Beyond the mic: Idol winner on the 'out of body' experience and what's next

The Australian Idol winner described her current reality as an "out-of-body experience," a whirlwind journey that transformed a small-town singer into the 2026 Australian Idol.

"It's been absolutely insane," Kesha told Bega District News.

"We all keep saying it's like an out of body experience, but it's been absolutely life-changing. I feel very lucky and very privileged to be here.

"I think it's important to sit back at the end of the day and relive in your mind what happened that day."

As the winner, she will receive $100,000 in prizemoney, an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios, attendance at a songwriting camp with Sony Music Publishing.

She will also get marketing and social media support from The Annex, VIP tickets to the ARIA Awards and TV WEEK Logie Awards, and the esteemed title of Australian Idol 2026.

Kesha's musical trajectory was sparked by a simple gift from her father, a toy guitar that played chords at the touch of a button.

"It all stemmed from that toy," Kesha said.

"Then I got a little ukulele and then a guitar and now I have a collection of guitars, and music just never stopped. It's always been with me.

"I can't remember a time without music. I really can't. It's been in my life forever. Plan A, B, C and D has always been music."

A highlight during the Australian Idol competition was when Kesha performed a rendition of Miley Cyrus's The Climb, alongside her proud musician father, Nolen.

"Having dad up on stage with me is something else," she said.

"It's not everyday that you get to be on Australian Idol and it's not everyday you get to share it with your dad, who is the reason you do music.

"My mum loves putting on a tune, but she isn't a musician herself, whereas Dad, he has been playing guitar since he was 15 and now plays in a band with his friends Tess and Chris."

Although she was described as the "Singing Skier" from Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains, Kesha said two-thirds of her life had been connected to the NSW Far South Coast.

"We bought a family house there probably 12 to 13 years ago in Pambula Beach and I went to Lumen Christi Catholic College for term one of year 7 and 8," she said.

"I did busking at the Pambula and Merimbula markets, and as I got older, I was performing at Longstocking, the Lakey and Goodenia.

"They've all been so supportive. You feel the love all the way to Sydney.

"We did summers down there.

"If we weren't at school there for summer, we went down every single weekend, driving down Friday afternoons and coming back to Jindabyne on Monday morning before school."

Kesha wasn't even a twinkle in her parents' eyes when Guy Sebastian won the inaugural season of Australian Idol in 2003, but having witnessed his "decades of success", the winner was now looking forward to her own journey ahead.

"We got to perform with him a couple of weeks back and it was a very surreal moment to have that thought in my brain," Kesha said.

"It's crazy to think about how young I am and how much more I have to learn and experience the industry.

"I'm really excited after the show to be able to release the music and share my lyrics and my own stories with the world.

"So hopefully that will be one of the first steps of progress I can make."

The 21-year-old described the singing competition as one of the biggest honours she had experienced, and noted how grateful she was to work with "such monumental people".

"The production crew, the camera crew, the lighting crew, every single person has so much knowledge throughout them and their careers," Kesha said.

"I'm young and I've got so much to learn about myself and this industry.

"The girls in the wardrobe team are so talented and I've had outfits that have been custom made or altered to make them fit perfectly.

"They are so talented and really take your opinions into account.

"I think it's really special because I think in this industry, as a young performer, it can sometimes be easy to be looked over or follow a path because someone tells you to.

"So having people that listen who are very knowledgeable, is big, because that's your image on stage."

Having won the 2026 season, Kesha was excited about her next steps as a musician.

"We're doing a Dulcie's Cottage Thank You Party. We're going to have a little concert there," she said.

"That will be very cool. It's on Saturday, May 2 at 3pm. I am very thankful for the coastal support."

For tickets, visit: www.dulcies.com.au