After weeks of intense public voting, three finalists will go head-to-head in the 2023 Australian Idol Grand Finale this Sunday, 26 March on Channel Seven and 7plus, from 7.00pm.
Australia has chosen 23-year-old Royston Sagigi-Baira, 15-year-old Phoebe Stewart, and 20-year-old Josh Hannan to compete for the Australian Idol crown.
439,000 watched as the top six became top three, as it was a bittersweet night for 19-year-old Anya Hynninen, 24-year-old Ben Sheehy, and 16-year-old Amali Dimond, who were eliminated after failing to secure enough public votes to keep them in the competition.
The winner of Australian Idol will receive a recording contract with industry giant Sony Music and $100,000 in prize money, with voting now open. Additionally, Harry Connick Jr and Jessica Mauboy are set to perform.
After performing It’s a Man’s Man’s World by James Brown, Hynninen and Sagigi-Baira were told that only one would make it to the March 26 Grand Finale.
“I knew,” the 20-year-old told Mediaweek after her elimination, adding that she was sure she was going home. “I was thinking more about what I was going to have for dinner!”
See also: Australian Idol’s Anya Hynninen believes there was too much “pressure” on Amali Dimond to win
See also: Australian Idol’s Noora H reveals the “disappointing” side of the show’s social media fans
See also: The inspiring words Harry Connick Jr gave to Australian Idol’s Harry Hayden after their elimination
See also: Australian Idol’s Jasey Fox believes Australia has a “long way to go” when it comes to representation on TV
A global success since 2001, the Idol franchise has launched the careers of many multi-award-winning artists, including Aussies Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Matt Corby, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Anthony Callea, Stan Walker, Casey Donovan and Courtney Act.
Grand Finale: 7.00pm Sunday night on Channel Seven and 7plus.