One of the most surprising headlines from Ukraine’s Eurovision 2026 national selection came with a big name attached: Eminem. More precisely, it’s his Grammy-winning producer, Vinni Venditto. He stands behind one of this year’s finalist entries, performed by Valeriya Force.
Global Reach
Vinni Venditto is no stranger to the global music stage. The American producer and DJ holds two Grammy Awards and has worked with the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Pitbull. Most notably, he has writing credits on Eminem’s “Bad Guy” from “The Marshall Mathers LP2”.
Recently, he has been working with Eminem’s new material, something confirmed during the Eurovision Ukraine podcast by host Anna Tulieva. She said Venditto is “currently working on Eminem’s album”.
How Is Eminem Involved?
Ukrainian pop and Eurovision star Jamala, who produces this year’s national selection, made the connection clear during the podcast: “Eminem himself is linked to this song”.
That statement, while technically true, might give the wrong impression. Someone from the margin of Eminem’s creative circle produced the track. Still, there’s no indication that Em himself had direct involvement in the song’s creation. At best, Venditto may have shared the track with him, but that remains speculation.
Valeriya Force Brings US Influence
Valeriya Force flew for the national selection from the US, where she lives most of the time now. So, working with an American producer is not unusual for her. What caught the Ukrainian selection committee’s attention, though, was the song’s structure. Particularly, its bold rap section helped propel the track to the national finals. Jamala herself praised the style, suggesting it brought something fresh to the competition.
All Eyes on What’s Next from Eminem
While this Eurovision connection is a fun twist, the real headline may lie elsewhere: Vinni Venditto is currently working on Eminem’s new album. That one sentence has sent ripples through the fanbase, sparking renewed speculation that another release could be on the way soon. For now, we watch and wait.
