Late Australian Idol star was “lost” after her mum passed away
Former Australian Idol star Kate Cook revealed in her Australian Idol audition that after her mum’s suicide, she felt “lost”.
In her 2009 audition, she sang a tribute to her mother in the form of a song called Make You Stay.
“Two days before I turned 17 my younger sister and I found her,” Kate told judges Ian ‘Dicko’ Dickson, Marcia Hines and Kyle Sandilands at the time.
“She committed suicide, so it was pretty tough … I’ve had a long road to sort of find myself after being lost for a long time. So I sort found myself through strength and music.”
After her success on Australian Idol, Cook carved out a country music career and went on to be quite successful. She told the Queensland Times in 2013:
"Once you're out of the Australian Idol spotlight, you soon lose the support network of people who helped you during the show," she said.
"It took a lot of hard work and help from my sister Paula - who managed me for two years - to keep my music career going.
"But I'm extremely humbled by what Idol did for me and overwhelmed with how the country music industry has opened its arms to me."
Cook then reminisced on why she wrote her music and what it meant to her. As she came from a country background, working on farms as well as abattoirs, she realised there was a hole in the Australian country music scene.
"It made me realise that there are so many anthems for hardworking men out there; the chicks need one, too," she said.
"As an artist I want to be as honest as I can be and hope to keep producing music and bringing it to audiences," she said.
"Music has helped heal me during difficult times, so I hope that my music helps do the same for others."
Cook's body was found in bushland near her home in Lowood, Queensland earlier this week. She was 36.
Were you a fan of Kate Cook’s music? Let us know in the comments.
If you are troubled by this article, experiencing a personal crisis or thinking about suicide, you can call Lifeline 131 114 or beyondblue 1300 224 636 or visit lifeline.org.au or beyondblue.org.au.