Casey Donovan (singer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Casey Donovan
Casey Donovan at the musical premiere of The Bodyguard in Sydney Lyric on 27 April 2017.
Background information
Born	(1988-05-13) 13 May 1988 (age 37) Bankstown, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Pop rock folk
Occupation(s)	Singer actress
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Sony BMG (2004–2006) Independent (2006–present)

Casey Donovan (born 13 May 1988) is an Australian singer and actress. She is famous for winning the second season of the singing competition Australian Idol in 2004. She was only 16 years old at the time, which made her the youngest winner in the show's history.

In 2017, Donovan won another popular TV show, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She has also hosted the music show Fusion with Casey Donovan on NITV.

Early Life and Family

Casey Donovan was born in Bankstown, New South Wales. She is an Indigenous Australian. Music has always been a big part of her family. Her father and uncles are in a country band called The Donovans.

Her musical talent was first noticed when she was a student at Condell Park High School. Her mother and stepfather were very supportive and encouraged her to follow her passion for music.

Career Beginnings

Winning 'Australian Idol'

In 2004, Donovan decided to audition for the second season of Australian Idol. She was studying at the Australian Institute of Music at the time. For her audition, she sang "A Million Tears" by Kasey Chambers.

Her powerful voice impressed the judges and the audience. In November 2004, she was crowned the winner of Australian Idol, beating the other finalist, Anthony Callea.

After her win, a newspaper ad made a mistake with her website address. It accidentally linked to a site for a different person with the same name. The company that made the ad, Telstra, said sorry for the error.

'Australian Idol' Performances

Here are some of the songs Casey performed on her journey to becoming the winner:

First Album and Singles

After Idol, Donovan released her first single, "Listen with Your Heart". It went straight to number one on the Australian music charts. Her first album, For You, was also a big success. It sold so many copies that it was certified triple platinum.

In 2005, she released another single called "What's Going On". At the Deadly Awards 2005, she won Artist of the Year.

A Career in Music and Theatre

Independent Music and Stage Shows

After leaving her first record label in 2006, Donovan started releasing music on her own. In 2008, she released an extended play (a short album) called Eye 2 Eye.

She also began a successful career in theatre. In 2009, she starred in a play called Miracle in Brisbane. In 2010, she played a main role in the musical The Sapphires, which was a huge hit. Her performance was so good that she was nominated for two Sydney Theatre Awards.

In 2011, she played the role of singer Mama Cass in the musical Flowerchildren – The Mamas & the Papas Story. She also acted in a play by William Shakespeare called As You Like It.

Winning 'I'm a Celebrity'

In 2017, Donovan joined the cast of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. After weeks in the jungle, she won the competition and was named the first-ever "Queen of the Jungle."

Her popularity grew even more after the show. She became the face of the Coles Supermarket "Down Down" advertising campaign. She also released a new song called "Lonely" and an EP titled Off the Grid & Somewhere in Between.

Recent Work

More Stage and Screen Roles

Donovan has continued to shine on stage. In 2019, she played Mama Morton in the musical Chicago. In 2022, she starred as Judy Bernly in the musical 9 to Five. In 2023, she joined the cast of the popular musical & Juliet in Melbourne.

She has also appeared in TV shows like How to Stay Married and competed in Eurovision - Australia Decides in 2020, where she came in second place with her song "Proud".

Since 2020, she has hosted a popular mindfulness podcast called The Space. It offers short, positive messages to help people start and end their day well.

Personal Life

For six years starting in 2004, Donovan was tricked in an online relationship. A person pretended to be someone they were not, which is sometimes called "catfishing."

Donovan is a proud queer woman and supports the LGBTQ+ community. In 2023, she announced she was in a relationship with her partner, Renee, whom she met on a dating app. They became engaged in 2024.

Discography

Studio Albums

• For You (2004)

Extended Plays (EPs)

• Eye 2 Eye (2008)
• Off the Grid & Somewhere in Between (2017)

Hit Singles

• "Listen with Your Heart" (2004)
• "What's Going On" (2005)
• "Flow" (2005)
• "Lonely" (2017)
• "Proud" (2020)

Awards

Casey Donovan has won several awards for her music and talent.

• Deadly Awards: She won Most Promising New Talent in 2004, and both Artist of the Year and Single of the Year in 2005.
• ARIA Music Awards: She was nominated for Highest Selling Album and Highest Selling Single in 2005.