Jüri Pootsmann (born 1 July 1994), is an Estonian singer. He won the sixth season of ''
Eesti otsib superstaari
''Eesti otsib superstaari'' ''(Estonia is Searching for a Superstar)'' is an Estonian reality-competition gameshow airing on TV3. It debuted on 11 March 2007 and it has since become one of the most popular shows in Estonia. Part of the Idol ...
'', and
represented Estonia in the
Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "
Play
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* Play (theatre), a work of drama
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". He is signed to
Universal Music Baltics.
Career
2015: ''Eesti otsib superstaari''
In February 2015, Pootsmann took part in the sixth season of ''
Eesti otsib superstaari
''Eesti otsib superstaari'' ''(Estonia is Searching for a Superstar)'' is an Estonian reality-competition gameshow airing on TV3. It debuted on 11 March 2007 and it has since become one of the most popular shows in Estonia. Part of the Idol ...
'', an Estonian version of ''
Pop Idol
''Pop Idol'' is a British music competition television series created by Simon Fuller which ran on ITV from 2001 to 2003. The aim of the show was to decide the best new young pop singer (or "pop idol") in the UK based on viewer voting and pa ...
'' airing on
TV3. He won the show on 31 May 2015 when his debut single "
Torm" was released. It peaked at number seven in the
Estonian Airplay Chart. On 15 November 2015 he released the single "
Aga Siis", peaking at number one in the
Estonian Airplay Chart. On 20 November 2015, he released his debut self-titled extended play.
Eurovision Song Contest 2016

In 2016, Pootsmann was announced as one of the candidates in the
Estonian national selection, ''Eesti Laul 2016'', for the
Eurovision Song Contest 2016. On 20 February 2016 Pootsmann performed his song "
Play
Play most commonly refers to:
* Play (activity), an activity done for enjoyment
* Play (theatre), a work of drama
Play may refer also to:
Computers and technology
* Google Play, a digital content service
* Play Framework, a Java framework
* P ...
" during the second semi-final of the selection at the
Estonian Television
Eesti Televisioon (ETV) () is an Estonian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Estonian Public Broadcasting. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955.
History
Eesti Televisioon (''Estonian Television'') was launched on 19 ...
studios in
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
, and he progressed to the final. The final took place on 5 March 2016 at the
Saku Suurhall
Unibet Arena (named Saku Suurhall until 31 December 2022) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the Haabersti (subdistrict), Haabersti subdistrict of the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Opened in November 2001, it is the largest multi-purpose hall in th ...
in
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...
, hosted by
Ott Sepp and
Märt Avandi. He reached the Super Final and won the national selection with 32,394 televotes.
During the Eurovision Song Contest, Estonia was drawn into the first semi-final. Pootsmann placed last (18th), Estonia's worst result to date at the contest, and failed to qualify to the final.
Eesti Laul 2021
In 2021, Pootsmann attempted to represent
Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with his song "Magus Melanhoolia", placing third in the Superfinal at Eesti Laul, Estonia's national selection final.
Appearances
On 11 March 2016, Pootsmann was featured in the single, "
I Remember U," produced by Cartoon. The single peaked at number one in the
Estonian Airplay Chart.
Personal life
Pootsmann spent a year on a school exchange in Denmark and is fluent in Danish.
Discography
Albums
Extended plays
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pootsmann, Juri
1994 births
Living people
People from Rapla Parish
21st-century Estonian male singers
Estonian expatriates in Denmark
Eesti Laul winners
Eesti otsib superstaari winners
Eurovision Song Contest entrants