Kaitlyn Thomas & Piper Butcher To Appear On Australian Idol

Kaitlyn Thomas and Piper Butcher have announced that they have both auditioned for the new season of the iconic singing competition series, Australian Idol.

Thomas shared on social media, “THE SECRETS OUT! I'm so excited to officially announce that I have auditioned for Australian IDOL. My episode will air on Tuesday 31st January on Channel 7!”

Butcher added, “I told 23’ to bring it… NOW GUESS WHAT- YOU’RE GONNA SEE MY NOGGIN ON THE TELE! Tell your mum, dad, second cousin, best friends grandma and everyone in between.”

Australian Idol has seven seasons from 2003-2009 making household names of country singers like Hayley Jensen, James Johnston, Shannon Noll, Wesley Dean and Casey Barnes, as well as singers including Guy Sebastian, Casey Donovan, Rob Mills, Paulini, Jessica Mauboy and Anthony Callea.

After a 14-year hiatus, this reimagined season (which premieres on Monday, January 30) sees hopefuls aged 15-28 showcase their talents for judges award-winning performers Meghan Trainor, Amy Shark and Harry Connick Jr and radio broadcaster Kyle Sandilands. 

The hosts for the new season are former Australian Idol contestant Ricki-Lee Coulter and TV host, Scott Tweedie.

In the sneak peek trailer of the upcoming season of Australian Idol, you can see Butcher featured prominently and it appears as though she makes it through to the next round.

Born and raised in rural Victoria, Thomas began writing her own songs at 8-years-old, inspired by strong female artists like Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, The McClymonts, Abby Anderson and rock artists Anne Wilson and Pat Benatar. 

She was only 12 years old when ARIA nominated singer-songwriter, Beccy Cole declared to her audience, “There’s a star in the making right there.”

Thomas is a graduate of both the junior and senior CMAA Academy of Country Music and was awarded Australian Youth Songwriter of the Year in 2012 and again in 2018. She is currently earning a Bachelor of Music while running her own singing school. 

Thomas has also released a slew of singles including Make Your Move in 2021 and recently appeared on C31’s Coming Together Christmas special.

Newcastle singer-songwriter, Butcher released her debut EP in 2021. September peaked at #1 on the Alternative Album iTunes charts and #2 in the All Genre Album iTunes charts. Her latest releases – Read Between The Lines and Unconscious Mind – dropped in 2022.

With Americana meets rock ’n’ roll influences from the likes of Lukas Nelson, Chris Stapleton and Stevie Nicks, the CMAA Academy of Country Music graduate has supported acts such as Diesel, Glenn Shorrock, Gretta Ziller, The Black Sorrows, Richard Clapton, Thirsty Merc, Melody Moko, Josh Pyke and Tori Forsyth, and played alongside Bill Chambers, Gina Jeffreys and Lyn Bowtell to name a few.

We wish both of them, and all other contestants, the very best of luck in the competition!