Time to add a little bit of fabulous to Eurovision: Australia Decides. Star of Australian Idol, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Celebrity Big Brother (and much more) Courtney Act joins the list of competing artists for the national selection.
Courtney was announced by SBS, alongside The Voice Australia star Aydan Calafiore, and 16 year old “wildcard”, Leea Nanos
Courtney Act
Courtney Act – the alter ego of Shane Jenek – is perhaps best known internationally for competing in Season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. But Courtney has an impressive singing history. She took part in the first season of Australian Idol, alongside the likes of Guy Sebastian.
Since then, she’s released a number of singles both as a solo artist and in groups. Her role in the AAA Girls has even seen her star in music videos alongside Little Mix. In 2018, Courtney/Shane won Celebrity Big Brother in the UK, and has also hosted her own reality show The Bi Life.
Now, she’s back on home soil and ready to compete at Australia Decides!
In the announcement video, Courtney hints about her song: “Eurovision is a pop competition, but there’s no reason you can’t slip in a little message, you know?” Sounds like this one could be a charged number!
And in a further statement, Courtney reveals she’s been wanting to the contest for a long time.
“A sweet 16 years after Australian Idol I have the chance to show Australia how I have grown as an artist and a performer and I am so excited. To compete to represent Oz in Eurovision is second only to being on that stage in Tel Aviv and singing my lungs out for my country.
I’ve sat at home every year since Guy Sebastian competed in 2015 and have been so keen to be a part of it. Now, this might be my chance!”
Known for having the tightest tuck in the business, it appears that Courtney also has her act together. She’ll sing the song “Fight For Love”, which — to quote RuPaul — is available on iTunes and Spotify.
Aydan Calafiore
18 year olf Aydan first hit TV screens in 2012, as part of the re-boot of Young Talent Time – the show that launched the careers of Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue to name a few.
This year, Aydan made the final of the seventh season of The Voice Australia. Mentored by Joe Jonas, Aydan finished in fourth place, and has since released single “Something About You”.
Aydan says “It’s unbelievable to be participating in Eurovision – Australia Decides. Having been a fan of Eurovision, it’s really hard to comprehend that I am going to have a shot at representing our country at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019.
I have such a supportive fan base and I am hoping that together we’ll go on this journey and see a new generation of Eurovision fans.”
Leea Nanos
The “wildcard” entry for Australia Decides, Leea might not be as well-known a name as her Eurovision rivals. But her voice is killer y’all, and a quick look at her back catalogue means that this 16 year old could be a real threat.
Leea previously auditioned for X Factor Australia in 2016 (in front of Guy Sebastian again, amongst others). With two years more experience and TV time behind her, that will no doubt serve her well for the show.
About the experience, Leea says: “Being involved in Eurovision – Australia Decides means everything to me and the reality hasn’t quite sunk in yet! Being the youngest and most inexperienced in the competition I know I’ll need to really bring my A-game to the stage….”
Apparently the rising star was handpicked by Australia’s Head of Delegation Paul Clarke after she offered up her song “Set Me Free” for other acts in the Melbourne area.
Eurovision: Australia Decides
The three new acts join the already announced Kate Miller-Heidke, indie-pop band Sheppard, pop-opera star Mark Vincent and electric-soul duo Electric Fields as part of the line-up.
With the selection set to take place on February 9, we’re already so excited by Australia’s first national final. What’s more, there’s three more acts to be announced. We can’t wait!
What do you think of the latest acts for Eurovision: Australia Decides? Has Courtney’s reveal left you gagged? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section below.
Um am I missing something .Everyone is talking about Courtney’s song but the songs haven’t been announced yet so what is everyone judging and commenting on . The songs are not going to appear until the night of the show ,there will be no previews on YouTube .What the hell are people judging Courtney on – obviously an old song she has recorded.
Am i the only one who doesn’t like Courtney’s voice? And her song sounds too much autotuned. I like her personality though. But personality is not a reason to vote for her to win a SONG contest.
It’s an interesting group of contenders lol.
I was expecting there to be more well known musicians, like all of them but they seem like they could rise to the occasion.
Leea style of music seems similar to Delta goodrem.
I think it’s going to be a ‘ fighting’ competition. These artists seem to want it badly and will work hard for the title. Courtney’s song tbh, I don’t see as a winning song yet… But for sure she knows how to entertain and put on a show so I can see her doing well in this.
Anyone but Courtney please! What ESC needs least of all is more drag!
Not gonna lie, I think Courtney will be the one to watch out for!
Courtney Act Stands Up to Inequality With Empowering Song ‘Fight For Love:’ Listen
The article above is on billboard.com site
This may be her song for Eurovision?
Courtney yasss!
Am I the only person who thinks nothing of Courtney Act? to me it’s Aydan who really stands out here, he is an excellent live vocalist and has bags of charisma. I think him and Sheppard the front runners thus far.
So with Courtney Act it means that we can potentially have 2 drag queens on the contest this year : Courtney Act for Australia and Bilal Hassani for France if both wins their NF ?
I love Courtney Act, she was my favourite on season 6 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, and i love her style; anyway, i just don’t know if for Australia may be the good choice after two not so good years. After that time, in America, she became so much famous in UK (12 points got to…) but notoriety is not the passport for the success (look at Saara Aalto). The song will definetily respond to my doubt, ’cause most of the time we imagine drag queens singing trashy song about sex or stupid things. If this time, like Conchita Wurst made… Read more »
Please let Courtney participate! I know her song is meh, but she’s so charismatic and well-spoken. She knows how to deal with press and she’s so professional! I can’t wait to see a RuGirl on the Eurovision stage. Since the only other drag queen we’ve seen do well here is Conchita Wurst, I’m really excited to see what she brings to the stage. As long as Courtney’s Season 6 sister Bianca Del Rio doesn’t participate hahaha.
BALONEY!
We should pick the best song, and not someone just because he’s a drag queen
The Veronicas will be announced next…
Tobi darling, you’ve hurt me with that comparison! 😀 Saara is an artist with her voice. Courtney may be fab as a person and so on, but VOCALLY she will never reach Saara 🙂
I am deeply sorry, @Chris, but honestly: If you delete Tobi’s comment but let my answer staying in the thread, nobody knows the context of my comment. And if you delete my explanation comment as well, the conversation is not getting clearer… So please either you show my first explanation or you delete the whole conversation: my original comment as well as my explanation and this one here 🙂
While it’s fresh to have Courtney Act competing, her song is not far from what Jessica took to Lisbon: a generic bop with a good message. I bet she’ll be very entertaining which could make her a contender, but in my opinion it wouldn’t be a good start for the Australian national final if they organize the whole thing to end up playing the same note again. Based on his first single, Aydan would be a perfect fit for Melfest. If they ask Bjorkman to cast a vote… Leea seems to be an interesting singer, let’s wait for her song.
Oh god Courtney, and here I thought SBS was trying to improve on their downward spiral 😐 hahahha guess not.
Give me a summer bop, Aydan!
I like Leea, hope she has a good song
Hopefully the OGAE poll won’t overrate her (if she gets the ticket) as they did with Saara. The OGAEs have a tendency of overrating divas with average songs. Although they got it right with Netta, but “Toy” was in no way an average song.
Don’t worry, she won’t win.
Mark, you seem to be really obsessed with bashing Courtney. Is there a reason for that?
Omg Fight for Love’s chorus sounds EXACTLY like For You by Liam Payne and Rita Ora… it’s a bop though
Oh Aydan sweetie, why’d you have to sing Despacito, you got a good voice and pull smth like that… 🙁 Courtney already lost me to be honest, those vocals are not very nice to listen to. But nevermind, I’m still excited for this selection.
Still Kate Miller-Heidke in the lead.
I am not the biggest fan of Despacito, my beloved fellow, but Aydan could sing it quite well XD
Three more great suggestions! Very excited to see the last three. This is shaping up to be a very strong and professional NF.
Are you serious? There are two no names in this video.
I mean, Netta literally hadn’t released any original music prior to “Toy” and look where it took her. All the rest of the top 5 (save for Cesar) are famous in their home countries but not that much elsewhere. And even established acts like Jessica Mauboy and Saara Aalto couldn’t get the votes in the end. It’s all about the song.
I’ve heard her song and it really is naff. People are just overhyped because of who she is. It’s the Eurovision SONG contest, not SINGER contest.
If Courtney Act wins, this means the juries won’t overrate Australia for once. I love the good sis but she needs to work on those SHRILL vocals!
I do enjoy her, but I have to agree with the vocals comment.
She won’t win because Australians don’t like her.
Just heard the song. She won’t win with that song.
Please Lord let Courtney Act be on the stage in Tel Aviv
I’d have put money on Courtney Act being one of the competitors. She’s everywhere at the moment tho and I’m getting a bit bored of her
I don’t follow Drag Race so I never heard of Courtney Act until she partook in Celebrity Big Brother UK at the start of this year and I really liked Shane as both personas, very nice, chilled and open-minded who deserved to win so I look forward to hearing her entry in Australia Decides! wow I didn’t know she was in the first season of Australian Idol, in fact I’ve just searched and now listening to her sing AC/DC – You Shook Me All Night Long in the wildcard round right now, fab-u-lous! Aydan & Leea seem interesting as well.
Interesting! How many more acts will be announced?
in total 10 acts wil compete according to the video that is also on facebook of SBS