Melanie Cowmeadow, 24, breaks down singing her dad Paul’s funeral song on The Voice

Melanie Cowmeadow’s dad used to beam with pride as she sang karaoke at the local pub. Now, she’s faced the toughest performance of her life – all for him.

Melanie Cowmeadow’s passion for singing began as a child, with her dad by her side at the local pub’s karaoke nights.

The 24-year-old Adelaide-based singer recalls how her father, Paul, would beam with pride as she belted out tunes.

But this week on The Voice, Cowmeadow faced the toughest performance of her life.

“Growing up, my dad, he always loved to sing and he’d always take us kids to karaoke down at the local pub,” Cowmeadow said.

“That’s sort of where I started singing because it meant a lot to him to hear me sing.”

In March 2021, the former Seaton High student received a call that would change her life forever.

Paul had been involved in a workplace accident and suffered a serious head injury.

Her family was forced to make the devastating decision to switch off his life support.

“He stayed in the hospital, in a coma for 10 days and nothing improved, and then we had to make the decision to let him go,” she said before her blind audition on The Voice.

“I love my daytime job but after my dad passed, it made me realise how short life is and to take each opportunity as it comes.”

Cowmeadow, who also works as a hairdresser in Adelaide’s western suburbs, chose to audition with Never Let Me Go by Florence + The Machine.

The last time she listened to the song was at her father’s funeral - when a recording of her singing it was played.

“It was really difficult, especially since I never thought I could sing that song again,” she told The Advertiser, when asked about her blind audition.

“(Whenever it comes up on my playlist) I skip through it because it makes me very emotional.”

The Voice judges were left in tears as the 24-year-old performed an emotional rendition of the tune.

Cowmeadow said she could feel her dad’s presence.

“I definitely could feel something there when I was performing. He was definitely with me – watching over me,” she said.

“I want to take my music to a place where I can write music and connect with other people and share life experiences and emotions.”