Another season of Australian Idol is set for 2025, and we’re ready for another year of incredible performances that will make us laugh, cry, and cheer.
The hugely popular singing competition is bringing back all three judges from last season. Legendary performer Marcia Hines, radio personality Kyle Sandilands, and singer-songwriter Amy Shark will once again be on the hunt for the next Aussie superstar.
Find out more about each judge below.
Marcia Hines
Marcia is a true Australian music icon with a career spanning five decades.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Marcia moved to Sydney at just 16 years old to star in the Australian production of Hair. She went on to become the first black woman to play the leading role in Jesus Christ Superstar, which marked the beginning of her legendary career in music and theatre.
With 22 albums to her name, Marcia has sold over 2.6 million records and achieved multiple chart-topping hits. Her ongoing impact on Australian music was recognised in 2007 when she was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Her theatre credits include Pigalle for the Sydney Festival, Saturday Night Fever at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre, and was The Dragon in the 2020 Australian production of Shrek The Musical.
Marcia also starred in the cabaret-discotheque spectacular Velvet, directed by Craig Ilott in 2015. The production later evolved into Velvet Rewired in 2023, with Marcia reprising her role for the Australian tour. In 2024, she starred as Teen Angel in the John Frost/Crossroads Live production of Grease.
In 2023, she released The Gospel According to Marcia, an album celebrating her musical roots and early experiences with gospel music.Marcia was part of the Australian Idol judging panel during the original show’s seven consecutive seasons, and she returned as a guest judge during the show’s 2023 reboot. She returned as a full-time judge in 2024, and will be back for this coming season!
Kyle Sandilands
Sometimes controversial, always entertaining, Kyle is one of Australia’s most recognisable broadcasters and media personalities.
Originally from Brisbane, Kyle began his radio career at 21, landing his first gig at Austereo’s Triple M in Brisbane before moving to Sydney in 1999 to host Hot30 Countdown at 2Day FM.
Since 2000, he has been the co-host of the hugely popular Kyle & Jackie O Show, which made headlines with its record-breaking 10-year deal with KIIS FM which was inked in 2023, reportedly worth $200 million.
The show has earned multiple Australian Commercial Radio Awards, including wins in 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2015.
Kyle was also a judge on the original Australian Idol from 2005 to 2009 and returned to the judging panel for the reboot in 2023.
In 2008, he hosted The Australian Big Brother alongside Jackie O and also served as a judge on The X-Factor Australia from 2010 to 2011, and Australia’s Got Talent from 2010 to 2013.
Sometimes referred to as a “shock jock” due to his unfiltered personality, Kyle was once named “most hated Australian identity” by Zoo Weekly in 2006. Still, his outspoken attitude has endeared him to much of the public and helped him build a loyal fan base.
When he’s not on air, Kyle heads his own entertainment and investment company, The King Kyle Group, which produces and manages content across radio, TV, publishing, film, and music.
Amy Shark
Amy is a multi-platinum, award-winning Australian indie pop singer-songwriter. Hailing from the Gold Coast, Amy’s career took off in 2016 with the release of the six-times platinum single Adore, which became a nationwide hit.
She also earned the APRA award for Song of the Year for her chart-topping hit I Said Hi, which garnered massive success and topped airplay charts across Australia. Fun fact:
Amy’s stage name is inspired by her love for the movie Jaws.
Her debut album, Love Monster, skyrocketed to the number one spot on the ARIA charts and was certified platinum. In 2018, it was honoured with four ARIA awards and nominated for another five.
Love Monster went on to become the highest-selling album by an Australian artist in 2018 and also made waves in the US, peaking at number two on the Billboard Heatseekers album chart.
Amy made history as the first Australian artist to be named Apple’s Up Next Artist, which led to appearances on major platforms, including The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
In addition to her music career, Amy competed on Celebrity Apprentice Australia in 2022, and in 2023, she joined the judging panel of Australian Idol for its reboot. Now, she’s returning for Australian Idol 2025, ready to help discover the next great Aussie talent!
