HOST JACKIE TANTILLO - Generations Of Influential Women With Guests Singer Nadia Turner and Daughter Zareh Isa 30:09

Nadia Turner was the #8 finalist on the 4th season of American Idol (2005) and Zareh, also know as Za, was only four years old. In the spring of 2022 Zareh, then 21, auditioned for AI and surprised her mother when she took her to the audition. Zareh performed “Bust Out Your Windows” by Jazmine Sullivan, which impressed the judges.

It was such a pleasure to have a conversation with both mother and daughter at the same time, to share stories of Nadia’s mom and grandmother as well as Za’s perspective of her mother and grandmother -we’re talking about four generations of strong women.

Nadia says she’s a very different parent today than she was in her 20’s and a college student when Za was born. She’s very grateful because she always new that her mother was going to be there to help her raised her two daughters. Zareh completely understands why her younger sister is being raised differently than she was. Zareh says that her mom was very strict when she was young but now she understands and appreciates why and respects her mother’s decisions. It was, at times, overwhelming raising Zareh when Nadia was younger but now she’s got a different attitude about raising her younger daughter, she concentrates on the things that are important, the things that really matter.

Rosita, Nadia’s mother, originally from the island of St. Eustatius, was a single mom who worked 9-5 at an electric company. “There’s never been a time when she didn’t show up for me” reflects Nadia. Rosita was very supportive of her daughter, whether it was sports or a school activity, she was always there for her regardless if she truly understood her daughters passions or interests. “I couldn’t have done this thing called motherhood with out my mother, Rose,” says Turner.

Nadia spent quite a bit of time with her maternal grandmother, Esme, Rosita’s mother. Nadia remembers her grandmother as “being my Zen, my peace, always very quiet and calm.” She continues “she was very religious and always humming her hymns, she never raised her voice and for some reason, that moved mountains for me.” When Nadia was a child and she and her mother got into an argument, Nadia recalls simply sitting quietly next to her grandmother and holding her hand which made everything feel alright.

There’s so much more to learn about my two guests and the influential women that helped them become who they are today. Always so grateful for the mothers/grandmothers and female family members who preceded us to lay down the groundwork and straightened path to keep us Moving forward.

When I asked Za if she stands a little taller because of these strong women in her life she responds, “my grandmother and mother are my biggest idols. I look up to them for everything they do. We are a family full of women. My grandmother is present no matter what’s going on. I’m so grateful and definitely stand taller.”

There’s so much more to these two magnificent women. Hope you enjoy the conversation.

Thank you for sharing your stories Nadia and Zareh.

There are links below with more information regarding Zareh and Nadia Turner’s latest music and singing with the band

‘Nadia Turner and the Son Kings’ and more.

Nadia Turner https://www.nadiaturner.com/

https://linktr.ee/nadiaturner

Nadia Turner American Idol 2005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7a7ug6Dkfs

Nadia Turner American Idol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d4aWIM2j_c

Zareh American Idol 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuEgF0rWR28

Zareh Instagram-styledbyzaza https://www.instagram.com/p/BvuQ6CBHo23/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=c9062567-fbcc-47cd-bce8-bfbdee8c4142

Jackie Tantillo Podcaster

Jackie Tantillo loves being on both sides of the microphone –as Voice Over Artist and Producer/Engineer and in front of the camera as an On Camera Talent. She has been featured in National and International On Camera and Voice Over Commercials and Industrials. Over the years, she has mentored students with an interest in production and broadcasting and has volunteered with elementary school aged children in theatre production. Jackie is able to draw from her many years as a spokesperson and radio talent to bring warmth and insight to her many endeavors, including representative for organizations such as D.A.R.E., March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy and Easter Seals. A mom and the youngest of seven siblings, Italian American born in Rota Spain, Jackie or ‘Juani’ as her family and friends call her, comes from a very close knit family. Her knowledge of conversational French, Italian and Spanish has broadened the scope of her work. She lives in New Jersey and loves spending time with her family in the outdoors and traveling.