Australian Idol is an institution that has launched the careers of some of Australia’s most successful and iconic performers — including past winners.
While the new season of Idol looks a little different this year — with a brand-new judging panel and hosting duo — each of its past victors still holds an important place in music history.
From Guy Sebastian to Damien Leith and Stan Walker, these Australian Idols are living proof that dreams do come true!
Scroll below to see what the winners of Australian Idol are up to now.
Guy Sebastian – 2003
Runner-Up: Shannon Noll
Arguably the most famous franchise winner, Sebastian won the first season of Australian Idol in 2003.
Not only has he been a staple as a judge on The Voice, he has also gone on to become one of Australia’s most successful and iconic performers, with a career that spans across pop, R&B and soul music.
The Angels Brought Me Here (#neverforget) singer has released nine studio albums, one compilation album, one live album, three EPs and 53 singles, including six as a featured artist and four charity singles. Ah-mazing!
“As long as I’ve got a voice and as long as I’ve got songs to write, I’m gonna keep doing it,” he said on his official website.
Sebastian is married to Jules and they have two sons, Hudson and Archer.
Casey Donovan — 2004
Runner-Up: Anthony Callea
Casey Donovan was just 16 years old when announced as the winner of the second season of Australian Idol in 2004.
Since then, she has released five studio albums and has appeared on television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and The Voice Australia.
In 2020, released her autobiography Big, Beautiful & Sexy, which was accompanied by a stunning album of original music.
More recently, she has partnered with Jenny Craig as a weight loss ambassador and said she was now feeling her “best self.”
As for her personal life, in 2018 she secretly began a long-distance, over-the-phone relationship with a man named Campbell. However, six years later, she found out that she had been catfished by her friend Olga.
The story does have a happy ending because now she has a partner named Renee Sharples.
Kate DeAraugo — 2005
Runner-up: Emily Williams
Kate DeAraugo was the winner of the third season of Australian Idol in 2005.
After successfully winning the show, she signed with Sony BMG and released her debut single Maybe Tonight.
DeAraugo became a member of the girl group Young Divas in 2006 alongside fellow Idol alum Emily Williams, Jessica Mauboy, Paulini Curuenavuli and 2023 host Ricki-Lee Coulter. However, it was a short-lived affair, ending in 2008.
In 2017, she had a shocking fall from grace, pleading guilty to possessing crystal meth.
Now, she is married to Shannon Riseley, a building foreman she met in 2019 on Bumble and they are expecting their first child together.
Damien Leith — 2006
Runner-up: Jessica Mauboy (We know!)
In 2006, the fourth winner of Australian Idol was Irish/Aussie performer Damien Leith, a singer-songwriter known for his unique take on the traditional Irish and folk music genres.
Since his win, he has released nine studio albums, four of which peaked in the top two of the ARIA Charts, including two number ones.
He’s also written two books and is married to Eileen Stapleton. They have three children.
Natalie Gauci – 2007
Runner-up: Matt Corby
Natalie Gauci was the 2007 winner (season five) of Australian Idol.
While she was a hugely popular contestant, following her win, she struggled with the fame that the TV competition brought her.
She disappeared from the spotlight altogether, later revealing she had turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the sudden rise.
“I took a lot of drugs and became paranoid,” she said in a 2017 interview.
In 2020 Natalie tried her hand at a reality singing competition once again, auditioning for The Voice, choosing Idol alum Sebastian as her coach, however, she did not make it past the battle rounds.
Wes Carr — 2008
Runner-up: Luke Dickens
Wes Carr won the sixth season of Australian Idol back in 2008, and is still making music and performing to this day.
After winning the show, he signed with Sony Music Australia, and in 2011, after releasing his second album, The Way The World Looks, they parted ways.
He independently released an EP called Blood & Bone under the pseudonym Buffalo Tales and now regularly tours throughout Australia and Europe.
Carr is married to Aussie actor Charlotte Greg, and they have a daughter, Willow, 10.
Stan Walker — 2009
Runner-up: Hayley Warner
Australian-born New Zealand singer Stan Walker won the final season of the original Australian Idol in 2009.
Since winning the show, he became an actor and television personality as well as creating new music.
Walker’s debut single Black Box peaked at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart and he since released other popular songs.
In 2017, he suffered a huge setback when diagnosed with and survived stomach cancer, revealing that doctors had found 13 cancerous tumours inside his body.
More recently, he released All In (2022) — a studio album that was five years in the making.
The album even featured American artist Jojo, whom he met through “mutual friends”.
“We were already fans of each other, but she don’t know that I’m the ultimate super fan of her, so we started working together over Zoom in lockdown, and now we’ve got a song and it’s my biggest flex!” he told Sunrise at the time.
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