--- title: "Gloria Gaynor Sang 'I Will Survive' in Ukrainian: Singer Surprised Psychologist Natalia Kholodenko During an Interview" description: "Legendary singer Gloria Gaynor spontaneously performed the chorus of her hit I Will Survive in Ukrainian during an interview with Ukrainian psychologist Natalia Kholodenko, uttering the phrase \"I will survive.\"" date: 2026-09-16T15:34:05.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/gloria-gaynor-sings-i-will-survive-in-ukrainian tags: [gloria-gaynor, i-will-survive, ukrainian-language, music, ukraine, disco] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Gloria Gaynor Sang 'I Will Survive' in Ukrainian: Singer Surprised Psychologist Natalia Kholodenko During an Interview ![Gloria Gaynor at Nashville Film Festival before the interview where she sang 'I Will Always Love You' in Ukrainian](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/17/gloria-gaynor-spela-na-ukrainskom-i-will-survive/gloria-gaynor-spela-na-ukrainskom-i-will-survive-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Gloria Gaynor spontaneously performed the phrase "I will survive" in Ukrainian during a meeting with psychologist Natalia Kholodenko - The musical moment was not planned in advance β€” the initiative came from the singer herself during the interview - Kholodenko called the episode "an incredible honor for Ukraine" and noted the significance of the Ukrainian language being heard in the mouths of world artists - The hit I Will Survive (1978) topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 and earned Gaynor a Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording The legendary American singer Gloria Gaynor, whose disco anthem *I Will Survive* has remained one of the most recognizable musical works in the world for nearly half a century, unexpectedly switched to Ukrainian during a personal meeting with Ukrainian psychologist and motivational speaker Natalia Kholodenko and performed the key phrase of the chorus of her signature hit β€” "I will survive." Kholodenko herself reported this on her Instagram account, publishing a video recording of the moment. ### How the Unplanned Musical Moment Happened According to Kholodenko, the meeting with Gaynor took place in the singer's home, where the Ukrainian was recording an interview with her. The musical episode was not rehearsed in advance or included in the script of the conversation β€” the initiative to sing arose spontaneously, in the course of the talk. "At first I didn't even dare to dream about it, but Gloria herself suggested singing," the psychologist said. At a certain point, Gaynor switched to Ukrainian and uttered a line from the chorus, which became the climax of the meeting. ### "I Got Goosebumps" Kholodenko described her emotional reaction to this episode as extremely strong: "I got goosebumps. What an incredible honor for Ukraine!" The psychologist emphasized that it is especially valuable for her to see the Ukrainian language increasingly heard in the performance of world artists. "Today it is one phrase. But once we could not even imagine this!" she added, underscoring the symbolic significance of even a single sentence spoken in Ukrainian by a star of global scale. ### A Legend That Became an Anthem of Resilience The song *I Will Survive* was released in 1978 and immediately became the biggest hit of Gloria Gaynor's career. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who, after a painful breakup, finds the strength to start her life anew. In 1979, the track topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and later earned the performer a Grammy Award in the category of Best Disco Recording. Over the following decades, the song has become a universal anthem of resilience, survival, and the ability to move forward after heavy trials, finding new life in cover versions, film quotes, and public campaigns around the world. ### Personal Impressions from Meeting a Legend Besides the musical episode itself, Kholodenko shared her overall impressions from communicating with Gaynor. In her words, during the meeting she particularly acutely felt how many people around the world associate Gaynor's music with the strength to get through difficult periods of life. "Gloria Gaynor is a true legend of world music and an incredibly warm, sincere, and open person," the psychologist wrote. She also thanked the artist for her support and compassion for Ukraine, noting that it is important for her to see such attention from world stars. ### Context: The Ukrainian Language in Global Pop Culture The episode with Gloria Gaynor fits into a broader trend in which representatives of Ukrainian culture and language are increasingly penetrating the international media space. For Kholodenko, who works in psychology and motivational speaking, such moments are not merely entertainment content but confirmation that the Ukrainian language and identity occupy an ever more prominent place in the global cultural dialogue. The Instagram post gathered a wide response from the audience, confirming a sustained interest in topics linking world music with the Ukrainian linguistic heritage. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Gloria Gaynor Sang in Ukrainian Together with Natalia Kholodenko](https://wave.rbc.ua/ukr/stars/gloriya-geynor-zaspivala-ukrayinskoyu-razom-1789572216.html) - Основной источник. ΠžΠΏΠΈΡΡ‹Π²Π°Π΅Ρ‚ событиС, Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚ΠΈΡ€ΡƒΠ΅Ρ‚ Π₯ΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠ΄Π΅Π½ΠΊΠΎ, ссылаСтся Π½Π° Π΅Ρ‘ пост Π² Instagram. Π”Π΅Ρ‚Π°Π»ΠΈ: встрСча Π² Π΄ΠΎΠΌΠ΅ ΠΏΠ΅Π²ΠΈΡ†Ρ‹, Π½Π΅Π·Π°ΠΏΠ»Π°Π½ΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²Π°Π½Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ ΠΌΠΎΠΌΠ΅Π½Ρ‚, Ρ„Ρ€Π°Π·Π° Β«Π― Π±ΡƒΠ΄Ρƒ ΠΆΠΈΡ‚ΡŒΒ», рСакция психологини. - [The Cult Song I Will Survive Received a Ukrainian Version](https://korrespondent.net/showbiz/music/4911948-kultovaia-pesnia-I-Will-Survive-poluchyla-ukraynskuui-versyui) - Π”ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹ΠΉ контСкст ΠΎ сущСствовании украинской вСрсии ΠΊΠΎΠΌΠΏΠΎΠ·ΠΈΡ†ΠΈΠΈ. НС ΠΏΡ€ΠΎΡ‚ΠΈΠ²ΠΎΡ€Π΅Ρ‡ΠΈΡ‚ основному источнику, Π½ΠΎ Π½Π΅ описываСт ΠΊΠΎΠ½ΠΊΡ€Π΅Ρ‚Π½Ρ‹ΠΉ эпизод с Π“Π΅ΠΉΠ½ΠΎΡ€. - ["Disco Queen" Gloria Gaynor to Perform in Moscow](https://www.m24.ru/articles/30102012/8217) - Π˜ΡΡ‚ΠΎΡ€ΠΈΡ‡Π΅ΡΠΊΠΈΠΉ контСкст: информация ΠΎ ΠΊΠΎΠ½Ρ†Π΅Ρ€Ρ‚Π΅ Π“Π΅ΠΉΠ½ΠΎΡ€ Π² МосквС (2012). Π˜ΡΠΏΠΎΠ»ΡŒΠ·ΡƒΠ΅Ρ‚ΡΡ для подтвСрТдСния статуса ΠΏΠ΅Π²ΠΈΡ†Ρ‹ ΠΊΠ°ΠΊ ΠΌΠΈΡ€ΠΎΠ²ΠΎΠΉ Π·Π²Π΅Π·Π΄Ρ‹. НС содСрТит Π΄Π°Π½Π½Ρ‹Ρ… ΠΎ Ρ‚Π΅ΠΊΡƒΡ‰Π΅ΠΌ событии. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What exactly did Gloria Gaynor sing in Ukrainian? **A:** According to Natalia Kholodenko, Gaynor performed the key phrase from the chorus of the hit I Will Survive β€” "I will survive" (the Ukrainian translation of the title and the central idea of the song). ### Q: Where and under what circumstances did this episode take place? **A:** The meeting took place in Gloria Gaynor's home, where Ukrainian psychologist Natalia Kholodenko was recording an interview with her. The musical moment was not planned in advance β€” the singer herself suggested singing during the conversation. ### Q: What is known about the hit I Will Survive? **A:** The song was released in 1978, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1979, and earned Gloria Gaynor a Grammy Award in the category of Best Disco Recording. The composition became a global anthem of resilience and getting through difficult periods. ### Q: How did Natalia Kholodenko comment on this moment? **A:** Kholodenko wrote: "I got goosebumps. What an incredible honor for Ukraine!" She also emphasized that it is important for her to see the Ukrainian language increasingly heard in the performance of world artists.