Bojan Ilievski wins Zvezdite na Grand — his grandmother was his anchor
The winner from North Macedonia talks about losing his parents in 2021 and how his grandmother kept him going.
Bojan Ilievski emerged as a regional sensation with powerful vocals and lively stage presence, but behind the applause stood a quieter story: his grandmother, who he says carried him through the hardest years of his life.
Ilievski has been speaking about everyday life on the road and at home during recent TV appearances, where he mixed anecdotes about food and touring with the more painful memories that shaped him.
Asked about his habits, he smiled and admitted, "I'm basically a tavern person. I eat out more at restaurants, but I try the specialties of my grandmother here, though I like taverns the most." He added that no restaurant can replace the dishes that remind him of his grandmother and the warmth of home.
Family loss and the woman who stayed
The upbeat persona on stage contrasts with a period of deep personal loss. After his father's death and then his mother's passing in 2021, Ilievski found himself alone; his maternal grandmother became his only shelter and main support.
His grandmother first appeared on camera when he was a young contestant on Zvezdite na Grand and spoke through tears: "I am his maternal grandmother. He has neither father nor mother, I am his only support. His father and mother have died." Her presence moved the show's mentors, jury and viewers alike.
Ilievski says the aftermath of 2021 marked his lowest point: he stopped working for more than a year and battled a gambling addiction. He credits his recovery to his grandmother's unconditional love, a promise he made to himself and the encouragement of his mentor Gjorge David. Ilievski completed secondary music school and later graduated from the Music Academy in Slovenia.
Recalling the morning after his victory, he described the moment with emotion: "I still can't take it all in, my phone was blocked with messages. But my grandmother is the happiest! This morning when I got up, I found her in tears. I said to her: 'You were crying yesterday, are you crying again now?'"
He also remembers the words of Sasa Popovic, who told him that Zvezdite na Grand is a big family and that contestants can always rely on that support. Ilievski has revisited the last meeting with his mother in Slovenia shortly before she died and says that vow — and the backing of those around him — gave him the strength to rebuild and reach the top.
The singer's full, emotional conversation about his past and rise to victory was aired during his guest appearance on the talk show "Kafe Muabeti".
Photo: press material from the event
