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. She performed her new single “It’s Magical” during the Grand Final, she was one of three guest artists to perform including Jamala and ONUKA.

It has not been confirmed by Ruslana or the management of Lady Gaga that the singer was due to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest.

The final of the 62nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place on May 13 in the Ukrainian Capital, Kyiv. Salvador Sobral, the 27-year-old singer from Lisbon won the hearts of Europe performing “Amar Pelos Dois” (Love for two), which was written by his sister. Portugal had been waiting 53 years for victory in the Eurovision Song Contest, the longest a country has ever participated in the contest without winning.

The full results of the contest were as follows:

Portugal – 758 points Bulgaria – 615 points Moldova – 374 points Belgium – 363 points Sweden – 344 points Italy – 334 points Romania – 282 points Hungary – 200 points Australia – 173 points Norway – 158 points The Netherlands – 150 points France – 135 points Croatia – 128 points Azerbaijan – 120 points United Kingdom -111 points Austria – 93 points Belarus – 83 points Armenia – 79 points Greece – 77 points Denmark – 77 points Cyprus – 68 points Poland – 64 points Israel – 39 points Ukraine – 36 points Germany – 6 points Spain – 5 points

Source: Karabas