Before she was a Grammy Award-winning artist known for hits like I’m Like a Bird and Promiscuous, Nelly Furtado was just a local girl from Victoria with big dreams—and a job as a chambermaid.
During an appearance last week on the popular Call Her Daddy podcast, Furtado opened up about her early life, sharing stories of her first jobs and the valuable lessons she learned along the way.
Speaking with host Alex Cooper, Furtado clarified a question about her first job. “Before you were famous, you worked as a housekeeper in a motel?” Cooper asked. Furtado corrected her, saying, “Chambermaid.”
She revealed that her first job wasn’t at the motel but filing documents for a home inspection company. “It was helpful, I think, to just sit there and organize,” she said, explaining how the long hours taught her discipline. Soon after, she joined her family working at The Robin Hood Motel in Victoria.
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“My mom ran the housekeeping department. She was like the head honcho and so she hired me,” Furtado explained. The family affair extended beyond her mother; her sister, aunt, cousin, and even her brother worked at the motel, the latter taking care of the gardens.
Furtado fondly recalled spending “ten summers straight” working at the motel, even returning after high school graduation while chasing her music career dreams. “I thought I was going to be famous in two months,” she laughed. “But reality, you know, that’s not how it works. Your goals take a while to achieve.”
The singer reflected on how those early experiences shaped her work ethic. “Growing up doing that was good because when you get into this industry, ooh, the hours can be long. When you’re starting out it’s a lot of hustling.”
Victoria residents might recognize the Robin Hood Motel as a staple of the city, but for Nelly Furtado, it was a cornerstone of her formative years—teaching her life lessons that propelled her to international stardom.
Her story is a reminder of humble beginnings and the importance of hard work, no matter where life starts.
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