Are the Stars Still Singing? Where are the “Australian Idol” Winners Now?

Image of Guy Smith
by Guy Smith
Australian Idol winners: Where are they now?

When you think of “Australian Idol”, your mind probably jumps back to the first season. You probably think of the epic final showdown between Guy Sebastian and Shannon Noll. The moment when Guy was declared our winner is beyond iconic. A pillar of Australian pop culture.

However, Guy isn’t the only “Australian Idol” contestant to have won this reality TV series. “Australian Idol” is now 20 years old, spanning nine seasons. This means that there are a bunch of other “Australian Idol” winners walking the earth. 

So, with this in mind, who are the other “Australian Idol” winners, and where are they now? Are these people still creating music? Let’s jump into the pantheon of greatness.

“Australian Idol” Winners: Where Are They Now?

Royston Sagigi-Baira

In 2023, Royston Sagigi-Baira sung his way to victory over the course of “Australian Idol” Season 8. His version of Sam Smith’s “I’m Not the Only One” was gut-wrenching, and his version of Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is” brought the roof down. When he won “Australian Idol”, he was also received $100,000 and a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

Since winning “Australian Idol”, Royston has kept the dream alive. Last year, he dropped two bopping singles, “Invincible” and “Dreaming”. Royston is yet to release a feature length album, but we’re hoping that one will hit our music feeds, and soon.

Beyond singing, Royston is a proud gay man and an advocate for LGBTQIA+ issues. On February 18, Royston will be slaying Sydney’s Mardi Gras and performing at Fair Day.

Stan Walker

The man who took home the crown of the 2009 season of “Australian Idol” was none of than Stan Walker. According to numerous fans, the single that propelled Stan into winning this season was his sultry rendition of James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” After scoring first place in this comp, he too signed a recording contract with Sony Music Australia.

As of 2024, Stan is still killing it in the music industry. In 2022, he released his seventh pop-centric studio album, “All In”. Two of the biggest singles from this album are none other than the heartfelt “Come Back Home” and the vibrant “The One You Want.”

Earlier this year, Stan released a live cover of the bilingual ballad “I AM”, a song originally created for the Ava DuVernay film “Origins” (2023). As a Māori man, Stan believes it was vital that this song’s sung in both Te Reo Māori and English.

Stan is also a winner in the relationship department. Since 2021, he has been happily married to the auditor Lou Walker. As a father, Stan is a stepdad to his little boy named Te. Additionally, he and Lou had a little girl named Taku (born 2022) and have a third child on the way.

Wes Carr

Our Season 6 icon Wes Carr claimed the “Australian Idol” title back in 2008. His post-“Idol” single, from the album “You”, was a huge success, and went on to become a platinum selling, Aria number one single.

Since then, Wes has shed his “Idol” pop persona and rebranded as Wesley Dean, a country music singer based in Nashville, Tennessee. No more “Feels like WOAH” for him! But Wes is still releasing music, and in fact, he’s just dropped a new single titled “Don’t Look Back”.

Beyond music, Wes married former “Home and Away” actress Charlotte Carr (nee Gregg), in 2012. The couple now have two sons, Willow Harrison Carr (born 2012), and Jackson Cash Carr (born 2018).

Natalie Gauci

There’s no denying it, 2007 was Natalie Gauci’s year. From her “Idol” first audition, singing “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera, to her final performance, belting her own song “Here I Am”, Natalie demonstrated that she was an Australian Idol, a title that she deserved and won. Additionally, after winning this honour,  “Here I Am” debuted at number two on the Australian Aria charts. 

However, just because 2007 was an excellent year for Natalie, that doesn’t mean 2024 is a bust. On February 2, she released a stunning new single called “I Thought It Was You”.

Natalie now lives in the United States near New York City. When she isn’t making music, she enjoys going to the gym, relaxing at the beach, and fishing. 

Damien Leith

Damien Leith was the definitive king for the duration of “Australian Idol” Season 4. Across the entirety of this 2006 series, Damien delivered a tonne of impressive performances, including a touching rendition of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” and a swoon-worthy version of Billy Preston’s “You Are So Beautiful”. 

Over the course of the past 18 years, Damien has dropped not one, not two, but 10 studio albums. His latest album, “Roy Orbison Orchestrated”, was released in 2023. On this record, Damien Leith and a 28-piece concert orchestra perform enchanting covers of Roy Orbison songs.

Between making music, Damien has found the time to have a wholesome family in Wollongong, NSW. He’s married to the founder of Your Life Movement, Eileen Stapleton. Damien and Eileen are the proud parents of Jarvis (born 2005), Jagger (born 2007), and Kiki (born 2011).

Kate DeAraugo

In 2005, Kate DeAraugo rose above the rest and won Season 3 of “Australian Idol”. During the finale, Kate blew Australia away by singing Chaka Khan’s “Ain’t Nobody”, Julie London’s “Cry Me a River”, and Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”. 

In 2023, Kate revealed that from 2009 until 2018, she was addicted to ice. This negatively impacted all aspects of her life, including the ability to create music. Kate has been living drug-free since 2018, and has recently launched a podcast called “Why Do I Feel This Way”. On her podcast, she opens up about her journey, and discusses fame, addiction, her sobriety journey and more.

Casey Donovan

Our 2004 Australian Idol was none other than Casey Donovan. During her time on Season 2, she hit every note and perfectly executed each line and lyric. As she sang Kasey Chambers’ “A Million Tears”, the judges’ jaws dropped to the floor.

In 2023, Casey played Angelique in the Melbourne production of “& Juliet” at the Regent Theatre. What’s more, Casey did such a great job that she then went on tour with this production to Singapore and Perth.

If you are keen to learn why Casey excels in “& Juliet”, you can still do so. Casey is playing the role of Angelique at the Sydney Lyric. This production is taking place from February 27 until March 5.

Beyond singing, Casey is known for being an exceptional model. Last year, she was a modelling sensation for Taking Shape, an Aussie plus-size fashion label. Taking Shape is best known for being a brand that makes stylish clothes that are size-inclusive. 

Guy Sebastian

The man. The myth. The legend. 

In 2003, Guy Sebastian went down in history for winning Season 1 of “Australian Idol”. His performances of Bryan Adams’ “I Do It for You”, Patricia Neway’s “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, and Lionel Richie’s “Hello” are all Aussie institutions.

Better yet, Guy is still in the music game. In 2023, he released the upbeat and funky “I Choose Good”, his first new song since 2020. This song currently has 87,000 views on YouTube.

Guy has also been a judge on “The Voice” since 2019. This year, he’ll be joined by LeAnn Rimes, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Adam Lambert.

When Guy isn’t busy being an icon, he loves relaxing with his wife Jules Egan in his home on Sydney’s eastern beaches. Guy and Jules have been married since 2008. As a couple, they have two wonderful children: Hudson (born 2012) and Archie (born 2014).

“Australian Idol” is playing on Channel 7 and 7 Plus. New episodes air at 7pm on Sundays and at 7.30pm Mondays through Wednesdays.

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