ADÉLA is proving that finishing a reality competition early does not have to mean missing out on pop stardom. The Slovak singer, who competed on The Debut: Dream Academy before being eliminated, has built a solo career that is now attracting millions of listeners worldwide.
Her latest streaming milestone has reignited debate among fans about HYBE and Geffen Records' decision to form KATSEYE without her. With ADÉLA's music gaining traction and her name reaching new audiences, fans are revisiting what might have happened had she made the final line-up.
ADÉLA Surpasses KATSEYE on Spotify
ADÉLA has overtaken KATSEYE in Spotify monthly listeners, putting the former Dream Academy contestant ahead of the group she once competed to join. The figures put ADÉLA at approximately 39.4 million monthly listeners, compared with KATSEYE's 34 million, a difference of 5.4 million.
Spotify monthly listeners measure the number of unique listeners an artist attracts over a rolling 28-day period. The figure reflects an artist's recent reach, so it can change as songs gain or lose momentum.
The comparison has prompted pointed reactions from fans who believe ADÉLA's solo success makes her elimination look even more questionable. One critic wrote: 'The group members must be pissed because ADÉLA managed to do this by making real music'.
Another fan argued that ADÉLA was doing something more historic by becoming the first Slovak artist to enter the charts. A third comment called not launching her as a solo artist 'the peak of HYBE's stupidity', adding that she now delivers more concept than many groups associated with the company.
From HYBE Rejection to Solo Stardom
ADÉLA first came to wider attention in 2023 through The Debut: Dream Academy, the global talent competition developed by HYBE and Geffen Records that ultimately produced KATSEYE. Although she did not secure a place in the final group, the exposure introduced her to an international audience and gave her a starting point for her solo ambitions.
Rather than disappear from the music scene, she began releasing independent singles, including 'Homewrecked' and 'Superscar' in 2024. She subsequently signed with Capitol Records, releasing her debut EP, The Provocateur, in 2025.
Her career continued to develop with new singles and a more defined pop identity. In September 2026, she released PRIMA, her debut studio album under Capitol Records, featuring songs including 'KGB', 'Red Bottoms', 'Ain't in LA' and 'Nicole Kidman'.
The album marked another major step away from her beginnings on the competition show. Instead of joining a pre-selected group, ADÉLA now has the opportunity to establish her own sound, image and artistic direction.
Two Careers, Two Different Paths
ADÉLA's growing profile has been fuelled by the success of 'Ain't in LA' and the attention surrounding 'Nicole Kidman', a track inspired by the Hollywood actress. Kidman herself helped introduce the song to a wider audience after featuring 'Ain't in LA' in her first TikTok video, while the track's online popularity encouraged fans and celebrities to participate in the trend.
Madonna also joined the viral 'Nicole Kidman' trend, sharing a video featuring the song in October. The attention has helped turn ADÉLA's music into a social media talking point beyond the audience that first discovered her through Dream Academy.
KATSEYE, meanwhile, continues to pursue its own international success despite facing questions about its current line-up. Manon and Sophia have been on hiatus, with the remaining members continuing group activities.
On 18 October, KATSEYE took the stage at the 2026 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles. Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae performed 'Pinky Up' and 'Animal' during the PINK segment, adding another high-profile appearance to the group's ongoing Wildworld tour.
