Natalia Kholodenko To Sing With Gloria Gaynor After Viral Success Of Song With Kathy Sledge

Natalia Kholodenko, a celebrated Ukrainian psychologist is continuing her mission to uplift women impacted by war with an upcoming collaboration with singer Gloria Gaynor.

A refugee herself, Kholodenko fled Ukraine with her two young children at the start of the Russian invasion. Today, she’s using her voice — and her platform of over one million social media followers — to bring strength and healing to others.

Now in New York, Kholodenko is continuing her year-long campaign of high-profile interviews and musical collaborations aimed at inspiring women across Ukraine and around the world. On Tuesday, she will visit the home of music icon Gloria Gaynor for an interview, followed by a meal of Ukrainian food and a joint performance of Gaynor’ anthem “I Will Survive.”

“On Tuesday, I will sing ‘I Will Survive’ with the legendary Gloria Gaynor,” Kholodenko said. “Together we will send the message to women all over the world that despite their current circumstance, life will bloom again.”

The collaboration follows the success of Kholodenko’s March video with singer Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge. After an interview, the two women performed “We Are Family” in English and Ukrainian to show solidarity with Ukrainian women enduring trauma and displacement. The video went viral, inspiring mashups and tributes from viewers around the world.

“I am overwhelmed by the response to my collaboration with Kathy Sledge. It reaffirms my notion that women all over the world are in dire need of joy and inspiration,” Kholodenko said.

Kholodenko’s upcoming visit will also include a presentation of the play “Lara’s Journey” by Joanna Pickering, which explores the emotional and cultural displacement of a Ukrainian refugee in London.

Since escaping to Germany at the start of the war with only her children and a few thousand dollars, Kholodenko has remained a deeply connected figure within the Ukrainian diaspora. She is now using her own funds to travel to the U.S. for a year-long campaign aimed at restoring hope and resilience among displaced women and children.

In addition to her storytelling and outreach, Kholodenko is actively raising funds for Nova Ukraine, a U.S.-based nonprofit that has provided over $120 million in humanitarian assistance since February 2022.

“I believe deeply in the power of positivity and faith and want to be a light for the millions of women who are living in darkness,” she said. “I want them to know that not only will they survive, they have the power to thrive.”