Guy Sebastian

Guy Theodore Sebastian (born 26 October 1981) is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to fame after winning the first season of Australian Idol, in 2003.

Sebastian has since released ten top ten albums, including three number ones.

The first seven all gained either platinum or multi-platinum certification.

He has also achieved twenty three top twenty singles, with fourteen of them, reaching the top ten, including six number ones.

He is the only Australian male artist in Australian chart history to achieve six number one singles, and places third overall for all Australian acts.

Ten of his singles have been certified multi-platinum, including the 13× platinum "Battle Scars".

Guy Theodore Sebastian was born in Klang, Selangor, on 26 October 1981.

His father, Ivan Sebastian, was born in Malaysia and is an ethnic Goan Catholic with colonial Portuguese roots, while his mother Nellie is an ethnic Eurasian with English and Portuguese ancestry and was raised in Kanpur, India.

They met while Ivan was studying geology in India, and married a year later.

His mum's curry is considered to be one of his many beloved dishes.

Sebastian is the second of four sons.

His older brother Ollie was born in India, and his younger brothers Chris and Jeremy were born in Australia after the family migrated there.

They lived in Melbourne, Victoria, for several years before moving back to Adelaide due to Ivan's work as a geologist.

As a child, Sebastian took violin lessons; he would later learn to play guitar, drums and piano, although he has had no formal training in these other musical instruments.

Sebastian attended King's Baptist Grammar School.

He then began studies in medical radiation at the University of South Australia, but left to pursue a career in music.

He taught vocals at Temple Christian College and other high schools while also working as a recording engineer and studying music technology at the University of Adelaide's Elder Conservatorium.

His debut single "Angels Brought Me Here" was the highest selling song in Australia in the decade 2000 to 2009.

With 69 platinum and seven gold certifications and combined album and single sales of over five million in Australia, he has the highest certifications and sales of any Australian Idol contestant.

Sebastian has worked with a number of notable American musicians, including Brian McKnight, Robin Thicke, Steve Cropper, John Mayer, Jordin Sparks, Eve and Lupe Fiasco.

"Battle Scars", a collaboration with Fiasco, spent 20 weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 71 and achieved platinum certification.

"Battle Scars" also reached number two in Norway and New Zealand.

Sebastian has reached the top ten in New Zealand with an album and six singles, including two number ones, and gained six platinum and three gold certifications there.

Sebastian, former member of the Planetshakers band from 2002 to 2005 was a worship leader and background vocals recording albums for Planetshakers Church at Paradise Community Church conferences, won went on to win the first Australian Idol and become a massive star in the country.

In May 2003, Sebastian successfully auditioned for Australian Idol, singing Stevie Wonder's "Ribbon in the Sky".

He progressed through the Idol series, establishing a strong fanbase and praise from the judges, who often made reference to his afro hairstyle which became a focal point of his image.

He was declared the winner on 19 November 2003, and gained a recording contract with BMG, which later merged with Sony.

Following his Idol win Sebastian was required to record his debut album in six days, but despite this time restriction the album included three songs co-written by him.

He then travelled to the UK to compete in World Idol.

He attended Paradise Community Church, an Assemblies of God church and one of the largest churches in Australia, and he became one of their main worship singers, after winning Australian Idol he recorded two albums, Adore in 2004 and Set Me Free in 2008.

He has served as a judge on Australia's The X Factor from 2010 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2016, and coach on The Voice Australia since 2019.

In 2021, Sebastian became The Voice's senior coach after Delta Goodrem's departure.

In 2015 his Eurovision song charted in the top 50 in five European countries.

During his career Sebastian has received 34 ARIA Award nominations, winning seven including Best Pop Release and Best Live Act.

Other awards include the APRA Urban Work of the Year, the [V] Oz Artist of the Year, Urban Music Awards for Best Male Artist and Best R&B Album, and an International Songwriting Competition award for "Battle Scars".

Sebastian has sung at many notable events, including performing for Pope Benedict XVI, Oprah Winfrey and Queen Elizabeth II.

He has a strong commitment to charity, and was previously an ambassador for World Vision Australia and the Australian Red Cross.

He has created his own foundation, The Sebastian Foundation, with his wife Jules.

He represented Australia at the 2015 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in fifth place.

Sebastian was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours in recognition of his significant service to music and charity.