The 2025 Australian Idol grand finale kicked off on Sunday night, April 6, 2025, with Iilysh Retallick, Marshall Hamburger, and Gisella Colletti battling it out for the crown. The jam-packed episode featured solo performances from each of the three finalists, as well as a performance with an iconic Australian musician. Iilysh rocked out on stage with Wolfmother, Gisella hit the high notes with Tina Arena, and Marshall belted it out with Leo Sayer. Voting is now open to determine the next Australian Idol, with the winner set to be announced on Monday night, April 7, 2025.
Host Scott Tweedie tells Yahoo Lifestyle he has “no idea” who will win the competition, which makes it “really exciting” for himself and Ricki-Lee. “I think at the very beginning of this season, sometimes there's one or two real standouts, but this season there was a whole bunch of them,” he shares. Ricki-Lee, who competed on the show in 2004, also encourages viewers to get behind their favourite because there is often just “a handful of votes” that determines the decision. “People are getting behind their favourites, but I feel like I'm a bit of an example sometimes that you have to vote for your favourites and you have to vote for the people that you love,” she remarks.
The winner of Australian Idol will receive $100,000 in prize money, an exclusive recording package with Hive Sound Studios, and the esteemed title of Australian Idol 2025. Last year’s winner, Dylan Wright, who received a recording contract with Sony Music Australia before the prize changed, told Yahoo Lifestyle he planned on putting the money towards a holiday with his wife and two young children. “The first thing I'm going to do is have a little trip away with the girls and just be a family for the first time in three months,” he shared. “I’ll have the phone off and just kind of drink in the moment.”
Perth’s 17-year-old songbird Gisella Colletti kept up her end of the bargain on Sunday night in her quest to become WA’s first Australian Idol. Now it’s up to the public to get behind Gisella and vote. Fans can vote for Gisella up to 10 times by texting 0457 500 700 ‘Gisella’ until 5pm on Monday. The second and last act of the 2025 Australian Idol grand finale will be performed on Monday night, with the winner announced during the show. The teenage star urged West Australians to help her bring the competition home when she posted over the weekend, “There has never been a Aussie Idol from #Perth #WA or a female winner since the Australian Idol Reboot in 2023. Help me bring the #australianidol title home to WA in 2025,” Gisella wrote.
On Sunday night, Gisella was amazing, performing Whitney Houston’s How Will I Know. She dazzled in a sparkling pink skirt with a matching halter-neck shirt and pink studded calf-length boots. The stage was decked out with an eye-catching pink platform, and backup musicians in similar hot pink outfits set the scene for Gisella’s perfect pop performance. “This is what I would love to do for the rest of my life,” the young star said following her performance, adding she hopes all young Australians follow their dreams. Gisella’s incredible performance dazzled judge Amy Shark who said: “My mind is blown. You are such an incredible artist.”
There were two performances from each finalist on Sunday night, each performing beside iconic artists. Gisella’s duet with Tina Arena of Heaven Help My Heart led to a standing ovation from the judges. Performing alongside her idol brought tears to the 17-year-old’s eyes. “(It was) an absolute pinch me moment — Tina’s my idol,” she said. Gisella is up against 17-year-old Iilysh Retallick from NSW and 19-year-old Marshall Hamburger from Queensland.
Iilysh performed Boys in Town by the Divinyls. Her stage presence electrified the audience. She also performed a duet with Wolfmother, while Hamburger performed alongside Leo Sayer. Idol judge Marsha Hines took to the stage with Casey Donovan, singing She Works Hard for the Money by Donna Summer. Family and friends of Gisella have invited West Aussies to come and watch tomorrow’s grand finale on the big screens at The Victoria Park Hotel. Gisella’s school has also had an outpouring of support for the teen, adorning the library walls with photos of her face.
The lucky winner will receive a $100,000 prize and a studio contract. The Australian Idol 2025 grand finale continues at 7:30pm on Monday, April 7, 2025, with the winner expected to be announced around 9pm. The anticipation is palpable as fans eagerly await the results, hoping to see their favorite contestant crowned as the next Australian Idol.
