Dylan Wright was named the winner of Australian Idol 2024 during the season’s Grand Finale on March 25, but he wouldn’t be there if it wasn’t for his wife Georgia.
Beating out Amy Reeves (runner-up) and Denvah Baker-Moller (second runner-up), the 30-year-old from the Northern Rivers was speechless.
“I don’t think it’s going to sink in for a month or two,” Dylan told Chattr after his epic win.
“I was so shocked. Just completely shocked. I just remember seeing confetti and looking at my family and being like, ‘What is happening?'”
Before auditioning for Idol, Dylan was ready to give up his dream; however, thanks to support from his high-school sweetheart, he decided to “give it a go”.
“There had been moments where I’ve wanted to and Georgia said, ‘What are you doing? You’re an idiot?'” he recalled.
“I was just playing at empty bars, and playing when you think no one’s listening. It was draining. So, I thought why not just give it a go on this show that I have watched as a kid and see what I can learn because you can never stop learning.”
Now Dylan has a recording contract with industry giant Sony Music Entertainment Australia and is $100k richer. And while his new single Paper Heart has dropped, he’s putting his career on hold for a little longer.
“The first thing we’re going to do is have a holiday or go camping as a family. Turn the phones off and just enjoy our time together,” he said, before speaking of his earnings: “It’s going all into my career and writing and recording. It will go so far.”
Of course, investing in his own future means investing in the future of his girls, Piper, four and Rivi, one — whom he reveals, have been “so good” throughout the process.
“It’s just so surreal,” he said. “They’ve got no idea what’s happening at all. But they’ve been so good about being dragged from the hotel room to being in the car and going to grandma’s.
“They’ve just been the best. I couldn’t have asked for better girls in my life.”
For Dylan, having “support” from his entire family “has been incredible” and it has made him realise that a future in the industry — and potentially a life on the road — is not impossible.
“It’s been a big learning curve but I think the juggle is beginning to be doable,” he said.
Meanwhile, the former painter who grew up in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney has learned a lot from his Australian Idol experience.
“Patience, resilience and all the cliche things,” he said. “It has been incredible and I didn’t think it would be as incredible as it has been.
Stream Australian Idol on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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