About
Biography
Sopho Khalvashi is a Georgian singer born on May 31, 1986, in Batumi, a city in the Adjara region of Georgia. She comes from a Laz heritage, an ethnic group native to the Black Sea coast. From a young age, Sopho loved music and dreamed of becoming a singer. Her family noticed her talent early on and supported her by sending her to a music school in Batumi. There, she learned to play the piano and oboe, building a strong foundation for her future career.
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Sopho’s first big step into the music world came in 2004 when she joined a competition for young singers called “Nutsa’s School” in Georgia. She won the contest, proving her skills and gaining attention in her home country. Two years later, in 2006, she took part in an international song contest called “New Wave” in Jūrmala, Latvia. She placed third, which was a huge achievement. This success caught the eye of a Russian management agency called “ARS,” led by composer Igor Krutoy. She signed a contract with them, but instead of staying abroad, Sopho chose to return to Georgia. Back home, she got an offer from Imedi TV to host a talent show called “On Imedi’s Waves,” giving her a chance to connect with audiences in a new way.
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In 2007, Sopho made history as the first artist to represent Georgia at the Eurovision Song Contest. It was the country’s debut in the competition, held in Helsinki, Finland. Her song, “Visionary Dream,” started as “My Story” but was reworked for the event. She performed in English, mixing pop with Georgian folk sounds. In the semi-final, she finished eighth, earning a spot in the final. There, she placed 12th with 97 points, including the maximum 12 points from Lithuania. Her performance put Georgia on the Eurovision map and made her a national star.
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After Eurovision, Sopho kept working on her music career. She blended different styles like pop, soul-jazz, and traditional Georgian elements, earning her the nickname “Georgia’s Björk” from some fans. She continued to perform and stayed active in the entertainment world. In 2018, her career took a surprising turn when she was appointed Deputy Mayor of Batumi, her hometown. She had been thinking about the offer for a while before accepting it, excited to use her ideas to help her city. This role showed her willingness to step beyond music and serve her community.
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In 2021, Sopho returned to the Eurovision spotlight as one of Georgia’s jurors for the contest in Rotterdam, helping to choose the winner. Then, in 2024, she appeared again during the Eurovision grand final in Malmö, announcing Georgia’s jury votes. These moments kept her tied to the competition that launched her internationally. Throughout her life, Sopho has stayed connected to her roots. She is married to Mikheil Dzodzuashvili, whose father, Revaz Dzodzuashvili, is a well-known Georgian football manager and former player. Sopho Khalvashi’s career shows her journey from a young dreamer in Batumi to a celebrated singer and public figure in Georgia.
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