Emma Heesters

{{Infobox person

| name = Emma Heesters

| image = Tafeldecoratie 3ballonnen Dinerconcert Emma Heesters Cafe in the City Rotterdam (cropped).jpg

| caption = Heesters in 2022

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1996|1|8}}

| birth_place = 's-Gravenpolder, Netherlands

| nationality = Dutch

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|model}}

| years_active = 2017–present

| height = 169 cm

| partner = Wesley Hoedt

| website = {{URL|emmaheesters.com}}

| module = {{Infobox musical artist

| embed = yes

| instrument = Vocal

| genre = {{flatlist|

Pop
World}}

| label = Republic Records, Universal Music Group, Eddie O Entertainment, Hello Music (a division of The Hello Group), Sony Music Netherlands, Sony Music Belgium

}}

Emma Heesters (born 8 January 1996) (pronunciation: emā hīsṭars) is a Dutch singer and television personality, mainly known for performing covers of popular songs on her own YouTube channel.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-16|title=Emma Heesters Is Ready To Sing At Eurovision 2022|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/06/16/emma-heesters-is-ready-to-sing-at-eurovision-2022/255032/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=wiwibloggs|language=en-US}}{{unreliable source?|date=July 2021}} She began her music career in 2014 and as of August 2022 has over 5.77 million subscribers on YouTube.{{Cite web|title=Emma Heesters - YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/c/EmmaHeesters/videos|access-date=2021-05-11|website=www.youtube.com}}{{unreliable source?|date=July 2021}}{{Cite news|date=2017-08-02|title=Nederlandse Emma Heesters krijgt groot Amerikaans platencontract|url=https://jeugdjournaal.nl/artikel/2186074-nederlandse-emma-heesters-krijgt-groot-amerikaans-platencontract.html?ext=html|access-date=2021-07-02}}

Early life

Heesters was born in the village of 's-Gravenpolder in the province of Zeeland as the child of Ludo and Willian Heesters.{{cite web |title=De ouders van Emma Heesters zijn ontzettend trots op hun dochter |url=https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/video/Emma-Heesters-miljoen-volgers-ZNO190104VW/de-ouders-van-emma-heesters-zijn-ontzettend-trots-op-hun-dochter |website=omroepzeeland.nl |publisher=Omroep Zeeland |access-date=8 January 2023}} From a young age, she started vocal and dance lessons, including ballet.{{cite web |title=HET FOTOBOEK VAN EMMA HEESTERS! |url=https://www.100p.nl/nieuws/het-fotoboek-van-emma-heesters |website=100p.nl |publisher=100% NL |access-date=8 January 2023 |date=20 September 2020}} In 2004, at the age of 8, she won the provincial preselection of the Kinderen voor Kinderen Songfestival.{{cite web |last1=Vos |first1=Michiel |title=Emma Heesters wist door tv-optreden op haar 8e dat ze zangeres wilde worden |url=https://www.nu.nl/muziek/6071979/emma-heesters-wist-door-tv-optreden-op-haar-8e-dat-ze-zangeres-wilde-worden.html |website=nu.nl |publisher=NU.nl |access-date=8 January 2023}} Shortly before the performance, Heesters had broken her leg, having to sit in a wheelchair while singing. As a result, she had a television debut on the eponymous show on NPO Zapp, where she performed "100 kleine feestjes".{{cite web |title=Emma Heesters 100 Kleine Feestjes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOw8p-6ACg |website=YouTube.com |access-date=8 January 2023}} Later on, she acted in a few musicals as a child star. During her teen years, she started singing as part of numerous cover bands, which she stopped doing once she graduated school.{{cite web |last1=NOS Stories |title=EMMA HEESTERS TEKENT PLATENCONTRACT IN AMERIKA {{!}} REPORT |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edtoTrxtjEQ |website=YouTube.com |publisher=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |access-date=8 January 2023}} In 2013, she graduated from the Dalton Plan school Roncalli in Bergen op Zoom with a havo certificate, specialising in the economy and society profile.{{cite web |title=Hij liet me reizen in de tijd |url=https://krantenbankzeeland.nl/issue/pzc/2013-06-14/edition/null/page/75 |website=krantenbankzeeland.nl |publisher=Provinciale Courant Zeeland |access-date=8 January 2023 |date=14 June 2013}}

Career

In 2019 she was the first Dutch winner of MTV's Push Award and gained Platinum status for her single "Pa Olvidarte" with Rolf Sanchez,{{Cite web|last=Choudhury|first=Nila|date=2020-04-19|title=You Can't Miss Emma Heesters' Remake Of 'Shayad'|url=https://www.dissdash.com/2020/04/19/you-cant-miss-emma-heesters-remake-of-shayad/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=DissDash|language=en-US}} she featured in a song by the band Boyce Avenue plus collaborated with them on their European tour, and took to television performing in Beste Zangers a Dutch television program, the web series Jachtseason of StukTV, and the game show, I Can See Your Voice.{{Cite news|date=2020-09-09|title=ViacomCBS to produce MTV's first live 5G-enabled remote production|url=https://www.rapidtvnews.com/2020090959012/viacomcbs-to-produce-mtv-s-first-live-5g-enabled-remote-production.html#axzz6zTKlt6NZ|access-date=2021-07-02}}{{Cite web|last=van Leeuwen|first=Marlies|date=2021-06-14|title=Davina Michelle en Douwe Bob zingen hun favoriete guilty pleasure|url=https://www.ad.nl/show/davina-michelle-en-douwe-bob-zingen-hun-favoriete-guilty-pleasure~ae27cc18/|access-date=2021-08-06|website=Algemeen Dagblad|language=nl}}{{Cite web|last=Slot|first=Aileen|date=2021-06-15|title=Dit zijn de nieuwe namen van Freshtival: 'Het gaat door het dak'|url=https://www.tubantia.nl/enschede/dit-zijn-de-nieuwe-namen-van-freshtival-het-gaat-door-het-dak~ac14ffb4/|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Tubantia|language=nl}}

Heesters was named by Top40 NL{{Cite web|title=Emma Heesters zingt duet met populaire Vlaamse zanger Metejoor|url=https://www.omroepzeeland.nl/nieuws/127844/Emma-Heesters-zingt-duet-met-populaire-Vlaamse-zanger-Metejoor|access-date=2021-07-03|website=Omroep Zeeland|language=NL}} as the most successful Dutch artist of the year so far in 2020 and later in November was named winner of MTV EMA's Best Dutch Act.{{Cite web|last=September 2020|first=Dan Oliver 08|title=Emma Heesters joins MTV for its first 5G-enabled remote broadcast|url=https://www.5gradar.com/news/emma-heesters-joins-mtv-for-its-first-5g-enabled-remote-broadcast|access-date=2021-07-03|website=www.5gradar.com|date=8 September 2020|language=en}}

Personal life

She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in October 2024.{{Cite news |date=14 November 2024 |title=Emma Heesters heeft baarmoederhalskanker: 'Afgelopen weken waren intens' |url=https://www.nu.nl/muziek/6335388/emma-heesters-heeft-baarmoederhalskanker-afgelopen-weken-waren-intens.html |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=NU.nl |language=nl}}