Australian Idol season five winner Natalie Gauci has revealed she is no longer close to her runner-up, Matt Corby.
The pair skyrocketed to fame on the Channel 10 talent show in 2007, but their lives have gone in different directions over the past 13 years.
She was asked by WHO magazine about Matt’s post-Idol success and whether this had ‘added pressure’ on her before her audition for The Voice this week.
‘We both have our different journeys in life’: Australian Idol season five winner Natalie Gauci (right) has revealed she is no longer close to her runner-up, Matt Corby (left). Pictured on November 25, 2007 in Sydney
‘Um, not really. I mean we both have our different journeys in life and paths and I guess it depends on how you look at success, you know?’ she replied.
‘Because for me, I won the show and to me that was a big success and the things I did afterwards just weren’t in the public eye,’ Natalie added.
‘So I guess his journey is just destined to be different to mine so I never really compare that at all. I think he deserves all the success in the world as well.’
Natalie’s career after Australian Idol hasn’t been as glittering as previous winners.
Expectation: Natalie’s post-Australian Idol career hasn’t been as glittering as previous winners
Her debut single was the first in the franchise’s history to not reach number one in the ARIA charts.
She left Sony a year after the series ended and faded into obscurity. She later resurfaced in electro act Tune In Tokyo, performing under the pseudonym Nellie Bell.
The mother-of-one, 38, told 9Now earlier this week that she had ‘everything to lose’ by auditioning for The Voice.
Fading away: Her debut single was the first in the franchise’s history to not reach number one in the ARIA charts. She left Sony a year after the series ended and faded into obscurity
‘I’ve already done it once. And now I have to do it again. I really want to do it again and I want to do it better this time,’ she said.
‘I’m hoping that all four chairs turn around. If I don’t do that, to me, I’ve failed as a singer.’
Her audition aired on Tuesday night’s episode and she joined Guy Sebastian’s team.
Natalie also spoke about her previous struggles with the spotlight, after turning to drugs and alcohol to cope with her sudden rise to fame 13 years ago.
She said that winning Australian Idol had been ‘life changing’, but she was overwhelmed by the fame and ended up ‘burning the candle at both ends’.
Struggles: Natalie (pictured with her son, Jedidiah) turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with her sudden rise to fame 13 years ago
‘I wasn’t prepared for the outside world and all that fame so quickly. I didn’t know who I was anymore, so I turned to drugs and alcohol,’ Natalie admitted.
In 2016, Natalie spoke to New Idea about her battles with substance abuse, telling the magazine: ‘I took a lot of drugs and became paranoid.’
‘After that whirlwind I felt really detached… I wasn’t being heard… I felt so alone,’ she added.
Embracing spiritually helped Natalie get back on track, and she also benefited from meditation and therapy.
Second chance at fame: Natalie auditioned for The Voice on Tuesday night’s episode
Success: She joined Guy Sebastian’s team, despite the fact he was critical of her performance
Matt changed direction after placing second on Australian Idol at the age of 16.
The singer-songwriter stepped away from the spotlight, relocated to London and focused on becoming a serious recording artist.
He achieved his commercial breakthrough with his fourth EP, Into the Flame, which peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
His first album, Telluric, topped the charts upon its release in 2016.