José Sebastiani, 17, clarified he writes song lyrics but does not perform. Amadeus called reports of his Sanremo participation "fake news."
4:02 PM
José Sebastiani, the 17-year-old son of television presenter Amadeus and Giovanna Civitillo, has denied reports that he will make a musical debut at Sanremo Giovani, the competition for emerging artists at Italy's annual music festival.
The confusion began when José posted on Instagram about the release of a single titled "Vengo dal Sud," written in collaboration with rapper emf. The cover image led some observers to believe José was the performer on the track, sparking speculation about a possible entry into the music industry.
A social media comment suggesting "Sanremo Giovani and De Martino are waiting for you"—referring to Stefano De Martino, the artistic director of the 2027 festival—went viral and was shared across multiple online outlets, further fueling unfounded rumors about José's participation.
José addressed the speculation directly on his social media accounts, clarifying his actual role in music. "In my free time, when football allows me, I like to write song lyrics that are then performed by some friends who are emerging artists," he stated. He emphasized that he does not sing the songs himself.
Amadeus, a veteran of Italian television familiar with the dynamics surrounding Sanremo, intervened to dismiss the reports. He called the claims "fake news," rejecting the notion that his son would participate in the festival's competition for young performers.
José indicated that his primary focus remains football rather than a career in music. The clarification became necessary after the single's cover image created misunderstandings about his involvement as a performer on the track.
The former Sanremo host appeared on Fiorello's show, revealing past contestant decisions and suggesting openness to a festival return.
Italian singer Luciano Ligabue said he would not perform at Sanremo as a guest artist, citing excessive tension at the festival.
Stefano De Martino, the festival's new artistic director, revealed the 77th edition will run February 16-20, 2027, using Vasco Rossi's "Vita Spericolata" as the announcement soundtrack.
Stefano De Martino, host and artistic director of Sanremo 2027, spoke about the festival nine months before its debut, saying ideas for performers and co-hosts are already in place.
Italian singer-songwriter revealed during docufilm presentation he made a personal oath following Luigi Tenco's death.
The Neapolitan singer, who won the 2026 Sanremo Festival, responded to critics who questioned his song's merit during a Tuesday appearance on the RAI 2 talk show.