Maite Kelly calls Schlager a ‘freakshow’ and cites Roland Kaiser duet as source of house purchase

Maite Kelly appeared on ZDFneo’s cooking talk show “Böhmi brutzelt” with host Jan Böhmermann. During the interview she described the Schlager music scene as a “freakshow” and reflected on how the genre’s commercial focus shaped her early career.

Kelly highlighted her long‑term collaboration with veteran singer Roland Kaiser, noting that the 2014 duet “Warum hast du nicht Nein gesagt” generated substantial royalties. She said the earnings from the song enabled her to buy a house, though she declined to disclose exact figures. The single achieved five‑fold gold status in Germany, charted in Austria and Switzerland, and amassed over 170 million YouTube views, making it one of the most successful German‑language Schlager videos.

She also contrasted her past money‑driven mindset with her current emphasis on personal relationships, stating that “at the end of the day it’s about love and friendship.”