Troye Sivan has revealed how he recruited Nicole Kidman to appear in the music video for his new single “She’s the Best,” while also discussing his appreciation for rising pop star ADÉLA and her hit song “Nicole Kidman.” The Australian singer shared the details in an interview with Billboard published on October 9, 2026, coinciding with the release of his fourth studio album, She’s the Best.

Sivan explained that his connection with Kidman dates back to their work together on the 2018 film Boy Erased. The experience gave him access to the actress, although he admitted he had been hesitant to contact her after receiving her number. When he and the video’s creative team began discussing who could best represent the song’s central idea, Kidman emerged as their first choice.

“We were like, ‘Who is someone that everyone in the world can understand what we’re trying to show?’ And we were like, ‘It’s Nicole,’” Sivan recalled. He subsequently reached out to the Oscar-winning actress, who agreed to take part in the visual.

Despite securing Kidman’s participation, Sivan said he remained uncertain whether she would actually be available on the day of filming. Given her busy schedule, he expected that something might prevent her from appearing. He described watching his phone for messages from the actress, fearing that each notification could bring news that she would no longer be able to make the shoot.

“I was like, ‘I’m going to believe it when we wrap the video,’” Sivan said. He added that Kidman remained engaged throughout the production, with her involvement becoming one of the defining elements of the video’s concept.

The “She’s the Best” visual celebrates women who have influenced Sivan throughout his life. Kidman appears alongside drag performer Sasha Colby in a stylised sequence that draws on nightlife imagery and the song’s playful portrayal of admiration. The track also features backing vocals from Charli XCX, whose creative influence has become part of Sivan’s recent work.

During the Billboard interview, Sivan also addressed ADÉLA’s song “Nicole Kidman,” which has brought the actress’s name into another pop release in 2026. The Slovak singer’s track recently climbed to No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, extending her growing presence on the American charts.

Sivan said he had been listening to ADÉLA’s song and suggested that both artists may be drawn to Kidman for similar reasons. He described the actress as someone whose appeal is difficult to explain but remains captivating, adding that she represents a particular kind of woman he has admired throughout his life. He also acknowledged that he had not spoken directly with ADÉLA about the inspiration behind her song.

ADÉLA has previously discussed the significance of Kidman’s support for her track, describing it as remarkable that the actress had acknowledged a song named after her. The singer’s growing success with “Nicole Kidman” has also brought attention to her debut album, PRIMA, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 4 in September. The album’s other single, “Ain’t in LA,” also reached the Hot 100.

Sivan’s interview arrived on the release day of She’s the Best, his first full-length album since 2023’s Something to Give Each Other. The new project includes the title track, “Party,” which samples Madonna’s 2000 hit “Music,” and “Canada Dry,” a song Sivan described as capturing the sensual, understated side of pop music he enjoys. He also named Addison Rae, Janet Jackson and Kylie Minogue among artists who embody that style.

The singer said he has never made chart success the primary objective of his career, explaining that he wanted the new album to reflect his own creative interests rather than follow established expectations for pop releases. She’s the Best explores a range of sounds, including electronic pop, breakbeat, house and shoegaze, while its lyrics examine desire, loneliness, relationships and the women who have shaped Sivan’s life. The album’s release and the discussion surrounding Kidman and ADÉLA have placed the three artists in a shared pop-culture conversation during a busy week for new music.